Regional cost guide
Minnesota mini-split cost guide
Much of Minnesota is climate zone 6 / 7 (north). Electricity here runs 16.95 cents per kilowatt-hour, so a typical 12,000 BTU system costs about $505 a year to run. 2 rebate programs below can cut the installed price. Installed prices are mostly national — labor is the part that varies locally.
- Residential rate
- 16.95 c/kWh
- Rate source
- EIA, May 2026
Climate Profile
State-level range
Much of Minnesota is climate zone 6 / 7 (north).
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
$505per year
Example: 12k BTU/h system at 20 SEER2 / 10 HSPF2 using default annual operating hours.
Cooling
$28 monthly / 1,955.4 kWh yearly
Heating
$14 monthly / 1,024.8 kWh yearly
- Capacity
- 12,000 BTU/h
- Efficiency
- SEER2 20 / HSPF2 10
- Rate
- 16.95 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 | $3,344 to $9,133 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 12k BTU/h | $1,000 to $2,400 | $1,820 to $5,665 | $3,722 to $10,240 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 18k BTU/h | $1,400 to $3,200 | $2,320 to $6,715 | $4,565 to $12,204 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 24k BTU/h | $1,800 to $4,200 | $2,870 to $8,015 | $5,457 to $14,417 | 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
Minnesota Power Air Source Heat Pump - Cold Climate Ductless Rebate
Applications open
Program source lists purchases January 1 through December 31, 2026.
Covers mini-splits
Packet eligibility names ductless cold-climate air-source heat pumps and says they are also called mini-split systems.
$1,000 for a ductless cold-climate air-source heat pump purchased January 1 through December 31, 2026.
- Equipment
- New ductless cold-climate air-source heat pump; Minnesota Power states ductless heat pumps are also called mini-split systems.
- Income
- None published for this utility rebate.
- Efficiency
- Cold-climate systems must maintain efficient operation down to at least 5 F.
- Install
- Residential retail customer of a participating utility; installed by December 31, 2026 using a program participating contractor; rebate cannot exceed 75% of project cost.
UTILITY_REBATE
Minnesota Power Air Source Heat Pump - Ductless Rebate
Applications open
Program source lists purchases January 1 through December 31, 2026.
Covers mini-splits
Packet eligibility names a ductless air-source heat pump or mini-split system.
$400 for a ductless / mini-split air-source heat pump system purchased January 1 through December 31, 2026.
- Equipment
- New ENERGY STAR certified ductless air-source heat pump or mini-split system.
- Income
- None published for this utility rebate.
- Efficiency
- 2023 ENERGY STAR specifications shown by Minnesota Power, including HSPF2 >= 7.8 and SEER2 >= 15.2.
- Install
- Residential retail customer of a participating utility; installed by December 31, 2026 using a program participating contractor.
Federal credit timing and state-program caveats are covered in the mini-split rebates and tax credits guide.
Code Notes
- Minnesota Rules Chapter 1346 is the Minnesota Mechanical Code and Fuel Gas Code chapter, regulating design, installation, maintenance, alteration, and inspection of permanently installed mechanical systems used for environmental control.
- Electrical permits are required through the state or local authority depending on jurisdiction; Minnesota DLI tells homeowners to verify whether the AHJ column lists State or Local before filing.
- Planning permit-cost range is about $155-$500+ for a simple ductless mechanical/electrical permit and inspection set, using Blaine's $75 residential heat-pump mechanical line and Minnesota's $25 permit plus $55 minimum state electrical inspection fee as the low end.
Sources
- SplitAtlas: IECC predominant-zone-by-state mapping - editorial v1Sourced Jul 2026
Covers climate zone.
- SplitAtlas: IECC predominant-zone-by-state mapping - editorial v1Sourced Aug 2026
Covers climate zone.
- Minnesota Revisor of Statutes: Minnesota Rules Chapter 1346, Minnesota Mechanical and Fuel Gas CodesSourced Aug 2026
Covers code note.
Covers electrical permit note.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, June 2026 residential electricity ratesSourced Jul 2026
Covers electricity rate cents per kwh.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, June 2026 residential electricity ratesSourced Aug 2026
Covers electricity rate cents per kwh.
Covers labor cost multiplier.
- City of Blaine, Minnesota: City of Blaine 2026 fee scheduleSourced Aug 2026
Covers permit fee note.
- Operating-cost calculator methodology
Example calculation assumptions.
- Installation-cost calculator methodology
National planning ranges for equipment and installation.