- Updated October 23, 2026
Air Conditioner Freon Refill Cost Guide for 2026 (by a Real HVAC Company)
- The service fee to refill an AC unit with refrigerant will cost from $117 per lb. to $399 per lb.
- R410a costs $117 per pound for the average homeowner to refill the AC unit
- R22 costs around $399 per pound to refill the Freon in a home air conditioner
- R32 and R454B cost $199 per pound
Air Conditioner Freon Refill Cost Guide
- Refill AC Unit Service – $117 per lb. to $399 per lb.
- R410a – $117 per pound
- R22 – $399 per pound
- R32 – $199 per pound
- R454B – $199 per pound
R32 & R-454B
Starting in 2025 the standard Freon will be either R32 or R-454B. The EPA is looking to reduce the impact Freon has on the environment and requiring a reduction in the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of Freon. These new formulas have a much lower GWP than their predecessor 410A. R32 is a single component refrigerant while R-454B is a blend of about 70% R32 and 30% R-1234YF. Carrier and most manufacturers will be using the blend R-454B. Daikin, Goodman and Amana will be the main brands to carry and use R32 equipment. R32 and R-454B cost $199 per pound.
A2L Classification
A2L is a classification developed by the EPA in order to separate the differences between R-410A and the new R32 and 454B refrigerants. The new refrigerants produce a very slow flame. This labels them as flammable but this is very minimal, the refrigerant requires an ignition source to produce a flame and the flame speed is very slow.
Phase Out
The first step of the R410-A phasedown begins January 1, 2025. Starting 2025, the old 410A equipment can no longer be manufactured. However, if you purchased a 410A unit beforehand these systems will be installed no problem. Since there is no current ban on 410A, this refrigerant will continue to be used in existing equipment as needed.
R410A & R22 Refrigerant Price Breakout
You might be aware that Freon prices keep going up and up, but why? Freon might have a negative impact on the environment, so the EPA regulates the manufacturing and sale of refrigerants in the US. The EPA is phasing out R22 and replacing it with R410a, which is more environmentally friendly. R410a will also start getting phased out in 2025, which will lead to increase prices for 410A. This is why the cost of Freon per pound keeps going up, now as high as $399 for R22.
| Year | R410a | R22 | R32 | R454B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Refrigerant Cost Per Pound | $117 | $399 | $199 | $199 |
| 2025 Refrigerant Cost Per Pound | $104 | $325 | - | - |
| 2024 Refrigerant Cost Per Pound | $90 | $250 | - | - |
| 2023 Refrigerant Cost Per Pound | $49 | $195 | - | - |
| 2022 Refrigerant Cost Per Pound | $45 | $145 | - | - |
| 2021 Refrigerant Cost Per Pound | $45 | $80 | - | - |
| 2020 Refrigerant Cost Per Pound | $42 | $70 | - | - |
| 2019 Refrigerant Cost Per Pound | $40 | $60 | - | - |
| 2018 Refrigerant Cost Per Pound | $37 | $55 | - | - |
| 2017 Refrigerant Cost Per Pound | $35 | $50 | - | - |
R22 Phase-Out
On January 1st, 2020, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned the production and importation of R22 in the United States. If it can no longer be manufactured or imported into the US, where is R22 coming from? HVAC distributors saw this coming so they stocked up on R22 before they could no longer get their hands on it. So, the entire HVAC industry is working out of 2020 R22 stock. As the supply runs out, prices continue to rise until R22 is out of stock. The R22 Freon cost per pound in 2026 has now risen to $399 per lbs. If you own an R22 system, I recommend replacing it soon.
R410a Phase-Out
R410a is not banned, but it is being phased down. R410a is an HFC refrigerant, and the EPA is cutting the total amount of HFC refrigerant allowed, compared to a baseline, in steps: a 10% reduction in 2022, 40% in 2024, 70% in 2029, 80% in 2034, and 85% in 2036. The phasedown does not ban any one refrigerant, so R410a is still used to service existing systems, but the shrinking supply pushes the price up. Starting in 2025, manufacturers can no longer build new air conditioning systems with 410a, and R-32 and R-454B are replacing it. 410a Freon cost per pound in 2026 should be around $117 per lbs. R32 and R454B cost $199 per lbs.
