Gitnux/Report 2026

Air Conditioning Industry Statistics

Cooling demand is climbing fast and the numbers reveal where the real pressure is building across capacity, energy use, and service needs heading into 2026. If you work in Air Conditioning Industry planning, procurement, or operations, these latest statistics show exactly what’s changing and why it matters now.
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November 10, 2026Updated
Air Conditioning Industry Statistics
Ryan TownsendWritten by Ryan Townsend·Edited by Diana Reeves·Fact-checked by Nikolas Papadopoulos
Published ·Updated
How this report is researched
01Editorial Scope

An editor sets the topic, the inclusion criteria, and the evaluation framework before research starts.

02Source Research

AI search agents locate sources and extract each figure together with the document it came from.

Read our full methodology →

Search agents attach provenance to every extracted figure.

Next review: within 39 days

01 Industry overview

The air conditioning industry at a glance

Global air-conditioner demand reached 131.6 million units in 2024, while the market is shifting toward higher-efficiency equipment as cooling demand expands across Asia and other underpenetrated regions.

131.6M units[68]
Global demand, 2024
$120B[69]
Global market value, 2024
5% CAGR[70]
Unit-market CAGR to 2030
37.8%[46]
China share of 2024 demand
Market size
The International Energy Agency valued the global air-conditioning systems market at $120 billion in 2024. Separately, JRAIA recorded global demand of 131.638 million units in 2024, up from 123.932 million in 2023.[69][68]
Forecast & CAGR
KH Neochem, citing JARN estimates, projects the global air-conditioning market to increase from 140 million units in FY2024 to 190 million units in FY2030, equivalent to a 5% CAGR. The IEA projects market value in its STEPS scenario to reach $150 billion by 2035.[70][69]
Market share & regions
China represented approximately 37.8% of global air-conditioner sales in 2024, based on JRAIA demand data. JRAIA recorded 49.726 million units in China, 25.249 million in Asia excluding Japan and China, 19.2 million in North America and 9.5 million in Europe.[46][68]
Segmentation
Residential equipment accounted for approximately 86% of global air-conditioner sales in 2025, while commercial equipment represented about 14%. Carrier reported that new equipment accounted for 72% of its 2025 sales and parts and service for 28%, illustrating the importance of aftermarket revenue in the broader HVAC sector.[46]
Key players & concentration
Major global participants include Daikin, Carrier, Midea, Gree and other regional manufacturers. Carrier reported $21.747 billion in 2025 net sales, with international operations representing approximately 52% of total sales; comparable global concentration data by manufacturer were not disclosed in the reliable sources reviewed.[46]
Pricing
The U.S. Department of Energy states that its FEMP-qualified residential central air-conditioner guidance allows an efficient model to cost up to $1,853 more than a less-efficient model in 2023 dollars while remaining cost-effective over its life cycle. The best available model was estimated to save up to $6,724 in lifetime costs.[6]
Trends, drivers & challenges
Cooling demand is being driven by rising temperatures, urbanization and low equipment penetration in emerging markets: the IEA reports that more than 80% of the global population experiences cooling needs during at least part of the year, while only about 40% has access to air conditioning. The main challenges are electricity demand, affordability and the need to improve equipment efficiency and refrigerant performance.[65][69]
Consumer behavior & competition
Air-conditioner ownership is highly uneven: in 2025, household penetration was approximately 90% in the United States, 93% in Japan, 79% in China, 29% in Southeast Asia, 23% in Europe and 16% in India. This gap leaves emerging Asian markets as major targets for first-time purchases, while mature markets increasingly compete on efficiency, controls, service and replacement demand.[65][59]
M&A
Daikin agreed in August 2025 to acquire Dynamic Data Centers Solutions, a U.S. specialist in cooling systems for AI data centers, to add server-cooling technology to its commercial air-conditioning portfolio. In December 2025, Daikin also agreed to acquire Vietnam-based Anh Nguyen Trading Technical Service to expand HVAC and building-management-system integration.[20]
Regulation
U.S. commercial air conditioners and VRF systems below 65,000 Btu/h manufactured or imported from January 1, 2025 must meet specified minimum efficiency levels, including 13.4 SEER2 for several split-system categories. California prohibits new residential and non-residential air-conditioning equipment using refrigerants with GWP of 750 or greater from January 1, 2025, and applies the same threshold to new VRF systems from January 1, 2026.[6][71]
Latest news
In August 2026, the China Household Electrical Appliances Association reported that China’s residential air-conditioner production reached 187 million units in the 2026 cooling year, down 10.9% year on year. The same source reported global residential air-conditioner shipments of approximately 200 million units, down 9.4%.[72]

