8kW split systems: what they cost to buy and to run
Supplied and installed, an 8kW split system costs $2,988 to $5,938, GST included. Below are all 15 we install, cheapest to run first. Picking the cheapest to run saves up to $182 a year.
Every 8kW split system we install
Yearly cost to cool and heat, at the middle price of Sydney power plans (33.13c a kWh, including GST).
| Model | Size | Stars | Noise | Price installed | Cost a year | Add to quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1Rinnai PB Series 8kWHSNRP80B | 7.8 kW cooling8.3 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2.5 heating | 65 dB inside67 dB outside | $2,988to $3,188 | $566$209 cooling, $357 heating | |
 2=ActronAir Serene 8kWWRE‑080DS | 8.0 kW cooling9.0 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2.5 heating | 68 dB inside68 dB outside | $3,848to $4,068 | $579$205 cooling, $374 heating | |
 2=Carrier Indigo 8kW42QAG080N8 / 38QAG080N8 | 8.0 kW cooling8.2 kW heating | 3 cooling2.5 heating | 65 dB inside67 dB outside | $3,738to $3,958 | $579$223 cooling, $356 heating | |
 4Panasonic Z Series 8kWCS‑Z80YKR | 8.0 kW cooling9.0 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2.5 heating | 67 dB inside69 dB outside | $4,099to $4,199 | $581$216 cooling, $365 heating | |
 5TCL BreezeIN 2.0 8.2kWTAC‑28CHSD/VEIH | 8.2 kW cooling8.4 kW heating | 3 cooling2.5 heating | 65 dB inside67 dB outside | $3,289to $3,484 | $589$234 cooling, $355 heating | |
 6Panasonic RZ 8kWCS‑RZ80XKR / CU‑RZ80XKR | 8.0 kW cooling9.0 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2.5 heating | No figure | $4,099to $4,199 | $599$220 cooling, $379 heating | |
 7MHI Bronte 8kWDXK28ZRA‑WF1 | 8.0 kW cooling9.0 kW heating | 3.5 cooling2.5 heating | 58 dB inside68 dB outside | $4,228to $4,438 | $605$221 cooling, $384 heating | |
 8Hisense J-Series 8kWHAWJ28KR | 8.0 kW cooling8.0 kW heating | 3 cooling2.5 heating | 68 dB inside68 dB outside | $2,988to $3,188 | $608$247 cooling, $361 heating | |
 9Mitsubishi Electric MSZ-AP 8kWMSZ‑AP80VGKD2 | 7.8 kW cooling9.0 kW heating | 3 cooling2.5 heating | 62 dB inside65 dB outside | $5,268to $5,468 | $626$228 cooling, $398 heating | |
 10LG DUALCOOL AI 8.5kWWH30SRN‑18/WH30SRU‑18 | 8.5 kW cooling9.0 kW heating | 3 cooling2.5 heating | 69 dB inside65 dB outside | $3,388to $3,488 | $656$263 cooling, $393 heating | |
 11Samsung Aero 8kWAR30DXFZCWKNSA / AR30DXFZCWKXSA | 8.0 kW cooling9.0 kW heating | 3 cooling2 heating | 64 dB inside70 dB outside | $3,359to $3,599 | $678$243 cooling, $435 heating | |
 12Samsung AI Smart AIRISE WindFree 8kWAR30BXECNWKNSA | 8.0 kW cooling9.0 kW heating | 3 cooling2 heating | 64 dB inside70 dB outside | $3,359to $3,599 | $679$247 cooling, $432 heating | |
 13Fujitsu Lifestyle 8.5kWASTG30KMTC | 8.5 kW cooling9.0 kW heating | 2.5 cooling2 heating | 64 dB inside66 dB outside | $4,188to $4,388 | $695$270 cooling, $425 heating | |
 14Daikin Skywall 8.5kWFTXC85A | 8.5 kW cooling10.0 kW heating | 2.5 cooling2.5 heating | 65 dB inside71 dB outside | $5,828to $5,938 | $748$277 cooling, $471 heating | |
 Rinnai T Series 8kWHINRT80B / HONRT80B | 8 kW | Not rated | No figure | $3,099to $3,299 | No figure |
Source: Australian GEMS registry · median of 170 Sydney residential tariffs, including GST · Refreshed monthly · Last updated November 2026. Stars are for the energy label’s average climate zone, which includes Sydney. Noise is the sound level on the energy label, in decibels. A unit with no figure is not yet in the government register under the model number we install. Mitsubishi Electric makes the MSZ-AP. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI in the table) makes the Bronte. They are two different companies.