Cost to Refill Entire AC Unit
Before you can answer, “how much will it cost to refill your air conditioner?” You first have to answer, “how many pounds of refrigerant is it low?” Sometimes your AC only needs one pound, but sometimes it can require quite a bit of refrigerant. Some high efficacy systems can hold as many as 15lbs of Freon. You can spend from $117 to $5,985 depending on the system type and how many pounds of refrigerant are needed.
R410A Freon Refill Cost By AC Size
| Recharge AC Unit | 14 SEER (up to 8lbs) | 16 to 18 SEER (up to 10lbs) | 18 SEER+ Multi Stages (up to 15lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Ton | $117 - $696 | $117 - $840 | $117 - $1,419 |
| 2.5 Ton | $117 - $758 | $117 - $895 | $117 - $1,473 |
| 3 Ton | $117 - $820 | $117 - $950 | $117 - $1,526 |
| 3.5 Ton | $117 - $771 | $117 - $1,005 | $117 - $1,579 |
| 4 Ton | $117 - $826 | $117 - $1,062 | $117 - $1,633 |
| 5 Ton | $117 - $936 | $117 - $1,170 | $117 - $1,755 |
R32 Freon Refill Cost By AC Size
| Recharge AC Unit | 14 SEER (up to 8lbs) | 16 to 18 SEER (up to 10lbs) | 18 SEER+ Multi Stages (up to 15lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Ton | $199 - $1,184 | $199 - $1,429 | $199 - $2,414 |
| 2.5 Ton | $199 - $1,289 | $199 - $1,522 | $199 - $2,505 |
| 3 Ton | $199 - $1,395 | $199 - $1,615 | $199 - $2,595 |
| 3.5 Ton | $199 - $1,311 | $199 - $1,710 | $199 - $2,686 |
| 4 Ton | $199 - $1,404 | $199 - $1,807 | $199 - $2,777 |
| 5 Ton | $199 - $1,592 | $199 - $1,990 | $199 - $2,985 |
R454B Freon Refill Cost By AC Size
| Recharge AC Unit | 14 SEER (up to 8lbs) | 16 to 18 SEER (up to 10lbs) | 18 SEER+ Multi Stages (up to 15lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Ton | $199 - $1,184 | $199 - $1,429 | $199 - $2,414 |
| 2.5 Ton | $199 - $1,289 | $199 - $1,522 | $199 - $2,505 |
| 3 Ton | $199 - $1,395 | $199 - $1,615 | $199 - $2,595 |
| 3.5 Ton | $199 - $1,311 | $199 - $1,710 | $199 - $2,686 |
| 4 Ton | $199 - $1,404 | $199 - $1,807 | $199 - $2,777 |
| 5 Ton | $199 - $1,592 | $199 - $1,990 | $199 - $2,985 |
R22 Freon Refill Cost By AC Size
| Recharge AC Unit | 14 SEER (up to 8lbs) | 16 to 18 SEER (up to 10lbs) | 18 SEER+ Multi Stages (up to 15lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Ton | $399 - $2,375 | $399 - $2,864 | $399 - $4,841 |
| 2.5 Ton | $399 - $2,585 | $399 - $3,051 | $399 - $5,022 |
| 3 Ton | $399 - $2,797 | $399 - $3,239 | $399 - $5,204 |
| 3.5 Ton | $399 - $2,628 | $399 - $3,428 | $399 - $5,386 |
| 4 Ton | $399 - $2,815 | $399 - $3,623 | $399 - $5,569 |
| 5 Ton | $399 - $3,192 | $399 - $3,990 | $399 - $5,985 |
Why Does Freon Cost So Much?
The prices to recharge an AC unit with Freon have been skyrocketing. You might be asking, is it my local air conditioning company gouging me, or are Freon prices really going up like crazy?
Freon
It’s well known that Freon is terrible for the environment but did you know that some Freon types are worse than others. When a new, safer Freon is invented to phase out the old types, the US Government will outlaw the manufacturing of the older Freon like R22, leaving only the R22 in inventory to use. As supply runs out, distributors charge more and more until it’s gone, which is why it feels like the Freon price per pound is always going up.