02 Ranking

Top 10 Companies in the Air Conditioning Industry

The leading companies in the air conditioning industry, ranked on market impact, performance, momentum, innovation and brand popularity.

Updated November 10, 2026 · Next review December 10, 2026

Verdict

Trane Technologies leads Gitnux's 2026 air conditioning ranking with an Overall score of 9.3, with revenue growth 7.5% and operating margin 18.6%. Midea Group is the highest-ranked air-conditioner producer at 9.2, with revenue growth 12.1% and R&D at 3.9% of revenue.

Ranked by Overall score · How we score ↓

Editor's top 3 picks

Where to start, by need.

  1. #1 Overall · Leader in commercial HVAC systems

    Trane Technologies

    IE

    Ranked #1 · 9.3 · Commercial HVAC systems

    Why we picked it: Its commercial HVAC and building-systems segment shows 7.5% revenue growth and 18.6% operating margin.

    See in ranking ↓Visit tranetechnologies.com ↗

  2. Leader in residential and commercial AC

    Midea Group

    CN

    Ranked #2 · 9.2 · Residential and commercial AC

    Why we picked it: Its residential and commercial AC portfolio spans more than 200 countries with 12.1% revenue growth.

    See in ranking ↓Visit midea.com ↗

  3. #3 overall

    Samsung Electronics

    KR

    Ranked #3 · 9.0 · Residential and commercial AC

    Why we picked it: Its residential and commercial air segment pairs 11.3% R&D with 13.1% operating margin.

    See in ranking ↓Visit samsung.com ↗

Pick 1 is the #1 company overall. Pick 2 is the highest-ranked company in the top 5 that adds a new segment; no further segment places in the top 5, so pick 3 follows rank.

Full ranking

Sort by
Top 10 companies in the air conditioning industry, 2026 – Gitnux ranking
#CompanyOverall ↓Company snapshot
1

Trane Technologies

Commercial HVAC systems · IE

9.3
2

Midea Group

Residential and commercial AC · CN

9.2
3

Samsung Electronics

Residential and commercial AC · KR

9.0
4

Daikin Industries

Residential and commercial AC · JP

9.0
5

Johnson Controls

Commercial HVAC systems · IE

9.0
6

Mitsubishi Electric

Residential, commercial and VRF air conditioning · JP

8.5
7

AAON

Commercial packaged and rooftop HVAC · US

8.5
8

Carrier Global

Residential, commercial and transport HVAC · US

8.4
9

Bosch

Residential and commercial HVAC · DE

8.2
10

Hisense Home Appliances Group

Residential and commercial air conditioning · CN

7.8

How we score

  • Impact (30%): scale and weight in the market (revenue, market share, employees, market position).
  • Performance (20%): recent revenue growth and operating margin; an analyst assessment where a company does not publish them.
  • Momentum (20%): growth trajectory and future potential.
  • Innovation (15%): R&D intensity and how technologically advanced the company is.

Popularity (brand search demand, 15%) counts toward Overall but is not published as a column. Overall leaves out what is not known.

Scale Scores are shown on a 7–10 scale with one decimal; bars start at 7.0.

Cadence Recalculated when new figures are published; next review December 10, 2026.

Independence. Rankings are editorially independent. Scores, ranks, picks and the verdict follow the method above; no company can pay to change them.

Cite this ranking

APA

Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Top 10 companies in the air conditioning industry. In Air Conditioning Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/air-conditioning-industry-statistics/#top-companies

report visual · Projection

Global total air conditioner demand

Global total air conditioner demand grew from 115,872 thousand units in 2019 to 123,932 thousand units in 2023.

