Samsung vs Panasonic AC Installation Charges (2026)
Samsung AC installation charges start at ₹1,500 for standard installation labour, with copper pipe at ₹1,050 per running metre and taxes applicable, according to Samsung India's support page (last updated 10 July 2026). Panasonic's official leaflet, dated March 2025, lists ₹1,200 for standard installation and ₹850 per metre for copper, with GST extra.
Both brands publish their rates; neither makes them easy to read. Samsung's table sits inside an image on its support page, and Panasonic's is a 22-line PDF leaflet with no explanation. This guide puts both into plain text, lines up matching items side by side, and works out identical sample bills under each brand so you can see which costs more to install and why. Samsung figures below come from Samsung India's AC installation charges page. Panasonic figures come from Panasonic's "Non-Standard AC Leaflet" on its India online store, dated 12 March 2025; confirm current Panasonic rates with the brand before you rely on them.
Samsung AC installation charges (official 2026 rates)
Samsung's rate card is split into service charges (labour for a visit or job) and material charges (per metre or per unit). The page states "T&C Apply. Taxes applicable" and that the offer may be revised or withdrawn without prior notice, so the figures below are before tax.
Service charges: inspection, installation, reinstallation, dismantling
A site inspection costs ₹350. Standard installation labour for a new split air conditioner is ₹1,500. Re-installing an existing Samsung AC, for example after a house move, is ₹1,000, rising to ₹1,200 for a WindFree model. Dismantling labour is ₹500.
Material charges per metre and per unit
| Item | Unit | Rate (₹, taxes applicable) |
|---|---|---|
| Site inspection | Service charge | 350 |
| Standard installation labour | Service charge | 1,500 |
| Re-installation | Service charge | 1,000 |
| Re-installation, WindFree models | Service charge | 1,200 |
| Dismantling labour | Service charge | 500 |
| Copper pipe 1/2 or 5/8 inch + 1/4 inch, with insulation (labour included) | Per running metre | 1,050 |
| 3-core power cord | Per running metre | 110 |
| 4-core IDU-ODU communication cable | Per running metre | 140 |
| Drain pipe | Per running metre | 90 |
| ODU bracket (labour included) | Per unit | 750 |
| Fixing a customer-supplied ODU bracket (labour only) | Per unit | 200 |
| Fixing customer-supplied copper pipe (labour only) | Per metre | 200 |
| Wrapping vinyl tape (additional) | Per metre | 75 |
Copper is the line to watch. Samsung's ₹1,050 per running metre covers a pair of pipes (the larger 1/2 or 5/8 inch suction line plus the 1/4 inch liquid line) with insulation and the labour to lay them. Older figures for Samsung that circulate in search snippets do not appear on the July 2026 page, so use the table above.
What Samsung includes and excludes
Samsung's card lists these inclusions in the standard job: SmartThings connectivity, Smart install, 3 m of copper pipe and the communication cables. So a unit whose outdoor and indoor sections sit within 3 m of each other should not attract a copper charge. SmartThings setup means the technician should help pair the AC with Samsung's app if your model supports it.
Exclusions are additional material beyond the inclusions, chiselling and masonry work, electrical fitment such as a power plug or MCB, and a voltage stabiliser. Samsung also notes that fixing charges apply when brackets or copper are arranged by the customer or the dealer, and that installation charges are paid by the customer. For how these rates compare with other brands, see our guide to AC installation charges across brands.
Panasonic AC installation charges (official leaflet)
Panasonic's leaflet is titled for non-standard items: it lists work and material that are chargeable over and above the AC installation charges. It tells buyers to ask the installer for a GST bill and states that GST is extra, as applicable. The file is dated 12 March 2025, which makes it older than Samsung's page; treat the numbers as the brand's last published list rather than a 2026 rate.
Base installation and uninstallation
Standard installation or reinstallation of a Panasonic split AC is ₹1,200 per unit. Uninstallation is ₹500. Unlike Samsung, Panasonic uses one rate for a first installation and for reinstalling a unit you are moving.
Copper, wire and drain pipe rates
Copper piping with insulation, including installation, is ₹850 per metre. If you supply copper yourself, installing it costs ₹200 per metre. Panasonic lists anchor wires by size, all including installation: 4-core 1.5 sq mm at ₹130, 4-core 2.5 sq mm at ₹190, 3-core 1.5 sq mm at ₹105 and 3-core 2.5 sq mm at ₹150 per metre. Hard PVC drain pipe with insulation is ₹140 per metre and 1-inch drain pipe with insulation is ₹85 per metre.
