Cost to Install a Thru-wall Air Conditioner – 2021

How much does it cost to build an air conditioner in a wall? To build an air conditioner into a wall a carpenter charges $730 vs. doing it yourself for $540 and saving 26 percent. 

A window air conditioning unit, designed for easy installation in a window opening, does a fine job of cooling a room. However, the unit in effect closes the window, preventing you from using the window in mild conditions.

An alternative that keeps the room cool, and frees up the window for operation, is to build an air conditioner into a wall so it’s permanently installed and out of the way. This works particularly well for cooling a small addition or part of the house that isn’t cooled naturally or by other units.

When a unit is mounted high on the wall, it does a good job of cooling the space efficiently and effectively. A key requirement is to place it near a 115-volt electrical outlet, or have one added near the location on the wall.

A contractor will build in a 10,000 BTU energy-efficient air conditioner into a wall for $730, which includes the labor, framing material and the unit. If you have carpentry experience, you can do the job for $540, the cost of the unit and framing material, and save 26 percent. You’ll have to cut away enough of the interior wallboard to frame in an opening, and then position the unit in the opening and secure it. You may have to repair and paint the walls and trim if you damage them during installation. Then you cut the siding and trim out the opening on the exterior. Use trim channels designed for most sidings or custom cut wood trim and then paint it to match the color of the siding.

Tip: Before cutting into a wall, check that there are no pipes or wires concealed behind it.

Here’s advice from WikiHow How to Install an Inwall Air Conditioner.

The average price to install a through the wall air conditioner noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.