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How much does it cost to run a ducted air conditioner? (2026–27)

At typical draw · official state tariffs

$1.10–$1.68 per hour at 4,000 W

Typical household use — 6 h/day, 90 days a year at 4,000 W — runs $593–$905 a year depending on your state's tariff.

Wattage basis: Rated cooling power input from manufacturer specs (Daikin 14–20 kW ducted systems draw 4.3–6.1 kW; small/zoned or part-load ~2 kW).

Ducted aircon running cost by state at typical draw (2026–27 reference tariffs)
StateTariff c/kWhPer hourTypical year
New South Wales33.1c$1.33$716
Victoria27.5c$1.10$593
Queensland28.0c$1.12$604
South Australia41.9c$1.68$905
Western Australia33.3c$1.33$718
Tasmania28.0c$1.12$604
Australian Capital Territory37.0c$1.48$798
Northern Territory31.7c$1.27$684

Appliance running-cost calculator

NSW

Ducted aircon: 2,000–6,500 W typical range.

4–8 h/day across summer for a whole home; near-continuous in heatwaves.

$1.33 per hour · $716/year at your settings
Per day (6 h)
$7.95
Per month
$241.77
Per year (90 days)
$715.76

Tariff: 33.1c/kWh — AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) for the Ausgrid network, effective 1 July 2026. Wattage basis: Daikin ducted specifications (via Advanced Air). Full ducted aircon costs in NSW →

Cutting the cost

Zone it. Only condition the rooms you're actually using, close the vents and doors elsewhere, and hold a moderate thermostat setting rather than blasting cold air. A gentle set-point costs far less to maintain than a chilly one, and running the fan on "auto" stops it circulating once the room is comfortable. Service the filters before summer so the system isn't fighting a clogged return.

Frequently asked questions

How is the running cost calculated?
Watts ÷ 1,000 × your electricity rate = cost per hour. A ducted aircon drawing 4,000 W on a 33.1c/kWh tariff costs $1.33 an hour — the calculator above lets you change every input.
Does a higher star rating cut the cost?
Yes — the star rating compresses the power draw or energy per use, which scales this page's figures directly. The low–high band in the table (2,000–6,500 W) roughly spans efficient to inefficient models.
Why does the state matter?
The appliance draws the same power everywhere — but each state's reference usage rate differs, so the same hour of running costs $1.10 in the cheapest state and $1.68 in the dearest. Pick your state above for exact figures.

Related

Sources — figures current as at 17 July 2026.

Costs use each state's representative-zone reference usage rate, effective 1 July 2026. 4–8 h/day across summer for a whole home; near-continuous in heatwaves.