115.9K thousand units
Start
+1.7%
CAGR · 4y
124K thousand units
Projected
20192023
source-verifiedjraia.or.jp2023

04 Statistics

Technology & Innovation

We see measured adoption indicators across building automation: 94.4% BACnet adoption in North America (2024) and 78% of smart-building respondents using a building-management system in 2025.

AI in the air conditioning industry

  • 14.4% of respondents in a 2026 survey of data-driven building-controls practitioners worked as engineers in building-automation companies serving HVAC applications.[1]
  • 40% maximum greenhouse-gas-emissions reduction is reported for BrainBox AI’s autonomous HVAC controls after Trane Technologies completed its acquisition in 2025.[2]
  • 66 peer-reviewed studies on large language models for HVAC operations were identified from 2023 through March 2026.[3]
  • 7.8% of respondents in a 2026 survey of data-driven building-controls practitioners worked as control engineers in HVAC&R manufacturing.[1]
  • 11.1% of respondents in a 2026 survey of data-driven building-controls practitioners worked in technology companies or startups developing HVAC-related controls.[1]
  • 3 of 66 studies on large language models for HVAC operations were classified as near-term deployment candidates, while 63 were research-only.[3]

Automation in the air conditioning industry

  • 78% of smart-building survey respondents reported having a building-management or building-automation system installed and in use in 2025.[4]
  • 94.4% was the estimated BACnet adoption rate in North America in 2024 in an ASHRAE analysis of commercial building automation.[5]
  • 45% of buildings with a building-management or building-automation system reported managing HVAC or climate control in 2025.[4]
  • 58.0% was the estimated global building-automation-system adoption rate in 2024 in an ASHRAE BACnet analysis.[5]
  • 5% of U.S. commercial buildings used internet-connected or networked thermostats in 2018, according to Department of Energy analysis of CBECS data.[6]
  • 5% of U.S. commercial buildings smaller than 50,000 square feet had smart thermostats installed, according to 2024 research.[7]

Digital Transformation in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. service-based SMBs, 42% said they could not survive without their digital tools in data collected in December 2025.[8]
  • Among England adult social care providers, 73% used digital social care records in February–March 2025.[9]
  • Across U.S. service-based SMBs, 69% used at least one operational automation to save time in data collected in December 2025.[8]
  • Among England adult social care providers, 63% used digital rostering tools in February–March 2025.[9]

Technology Adoption in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among surveyed homecare businesses, 92% used finance software in 2024.[10]
  • Among surveyed homecare businesses, 98% used care-management software in 2024.[10]
  • Among England adult social care providers, 73% used at least one care technology for care and support in February–March 2025.[9]
  • Among surveyed homecare businesses, 94% used auditing and compliance software in 2024.[10]
  • Among surveyed homecare businesses, 96% used rostering software in 2024.[10]

Cloud Computing in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across EU businesses, 45% bought cloud-computing services in 2023.[11]
  • Among EU businesses using cloud computing, 68% used it for file storage in 2023.[11]
  • Across EU small and medium-sized enterprises, 44% bought cloud-computing services in 2023.[11]
  • Among EU businesses using cloud computing, 83% used it to host email systems in 2023.[11]
  • Across EU large businesses, 78% bought cloud-computing services in 2023.[11]

Big Data in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among surveyed homecare providers, 76% said smart technology helped them better evidence care quality in 2024.[10]
  • Among surveyed homecare providers, 57% reported improved visibility of care after adopting smart technology in 2024.[10]
  • Among surveyed homecare providers, 64% said smart technology helped them better audit care quality in 2024.[10]
  • Among surveyed homecare agencies with reporting tools, 22% were not using their data to inform business decisions or benefit clients in 2025.[12]

05 Statistics

Data & Analytics

Data governance maturity is a recurring constraint for HVAC analytics, with 61% of organizations reporting a dedicated data-governance function in 2024 and 49% rating data quality as good or excellent.

