Keeping an entire house cool with air conditioning costs on average between €3.000 and €15.000 for purchase and installation, depending on the size of your home and the type of system you choose. On top of that, you pay monthly electricity costs, which vary significantly by system and usage. In this article, we answer the most frequently asked questions about the costs of air conditioning for your entire home.

How many air conditioners do you need for an entire house?

For an average Dutch terraced house of 80 to 120 square meters, you typically need two to four air conditioning units to effectively cool the entire house. The exact number depends on the layout, the insulation value of your home, and the size of the individual rooms.

A single-split system cools only one room per outdoor unit. If you want to cool multiple rooms, you have the choice of several separate single-split systems or a multi-split system where multiple indoor units are connected to a single outdoor unit. For an entire house, a multi-split system or ducted air conditioning is often the most practical solution.

Take the following factors into account when determining the number of units:

Floor area per room: A 2,5 kW unit cools roughly 20 to 25 square meters.
Sun exposure: South-facing rooms heat up faster and require more cooling capacity.
Insulation level: Poorly insulated homes require more capacity per room.
Floors: Heat rises, so the upper floor often requires extra cooling.

What are the purchase and installation costs of a whole-house air conditioner?

The total purchase and installation costs for an air conditioner that cools the entire house average between 3.000 and 15.000 euros. The price varies significantly depending on the type of system, the number of units, and the complexity of the installation in your specific home.

A general overview of the cost categories:

Single-split system (per unit): Suitable for a single room, relatively low entry price per unit, but higher total costs if you want to cool multiple rooms.
Multi-split system: One outdoor unit for multiple indoor units, more efficient in purchasing and installation for multiple rooms.
Ducted air conditioning (ducted system): Hidden in the ceiling, suitable for an entire house but requires more installation work and is therefore the most expensive option.

The installation costs are partly determined by the amount of piping, the accessibility of the outdoor unit, and any necessary structural modifications. Via the air conditioning configuration tool you can quickly get an indication of which system suits your situation.

How much does an air conditioner cost in electricity per month?

The monthly electricity costs for a whole-house air conditioner average between 30 and 120 euros during the summer months, depending on the number of units, usage, and the energy efficiency of the system. Outside of the summer, the costs are negligible if you use the air conditioner purely for cooling.

The energy efficiency of an air conditioner is expressed in the SEER value (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). The higher this value, the less power the air conditioner consumes for the same amount of cooling. Modern inverter air conditioners typically have a SEER value of 6 or higher, making them significantly more efficient than older models.

Factors influencing monthly consumption:

The number of hours per day that the air conditioning is active
The set temperature (every degree lower costs more energy)
The outdoor temperature and the number of warm days per year
The insulation value of your home
The capacity and the number of units in use

Which type of air conditioning system is the most cost-effective for an entire house?

For cooling an entire house, a multi-split system offers the best value for money in most cases. It combines a lower total price compared to multiple separate systems with the flexibility to set the temperature per room.

Technically, a ducted air conditioner is the most complete solution because all piping is concealed and you manage one central system. However, the higher installation costs and the need for a suspended ceiling or crawl space make it less suitable for existing homes without these provisions.

Multiple separate single-split systems offer the most flexibility in use but, with three or more units, are more expensive to purchase and install than a multi-split alternative. Moreover, you need a separate outdoor unit for each system, which affects space and aesthetics.

When does a whole-house air conditioner pay for itself?

In most cases, a whole-house air conditioner does not fully pay for itself through energy savings alone, but it can be financially attractive if you also use the system for heating. Modern heat pump air conditioners can heat more efficiently in the winter than electric radiators, which significantly shortens the payback period.

If you purchase an air conditioner purely for cooling, the direct financial benefits are more limited. The added value then lies primarily in comfort, better sleep quality during warm nights, and an increased value of your home. In 2026, summers in the Netherlands will become increasingly warmer and longer, which will structurally increase the demand for cooling.

If you also use the system as a heat pump for heating, compare the heating costs with your current heating system. An air conditioner with a COP value of 3 or higher heats three times as efficiently as an electric radiator, which makes a payback period of five to ten years realistic with full utilization.

What should you look out for when installing air conditioning in an existing home?

When installing air conditioning in an existing home, the main considerations are routing pipes through walls, the placement of the outdoor unit, and the available electrical capacity. Without proper preparation, these factors can complicate the installation and increase costs.

The pipes between the indoor and outdoor units must be routed through the wall. This requires drilling holes in concrete or masonry, which is precise work to prevent damage to the structure. The diameter of the drill hole depends on the type of pipe and the number of pipes that need to pass through it.

Other important considerations for installation in an existing home:

Electrical group: Check if your fuse box can handle an extra circuit for the air conditioner.
Outdoor unit placement: The unit requires adequate ventilation and, in many municipalities, may not simply be attached to the front facade.
Leadership path: The shorter the distance between the indoor and outdoor unit, the more efficiently the system operates.
License: In some cases, an environmental permit is required, particularly for monumental buildings or specific zoning plans.
Condensate drain: The indoor unit produces condensate that must be drained via a pipe to the outside or to the sewer.

Proper preparation and professional installation prevent problems later on and ensure that the system performs optimally. Use the pricing tool to get an indication of the costs for your specific situation.

How De Betonboorder helps with the installation of your air conditioner

Installing air conditioning in an existing home almost always means drilling holes through concrete or masonry walls. That is exactly where we make the difference. As specialists in concrete drilling, we ensure a clean, precise routing of pipes without unnecessary damage to the structure.

What we arrange for you:

Drilling pipe penetrations through concrete, masonry, or other hard materials
Precise, custom work tailored to the diameter your installer needs.
Tidy handover: the workplace is left clean and tidy.
Quick deployment: in many cases, we can schedule a professional within two days
Nationwide network of experienced professionals, active for both private individuals and contractors

Would you like to know how much it costs to drill the pipe penetration for your air conditioning installation or how soon we are available? Contact us and we respond within 24 hours.

How much does it cost to keep your entire house cool with an air conditioner?