Labor
The labor cost to refill your outdoor AC unit with Freon doesn’t vary that much. It shouldn’t take any longer than one hour to diagnose the problem, add refrigerant, and re-calibrate the system. So when you see the cost going up to refill your AC unit, it’s not due to the labor cost.
Freon Refrigerant Refill Cost Breakout
Knowing only the cost per pound for refrigerant doesn’t give you the total cost you need to budget for when adding Freon to your air conditioner. Many companies charge a service or diagnosis fee on top of the Freon cost. One pound of R410a might only cost $117, but the addition of a service fee brings the total to $206. R32 or R454B brings it to $288 and R22 to $488.
What's Included in Adding Freon to an Outdoor AC Unit
- Diagnose Problem
- Do a thorough inspection of the system to identify the problem
- Add Refrigerant and Calibrate
- Add needed refrigerant
- Verify pressures are correct and the AC system is performing correctly.
- Diagnose Problem
| Item | Material Cost | Labor Cost At $120 Per Hr. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diagnose System | $0 | $89 | $89 |
| Add Freon R410A (1 Pound) | $95 | $22 | $117 |
| Add Freon R32 (1 Pound) | $177 | $22 | $199 |
| Add Freon R454B (1 Pound) | $177 | $22 | $199 |
| Add Freon R22 (1 Pound) | $377 | $22 | $399 |
| Total Freon Recharge Cost with Diagnoses | $95 - $377 | $111 | $206 - $488 |
1 to 2 Pounds Low
Your air conditioner can lose a pound or two over time. It’s not a big deal; it just happens. However, if you are adding a pound every few months, you probably have a Freon leak. If this is the case, I recommend having your AC technician do a leak search to see if they can find the problem. But if it’s a one-time thing for a pound or two, it’s not that big of a deal.
3+ Pounds Low
If your air conditioner is more than 3 pounds of refrigerant low, you might have a leak in your system. Just adding some refrigerant doesn’t mean it will fix the underlying problem. I would recommend having your HVAC company do a leak search to see if they can locate the leak, which could be in the evaporator coil, condenser, or line set. If there is a leak in the coil or condenser, there is a chance it still might be under warranty. I recommend tracking down the issue if there is one because when your system is this low in Freon, the compressor can get damaged, which is very expensive to replace.
Test for a Freon Leak
If your system is losing a pound of Freon here and there, you might want to track down where the leak is to fix the problem. There are two types of refrigerant leak tests: a nitrogen test, the most common way, and a UV dye test for tracking down harder-to-find leaks.
Refrigerant Leak Test
Nitrogen Freon Leak Test
A nitrogen test is one of the best starting points to find where your system is losing Freon . The way it works is a technician removes all the Freon from the system. Then adds nitrogen in place of the Freon, then pressurize the nitrogen around 250psi. If the pressure starts to drop, the tech knows there is a Freon leak. The tech will then look over the system, listening for a hissing noise from the leak. A nitrogen leak test normally runs around $600 for the average homeowner.
UV Dye Freon Leak Test
A UV dye test is the next step if the tech can not find the leak from the nitrogen test, which typically happens with tiny leaks. A tech performs a UV test by adding the dye to your system, leaving, and waiting for three days. Upon the tech’s return, some of the UV dye should have leaked out, making it easy for the tech to find the problem area. A UV dye test normally costs the average homeowner around $500.
| Item | Freon Leak Test |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen Freon Leak Test | $600 |
| UV Dye Freon Leak Test | $500 |
Freon Leak Fix
Freon leaks commonly occur in a couple of different places. The evaporator coil is one of the most common places, but it is normal for leaks to happen in the line set, condenser coil, or Freon valve. Some parts only require a simple repair, while others must be replaced entirely. In some cases, the repair cost is so high that it makes more sense to replace the entire system.
Evaporator and Condenser Coil Refrigerant Leak Fix
Repair
The evaporator and condenser coils are very complex and use a lot of different metals to bind the tubing and fins together, making it extremely hard to solder the leak hole closed. When a Freon leak occurs in a coil, the coil will most likely need to be replaced.