Data analytics in the air conditioning industry

  • 23 R&D centers and 24 intelligent factories were listed by Midea Industrial Technology for its HVACR-appliance component operations.[13]
  • 3,300+ inverter-technology patents were reported by Midea in its air-conditioner R&D portfolio.[14]
  • 35 globally leading technological breakthroughs were attributed to Midea’s inverter-technology R&D program in its air-conditioner business.[14]
  • 6,600+ authorized patents were listed by Midea Industrial Technology for HVACR-appliance component operations.[13]

Data Quality in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across organizations in APQC cross-industry research, 43% reported already using data-quality assessments within data governance in 2024.[15]
  • Across supply-management organizations, 49% reported that their data quality was good or excellent in 2024, based on a survey of more than 121 respondents.[16]
  • Across supply-management organizations, 23% reported spending at least 21% of their time cleaning data in 2024.[16]
  • Across supply-management organizations, 67% said their data quality was better or significantly better than two years earlier in 2024.[16]

Data Governance in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among organizations surveyed globally, 61% reported having a dedicated data-governance function in 2024.[16]
  • Among consumer-services companies, 31% reported having a formal data-governance organization in 2024, making this a relevant benchmark for personal-services businesses.[17]
  • Among organizations surveyed globally, 53% of companies with more than 10,000 employees reported a formal data-governance organization in 2024.[17]
  • Among organizations surveyed globally, 47% reported housing their data-governance function in a center of excellence in 2024.[16]
  • Among organizations surveyed globally, 81% considered their data-governance program useful in 2024.[16]

KPIs in the air conditioning industry

  • 90% was the acceptable HVAC service-agreement renewal-rate benchmark in the HVACR Business KPI guide.[18]
  • 1.0% was the acceptable service-callback rate per technician in the HVACR Business KPI guide.[18]
  • 1,200 service and maintenance calls per technician was the acceptable annual benchmark in the HVACR Business KPI guide.[18]
  • 70% was the acceptable closure rate for service-agreement proposals made by technicians in the HVACR Business KPI guide.[18]
  • $140,000 was the acceptable annual revenue-per-service-truck benchmark in the HVACR Business KPI guide.[18]

06 Statistics

Strategy & Growth

Mergers and capital deployment appear as growth levers, including Trane Technologies’ 2024 M&A deployment/commitment of 470 million dollars and Daikin’s ¥180.0 billion digital-technology investment.

Growth in the air conditioning industry

  • 12% was Trane Technologies’ reported Americas-segment revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2024.[19]
  • 43 trillion yen was Daikin’s estimated global HVAC&R market size for 2025.[20]
  • 470 million dollars was Trane Technologies’ 2024 deployment or commitment for mergers and acquisitions.[19]
  • 18% was Daikin Americas air-conditioning sales growth from fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2023.[20]
  • 7% was Daikin’s estimated average annual growth rate for the global HVAC&R market from 2020 to its 2025 forecast.[20]
  • 1.3 billion dollars was Trane Technologies’ 2024 deployment or commitment for share repurchases as part of its capital-allocation strategy.[19]

Differentiation in the air conditioning industry

  • 25% of Carrier’s 2024 sales came from parts and service, supporting differentiation through lifecycle offerings rather than equipment alone.[21]
  • 15% of Daikin’s fiscal-2023 global product mix consisted of commercial systems in its Asia and Oceania business.[20]
  • 30% of Daikin’s fiscal-2023 global air-conditioning product mix consisted of applied systems.[20]
  • 10% of Daikin’s fiscal-2023 global product mix consisted of refrigerators and freezers alongside air-conditioning offerings.[20]
  • 30% of Daikin’s fiscal-2023 global air-conditioning product mix consisted of commercial systems.[20]
  • 20% of Daikin’s fiscal-2023 global air-conditioning product mix consisted of heating products.[20]

Mergers and acquisitions in the air conditioning industry

  • 80% of Carrier’s announced Viessmann purchase price was payable in cash.[22]
  • 20% of Carrier’s announced Viessmann purchase price was payable in Carrier common stock.[22]
  • 12 billion euros was Carrier’s announced purchase price for Viessmann Climate Solutions in 2023.[22]
  • 12,000 employees were added to Carrier through its January 2024 acquisition of Viessmann Climate Solutions.[23]

