How Much Does a Goodman 3-Ton 14.5 SEER2 R-32 HVAC System Really Cost

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Hey everyone — Jake Lawson here, ready to dive in deep with you on what it really costs to install a central‑air/complete HVAC system when you’re considering the 3‑ton, 14.5 SEER2 R‑32 bundle from Goodman (our pillar page) — and how to evaluate that versus what your square footage, climate, tonnage and installation details mean for your budget. If you’re in the market for “cost of central air for 1000 sq ft house”, “cost of central air for 1200 sq ft house”, “new HVAC system cost 1500 sq ft”, “HVAC installation cost for 1000 sq ft home”, “cost of central air for 2000 sq ft house”, “how much is a 5 ton ac unit installed”, “cost of central air for 1500 sq ft house”, “ac unit for 1500 sq ft home cost”, “5 ton ac package unit installed price”, “ac unit for 3000 sq ft house cost”, “cost of central air for 900 sq ft house”, “hvac for 1000 sq ft house”, “hvac for 1000 sq ft”, “17 seer ac unit cost”, “hvac unit cost for 1200 square feet”, “ac unit for 1600 sq ft home cost” — then you’re in the right place.

In this article I’m going to walk you through:

What the Goodman 3‑ton bundle is and why it matters (so you understand the baseline).
How to use square footage, system size and tonnage to ballpark cost.
Real world pricing ranges for various sizes (900 sq ft, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 3000) and related tonnages.
What efficiency (SEER/SEER2) does to cost and value.
My take: when it makes sense to spend more vs when you’re fine with value.
Key things to check when you get quotes so you don’t overpay.

So buckle up, get your notes ready, and let’s dig in.

What’s the Goodman 3‑Ton 14.5 SEER2 R‑32 Bundle (our baseline)

Before we analyze all the cost‑variables, let’s clarify what we mean by the “Goodman bundle”. The product page at thefurnaceoutlet.com features a 3‑ton Goodman system (air‑conditioner condenser + matching air‑handler or coil) using R‑32 refrigerant and rated at 14.5 SEER2. This is important, because when you compare to other systems you need to compare “apples to apples” (size, efficiency, refrigerant, indoor side, installation).

Here are the key features in our baseline:

3‑ton size: This is sized for many typical homes in the 1,500‑2,000 sq ft range (depending on insulation, climate, windows, ductwork).
14.5 SEER2: This is moderate efficiency in today’s market (not ultra‑premium, but solid).
R‑32 refrigerant: newer standard (better than older R‑410A in many cases).
Bundle: It’s a matched set (condenser + air handler/coil) which means better efficiency and fewer compatibility issues.

So, when I talk about “cost for X square‑foot house”, keep in mind the Goodman baseline is a solid mid‑value system. If you go up in efficiency (say 17 SEER, 20+ SEER, premium brand) or up in tonnage (4‑ton, 5‑ton) you’ll spend more. If you go down in size (2‑ton) you’ll spend less. The trick is: size the system right (not too big, not too small) and underpin that with proper installation.

How Square Footage, Tonnage & Cost Correlate

A key part of budgeting is matching home size (square footage) with system size (tons) and then mapping that to cost. Here’s how I break it down.

Square footage → tonnage (rule of thumb)

Rough rule: ~1 ton of cooling for every 500‑600 sq ft of home in moderate climate. Some sources say ~20 BTUs per sq ft to estimate tonnage. (NerdWallet)
Example: a 2,000 sq ft home might need ~4 tons. A 1,000 sq ft home might need ~1.5‑2 tons (depending on insulation, windows, climate).

Cost per sq ft / cost by home size

Sources show:

For central air, expect between approximately $3.00 and $7.50 per sq ft for installation. One article cites “$5.25 per sq ft” average.
For a full HVAC system (AC + furnace or other) including labor and equipment, expect ~$3‑$6 per sq ft in many cases. (HomeGuide)

Cost by homeowner reports / number tables

For a 1,000‑sq ft home, one guide says average cost for AC replacement ~ $8,077 for a 14.3 SEER2 system. (This Old House)
For a 1,500‑sq ft home, typical total for AC+furnace ~ ~$8,180 on average for mid‑efficiency.
For a 2,000‑sq ft home, cost ranges ~$6,000‑$12,000 for new HVAC system (depending on many factors).

