Regional cost guide
Maryland mini-split cost guide
Much of Maryland is climate zone 4A (Garrett County 5A). Electricity here runs 21.84 cents per kilowatt-hour, so a typical 12,000 BTU system costs about $651 a year to run. 5 rebate programs below can cut the installed price. Installed prices are mostly national — labor is the part that varies locally.
- Residential rate
- 21.84 c/kWh
- Rate source
- EIA, June 2026
Climate Profile
State-level range
Much of Maryland is climate zone 4A (Garrett County 5A).
These are statewide figures. Climate and electricity rates vary a lot inside a state, so check your own ZIP code before sizing a system around them.
Operating-Cost Example
Operating-cost example
$651per year
Example: 12k BTU/h system at 20 SEER2 / 10 HSPF2 using default annual operating hours.
Cooling
$36 monthly / 1,955.4 kWh yearly
Heating
$19 monthly / 1,024.8 kWh yearly
- Capacity
- 12,000 BTU/h
- Efficiency
- SEER2 20 / HSPF2 10
- Rate
- 21.84 c/kWh
Typical Sizes And Installed Cost
Equipment, materials, electrical work and permits are priced the same everywhere. Only the labor line is adjusted to this state, which is why these ranges sit close to the national ones.
| Size | Equipment | DIY installed | Pro installed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9k BTU/h | $900 to $1,900 | $1,670 to $5,015 | $3,341 to $9,126 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 12k BTU/h | $1,000 to $2,400 | $1,820 to $5,665 | $3,719 to $10,232 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 18k BTU/h | $1,400 to $3,200 | $2,320 to $6,715 | $4,561 to $12,194 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 24k BTU/h | $1,800 to $4,200 | $2,870 to $8,015 | $5,453 to $14,406 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
Matched Cold-Climate Systems
LG
LG ARTCOOL Deluxe R-32 9,000 BTU (230V)
Cooling
Heating
Low ambient
Efficiency
LG
LG ARTCOOL Deluxe R-32 12,000 BTU (230V)
Cooling
Heating
Low ambient
Efficiency
GE Appliances
GE Appliances Endure 9,000 BTU R-454B 208/230V (GS09WP2BEA / 1G09ED2BEA)
Cooling
Heating
Low ambient
Efficiency
Haier
Haier Arctic Series Premium Highwall 9,000 BTU R-454B 208/230V (QS09WP2BEA / 1Q09RT2BEA)
Cooling
Heating
Low ambient
Efficiency
GE Appliances
GE Appliances Endure 12,000 BTU R-454B 208/230V (GS12WP2BEA / 1G12ED2BEA)
Cooling
Heating
Low ambient
Efficiency
Haier
Haier Arctic Series Premium Highwall 12,000 BTU R-454B 208/230V (QS12WP2BEA / 1Q12RT2BEA)
Cooling
Heating
Low ambient
Efficiency
Incentives
UTILITY_REBATE
BGE Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
Applications open
BGE's current HPwES page provides active participating-contractor and rebate-intake paths.
Covers mini-splits
The official current incentive table explicitly names single- and multi-head ductless systems.
Income tiers affect amount
None for this standard offer. BGE separately administers income-qualified services, but income qualification is not a condition of the standard HPwES incentive recorded here.
75% of eligible project cost up to $10,000, or up to $15,000 when eligible work replaces fossil-fuel HVAC or water heating with an electric heat pump. Equipment starting amounts include $400 air-source Tier 1, $650 Tier 2, $250 ductless single-head, and $400 ductless multi-head, subject to the project cap.
- Equipment
- Qualified air-source heat pump or ductless single- or multi-head heat pump installed as part of an eligible whole-home project for a BGE residential account.
- Efficiency
- Air-source Tier 1 starts at 15.2 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2; Tier 2 at 16.9 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. Ductless single-head starts at 18 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2; ductless multi-head at 15.5 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2.
- Install
- A participating contractor performs the assessment, submits the incentive reservation, and completes the project. Attic air sealing and insulation to R-49 are required unless the contractor documents that they are unnecessary under program rules.
UTILITY_REBATE
Delmarva Power Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
Applications open
Delmarva Power's current Maryland HPwES page provides active contractor and application paths.
Covers mini-splits
The official linked incentive overview explicitly names ductless single- and multi-head systems.
Income tiers affect amount
None for this standard HPwES offer.
75% of eligible project cost up to $10,000, or up to $15,000 when a fossil-fuel HVAC or water-heating system is converted to an electric heat pump. Published starting amounts include $250 for ductless single-head and $400 for ductless multi-head equipment, subject to the project cap.
- Equipment
- Qualified heat pump, including ductless single- or multi-head equipment, installed in an eligible one-to-four-unit primary residence on an active Delmarva Power Maryland residential account.
