Is ducted air conditioning more expensive to run than split systems?

It depends how you use it. Running ducted across a whole home uses more energy than cooling one room with a split. But modern ducted systems with zoning let you cool only the rooms you're using, which closes much of the gap. For single rooms a split is almost always cheaper to run.

Can I add ducted air conditioning to an existing home?

Yes. Ducted can be retrofitted into most existing homes with sufficient roof space for the indoor unit and ductwork. Because every home is different, ducted installs are quoted after a free site assessment rather than sold at a fixed price.

How many rooms can one split system cool?

A single split system is designed to cool one open area or room. It can help an adjoining space if the air flows through, but for reliable comfort in several separate rooms you'd use multiple splits or a ducted system.

Split System vs Ducted Air Conditioning: Which Is Right?

Guide | Updated July 2026 | Climate Supply Co.

Both split systems and ducted air conditioning are reverse-cycle — they heat in winter and cool in summer. The difference is how much of your home they cover and how they're installed.

What is a split system?

A split system pairs one indoor unit (the "head" mounted on your wall) with one outdoor unit. It cools a single room or open area. It's the most popular choice in Australia because it's affordable, efficient and quick to install.

What is ducted air conditioning?

Ducted air conditioning hides a central unit in your roof space and pushes conditioned air through ducts to outlets in each room. With zoning, you control which areas are running. It cools the whole home from one system and is almost invisible — just slim vents in the ceiling.

Side by side

	Split system	Ducted
Upfront cost	Lower	Higher
Area cooled	One room / zone	Whole home
Look	Visible wall unit	Hidden — ceiling vents only
Installation	Fast, straightforward	Larger job, needs roof space
Running cost	Low per room	Higher whole-home, less with zoning
Best for	1–3 key rooms	Whole-home comfort

Choose a split system if…

You want to cool one or a few key rooms — bedrooms, living, home office
You're working to a budget or want to add cooling room by room over time
You're retrofitting an existing home and want a quick, tidy install
You rent, or want a system you could take with you

Choose ducted if…

You want consistent comfort throughout the whole home
You're building or renovating and can plan it in
You want the system out of sight, with only discreet vents showing
You often use several rooms at once and want to run them together

You don't have to pick just one. A lot of SEQ homes run a ducted system for the main living areas plus a split in a master bedroom or home office — or several splits spread across the rooms that matter most. If you're not sure what suits your layout, give us a call and we'll talk it through.

What about cost?

A split system is the lower-cost entry point — you buy the unit and add professional installation from a fixed base rate. Ducted is a larger investment that depends heavily on your home's size, layout and the number of zones, so we quote it after a free site assessment rather than list a single price. For a full breakdown, see our guide on air conditioning installation costs in SEQ.

Frequently asked questions

Is ducted more expensive to run?

Running a whole home uses more than cooling a single room, but zoning lets you run only the areas you're using — which closes much of the gap. For a single room, a split is almost always cheaper to run.

Can I add ducted to an existing home?

Usually yes — most homes with enough roof space can be retrofitted. Because every home differs, we quote ducted after a free site assessment. Request a ducted quote.

How many rooms can one split cool?

One open area or room. It can help an adjoining space if air flows through, but for several separate rooms you'd use multiple splits or ducted. Not sure what size you need? See our sizing guide.

Ready to compare options?

Browse split systems, explore ducted, or get a free ducted quote for your home.

Split systems Ducted systems

Split system vs ducted: which is right for your home?