Hot summer 2026: secure cooling now

Buying & installing an air conditioner: costs, units, specialist firms

A split air conditioner, multi-split, portable air conditioner or an air conditioner without an exhaust hose? We compare all air conditioners for flats and houses, show the 2026 installation costs — and connect you with free installation quotes. Planning a new build? Then have your prefabricated house planned with air conditioning ex works right away.

Quotes for air conditioner installation Plan a prefabricated house with air conditioning

Air conditioning technician installs a split air conditioner on the living room wall – air conditioner installation by a specialist firm 2026

From €1,800 with installation

Split air conditioner for one room including installation by a specialist firm.

As quiet as 19 dB

Modern split air conditioners are barely audible in the bedroom — monoblocs are not.

Up to 70% less electricity

Inverter units with SEER 7+ save massive amounts of energy compared with portable air conditioners.

Installed in 1 – 2 days

Installing a split air conditioner usually takes a specialist firm just one day.

Which air conditioner suits a flat or a house?

Anyone looking in 2026 for an air conditioner for a flat or a house has the choice between four concepts: the permanently installed split air conditioner (also called a split unit), the multi-split air conditioner for several rooms, the portable air conditioner with an exhaust hose — and, in a new build, the heat pump with a cooling function. So-called portable air conditioners without an exhaust hose, by contrast, are pure air coolers: they evaporate water and only lower the perceived temperature by a few degrees.

The split air conditioner is the most efficient solution for the home: a quiet indoor unit on the wall, an outdoor unit on the façade or ground, connected via refrigerant lines. It noticeably cools a 25 m² room within a few minutes, dehumidifies the air and even heats in winter — because technically every modern split unit is an air-to-air heat pump. Portable air conditioners (monobloc) are the right choice when a fixed installation is not possible, for example in a rented flat: they need no specialist firm, only a good window seal for the exhaust hose, but work louder and considerably less efficiently.

Rule of thumb for sizing: per 10 m² of living area you should plan for 250 to 350 watts of cooling capacity — so a 2.5 kW unit for a 20 m² bedroom, and rather 3.5 kW for open-plan living of 40 m². Loft spaces with large window areas need more. A good specialist firm calculates the cooling load before quoting.

Air conditioners compared: split, multi-split, monobloc & co.

Unit type	Suitable for	Costs 2026	Installation	Efficiency & comfort
Split air conditioner (single split)	cool 1 room permanently (living room, bedroom)	€1,800 – 3,500 incl. installation	specialist firm essential (refrigerant)	very high (SEER 6 – 8.5), quiet
Multi-split air conditioner	2 – 5 rooms with one outdoor unit	€4,000 – 10,000 incl. installation	specialist firm essential	very high, centrally controlled
Portable air conditioner (monobloc)	interim solution, rented flat without alterations	€200 – 900 purchase price	none – exhaust hose to the window	low, loud (60 – 65 dB)
Air conditioner without an exhaust hose (air cooler)	slight refreshment, no real cooling	€50 – 300 purchase price	none	does not really cool – evaporation principle
Heat pump with a cooling function (new build)	heat the whole house + cool gently	in a new build usually €2,000 – 6,000 surcharge	integrated ex works in the prefabricated house	very high, invisible via the floor

Guide values as of 2026, without guarantee. Prices vary depending on region, cooling capacity, brand (e.g. Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic, LG, Midea) and structural conditions.

Split air conditioner in the living room: family relaxes at pleasant temperatures despite the summer heat — **Split air conditioner:** whisper-quiet permanent solution for the living room and bedroom — it cools, dehumidifies and heats in the transitional season.

Portable air conditioner with an exhaust hose and window seal in the bedroom – monobloc air conditioner for rented flats — **Portable air conditioner:** ready to use immediately without installation — a tight window seal for the exhaust hose is important.

Have an air conditioner installed: free quotes from a specialist firm

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Retrofitting an air conditioner: installation costs 2026

Installing a split air conditioner is a matter for the certified refrigeration specialist firm — work on the refrigerant circuit is forbidden to laypeople under the Chemicals Climate Protection Ordinance. But it is quick: wall penetration, laying the lines, mounting the indoor and outdoor units and commissioning are usually done in one working day for a single room. For a multi-split air conditioner serving three or four rooms, you should allow two days.

Cost item	Price range	Note
Split air conditioner unit (branded, e.g. Daikin, Mitsubishi, Panasonic)	€700 – 2,000	depending on cooling capacity (2.5 – 5 kW) and efficiency class
Installation by the refrigeration specialist firm	€800 – 1,500	wall penetration, refrigerant lines, commissioning
Electrical connection	€150 – 400	a separate circuit is recommended
Condensate drain & wall bracket for the outdoor unit	€100 – 300	alternatively floor mounting with vibration dampers
Annual maintenance	€100 – 200/year	filters, refrigerant pressure, disinfection

Refrigeration technician connects refrigerant lines to the outdoor unit of a split air conditioner on the house façade — The outdoor unit belongs on a sound-decoupled wall bracket or on a ground foundation — your specialist firm chooses the best spot.

Prefabricated new build with a photovoltaic roof and air conditioner outdoor unit beside the terrace – cooling planned in from the start — Air conditioning + photovoltaics: in summer the house cools with its own solar power — the cheapest way to air-condition.

Planning a new build? A prefabricated house with air conditioning ex works

Air conditioning is cheapest and neatest when it is planned into the house from the start: refrigerant lines disappear into the wall, core drillings and circuits are prepared at the factory, and the outdoor unit gets a sound-protected spot away from the terrace and bedroom window. Many prefabricated house manufacturers offer air conditioning packages in 2026 — as a multi-split air conditioner, as a heat pump with an active cooling function via the underfloor heating, or combined with controlled residential ventilation.