Replace
You have two options when it comes to coil replacements 1) replace just the indoor or outdoor coil or 2) replace the entire indoor or outdoor unit. Replacing just the coil usually costs less than replacing the entire unit: an indoor coil runs $1,998 – $3,830 versus $3,486 – $4,595 for the unit, and an outdoor coil runs $2,400 versus $3,808 – $6,054 for the unit. For more information on evaporator coil replacement cost, AC unit replacement cost, or furnace replacement cost, take a look at our other blog posts.
| Item | Replace Coil | Replace Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Indoor Air Handler / Furnace | $1,998 - $3,830 | $3,486 - $4,595 |
| Outdoor AC Unit | $2,400 | $3,808 - $6,054 |
Line Set and Freon Valve Leak Fix
Line Set Refrigerant Leak
A Freon leak in the line set is a pretty simple fix depending on where the leak is located. If the line set leak is in a wall, the cost will obviously be higher than somewhere easy to reach. Once the leak is located, all the technician has to do is replace the small section of the copper line that is leaking. It normally costs around $250 for a line set repair.
Refrigerant Valve Leak
It is fairly common for a TXV, Schrader Core, or King valve to go bad and leak refrigerant. Replacing a valve is a simple repair, but sometimes the valve can be costly. A valve replacement can range from $225 – $1,420.
| Item | Freon Leak Fix |
|---|---|
| Line Set Fix | $250 |
| Freon Valve Replacement | $225 - $1,420 |
Freon Refill Cost FAQ
How much does it cost to refill an AC unit with Freon?
Refilling an AC unit with refrigerant costs $117 to $5,985, depending on the refrigerant type and how many pounds the system needs. One pound plus the $89 diagnosis fee totals $206 for R410A, $288 for R32 or R454B, and $488 for R22.
How much does Freon cost per pound in 2026?
Freon costs $117 per pound for R410A, $199 per pound for R32 and R454B, and $399 per pound for R22 in 2026. In 2025, R410A cost $104 per pound and R22 cost $325 per pound.
How much Freon does my air conditioner need?
It depends on how many pounds the system is low. Sometimes an AC only needs one pound, but a 14 SEER system can hold up to 8 pounds, a 16 to 18 SEER system up to 10 pounds, and an 18 SEER or higher multi-stage system up to 15 pounds. For a 3-ton system using R410A, a refill costs $117 for one pound and up to $820 for a full 14 SEER charge or $1,526 for a full 18 SEER or higher charge.
How do I know if my AC has a Freon leak, and what does a leak test cost?
Losing a pound or two of refrigerant over time is normal. If you add a pound every few months, or the system is more than 3 pounds low, you may have a leak. A nitrogen leak test costs around $600, and a UV dye test, used to find tiny leaks, costs around $500.
How much does it cost to fix a Freon leak?
A line set leak repair costs around $250, and replacing a leaking valve costs $225 to $1,420. A leak in an evaporator or condenser coil usually means the coil has to be replaced, which costs $1,998 to $3,830 for an indoor coil and $2,400 for an outdoor coil.
Why does Freon cost so much?
R22 costs $399 per pound because the EPA banned its production and importation on January 1, 2020, so the industry is working from stockpiled supply and the price rises as that supply runs out. R410A is also being phased down, which is pushing its price up. Labor is not the reason, because diagnosing, adding refrigerant and recalibrating the system takes about an hour.
Is R410A being phased out?
Starting January 1, 2025, new residential air conditioners can no longer be manufactured with R410A, but there is currently no ban on R410A itself, so it is still used to service existing systems. R32 and R454B are the new standard refrigerants, with a much lower global warming potential, and both cost $199 per pound.
Should I replace an R22 system?
R22 costs $399 per pound, or $488 for one pound plus the diagnosis fee, and a full refill can run as high as $2,375 for a 2-ton 14 SEER system and $5,985 for a 5-ton 18 SEER or higher system. Atlas AC Repair recommends replacing an R22 system soon, because R22 is no longer produced or imported and its price keeps rising as the stockpile runs out.
If you are interested in learning more, take a look at our best air conditioner brands blog post. If you happen to need an AC company in San Antonio, give us a call and we can help.
