What a ductless mini split really costs in Texas
Updated September 2026
Most people find out what a mini split costs the same way they find out what a car costs: after a long conversation, a walkthrough, and a number that feels pulled from the air. That is not how we do business. Old West Minisplits installs ductless mini splits across Austin, the I-35 corridor, and down to San Antonio at a flat, posted price. One zone is $2,000. Two zones are $3,700. Three zones are $5,400. The equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup, and even a Home Depot run for touch-up paint are included.
What you see is what you pay. We tell you the honest exceptions up front, never after the work is done: a very long line set, a panel upgrade your house already needed, or unusually difficult mounting. No trip fees. No surprise add-ons. The price we quote is the price on your invoice.
Why Texas mini split quotes swing so wide
Ductless installs in Central Texas commonly run $3,000 to $6,000 per zone on a custom quote. That range exists because most local HVAC contractors are quote-based. They send a salesperson to your house, measure, assess, and then build a price that includes their overhead, their sales commission, and their best guess at what the job should cost that day. The same two-zone job can come back at $8,000 from one shop and $14,000 from another. That is not because the equipment is different. It is because the sales process is different.
Old West Minisplits removes the guesswork. We know what our equipment costs, we know how long a standard install takes, and we know what our crew needs to earn to do clean, reliable work. So we post one price for the whole corridor. You do not need to sit through a sales pitch to learn the number. You can read it right here.
What the flat price actually includes
A mini split is a heat pump. It cools through brutal Central Texas summers and handles our mild winters without a furnace. That means you are buying year-round comfort, not just an air conditioner. Our flat price covers the outdoor unit, the indoor wall unit or units, the copper line set that connects them, standard electrical work, refrigerant, pressure testing, vacuum, startup, and full cleanup. We also include a Home Depot run for touch-up paint so the install does not leave a scar on your wall.
The honest exceptions are short. If your line set needs to run much farther than standard, that costs more in copper and labor. If your electrical panel is already maxed out and needs an upgrade, that is a separate electrical job we will tell you about before we start. If the mounting surface is unusually difficult, such as a three-story wall with no attic access, we will price that plainly before any work begins. We never spring these on you after the fact.
The cheap alternative is not actually cheap
Window units and portable ACs are cheap upfront. A $400 window unit will cool one room. It will also be loud, block a window, drip condensate, and cost more to run per BTU of cooling than a mini split. A portable AC is worse: the hose leaks heat back into the room, the compressor sits inside with you, and the efficiency is poor. By the time you buy two or three of them to cover a house, you have spent real money on a temporary fix.
A ductless mini split is quieter, more efficient, and permanent. It does not block a window. It does not drip on your floor. And because it is a heat pump, it also provides heat on the handful of cold mornings we get each winter. The upfront cost is higher, but the running cost is lower and the comfort is not even in the same league.
How we compare
| Factor | Old West Minisplits | The usual |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Flat, posted price: $2,000 for 1 zone, $3,700 for 2, $5,400 for 3 | Custom quote after an in-home sales visit |
| What is included | Equipment, labor, line set, standard electrical, refrigerant, testing, cleanup, touch-up paint | Varies by contractor; often itemized separately or added later |
| Trip fees and add-ons | None. Exceptions are told up front, never after | Trip fees, permit fees, and miscellaneous add-ons are common |
| Service area | Austin and the I-35 corridor, north to Waco/Killeen, south to San Antonio. Same flat pricing corridor-wide | Typically local to one metro area; pricing may vary by distance |
| Cost per zone | $2,000 per zone for a single-zone install, less per zone for multi-zone | Commonly $3,000 to $6,000 per zone on a custom quote |
Straight answers
Why is your price so much lower than most quotes?
We do not run a quote-based sales process. We post flat prices, install the same equipment across the corridor, and do not carry the overhead of commissioned salespeople. That lets us sell on clarity instead of negotiation.
What does a mini split cost to run in Texas?
Mini splits are heat pumps, so they are far more efficient than window units or portable ACs. The exact running cost depends on your home's insulation, your thermostat settings, and your electricity rate, but you can expect lower cooling bills per room than a window unit would produce.
Do I need a furnace for winter?
No. A mini split is a heat pump, which means it can heat as well as cool. For Central Texas winters, that is plenty. You will not need a separate furnace or gas line for the rooms a mini split serves.
What if my install needs a longer line set or an electrical panel upgrade?
We tell you before we start. A very long line set costs more in copper and labor. A panel upgrade is a separate electrical job that your house already needed. We will price both plainly and get your approval before any work begins. No surprises after the fact.
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