Regional cost guide
Montana mini-split cost guide
Much of Montana is climate zone 6B. Electricity here runs 15.14 cents per kilowatt-hour, so a typical 12,000 BTU system costs about $451 a year to run. 4 rebate programs below can cut the installed price. Installed prices are mostly national — labor is the part that varies locally.
- Residential rate
- 15.14 c/kWh
- Rate source
- EIA, June 2026
Climate Profile
State-level range
Much of Montana is climate zone 6B.
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
$451per year
Example: 12k BTU/h system at 20 SEER2 / 10 HSPF2 using default annual operating hours.
Cooling
$25 monthly / 1,955.4 kWh yearly
Heating
$13 monthly / 1,024.8 kWh yearly
- Capacity
- 12,000 BTU/h
- Efficiency
- SEER2 20 / HSPF2 10
- Rate
- 15.14 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 | $3,090 to $8,473 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 12k BTU/h | $1,000 to $2,400 | $1,820 to $5,665 | $3,433 to $9,507 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 18k BTU/h | $1,400 to $3,200 | $2,320 to $6,715 | $4,221 to $11,326 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 24k BTU/h | $1,800 to $4,200 | $2,870 to $8,015 | $5,059 to $13,395 | 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
Flathead Electric Cooperative Air-Source and Ductless Heat-Pump Rebates
Applications open
The current cooperative pages publish the amounts, requirements, qualified-installer route, and live online applications.
Covers mini-splits
Flathead Electric expressly publishes a Ductless Heat Pumps measure and $920 amount.
Income-qualified program
None required for the published heat-pump amounts; the application includes optional income information for possible additional program consideration.
Ductless heat pump $920. Ducted air-source conversion from electric forced air $1,250. Variable-speed air-source heat pump $1,560 for that conversion or $600 for eligible electric-resistance, existing heat-pump, non-electric, ductless, or new-construction cases.
- Equipment
- Qualifying ductless heat pump in an existing single-family home with electric-resistance or electric forced-air primary heat, or a qualifying ducted or variable-speed air-source heat pump under the cooperative's published existing-heat and construction cases.
- Efficiency
- Equipment must meet the cooperative's current qualifying measure and contractor requirements; variable-speed eligibility requires the applicable variable-speed system type. Members are directed to an Energy Advisor for model-specific eligibility.
- Install
- The property and existing heating system must match the selected measure, and a contractor from the cooperative's qualified-installer list must install the system. Submit the live online claim with homeowner/account, project, equipment, and contractor information.
UTILITY_REBATE
Lincoln Electric Cooperative Air-Source and Ductless Heat-Pump Rebates
Applications open
The current 2026 pages provide preapproval steps, certified-contractor lists, and live forms; applicants must wait for cooperative approval before purchase.
Covers mini-splits
Lincoln Electric expressly publishes a Ductless Heat Pumps program, form, and income-dependent incentive range.
Income-qualified program
The ductless incentive amount depends on household income and home eligibility. The current public page publishes the $800-$6,000 range but no numeric income bands; preapproval determines the amount. The $1,000/$1,200 manufactured-home air-source offer has no published income ceiling.
Manufactured/modular-home air-source heat pump: $1,000 non-variable speed or $1,200 variable speed. Ductless heat pump: $800-$6,000, depending on household income and home eligibility.
- Equipment
- Qualifying air-source heat pump replacing electric forced-air heat in a manufactured or modular home, or qualifying ductless heat pump for a member with permanent zonal electric-resistance or electric forced-air heat in an eligible single-family, multiplex, or manufactured home.
- Efficiency
- The manufactured/modular-home air-source system must be AHRI certified with at least 9.0 HSPF and 14.0 SEER. Ductless equipment must satisfy the cooperative's preapproved model and program requirements.
- Install
- Obtain Lincoln Electric preapproval before purchase, use a contractor on its Certified Contractor List, install in service territory, and submit the completed form and invoice. The cooperative may inspect before final approval.
UTILITY_REBATE
Mission Valley Power Air-Source and Ductless Heat-Pump Rebates
Applications open
The utility's current pages provide live online forms and downloadable claim routes for all three consolidated measures.
Covers mini-splits
Mission Valley Power expressly publishes a Ductless Heat Pump Rebate and a fossil-fuel conversion form naming ductless heat pumps.
Ducted air-source conversion from electric forced air $500. Ductless $920 for an all-electric home or $450 with non-electric auxiliary heat, plus $250 for each additional system in the same home. Fossil-fuel conversion to an air-source or ductless heat pump $250 per unit.
- Equipment
- Qualifying ducted air-source heat pump replacing an electric forced-air furnace, qualifying ductless heat pump in an existing single-family home with electric-resistance primary heat, or an air-source/ductless conversion from fossil fuel.
- Income
- None published.
- Efficiency
- The ducted form requires minimum AHRI-rated 14.0 SEER “and HSPF” but publishes no separate numeric HSPF value. Ductless applicants must provide the AHRI sheet, SEER/HSPF ratings, and EnergyGuide label.
- Install
- Use the applicable current online application and provide the account, installation address, existing heat/fuel, equipment, purchase receipt, AHRI or EnergyGuide documents, and installer certification. The $500 ducted path excludes upgrades, zonal heat, and new construction; the ductless path excludes new construction and requires existing single-family electric-resistance primary heat.
UTILITY_REBATE
Sun River Electric Cooperative Air-Source Heat-Pump Rebate
Applications open
The current cooperative page publishes the amount and includes the active agreement/request and document-upload route, subject to preapproval.
Mini-split coverage unclear
Sun River says Air Source Heat Pump but does not expressly say ductless or mini-split.
$150 per installed ton of air-source heat-pump capacity, capped at $750 per system.
- Equipment
- Qualifying air-source heat pump in a home or building served by Sun River Electric Cooperative.
- Income
- None published.
- Efficiency
- Minimum 8 HSPF and 14 SEER.
- Install
- Request and return the Air Source Heat Pump Rebate Agreement for cooperative approval before installation. A qualified person must install to the National Electrical Code; provide the installer invoice and allow cooperative inspection. One rebate applies per system and payment follows completed installation and approval.
Federal credit timing and state-program caveats are covered in the mini-split rebates and tax credits guide.
Code Notes
- Billings currently adopts the 2021 International Mechanical Code, modified by the Administrative Rules of Montana. Its adopted-codes page says mechanical systems in detached one- and two-family homes and qualifying townhouses are governed by the latest adopted IMC, apart from the identified residential-code exhaust alternative. The local and state authorities must determine applicable permits and amendments. This is a Billings planning data point, not a statewide fee.
Sources
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy: Climate Zone Change Summary - PNNL-33270Sourced Sep 2026
Covers climate zone.
- City of Billings, Montana: Adopted CodesSourced 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.
- Operating-cost calculator methodology
Example calculation assumptions.
- Installation-cost calculator methodology
National planning ranges for equipment and installation.