Strategic partnerships in the air conditioning industry

  • 800 million yen was the capital committed to Daikin Taiwan Air Conditioning Systems for air-handling-unit manufacturing.[20]
  • 470 million dollars of Trane Technologies’ 2024 capital deployment was committed to mergers and acquisitions supporting expansion of its HVAC businesses.[19]
  • 15% was LEADING’s ownership share in Daikin Taiwan Air Conditioning Systems.[20]
  • 2.5 billion dollars was Trane Technologies’ total 2024 deployment or commitment, including capital allocation and mergers and acquisitions.[19]
  • 51% was Daikin Malaysia’s ownership share in the 2024 Taiwan joint venture with Hotai Development and LEADING.[20]
  • 34% was Hotai Development’s ownership share in Daikin Taiwan Air Conditioning Systems.[20]

07 Statistics

People & Workforce

Workforce depth matters for controls and installation: 441,249 U.S. HVAC mechanics and installers were employed in 2024, and 44.3% of surveyed controls practitioners had more than 15 years’ experience.

Hiring in the air conditioning industry

  • 261,880 people worked in the U.S. water, steam, air-conditioning and irrigation-systems industry in 2024.[24]
  • 6% employment growth was projected for U.S. heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers from 2022 to 2032.[25]
  • 609,300 U.S. workers were employed in traditional HVAC in 2024, the largest employment subsector within energy efficiency.[6]
  • 441,249 U.S. heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers were employed in 2024.[24]
  • 37,700 annual job openings were projected for U.S. heating, air-conditioning and refrigeration mechanics and installers over 2022–2032.[25]

Employee retention in the air conditioning industry

  • Nearly 50% of HVACR contractors reported onboarding and retention as their biggest challenge in the 2025 Contractor of the Future Study.[26]
  • 335,200 employees were added to the global HVAC workforce during the year preceding the 2024 ecosystem analysis, indicating continuing labor-market expansion.[27]

Remote Work in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. service occupations, 6.5% of workers did some work at home on average in 2024–2025.[25]
  • Across U.S. other-services industries, 32.6% of workers did some work at home on average in 2024–2025.[25]
  • Across U.S. education and health-services industries, 28.1% of workers did some work at home on average in 2024–2025.[25]
  • Across U.S. leisure and hospitality industries, 7.2% of workers did some work at home on average in 2024–2025.[25]

Hybrid Work in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Across U.S. education industries, 44% of full-time employees were hybrid during December 2023–March 2024.[28]
  • Across U.S. professional and business services, 22% of full-time employees were hybrid during December 2023–March 2024.[28]
  • Among U.S. full-time employees able to work from home, 44.4% were hybrid during December 2023–March 2024.[28]
  • Across U.S. full-time wage-and-salary employees, 28% worked in a hybrid arrangement during December 2023–March 2024.[28]
  • Across U.S. health-care and social-assistance industries, 30% of full-time employees were hybrid during December 2023–March 2024.[28]

Upskilling in the air conditioning industry

  • 21.5% of respondents in a 2026 survey of data-driven HVAC-controls practitioners had 0–3 years of professional experience.[1]
  • 44.3% of respondents in a 2026 survey of data-driven HVAC-controls practitioners had more than 15 years of experience, highlighting the sector’s reliance on experienced specialists.[1]
  • 27.8% of respondents in a 2026 survey of data-driven HVAC-controls practitioners worked in academic or research institutions, a major source of advanced-controls skills development.[1]
  • 17.7% of respondents in a 2026 survey of data-driven HVAC-controls practitioners had 4–8 years of professional experience.[1]
  • 16.5% of respondents in a 2026 survey of data-driven HVAC-controls practitioners had 9–15 years of professional experience.[1]

Employee Engagement in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Globally, 27% of managers were engaged at work in 2025, down from 30% in 2024.[29]
  • Across 183,000 business units in 53 industries and 90 countries, top-quartile engagement teams achieved 23% higher profitability than bottom-quartile teams in Gallup’s meta-analysis.[29]
  • In the United States, 32% of employees were engaged at work in 2025.[29]
  • Across the United States and Canada, 31% of employees were engaged at work in 2025.[29]

DEI in the air conditioning industry

  • 10.4% of U.S. HVAC mechanics and installers were Black in 2025.[30]
  • 2.4% of credentials awarded in U.S. HVAC training programs went to women in the 2014–15 academic year.[30]
  • 4.4% of U.S. HVAC mechanics and installers were Asian in 2025.[30]
  • 23.9% of workers in the U.S. water, steam, air-conditioning and irrigation-systems industry were women in 2024.[24]
  • 2.7% of U.S. HVAC mechanics and installers were women in 2025.[30]

08 Statistics

Customer & Sales

Customer expectations track service delivery: 74% of U.S. HVAC customers expected service within 24 hours in 2025, while lead booking efficiency is reflected by a 44.0% HVAC lead booking rate in February 2026.

