How Much Does R-22 Refrigerant Cost in 2023?

November 03, 2023

Take note because you can’t purchase this refrigerant without an HVAC pro

Contributing Writer

Updated April 14, 2023

Before 2010, the AC and HVAC systems that cooled our homes and overly chilled our offices ran on R-22 refrigerant. Then the Environmental Protection Agency discovered that R-22 depleted the ozone layer and began phasing it out between 2010 and 2030. As of mid-2023, R-22 refrigerant prices range from $50 to $80 per pound. Since you'll need between 6 and 12 pounds to refill a home AC, costs can reach $300 to $960 for the refrigerant alone.

Low Cost	Average Cost	High Cost
$300	$600	$960

What Factors Influence the Price of R-22 Refrigerant?

Always keep in mind that refrigerant does not naturally deplete over time. You only need to top up your system if you have a leak. Symptoms such as condensation on your AC or warm air blowing from the vents are signs that it's time to have an HVAC pro check your refrigerant lines.

If you need to replace R-22 refrigerant because of a leak, here are the most important factors that can sway your bottom line.

Size of the HVAC Unit

Manufacturers use tonnage and BTUs (British Thermal Units) to measure the size of an air conditioner. The size of most air conditioners ranges between 1 and 5 tons. And since an air conditioner uses an average of 2 to 4 pounds of refrigerant per ton, a 3-ton AC will need an average of 9 pounds.

With the cost of R-22 refrigerant increasing each year, it can cost a pretty penny to recharge larger systems that still use the refrigerant. Here's what to expect for the cost of refrigerant by HVAC size.

HVAC Size (Tons)	Refrigerant (Pounds)	R-22 Cost Range
2	6	$300 – $480
3	9	$450 – $720
4	12	$600 – $960
5	15	$750 – $1,200

Age of Your AC Unit

If you own an air conditioner designed before the phaseout, the price of R-22 will naturally raise your overall costs. Not only will you pay more for the price of R-22, but you will need an HVAC pro who is familiar with your system.

Older systems also come with related repairs and line items, such as the cost of fixing a leak or an AC compressor. In some cases, it may be more cost-effective to replace your air conditioner with one that accepts an up-to-date refrigerant.

Location

While your HVAC team will know where to order R-22 from anywhere in the country, shipping prices will vary depending on availability. Fewer and fewer wholesalers have R-22 available, and since importing it into the country isn't possible, you could live somewhere without easy access to the refrigerant.

Also, the price of an AC recharge will vary based on the cost of living in your area. It may cost more in densely packed cities with high demand for HVAC pros than in quiet suburbs.

Labor

Overall, labor for HVAC repairs costs between $100 and $250 per hour, so the cost of recharging your AC with R-22 will depend on the size of the related repair. And since it is illegal to handle or dispose of R-22 yourself, be sure to include this in your budget.