Cost by tonnage (unit installed)

From one source:

3‑ton (36,000 BTU) homes (1,800‑2,100 sq ft) estimated installed cost ~$3,500‑$5,000 (unit only) or higher once labor/ductwork included.
5‑ton units (60,000 BTU) for up to ~3,000 sq ft homes cost around $4,500‑$7,500 for basic installation (unit only).

Applying That to Our Keyword Set & Goodman Baseline

Let’s walk through each of those keyword target scenarios and map them to realistic cost ranges — using the Goodman baseline as our reference, but also showing how you’d adjust for tonnage, efficiency, etc.

Cost of central air for 900 sq ft house

A 900 sq ft house is fairly small. Using the rule of about 500‑600 sq ft per ton, you might need ~1.5 to 2 tons. A modern mid‐efficiency central AC installed might run in the lower end. One guide suggests for 1,000 sq ft the cost is ~$5,000‑$8,000.
So for 900 sq ft, expect maybe $4,000‑$7,000 depending on ductwork, location, efficiency, existing HVAC. If you already have ducts and furnace and you are just replacing the AC condenser/coil, you might be closer to the low end.

Cost of central air for 1,000 sq ft house / HVAC for 1,000 sq ft

As noted above: For a 1,000 sq ft home, one guide gives average ~$8,077 for a 14.3 SEER2 system.
Another suggests new full HVAC system for under 1,500 sq ft could cost as little as ~$5,000 in low‑cost areas. (Modernize)
So your range might be $5,000‑$10,000, maybe more depending on premium equipment, ductwork, labor.

Cost of central air for 1,200 sq ft house / HVAC unit cost for 1,200 square feet

For 1,200 sq ft you’d likely need ~2‑2.5 tons. The “cost per sq ft” rule says ~$3‑$6 per sq ft for HVAC. So 1,200 × $3‑$6 gives $3,600‑$7,200 as baseline.
Given reality, including labor/ductwork/indoor equipment, you might budget $5,000‑$9,000 for central air or full HVAC.

Cost of central air for 1,500 sq ft house / AC unit for 1,500 sq ft home cost

If your home is ~1,500 sq ft, you might need ~2.5‑3 tons. One source says for a 1,500‑sq ft home, AC + furnace sum ~ ~$8,180 average for mid‐efficiency.
Another source says new HVAC system for 1,500‑sq ft home generally falls between $5,000 and $8,000 (equipment only). (Central Air Systems)
So budgeting in the ballpark of $6,000‑$10,000 is prudent, unless you have extraordinary ductwork issues.

Cost of central air for 2,000 sq ft house

For ~2,000 sq ft you’re bumping to ~3.5‑4 tons (rule of thumb). One cost table shows $6,000‑$12,000 for a 2,000‑sq ft house HVAC system.
Another guide says central AC installation for 2,000‑sq ft home (units only) unit cost $1,900‑$5,500 plus installation labor $1,500‑$3,500 (for CT example). (Edgerton HVAC)
So safely you might budget $8,000‑$14,000+, especially if your home has ducts, attic, second story, more complex layout.

How much is a 5‑ton AC unit installed / 5‑ton AC package unit installed price

For a 5‑ton unit, which might serve up to ~3,000 sq ft depending on insulation/climate, one cost guide shows installation ranging ~$4,500‑$7,500 for unit only (plus labor and ductwork) for units in the 5‑ton range.
Package units (all‑in‑one outdoors) may cost more because of complexity. If you count full installation in a moderate region: you might easily see $9,000‑$12,000+ or more depending on extras.

AC unit for 3,000 sq ft house cost

A large home of ~3,000 sq ft might need ~5‑ton+ system (or two smaller systems) depending on layout. One cost table says for 3,000 sq ft homes AC unit cost installed could be $10,000‑$16,000+.
Add in new ductwork or multiple zones and you could easily go into $15,000‑$20,000+ territory.

17 SEER AC unit cost

When you bump up efficiency (17 SEER, 18, 20+) you pay more up front. One cost guide shows that for homes of ~1,000 sq ft, a 16.1 SEER2 system might cost up to ~$14,292.

Similarly, for generic AC installed cost by SEER: higher efficiency moves your install cost from $5,000‑$8,000 up to $9,000‑$12,000+ depending on size.

Where the Goodman 3‑Ton Bundle Fits & Why It’s a Smart Value

Now that you’ve seen the cost ranges, let’s place the Goodman 3‑ton bundle into this context and talk about WHY it might be a wise choice (and when you might choose differently).

