SplitAtlas

Regional cost guide

Texas mini-split cost guide

Much of Texas is climate zone 2 / 3. Electricity here runs 16.44 cents per kilowatt-hour, so a typical 12,000 BTU system costs about $490 a year to run. One rebate program below can cut the installed price. Installed prices are mostly national — labor is the part that varies locally.

Operating costInstalled cost
Residential rate
16.44 c/kWh
Rate source
EIA, May 2026

Climate Profile

State-level range

Much of Texas is climate zone 2 / 3.

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

$490per year

Example: 12k BTU/h system at 20 SEER2 / 10 HSPF2 using default annual operating hours.

Cooling

$27 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
16.44 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.

Installed-cost ranges by capacity
SizeEquipmentDIY installedPro installedSource
9k BTU/h$900 to $1,900$1,670 to $5,015$3,023 to $8,297National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state
12k BTU/h$1,000 to $2,400$1,820 to $5,665$3,356 to $9,313National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state
18k BTU/h$1,400 to $3,200$2,320 to $6,715$4,130 to $11,093National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state
24k BTU/h$1,800 to $4,200$2,870 to $8,015$4,954 to $13,123National ranges, with labor adjusted to this state

Incentives

UTILITY_REBATE

CPS Energy HVAC Rebates - Heat Pump and Ductless Mini-Split

Applications open

CPS Energy publishes 2026/PY4 HVAC rebate specifications with no closure stated.

Covers mini-splits

Packet eligibility names heat pumps, mini-split heat pumps, and ductless mini-split systems.

Early replacement rebates are $115-$310 per cooling ton; replace-on-burnout rebates are $90-$275 per cooling ton by SEER2 tier for central A/C, central heat pump, and ductless mini-split systems.

Equipment
Heat pumps, mini-split heat pumps, central heat pumps, and ductless mini-split systems for eligible CPS Energy residential customers in the San Antonio service territory; this is not a statewide Texas rebate.
Income
No income restriction is published for this CPS Energy utility rebate.
Efficiency
Heat pump and mini-split heat pump minimums include 14.3 SEER2, 11.7 EER2, and 7.5 HSPF2; all systems at 15.2 SEER2 or higher use the 9.8 EER2 minimum shown by CPS Energy.
Install
Home improvement or retrofit only; one-for-one replacement; AHRI certificate and model/serial numbers required; installed by an HVAC contractor licensed in Texas; San Antonio permit number required for projects inside city limits.
CPS Energy: HVAC Rebates SpecificationsSourced Aug 2026

Federal credit timing and state-program caveats are covered in the mini-split rebates and tax credits guide.

Code Notes

  • Texas HVAC and mechanical permits are decided by the local authority having jurisdiction. Austin lists Mechanical Change Out as a stand-alone permit for mechanical change-out work that does not require formal plan review, and contractors must be registered before applying.
  • Planning permit-cost data point for Austin's FY 2025-26 residential fee schedule. Residential Change-Out Program Permits list HVAC at $67.32 for the first system and $18.81 for each additional system; actual Texas permit charges remain local.

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Sources