AC Repair Cost: Capacitor, Refrigerant & Compressor (4 References)

AC repair costs $150 to $650 for most jobs, with national averages of $360 to $375 and major component work reaching $1,000 to $3,500.¹²³ Simple fixes like a capacitor run $100 to $400; a compressor replacement costs $600 to $3,500 depending on the reference.¹³⁴ Prices below are national averages* for 2026.

*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on the failed component, system type, warranty status, refrigerant type, and local labor rates.

$360

average repair, HomeGuide

$375

average repair, Fixr

$150 – $650

typical range

$75 – $200

service call, HomeGuide

Quick math: This Old House’s $5,000 rule: multiply the repair quote by the system’s age — over $5,000 means replace.³ A $400 repair on a 12-year-old unit scores $4,800 (repair); the same unit needing $500 scores $6,000 (replace), our arithmetic. Modernize’s $750 average runs well above HomeGuide ($360) and Fixr ($375) because its pool weights major component replacements more heavily, our reading.¹²⁴

Cost by repair

Repair	HomeGuide	Modernize	This Old House
Capacitor	$100 – $250	$150 – $400	$150 – $400
Refrigerant leak repair	$200 – $1,500	$200 – $1,500	—
Refrigerant recharge	$100 – $600	—	—
Blower motor	$300 – $900	$450 – $1,200	—
Circuit board	$150 – $700	$350 – $1,200	—
Fan motor (condenser)	$200 – $700	$300 – $700	—
Evaporator coil	$1,000 – $4,500	$600 – $2,000	—
Compressor	$600 – $2,500	$1,500 – $3,500	$1,000 – $3,000
Drain line flush	$75 – $250	—	$100 – $300
Tune-up	$70 – $200	—	—

Refrigerant work has the widest spread because the fix ranges from a $100 recharge to a $1,500 leak hunt and seal (HomeGuide, Modernize).¹⁴ The compressor is the budget-breaker everywhere; HomeGuide’s $600 low end is a repair, not a swap, our reading.¹ Under warranty, parts may be free and you pay labor only (This Old House).³

Cost by system type

System	Typical repair (This Old House)
Central air conditioner	$150 – $650
Ductless mini-split	$250 – $900
Window unit	$100 – $400
Portable unit	$80 – $300
Packaged unit	$300 – $900
Dual-fuel / hybrid	$300 – $1,200+
Evaporative (swamp) cooler	$100 – $500
Geothermal heat pump	$400 – $1,500+

Central air is the baseline; window and portable units are cheap enough that replacement often beats repair, our judgment.³

Labor and emergency rates

Technicians charge $75 to $150 per hour (HomeGuide) or $75 to $175, up to $250 with multiple techs (Fixr).¹² Emergency and weekend rates run 2 to 3 times standard, or $150 to $300 per hour (Fixr).² The service call alone is $75 to $200 (HomeGuide); a $75 minimum is typical (Fixr).¹²

Repair or replace

Apply the $5,000 rule (repair cost × system age), and treat any compressor quote on a 10+ year-old unit as a replacement trigger, since compressors alone run $1,000 to $3,500 (This Old House, Modernize).³⁴ Major components last 10 to 20 years, so older systems stack repairs (Fixr).² Compare against a new system in our central air installation cost guide.

Worked examples

Example 1 — AC won’t start (bad capacitor). $100 to $250 (HomeGuide) to $150 to $400 (Modernize, This Old House).¹³⁴ The most common AC repair there is, our judgment.

Example 2 — warm air, low refrigerant. Recharge $100 to $600 (HomeGuide); if it’s a leak, $200 to $1,500 to find and seal (HomeGuide, Modernize).¹⁴ A recharge without fixing the leak is money down the drain, our judgment.

Example 3 — dead compressor, 14-year-old unit. $1,500 to $3,500 (Modernize).⁴ $5,000 rule: even $1,500 × 14 = $21,000 — replace, our arithmetic from This Old House’s rule.³

FAQ

What is the most common AC repair? Capacitor replacement, $100 to $400 across all references; clogged filters and drain lines follow (Fixr, This Old House).²³

Can I fix my AC myself? Filters and condensate drain flushes are DIY; anything involving refrigerant requires an EPA-certified tech by law, our judgment.¹

Why did my quote jump after the tech arrived? A $75 to $200 service call covers diagnosis; the repair itself is parts plus $75 to $175 per hour (HomeGuide, Fixr).¹²

Is the emergency callout worth it? At 2 to 3 times standard rates (Fixr), only when heat is a health risk; otherwise book the next regular slot, our judgment.²

Does a warranty cover repairs? Manufacturer parts warranties run 5 to 10 years, up to 15 extended (Fixr); labor is often separate, our judgment.²

DIY shopping: AC coil cleaner (plain link, no affiliate relationship) — a $10 foaming coil clean each spring delays the $100 to $400 professional coil cleaning.

Sources

HomeGuide, How Much Does AC Repair Cost? (2026).
Fixr, AC Repair Cost (2026).
This Old House, Air Conditioner Repair Cost (2026).
Modernize, How Much Does Home AC Repair Cost? (2026).