Customer experience in the air conditioning industry

  • 84% of U.S. HVAC customers mostly or completely trusted their technician not to oversell in 2025.[31]
  • 74% of U.S. HVAC customers expected service within 24 hours when their heating or air-conditioning system was out in 2025.[31]
  • 42% of surveyed U.S. consumers rated ease of installation as an important air-conditioner feature in 2021.[6]
  • 58% of surveyed U.S. consumers rated cooling quality as an important air-conditioner feature in 2021.[6]
  • 48% of surveyed U.S. consumers rated energy efficiency as an important air-conditioner feature in 2021.[6]

Customer retention in the air conditioning industry

  • 7% was the annual customer churn rate reported for best-in-class HVAC and home-services companies in Q4 2025.[32]
  • 81% was the annual customer churn rate reported for the worst-performing HVAC and home-services companies in Q4 2025.[32]
  • 40% was the average annual customer churn rate across more than 85 U.S. home-services companies, including HVAC, in Q4 2025.[32]
  • 96% or greater was the service-agreement retention rate achieved by best-in-class air-conditioning, heating, plumbing and controls contractors in the 2019 MSCA benchmark survey.[33]

Customer acquisition in the air conditioning industry

  • 75% of heat-pump installations in a 2024 U.S. contractor survey came from customers who proactively contacted the contractor.[34]
  • 67% of U.S. homeowners reported finding their HVAC contractor through word of mouth or recommendation in 2024.[35]
  • 50% of heat-pump installation customers in a 2024 U.S. contractor survey specifically asked for heat pumps.[34]
  • 1.8% of U.S. HVAC homeowners selected their latest company because of an advertisement in 2025.[31]
  • 26.3% of U.S. HVAC homeowners selected their latest company through a friend’s recommendation in 2025.[31]

Customer loyalty in the air conditioning industry

  • 62% of surveyed HVAC customers were not loyal to their HVAC professional in the cited U.S. survey.[36]
  • 49.2% of U.S. HVAC customers said their latest service call was routine maintenance in 2025.[31]
  • 42.6% of U.S. HVAC customers returned to a company they had used before in 2025.[31]
  • 42% of U.S. HVAC customers said they subscribed to a maintenance plan in 2025.[31]

Lead generation in the air conditioning industry

  • $127.74 was the median cost per lead for U.S. air-conditioning installation and repair search campaigns from April 2024 to March 2025.[37]
  • 68% of U.S. home-services discovery involved word of mouth from family or friends in the 2022 study, which included HVAC providers.[38]
  • 54% of U.S. home-services discovery involved internet search in the 2022 study, which included HVAC providers.[38]
  • 34% of U.S. home-services discovery involved social media in the 2022 study, which included HVAC providers.[38]
  • 44.0% was the HVAC lead booking rate from U.S. Local Services Ads in February 2026 across 409 accounts.[39]

09 Statistics

Marketing & Brand

Discovery channels remain measurable: 85% of surveyed HVAC businesses used online advertising in 2023, and 78% relied mainly on word-of-mouth advertising in 2024.

Marketing in the air conditioning industry

  • 53% of HVAC contractors reported advertising through social media in 2024.[35]
  • 85% of surveyed HVAC businesses used online advertising, including Google Ads and social-media ads, in 2023.[40]
  • 78% of HVAC contractors reported relying mainly on word-of-mouth advertising in 2024.[35]
  • 81% of surveyed HVAC businesses used social-media marketing in 2023.[40]
  • 52% of surveyed HVAC businesses used referral programs in 2023.[40]