What the numbers mean
More heating output, more energy a year
Heating output here runs from 8.0 to 10.0 kW. On the energy label, a unit with more output also uses more energy over a year, even when it is just as efficient. To compare efficiency, look at the stars: more stars, less energy for the same job.
How loud they are
Lower is quieter. On the energy label, the indoor units here range from 58 to 69 decibels and the outdoor units from 65 to 71. For the indoor unit, brochures often print a different measure (sound pressure), which reads lower than the label.
Cost for an hour
At the size in the table, these units cost 73c to 86c an hour to cool and 74c to 100c an hour to heat. That is at 33.13c a kWh. For your bill, the yearly figures in the table are the better guide.
Western Sydney and Wollongong
Western Sydney and Wollongong are on a different power network, Endeavour Energy. The middle price there is 31.02c a kWh, including GST. The same units cost $529 to $700 a year there, in the same order.
An 8kW cools up to about 57 to 67 m²
That is a large open-plan living, dining and kitchen area: up to 67 m² if the room faces north and 57 m² if it faces east, insulated, in the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries sizing chart. West-facing windows, high ceilings and poor insulation mean you need more.
For a smaller room, compare 7kW split systems.
Prefer nothing on the wall? We also install 7 ducted systems and 2 cassette systems in this size.
What sets the installed price
- The length of pipe between the indoor and outdoor units. This changes the price most.
- Access: a second storey, a wall bracket up high, the wall the pipe goes through.
- Your switchboard and power supply.
The government register lists 13 of these 15 units as single-phase and none as three-phase. The installation cost guide covers each item. We give you a fixed price in writing before any work starts.
8kW split systems, answered
How much does an 8kW split system cost installed?
Supplied and installed, an 8kW split system costs $2,988 to $5,938, GST included. The cheapest to buy is the Rinnai PB Series 8kW, from $2,988. That is for a standard back-to-back install, with the outdoor unit on the ground and up to 5 metres of pipe. A wall bracket for the outdoor unit, a longer pipe run or a roof mount costs extra, and we confirm your price in writing before any work starts.
How much does an 8kW split system cost to run in Sydney?
An 8kW split system here costs $566 to $748 a year to cool and heat. That is at the middle price of Sydney power plans (33.13c a kWh, including GST). The cheapest to run is the Rinnai PB Series 8kW. Your own bill depends on how many hours you use it and on your power plan.
Is an 8.2 or 8.5 kW split system the same as an 8kW?
Yes, for choosing a size. 8 of the 12 brands here call their unit 8 kW. The others call it 8.2 or 8.5 kW, and this page lists them all.
What size room will an 8kW air conditioner cool?
Up to about 67 m² in an insulated room that faces north, or 57 m² if it faces east, in the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries sizing chart. West-facing windows, high ceilings or poor insulation mean you need more, so size your room before you choose.
How loud is an 8kW split system?
On the energy label, the indoor units here range from 58 to 69 decibels and the outdoor units from 65 to 71. Lower is quieter. The quietest indoor unit is the MHI Bronte 8kW.
How much does an 8kW split system cost installed?
It depends on the job. The length of pipe between the indoor and outdoor units, access (a second storey, a wall bracket up high) and your switchboard all change the price. Our installation cost guide explains each one. Ask for a quote and you get a fixed price in writing first.
Guides & advice
Buying guideTypes of air conditioners, and who each one suits
You'll often hear it comes down to split or ducted, but there are six types of air conditioners for a home. Here's where each one goes and who it suits.
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Buying guideWhat size air conditioner do I need? Room size to kW
Air conditioner size is measured in kilowatts, not the physical box on the wall, and getting it right is the difference between a system that quietly keeps up and one that costs more and never feels comfortable. Here is how to go from your room to a sensible kW range, what shifts that number, and how we size it against real systems.
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Buying guideThe quietest split systems at each size, from the energy label
At 7 kW, the quietest split system we install is 10 decibels quieter on its energy label than the cheapest to run. That's half as loud, for $37 a year more. Here's the quietest at every size, why brochures print a lower number, and the NSW hours for your neighbours.
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Let’s get your place comfortable.
Free fixed-price quotes in writing before any work starts, and a local team that turns up when they say they will.