Installing a swamp cooler – also called an evaporative cooler – costs $2,543 on average, with most homeowners paying $1,544 to $3,759, according to Angi (updated September 2026, drawing on 539 verified projects)1. HomeAdvisor – corporate sibling publishing matching figures, which alone do not establish independent corroboration – reports the same $2,543 average and $1,544 to $3,759 range, with project extremes of $400 to $5,800 (updated June 2026)2. Fixr, an unaffiliated publisher, reports a $2,500 national average for a ground-mounted whole-home unit, within a $1,500 to $3,500 range; its stated low end is $150 for a basic portable unit with self-installation and its high end $7,000 for a large professionally installed roof-mounted unit (updated August 2025)3.
The U.S. Department of Energy reports that evaporative coolers pass outdoor air over water-saturated pads, reducing the air temperature by 15 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit before it enters the home, and that they are only suitable for areas with low humidity because they add moisture to indoor air. The DOE also reports that evaporative coolers cost about half as much to install as central air conditioners and use about one-quarter as much energy4.
Cost by cooler type
Each publisher groups prices differently, so the columns keep their own stated scopes – Angi's are average installed costs, HomeAdvisor's and Fixr's are the average price ranges they publish123:
| Cooler type | Angi avg installed (2026) | HomeAdvisor range (2026) | Fixr range (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable | $300 | $40 – $2,300 | $150 – $1,500 |
| Window-mounted | $750 | $290 – $1,000 | $750 – $2,000 |
| Ground-mounted | – | $350 – $1,600 | $1,500 – $5,500 |
| Roof-mounted | $2,500 | $350 – $1,600 | $2,000 – $7,000 |
| Whole-house or ducted | $3,500 | – | – |
HomeAdvisor's type table also lists a ducted figure identical to its stated duct installation cost, which is ambiguous, so that row is omitted; its text separately notes industrial-size portable units can reach $4,500. The columns above carry different scopes as published, so figures are not directly comparable row by row.
Cost by home size
HomeAdvisor's size figures (2026)2 and Fixr's (2025)3, by space covered:
| Home size | HomeAdvisor cost (2026) | Fixr cost (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | $40 – $260 | $150 – $400 |
| 500 sq ft | $150 – $580 | $250 – $1,000 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $360 – $800 | $1,000 – $3,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $400 – $1,000 | – |
| 2,000 sq ft | $570 – $2,300 | $1,500 – $5,000 |
Angi's installed costs by size band (2026)1:
| Home size | Angi cost installed (2026) |
|---|---|
| 500 – 1,000 sq ft | $900 – $1,700 |
| 1,000 – 1,500 sq ft | $1,500 – $2,800 |
| 1,500 – 2,000 sq ft | $2,000 – $3,500 |
| 2,000+ sq ft | $2,800 – $4,500 |
Direct vs. indirect coolers
Direct coolers pass air over wet pads and add humidity to the home; indirect units use a heat exchanger and cool without adding humidity2. Fixr prices direct coolers at $200 to $5,000 and indirect units at $1,500 to $6,0003.
Cost by brand
Fixr's average unit prices by brand (2025)3:
| Brand | Fixr average cost (2025) |
|---|---|
| Hessaire | $150 – $1,000 |
| Aerocool | $250 – $2,500 |
| MasterCool | $500 – $2,500 |
| Bonaire | $500 – $3,000 |
| Breezair | $1,000 – $3,000 |
Labor
Angi puts HVAC technician or contractor labor at $50 to $120 per hour1. HomeAdvisor itemizes by trade: installation technicians at $50 to $70 per hour, electricians at $50 to $100 per hour, and roofers at $45 to $75 per hour, with duct installation – ducts, vents, and labor – at $400 to $900 and removal of an old cooler at $70 to $1502. Fixr prices installation labor at $150 to $2,000 per project depending on the model, around $500 for a whole-home ground-mounted install, with technicians at $50 to $80 per hour3.
Add-ons and extras
Common additions, per project123:
| Add-on | Angi (2026) | HomeAdvisor (2026) | Fixr (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermostat installation | – | $180 average | $145 – $230 |
| Smart features or smart cooler | $100 – $500 | – | $229 – $265 (remote adds $25 – $50) |
| Winter cover | – | – | $20 – $50 |
| Solar conversion | – | – | $100 – $500 |
| Pre-made solar-powered cooler | – | – | $1,000 – $4,000 |
| Site preparation | $100 – $600 | – | – |
| Design or consultation | $100 – $300 | – | – |
| Extended warranty | $100 – $400 | – | – |
Angi prints two conflicting permit ranges on its page, so its permit figures are omitted here.
Ongoing costs
Running a swamp cooler costs $10 to $25 per month in electricity according to Fixr3, while Angi puts electricity at $15 to $40 per month in peak season plus $5 to $20 per month in water1. HomeAdvisor estimates typical water use at seven to ten gallons per hour of operation2. For upkeep, Angi prices professional maintenance at $100 to $300 per year1 and Fixr at $75 to $120 per year3. Replacement pads run $25 to $50 for aspen, about $50 for rotating, and $50 to $80 for cellulose3. Repairs cost $100 to $600 at Angi1, $50 to $600 at HomeAdvisor – about $230 for a window unit2 – and $60 to $600 at Fixr3; see our evaporative cooler repair cost guide for details. Fixr puts full replacement at around $2,000 including labor, and converting a swamp cooler to refrigerated air at $3,000 to $7,0003.
Swamp cooler vs. central air
On installation cost alone, HomeAdvisor puts central air at $5,956 on average2 and Fixr at $5,3773, against their $2,543 and $2,500 swamp cooler averages; the two central-air figures diverge between publishers, and no conclusion about which applies follows from the difference. Running costs for 24/7 operation are $50 to $65 per month for a swamp cooler versus $150 to $300 per month for central AC, per Fixr3.
What affects the price
The cooler type and its placement drive the total most: portable and window units sit far below roof-mounted and whole-house systems13. Home size drives the price at both publishers23. Ductwork adds $400 to $900 when a home lacks it2. Roof installations cost more because access is harder13. Brand, add-ons like smart controls, and regional labor rates move the rest23.
Related guides
See our guides to HVAC installation cost, evaporative cooler repair cost, HVAC replacement cost, and smart thermostat installation cost.