Ducted Heating Cost in Melbourne (2026)
In Melbourne ducted heating cost is a major winter bill, and the gas-versus-reverse-cycle choice is the defining decision.
Your ducted heating details
Your estimate sits within the typical range.
Your estimate sits within the typical range.
Where the money goes
Estimated breakdown for your configuration
Zoning lets you heat only the rooms in use, it adds upfront cost but cuts running cost and is worth it in larger homes.
Ways to save
- If the ducting is in good condition, replacing only the unit is much cheaper than a full new system.
- Zoning pays for itself over time in a larger home by not heating empty rooms.
How we estimate this
Ducted heating in Australia typically costs $3,500 to $18,000 in 2026 depending on home size and system. Replacing a unit where ducts exist is cheapest; a new ducted reverse-cycle system with zoning across a large home reaches the top.
Pricing reviewed: October 2026.
What a ducted heating costs in Melbourne
Ducted heating cost in Melbourne is a major winter bill, because the cold climate has homes running heating hard through a long, cold winter, so the fuel choice is the defining decision. Ducted gas heating, long the Melbourne default, is billed by the gas burned, while a reverse-cycle ducted system is electric and billed by the power drawn, and with gas prices rising and reverse-cycle efficiency improving, the long-standing assumption that gas ducted is cheapest no longer holds across the board.
For decades Melbourne's many period and double-brick homes were fitted with ducted gas heating, and it remains common, but a modern high-efficiency reverse-cycle system can now match or beat it on running cost while also providing summer cooling, so the comparison is live for anyone replacing an old gas system. The star rating of a gas furnace and the efficiency rating of a reverse-cycle unit each set how much fuel or power the heat costs. Zoning to heat only the rooms in use is the biggest saving through the frosty months, and a draughty Victorian or Edwardian home lifts the hours unless sealed. Competitive trade labour just below Sydney's helps the install.
Running the heating needs no licence, but the install is licensed by fuel: a ducted gas system must be installed by a licensed gas fitter, and a reverse-cycle system needs a licensed refrigeration or ARC-certified technician and a licensed electrician, under the Victorian Building Authority for the electrical side. For a Melbourne home, the clearest way to think about ducted heating cost is the fuel and its efficiency times the many hours the cold winter demands, with gas versus reverse-cycle the key call.
Compare against the national picture: Ducted Heating Cost in Australia →
Ducted Heating Cost in other cities
Frequently asked questions
Is ducted heating a big bill in Melbourne?
Yes. The cold climate has homes running heating hard through a long, cold winter, so ducted heating is a major winter bill and the fuel choice, gas or reverse-cycle, is the defining running-cost decision in Melbourne.
Is gas still cheapest for ducted heating in Melbourne?
Not necessarily. With gas prices rising and reverse-cycle efficiency improving, a modern high-efficiency reverse-cycle system can now match or beat ducted gas on running cost while also cooling in summer, so the comparison is live in Melbourne.
How do I cut ducted heating cost in Melbourne?
Zoning to heat only the rooms in use is the biggest saving through the frosty months, and sealing a draughty Victorian or Edwardian period home cuts the hours, which matters most in Melbourne's long, cold winter.
Do I need a licence for ducted heating in Melbourne?
Not to run it, but the install is licensed by fuel: a ducted gas system needs a licensed gas fitter, and a reverse-cycle system a refrigeration or ARC-certified technician and a licensed electrician, under the Victorian Building Authority for the electrical side.