- Efficiency
- Ductless single-head requires at least 18 SEER2, 12.5 EER2, and 8.1 HSPF2; ductless multi-head requires at least 15.5 SEER2, 12.5 EER2, and 7.8 HSPF2. Other heat pumps must meet the linked current incentive schedule.
- Install
- Owner or qualifying tenant must complete the program assessment and use a participating contractor; tenant projects require owner authorization. Incentive reservation and the program's attic air-sealing/R-49 rule apply unless documented as unnecessary.
UTILITY_REBATE
Pepco Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
Applications open
Pepco's current Maryland HPwES page provides an active contractor and application path.
Covers mini-splits
The official linked incentive overview explicitly names ductless single- and multi-head systems.
Income tiers affect amount
None for this standard HPwES offer.
75% of eligible project cost up to $10,000, or up to $15,000 when a fossil-fuel HVAC or water-heating system is converted to an electric heat pump. Published starting amounts include $250 for ductless single-head and $400 for ductless multi-head equipment, subject to the project cap.
- Equipment
- Qualified heat pump, including ductless single- or multi-head equipment, installed in an eligible one-to-four-unit primary residence on an active Pepco Maryland residential account.
- Efficiency
- Ductless single-head requires at least 18 SEER2, 12.5 EER2, and 8.1 HSPF2; ductless multi-head requires at least 15.5 SEER2, 12.5 EER2, and 7.8 HSPF2. Other heat pumps must meet the linked current incentive schedule.
- Install
- Owner or qualifying tenant must complete the program assessment and use a participating contractor; tenant projects require owner authorization. Incentive reservation and the program's attic air-sealing/R-49 rule apply unless documented as unnecessary.
UTILITY_REBATE
Potomac Edison Switch to Electric HVAC Rebates
Applications open
The current Maryland program page offers the rebate through December 31, 2026, subject to funding and program terms.
Covers mini-splits
The current utility page explicitly publishes a ductless mini-split switch incentive.
Up to $4,000 for a qualifying cold-climate heat pump, up to $3,500 for an air-source heat pump, or $3,000 for a ductless mini-split, plus up to $3,000 for eligible electric make-ready work.
- Equipment
- Qualifying cold-climate heat pump, air-source heat pump, or ductless mini-split installed for a Potomac Edison Maryland residential customer switching from fossil-fuel heat.
- Income
- None published for this standard switch-to-electric offer.
- Efficiency
- Equipment must appear in the program's qualifying-product path for the applicable heat-pump category.
- Install
- A participating contractor installs the qualifying equipment. The switch incentive requires replacement of fossil-fuel heating; qualifying electric make-ready costs must be documented under the program rules.
UTILITY_REBATE
SMECO Residential HVAC Rebates
Applications open
SMECO's current member page publishes the incentive table and active instant-rebate route.
Covers mini-splits
The current SMECO member page expressly lists ducted mini-split and ductless single- and multi-head categories.
$600 for air-source/ducted mini-split Tier 1, $975 for Tier 2, $600 for ductless multi-head, or $375 for ductless single-head.
- Equipment
- Qualifying air-source heat pump, ducted mini-split, or ductless single- or multi-head mini-split purchased for a SMECO residential member account.
- Income
- None published for the standard equipment rebates.
- Efficiency
- Air-source/ducted mini-split Tier 1 requires at least 15.2 SEER2 and 6.7 packaged or 7.5 split HSPF2; Tier 2 requires 16.9 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. Ductless multi-head requires 15.5 SEER2/7.5 HSPF2 and ductless single-head 18 SEER2/7.5 HSPF2.
- Install
- Purchase and installation must use a qualifying product through an authorized HVAC contractor or distributor; the instant rebate is reflected in the customer contract.
Federal credit timing and state-program caveats are covered in the mini-split rebates and tax credits guide.
Code Notes
- Howard County requires an HVAC permit for new systems, energy/fuel-source changes, additions, and alterations. Its policy excludes exact replacement of existing electric HVAC from the HVAC permit requirement, although other permits may still apply. This is a county rule and must not be treated as a statewide exemption.
- Howard County's FY27 HVAC fee schedule, effective July 1, 2026, charges a nonrefundable $50 application fee, a 10% technology fee on HVAC fees, and $40 per zone for one- or two-family residential HVAC work. This is a Howard County planning data point, not a statewide fee; the local authority must determine the current permit scope and total.
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy: Building America Best Practices Series Volume 7.3 - Guide to Determining Climate Regions by CountySourced Sep 2026
Covers climate zone.
- Howard County, Maryland: HVAC Permit PolicySourced Sep 2026
Covers code note.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, June 2026 residential electricity ratesSourced Sep 2026
Covers electricity rate cents per kwh.
Covers labor cost multiplier.
- Howard County, Maryland: FY27 HVAC Permit Fee ScheduleSourced Sep 2026
Covers permit fee note.
- Operating-cost calculator methodology
Example calculation assumptions.
- Installation-cost calculator methodology
National planning ranges for equipment and installation.