Stands and wall mounts
Panasonic's standard 2.1 kg wall mount is ₹800 and its outdoor-unit floor stand is also ₹800, both with installation included. A heavy-duty 2.7 kg wall mount is ₹1,100, also installed. The leaflet separately lists a service charge of ₹125 for wall-mount ODU stand installation, and ₹250 when the stand is third-party or supplied by the customer.
Other add-ons: refrigerant top-up, nitrogen flushing, channel cover
| Item | Unit | Rate (₹, GST extra) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard installation / reinstallation | Per unit | 1,200 |
| Uninstallation | Per unit | 500 |
| Copper piping with insulation (incl. installation) | Per metre | 850 |
| Installing customer-provided copper | Per metre | 200 |
| Refrigerant top-up (copper longer than 7.5 m) | Per unit | 400 |
| Nitrogen flushing for concealed tubing | Per unit | 600 |
| PVC channel cover | Per metre | 220 |
| Vinyl tape / cotton tape (standard 3 m pipe) | Per unit | 180 / 300 |
| 3-pin plug top | Per unit | 88 |
| Rubber grommets | Set of 4 | 100 |
The refrigerant top-up line has a clear trigger. Panasonic charges ₹400 per unit when the copper run is longer than 7.5 m, because a long line needs more refrigerant than the factory charge. If your piping is under 7.5 m, a top-up charge has no basis under this leaflet. Nitrogen flushing at ₹600 applies to concealed tubing, the pre-laid copper common in new apartments. A PVC channel cover at ₹220 per metre hides exposed pipe on an inside wall. Panasonic models that work with its MirAIe app may need Wi-Fi setup, but the leaflet lists no charge for it.
Samsung vs Panasonic: side-by-side comparison
The table matches equivalent items from both lists. Samsung figures are from the page updated 10 July 2026 (taxes applicable); Panasonic figures are from the leaflet dated 12 March 2025 (GST extra, as applicable).
| Item | Samsung | Panasonic |
|---|---|---|
| Standard split AC installation | ₹1,500 | ₹1,200 |
| Re-installation | ₹1,000 (₹1,200 WindFree) | ₹1,200 |
| Dismantling / uninstallation | ₹500 | ₹500 |
| Site inspection | ₹350 | Not listed |
| Copper pipe with insulation, per metre | ₹1,050 (beyond 3 m included) | ₹850 |
| Laying customer-supplied copper, per metre | ₹200 | ₹200 |
| Communication cable (4-core), per metre | ₹140 | ₹130 (1.5 sq mm) / ₹190 (2.5 sq mm) |
| Power cable (3-core), per metre | ₹110 | ₹105 (1.5 sq mm) / ₹150 (2.5 sq mm) |
| Drain pipe, per metre | ₹90 | ₹85 (1-inch, insulated) / ₹140 (hard PVC, insulated) |
| Brand outdoor bracket / wall mount | ₹750 (labour included) | ₹800 (standard 2.1 kg, installation included) |
| Fitting a customer-supplied bracket | ₹200 | ₹250 |
| Vinyl tape | ₹75 per metre | ₹180 per unit (standard 3 m pipe) |
| Refrigerant top-up | Not listed | ₹400 (copper over 7.5 m) |
| Nitrogen flushing (concealed tubing) | Not listed | ₹600 |
Panasonic's list is cheaper on the base fee and on copper, the two lines that matter most. Samsung's bracket (₹750) is ₹50 cheaper than Panasonic's standard wall mount (₹800), both with fitting included, and Samsung states that the first 3 m of copper is included; Panasonic's leaflet does not state an included length. Remember the dates: Samsung's figures are more recent, so a like-for-like comparison may shift if Panasonic has revised its leaflet since March 2025.
Worked examples: same flat, two brands
To compare fairly, the table below runs identical installations through both rate lists. Figures are before tax and illustrative only. Samsung's card states that 3 m of copper is included; Panasonic's leaflet does not spell out an included length, though its tape line refers to a standard 3 m pipe, so the Panasonic column assumes 3 m is included. That is our assumption, not a Panasonic statement: if your installer bills copper from the first metre, add ₹2,550 (3 x 850) to each Panasonic new-installation figure, which would make Panasonic dearer than Samsung in scenarios A to C. Confirm this with your installer before comparing.
