Buying AC in India will be expensive, prices will increase by 8% from 2026, report released.

If you are planning to buy a new air conditioner (AC) for your home or office before the summer season, then this news is going to have a direct impact on your pocket. In the future, the coldness of AC may prove costly for you. AC prices are likely to increase by 7 to 8 percent due to increase in input costs and changes in star-rating rules. The maximum impact of this inflation can be seen during the peak season of the year 2026 i.e. April-May.

Due to new energy efficiency standards, production costs of companies will increase, which will have a direct impact on customers’ pockets.

New and strict standards of energy efficiency are being implemented by the government from January 2026. To comply with these new rules, AC manufacturing companies will have to make significant changes in the technology of their products. Due to upgrading technology and designing ACs as per the new standards, it is certain that the production cost of the companies will increase. When the cost of manufacturing ACs increases, companies can pass on a large portion of this expense to customers, resulting in an increase in the prices of new models in the market.

Star-rating rules will change from January 2026, models will become expensive due to use of high-tech compressor with low power consumption.

Under the new star-rating system, companies will now have to make ACs that are more energy efficient than before. For this they will have to use better technology and modern compressors that consume less power. Experts believe that as soon as the summer season starts and demand increases, a jump in prices will be clearly visible. Customers may face increased prices, especially during April and May 2026, when AC sales are at their highest.

There has already been a stir in the market due to the increase in prices, dealers and retailers are busy filling the stock at the old rate.

In view of the possible increase in prices, the movement in the market has already increased. Dealers and retailers in the AC sector have increased their purchases since the month of December. The business class is trying to accumulate stock of old star-rated models before the new rules and new prices are implemented. This will help them sell at competitive prices in the coming season. As soon as the stock of old models gets exhausted, new and expensive ACs will take their place in the market.

Delay in purchase may cost you some money, keep in mind the rating to save on electricity bill in the long run.

Experts advise customers that if they are thinking of buying an AC, then do not delay too much in taking the decision. Delay may cost you more for the same product. Also, while shopping, it would be wise to decide in advance the options as per your budget. Although ACs with higher star ratings may be a little expensive, in the long run they help in huge savings in electricity bills, so keep the rating in mind while purchasing.