Regional cost guide
New Jersey mini-split cost guide
Much of New Jersey is climate zone 4A / 5A (north and northwest). Electricity here runs 24.95 cents per kilowatt-hour, so a typical 12,000 BTU system costs about $744 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
- 24.95 c/kWh
- Rate source
- EIA, June 2026
Climate Profile
State-level range
Much of New Jersey is climate zone 4A / 5A (north and northwest).
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
$744per year
Example: 12k BTU/h system at 20 SEER2 / 10 HSPF2 using default annual operating hours.
Cooling
$41 monthly / 1,955.4 kWh yearly
Heating
$21 monthly / 1,024.8 kWh yearly
- Capacity
- 12,000 BTU/h
- Efficiency
- SEER2 20 / HSPF2 10
- Rate
- 24.95 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 | $3,422 to $9,338 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 12k BTU/h | $1,000 to $2,400 | $1,820 to $5,665 | $3,812 to $10,467 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 18k BTU/h | $1,400 to $3,200 | $2,320 to $6,715 | $4,671 to $12,475 | National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state |
| 24k BTU/h | $1,800 to $4,200 | $2,870 to $8,015 | $5,581 to $14,734 | 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
Atlantic City Electric HVAC Efficiency Program
Applications open
Atlantic City Electric's current program page provides active contractor and customer claim paths; the temporary cold-climate tier runs through June 30, 2027.
Covers mini-splits
The current utility program explicitly uses both “ducted or ductless” for cold-climate equipment and “ductless mini-split” for a separate qualifying category.
Income tiers affect amount
Standard tiers have no income restriction. An additional $300 per qualifying item may be available through the program's low-to-moderate-income qualification pathways, including eligible tract, self-certification, or specified safety-net participation.
$500 for Tier 1 or $750 for Tier 2 air-source heat pumps; $2,000 for a qualifying ducted or ductless cold-climate heat pump during the temporary 2026-04-01 through 2027-06-30 period; $750 for a qualifying ductless mini-split. Eligible low-to-moderate-income customers may receive $300 more per qualifying item.
- Equipment
- Qualifying replacement air-source split/package heat pump, ducted or ductless cold-climate heat pump, or ductless mini-split for an Atlantic City Electric New Jersey residential customer.
- Efficiency
- Ductless mini-split requires at least 17.1 SEER2, 11.7 EER2, and 7.8 HSPF2. Cold-climate equipment requires at least 15.2 SEER2, 10 EER2, 8.1 HSPF2, and COP 1.75 at 5 degrees F, with NEEP/AHRI verification. Other air-source heat pumps must meet the published Tier 1 or Tier 2 specifications.
- Install
- A licensed HVAC contractor installs qualifying replacement equipment and submits the instant-rebate claim; the utility also publishes a customer paper-application route with required invoice and equipment documentation.
UTILITY_REBATE
JCP&L HVAC Equipment Rebates
Applications open
JCP&L's current residential HVAC page publishes the rebate amounts and provides active contractor and customer submission paths.
Covers mini-splits
The current utility page explicitly publishes a ductless mini-split rebate category.
$750 for a qualifying ductless mini-split; $500 for Tier 1 or $750 for Tier 2 air-source heat pumps; $1,000 for a qualifying cold-climate air-source heat pump.
- Equipment
- Qualifying ductless mini-split, standard air-source heat pump, or cold-climate air-source heat pump for a JCP&L New Jersey residential customer.
- Income
- None published for the standard residential equipment rebate.
- Efficiency
- Ductless mini-split requires at least 17.1 SEER2, 11.7 EER2, and 7.8 HSPF2. Standard air-source heat pumps qualify at the published Tier 1 or Tier 2 specifications; cold-climate equipment must satisfy the program's cold-climate qualified-product requirements.
- Install
- Install qualifying equipment and submit the required equipment, customer, contractor, and invoice documentation through the JCP&L contractor portal or published customer application path.
UTILITY_REBATE
PSE&G Residential Building Decarbonization
Applications open
PSE&G's current HVAC Instant Rebates page offers contractor lookup and an active instant-rebate path for residential Building Decarbonization projects.
Mini-split coverage unclear
The controlling incentive schedule says cold-climate air-source heat pump but does not itself say ductless or mini-split, so the packet does not promote it to confirmed ductless coverage.
Income tiers affect amount
Standard incentives have no income limit. Enhanced moderate-income amounts may be available at or below 400% of the federal poverty level, through an eligible low-to-moderate-income tract or self-certification, through specified safety-net participation, or for an Overburdened Community address under program rules.
Full-displacement cold-climate air-source heat pump: lesser of $10,000 or 50% of project cost; moderate-income: lesser of $12,000 or 60%. Full-displacement dual fuel: lesser of $5,000 or 50%; moderate-income: lesser of $6,000 or 60%. Eligible re-ducting and fossil-equipment decommissioning may each add up to $2,000.
- Equipment
- Full-displacement cold-climate air-source heat pump or eligible full-displacement dual-fuel heat-pump system in an existing one-to-four-unit home. The owner must have PSE&G residential electric service, or Butler residential electric service and PSE&G residential gas service.
- Efficiency
- Qualifying cold-climate equipment must meet the approved program's cold-climate specifications and be sized for the applicable heating load; the authorized contractor verifies eligibility.
- Install
- Installation must be performed through a PSE&G-authorized Building Decarbonization contractor. Full-displacement projects must displace the existing fossil-fuel heating system; eligible re-ducting must be supported by the program's required design documentation, and decommissioning costs must be eligible and itemized.
UTILITY_REBATE
Rockland Electric Cold Climate Ductless Mini-Split Decommissioning Offer
Applications open
Rockland Electric's current New Jersey page presents the live offer and participating-contractor path without a published closure date.
Covers mini-splits
The program name and current utility equipment rules explicitly say ductless mini-split.
50% of project cost up to $10,000, plus eligible itemized fossil-system decommissioning costs up to $2,000. The current page also publishes an additional $2,000 per qualifying unit and a $1,000 whole-home bonus, subject to program conditions.
- Equipment
- Qualifying cold-climate ductless mini-split installed in an existing one-to-four-family home of an active Rockland Electric residential customer to replace gas or delivered-fuel heat. New construction is excluded.
- Income
- None published for this standard residential offer.
- Efficiency
- Equipment must exceed 15 SEER2 and 8.5 HSPF2 and have COP above 1.75 at 5 degrees F, with the applicable program qualified-product documentation.
- Install
- Work must be completed by a participating contractor. The fossil heating system must be replaced and eligible decommissioning costs itemized to claim the decommissioning offer.
Federal credit timing and state-program caveats are covered in the mini-split rebates and tax credits guide.
Code Notes
- Princeton's current-linked construction-code fee schedule lists mechanical appliances in residential groups R-2 through R-5, including condensers, air handlers, and mini-split units, at $58 for the first unit and $15 for each additional unit. The electrical subcode minimum is $50. Other applicable subcodes and the total depend on project scope. This is a Princeton planning data point, not a statewide fee; the local enforcing agency must confirm the required permits and current 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.
- 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.
Covers permit fee note.
- Operating-cost calculator methodology
Example calculation assumptions.
- Installation-cost calculator methodology
National planning ranges for equipment and installation.