| Scenario | Samsung (pre-tax) | Panasonic (pre-tax, assumes 3 m copper included) |
|---|---|---|
| A. Units within 3 m, no bracket | ₹1,500 | ₹1,200 |
| B. 6 m piping (3 m extra) + brand bracket | ₹5,400 (1,500 + 3 x 1,050 + 750) | ₹4,550 (1,200 + 3 x 850 + 800 wall mount, installation included) |
| C. Scenario B + 3 m extra communication cable + 3 m drain | ₹6,090 (5,400 + 3 x 140 + 3 x 90) | ₹5,195 (4,550 + 3 x 130 + 3 x 85) |
| D. 3 m extra copper and bracket bought by you (labour only) | ₹2,300 (1,500 + 3 x 200 + 200) | ₹2,050 (1,200 + 3 x 200 + 250) |
| E. Moving an existing AC: dismantle + reinstall | ₹1,500 (500 + 1,000); ₹1,700 for WindFree | ₹1,700 (500 + 1,200) |
For a new installation, Panasonic's list comes out ₹250 to ₹895 cheaper in these scenarios, driven by the base fee and the ₹200 per metre copper gap, provided the 3 m assumption holds. For moving an existing AC, Samsung is cheaper for non-WindFree models because its reinstallation rate is lower. In scenario D you also pay for the pipe and bracket you buy, so it is only cheaper if your material costs less than the brand's. Tax is added on top of every total.
Free or discounted installation: what the fine print says
Samsung's page says free or discounted installation may be available on selected models or for a limited period, and that you must register an installation request within 6 months of purchase to claim it. Outside such an offer, installation charges are paid by the customer. So whether your Samsung installation is free depends on your model and the offer running when you bought it, not on a blanket policy. Check your invoice or the dealer's written promise, and register the request early.
Panasonic's leaflet makes no free-installation statement. It only lists items chargeable over and above the installation charge. If a dealer promises free installation on a Panasonic AC, ask in writing what it covers: whether only the base fee, or also copper, the wall mount and add-ons.
How to read your installer's bill
Rapid Service Connect helps readers find and vet trusted local service professionals. We are not an authorised partner of Samsung or Panasonic and do not set these prices. Use the official lists to check each line of your quote:
- Measure the copper. Each extra metre is ₹1,050 (Samsung) or ₹850 (Panasonic). Ask for the measured length on the job sheet before the pipe is cut.
- Match labour-only rates. If you or your dealer supply copper or a bracket, you should pay only the fixing rate: ₹200 per metre of copper under both brands, and ₹200 (Samsung) or ₹250 (Panasonic) for the bracket.
- Question a refrigerant top-up. Panasonic lists it only for copper longer than 7.5 m. Samsung's card lists no top-up charge.
- Keep non-brand work separate. Chiselling, masonry, a new MCB or power plug and a stabiliser are outside Samsung's job; get them quoted as separate items.
- Ask for a GST bill. Panasonic's leaflet says so explicitly, and a tax invoice protects you with either brand.
- Check the date of the rate list. Samsung updated its page on 10 July 2026; Panasonic's leaflet is from March 2025. Ask the installer which list they are billing against.
Comparing with another brand you are considering? Our guide to LG AC installation charges uses the same approach. And if the installer is a local technician rather than the brand's own network, read up on how to verify a service professional before the visit.
FAQ
What are Samsung AC installation charges?
Samsung India's support page (last updated 10 July 2026) lists standard installation labour at ₹1,500, re-installation at ₹1,000 (₹1,200 for WindFree models), dismantling at ₹500 and site inspection at ₹350. Copper beyond the included 3 m is ₹1,050 per running metre. Taxes are applicable.
Is Samsung AC installation free?
Not by default. Samsung says free or discounted installation may apply to selected models or periods, and you must register an installation request within 6 months of purchase. Otherwise the customer pays the listed charges.
What are Panasonic AC installation charges?
Panasonic's leaflet dated 12 March 2025 lists standard installation or reinstallation of a split AC at ₹1,200 and uninstallation at ₹500, with copper piping at ₹850 per metre. GST is extra, as applicable. Confirm current rates with Panasonic.
How much is copper pipe per metre for Samsung and Panasonic AC?
Samsung charges ₹1,050 per running metre for insulated copper pipe including labour (July 2026 page), with 3 m included in the standard job. Panasonic's March 2025 leaflet lists ₹850 per metre including installation. Laying customer-supplied copper is ₹200 per metre with both brands.
Which is cheaper to install, Samsung or Panasonic AC?
On the published rates, Panasonic is cheaper for a new installation: ₹1,200 versus ₹1,500 base, and ₹850 versus ₹1,050 per metre of copper, assuming its first 3 m of copper is included as Samsung's is (the leaflet does not say). Samsung is cheaper for reinstalling a non-WindFree AC (₹1,000 versus ₹1,200). Panasonic's list is older, so verify it first.
9-point verification checklist