No chasing or façade work: everything prepared ex works
Heat pump with a cooling function: cool invisibly without indoor units
With photovoltaics the house cools in summer almost for free
Summer thermal protection, shading & climate from a single source

For this, it is best to compare several prefabricated house manufacturers and work through your budget including building services with our cost calculator. As an efficiency house with a heat pump, you additionally benefit from KfW funding.

Plan a prefabricated house with air conditioning: compare up to 5 quotes

Do you want to build new and air-condition your prefabricated house from the start? We put together free quotes from manufacturers who offer air conditioning, a heat pump with a cooling function and photovoltaics ex works.

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Electricity use, noise & brands: what matters with an air conditioner

The decisive factor for running costs is the efficiency class: when buying, look for a SEER value of at least 6.5 (cooling) and — if you also want to heat with the split unit — a SCOP from 4. Branded units from Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic, LG or Toshiba reach SEER values of up to 8.5 and indoor noise from 19 dB(A); price-conscious alternatives come from Midea, Gree and Comfee. With portable air conditioners it is worth looking at current tests — and at a good window seal, because without it the warm air flows straight back in.

Three practical saving tips: first, do not force the air conditioner down to 18 degrees — 6 degrees below the outdoor temperature is healthy and economical. Second, provide shading during the day (roller shutters, external venetian blinds, awning) so the system has to work less. Third, clean the filters regularly and have the system serviced annually — this keeps efficiency and air quality high. Independent consumer information is provided by the Consumer Advice Centre (Verbraucherzentrale) and the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt).

Frequently asked questions about air conditioners

Answers on split air conditioners, portable air conditioners, installation costs, electricity use and air conditioning in a prefabricated new build — as of 2026.

What does an air conditioner with installation cost?

A permanently installed split air conditioner for one room usually costs €1,800 to €3,500 in 2026, including installation by a specialist firm. A multi-split air conditioner for several rooms comes to €4,000 to €10,000. Portable air conditioners are available from around €200 for self-installation — but they cool considerably less and use more electricity per kilowatt of cooling capacity.

Which is better: a split air conditioner or a portable one?

For permanent cooling, the split air conditioner is clearly superior: it cools faster, works much more quietly indoors at 19 to 30 dB and, thanks to inverter technology, uses only about a third of the electricity of a monobloc. The portable air conditioner only scores where a fixed installation is not possible — for example in a rented flat without the landlord's permission or as an interim solution.

Does an air conditioner work without an exhaust hose?

Genuine air conditioners without an exhaust hose do not exist physically: the heat extracted from the room must go outside. Devices advertised without a hose are air coolers based on the evaporation principle — they lower the perceived temperature by a few degrees but increase the humidity. Anyone who really wants to cool without a hose needs a permanently installed split air conditioner, in which the outdoor unit discharges the heat.

May I install a split air conditioner myself?

No. In Germany, work on the refrigerant circuit may only be carried out by certified specialist firms with proof of expertise under the Chemicals Climate Protection Ordinance (Chemikalien-Klimaschutzverordnung). So-called quick-connect systems for self-installation are legally disputed and often lose their warranty and efficiency. For drilling, electrics and commissioning you should budget €800 to €1,500 in installation costs.

How much electricity does an air conditioner use?

A modern split air conditioner with 2.5 kW cooling capacity and SEER 7 uses about 180 kWh over 500 cooling hours per year — around €65 in electricity costs. A portable monobloc of the same cooling capacity easily reaches two to three times that, because warm outdoor air flows back in through window gaps. With your own photovoltaic system, the air conditioner runs practically free of charge in summer — a strong argument, especially in a new build.

Can an air conditioner also heat?

Yes. Almost all current split air conditioners are air-to-air heat pumps and heat very efficiently in the transitional season — 1 kWh of electricity becomes 3 to 5 kWh of heat. In well-insulated prefabricated houses, a multi-split system can even serve as a full heating system. For a new build, the air-to-water heat pump with a cooling function is an alternative worth considering, gently tempering the home in summer via the underfloor heating.

What does an air conditioner cost in a prefabricated new build?

Anyone who includes air conditioning directly in the house planning fares best: conduits, core drillings and mounting positions are prepared ex works, avoiding later chasing and façade work. A multi-split air conditioner planned ex works usually costs €4,000 to €8,000 as a surcharge in a prefabricated house, and a heat pump with an active cooling function costs €2,000 to €6,000 depending on the provider. Many manufacturers offer air conditioning packages as a fit-out option.

Which air conditioner brands are recommended?

In the split segment, Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric, Panasonic, LG and Toshiba are considered the benchmark for efficiency and quiet running; Midea, Gree and Comfee deliver solid technology at a lower price. Among portable air conditioners, devices from De'Longhi, Comfee and Midea regularly perform well in tests. More important than the brand is correct sizing: per 10 m² of living area, you roughly reckon with 250 to 350 watts of cooling capacity.

Does a new build in 2026 even need an air conditioner?

Increasingly yes. Hot summers are becoming more frequent, and well-insulated houses hold onto heat once it is inside for a long time. Summer thermal protection (sommerlicher Wärmeschutz) under DIN 4108-2 is mandatory in new builds, but often is not enough for restful sleep during heatwaves. That is why the combination of shading, a heat pump with a cooling function or a split air conditioner, and photovoltaics is the most frequently chosen solution in the prefabricated house in 2026.

Must the landlord allow a portable air conditioner?

Tenants may set up a portable air conditioner without permission as long as no structural changes are required — the window seal for the exhaust hose is considered permissible. A permanently installed split air conditioner with an outdoor unit and wall penetration, on the other hand, always requires the consent of the landlord or the owners' association. In your own house you decide for yourself — or plan the system right away in the new build.