Ducted or split air conditioning: cost and installation
A ducted system distributes air from a single unit through a false ceiling and is more discreet and more even, while individual split units cost less, need no false ceiling and allow only the rooms in use to be conditioned.
gelisted editorial team · Updated 15 August 2026
The short version
- A split unit costs 800 € to 1,800 € installed per room.
- A ducted system for an average home runs 4,500 € to 9,000 €.
- Ducts need 25 to 35 centimetres of false ceiling.
- Sizing starts from about 100 watts per square metre.
This decision is taken before the works or not at all: ducts need a false ceiling, and that requirement shapes the whole renovation.
How each works
A ducted system uses a concealed indoor unit that pushes air through a duct network to grilles distributed around the home, with a single outdoor unit. A split system places a visible indoor unit in each room, connected to an individual outdoor unit or to a multi unit serving several. Both use the same heat pump technology and both provide cooling and heating.
| Criterion | Ducted | Split units |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost, average home | 4,500 to 9,000 € | 2,400 to 5,400 € |
| Space required | 25 to 35 cm of false ceiling | none |
| Outdoor units | 1 | 1 multi or several |
| Zoning | with motorised dampers | inherent |
| Noise in the room | lower | higher |
| Filter maintenance | centralised | one per unit |
| Installation in a finished home | difficult | straightforward |
How it is sized
A working rule starts at 100 watts per square metre, adjusted upwards for south and west orientation, large glazed areas, top floor location and absence of insulation. Over 90 usable square metres that puts cooling capacity around 9 kilowatts, with corrections. An oversized unit cools quickly but cycles excessively and dehumidifies poorly, so it delivers less comfort despite more power.
What decides it on the island
The outdoor unit suffers from salt air: within 500 metres of the sea an anti corrosion treatment on the coil and casing is worth having, adding 8 to 15 per cent to the equipment cost but extending its life by years. Location matters too, in shade with free ventilation, since an outdoor unit in direct August sun loses noticeable efficiency exactly when it is most needed.
In listed buildings the position of the outdoor unit on a facade may be restricted, and that should be checked before the equipment is bought.
Maintenance
Filter cleaning every 4 to 8 weeks during the season, which is the single measure with most effect on consumption and on air quality. An annual service with coil cleaning and a refrigerant charge check, at 80 € to 160 €. And cleaning of the duct network every 4 or 5 years in centralised systems, at 200 € to 500 € depending on floor area.
Frequently asked
+Which system is better?
Ducted where there is a renovation and a false ceiling; splits where the home is finished or used room by room.
+What does each cost?
Four thousand five hundred to nine thousand euros ducted, and 800 € to 1,800 € per room for splits.
+How much space do ducts need?
Between 25 and 35 centimetres of false ceiling along the main runs.
+How is capacity calculated?
From about 100 watts per square metre, adjusted for orientation, glazing and insulation.
+What maintenance is needed?
Filters every 4 to 8 weeks in use, an annual service at 80 € to 160 € and duct cleaning every 4 or 5 years.
Sources
- 1Boletín Oficial del Estado, BOE (August 2026)
- 2Govern de les Illes Balears, Govern de les Illes Balears (August 2026)