Why the value equation works

A 3‑ton system is sized for many mid‑sized homes (roughly 1,500‑2,000 sq ft depending on climate/insulation).
At 14.5 SEER2, you’re at moderate efficiency — better than basic, not ultra‑premium — so you keep upfront cost lower.
With R‑32 refrigerant, you’re using a newer standard, which helps future‑proof a bit.
Since it’s a bundle (condenser + matched indoor unit), you reduce mismatch risk (which can reduce efficiency and raise cost down the line).
Because you’re not going to the ultra‑premium zone (e.g., 20+ SEER systems, variable‑speed multi‑staged), the upfront cost is more reasonable.

How to use it for your home

If your home is around 1,500 sq ft, the Goodman 3‑ton might be just right. You’re probably budgeting in the $6k‑$10k range for install if ducts/indoor side are good, which is competitive.
If your home is smaller (~900‑1,200 sq ft) you might consider a 2‑ton system (or high‑efficiency 2.5‑ton) rather than 3‑ton so you don’t oversize. Oversizing can waste energy and money.
If your home is larger (~2,500‑3,000 sq ft) you might need 4‑ or 5‑ton; in that case this 3‑ton bundle might be undersized — you’ll want to scale up.
If you live in a very hot climate with high usage, or care a lot about ultra‑quiet/advanced features, you may compare upgrading efficiency (17+ SEER) or brand premium — but then expect higher cost.

When it makes less sense

If you plan to live in your home only a few years — you may not recoup the extra cost of ultra‑premium features.
If your ductwork or insulation is poor — even the best equipment won’t give full value.
If noise is your lowest priority and you’re okay with standard efficiency — you might even step down.
If you don’t use AC heavily (cool nights, mild summers) — you might not justify the premium of higher tonnage or ultra efficiency.

My Straight‑Talk Advice for You

Get the right size. Use the rule of thumb (500‑600 sq ft per ton in moderate climates) as starting point. But your installer should perform a Manual J load calculation for accuracy.
Budget realistically. Use the cost ranges above by square‑foot and tonnage as your baseline. For example: for a 1,200 sq ft home you might budget ~$5k‑$9k; for 2,000 sq ft maybe ~$8k‑$14k+.
Don’t skip ductwork/indoor side check. Equipment cost is only part of the story. Leaky ducts, poor insulation, undersized evaporator coils — all these reduce comfort, raise bills, shorten life.
Efficiency vs. cost trade‑off. If you go from 14.5 SEER2 (Goodman baseline) up to 17‑18+ SEER, you’ll pay more upfront. Ask: “How much will I save per year? Over 10‑15 years is it worth it?”
Choose installer quality. Premium equipment badly installed can under‑perform. Conversely, good equipment installed right will give smooth comfort for years.
Future proof where it makes sense. If you intend to stay in the home 15‑20 years, or your region has high cooling days, it may pay to invest a bit more. If you’ll move soon or run AC lightly, value system is smart.
Ask for clear quotes. Break out equipment cost, labor cost, ductwork cost, permits. Compare apples‑to‑apples across quotes.
Maintain it. Even the best system will degrade if not maintained. Filter changes, annual tune‑ups, refrigerant checks matter.
Use the Goodman bundle as your benchmark. When you get quotes for other systems (higher efficiency, bigger size, premium brand), compare what the difference is in upfront cost and what you’ll gain.
Watch for hidden cost triggers. Examples: adding new ductwork, major insulation upgrade, second story / vaulted ceilings, zoning, oversized homes. These drive cost up significantly.

Summing it Up

If I were giving you my verdict, here it is:
For many homeowners, choosing the Goodman 3‑ton 14.5 SEER2 R‑32 bundle is a smart middle ground — sized right for many 1,500‑2,000 sq ft homes, with modern refrigerant, moderate efficiency, solid value. You’ll likely invest somewhere in the $6,000‑$10,000 range (depending on region, existing ducts, indoor equipment) for installation.
If your home is smaller (~900‑1,200 sq ft) you’ll spend less; if larger (~2,500‑3,000 sq ft) you’ll spend more and might need a 4‑5‑ton system. If you move up to ultra‑premium efficiency (17‑18 SEER+), or premium brand + features, you’ll pay more but may (or may not) see the payoff depending on usage and years.
The key is not to chase “best brand” blindly but to chase “best fit” — best size, best efficiency for your usage, best installation. Because a value brand well installed will outperform a premium brand poorly installed.

Tags: The comfort circuit with jake