Ducted vs split system air conditioning: which is right for your home?

It's the question almost every homeowner asks us at some point: ducted or split system? Both do the job well — the right answer comes down to your home, your budget and how you actually live in the space.

Split systems

• One indoor unit per room or zone — you control each area independently.
• Lower upfront cost per room, and a much faster, less invasive install.
• Great for retrofitting an existing home, or cooling the rooms you actually use most.
• Multiple units mean multiple outdoor units (or a multi-head system running several indoor heads off one outdoor unit).

Ducted systems

• One central unit feeds ducting hidden in the ceiling, with outlets through the whole home.
• No indoor unit on the wall — cleaner look, even temperature room to room.
• Zoning lets you run only the areas you need, so you're not conditioning empty rooms.
• Higher upfront cost and a more involved install — ceiling space and layout matter.

So which one?

As a rough guide: renovating or building new, with ceiling access already open, ducted is often the better long-term fit for whole-home comfort. Cooling an existing home room-by-room, or working with a tighter budget, a split system (or a few of them) usually makes more sense. Plenty of homes end up with a mix — ducted through living areas, a split system in a home office or granny flat that runs independently.

We install and service both, so the recommendation is based on your home — not on which one we'd rather sell you.

Not sure what size you need? Try our free split system and ducted sizing tools, or get an on-site quote and we'll spec it properly.