Digital marketing in the air conditioning industry

  • 71% of HVAC buyers were active on Facebook in the cited U.S. home-services survey.[41]
  • 50% of HVAC buyers were active on YouTube in the cited U.S. home-services survey.[41]
  • 85% of surveyed HVAC businesses used online advertising in 2023.[40]
  • 54% of U.S. home-services customers used internet search to discover providers in 2022, including HVAC providers.[38]
  • 34% of U.S. home-services customers used social media to discover providers in 2022, including HVAC providers.[38]

Branding in the air conditioning industry

  • 23% of surveyed New York City consumers considered brand an important air-conditioner feature in 2021.[6]
  • 28% of surveyed U.S. consumers considered brand an important air-conditioner feature in 2021.[6]

Influencer Marketing in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • Among U.S. home-services businesses, 33% expected to try influencer marketing for the first time in 2026.[42]
  • Among U.S. Gen Z beauty shoppers, 90% bought a beauty product based on an influencer recommendation during the previous year.[43]
  • Across surveyed brands, 54.3% used views, reach, or impressions as their primary influencer-marketing success metric in 2024.[44]
  • Globally, 40% of brands engaged influencers on an extended basis in 2025, up from 29% previously.[45]
  • Across surveyed brands, 83% perceived influencer marketing as effective in 2023.[44]

10 Statistics

Operations & Execution

Execution metrics highlight manufacturing and commercial performance, including Hisense’s 0.213% air-conditioner defect rate in 2025 and Carrier’s $21.747 billion net sales in 2025.

Process optimization in the air conditioning industry

  • 12% compound annual revenue growth was delivered by Trane Technologies from 2020 through 2024 while it operated its HVAC-focused business system.[46]
  • ¥180.0 billion was allocated to digital-technology investment under Daikin’s FUSION 25 latter-half plan to improve business processes and supply-chain management.[47]
  • 24 hours or less was the response-time target achieved for handling abnormal batches after Hisense expanded supplier spot-check coverage to 100%.[48]
  • Five new air-conditioning plants in India, Mexico, Indonesia, China and Poland were identified by Daikin for cost-competitiveness improvements in fiscal 2024.[47]
  • Four-way integrated activities involving development, production, procurement and suppliers were used by Daikin to streamline production, procurement and logistics processes in fiscal 2024.[47]

Operational efficiency in the air conditioning industry

  • 5% organic sales growth was recorded by Carrier’s HVAC segment in 2024, with Americas growth of 9%.[46]
  • 23% was the organic or operational increase in Carrier HVAC operating profit in 2024 before acquisition, amortization and restructuring effects.[46]
  • 400 basis points of EBITDA-margin expansion was achieved by Trane Technologies between 2020 and 2024.[46]
  • 3% organic sales growth was recorded by Carrier in 2024, primarily driven by its HVAC segment and improved Americas end-markets.[46]
  • 40 basis points of GAAP operating-margin expansion was achieved by Carrier in 2024, driven partly by productivity.[46]

Quality management in the air conditioning industry

  • 21% year-on-year improvement in export air-conditioner defect rates was reported by Hisense for 2025.[48]
  • 19% year-on-year improvement in domestic air-conditioner defect rates was reported by Hisense for 2025.[48]
  • RMB10.35 million in external losses was reduced by Hisense through air-conditioner quality improvements in 2025.[48]
  • 0.213% was Hisense’s actual air-conditioner product defect rate in 2025, below its 0.221% target.[48]
  • 98% of Daikin’s major manufacturing bases had obtained ISO 9001 certification, according to its 2024 sustainability reporting.[47]

Supply chain in the air conditioning industry

  • ¥180.0 billion was planned by Daikin for digital-technology investment to build systems managing the entire supply chain under its FUSION 25 plan.[47]
  • 75% of Carrier’s 2024 sales were new equipment and 25% were parts and service.[46]
  • 16% of Carrier’s 2024 sales growth came from acquisitions and divestitures, reflecting portfolio changes affecting its HVAC supply and operating structure.[46]
  • The high 70s in days was Daikin’s groupwide inventory target for fiscal 2023 to improve working-capital efficiency.[47]
  • 50% of Carrier’s 2024 net sales came from international operations, including U.S. export sales.[46]

Outsourcing / Offshoring in the home and personal services sector (sector benchmark)

  • 43% of facility organizations worldwide reported no change in their use of outsourcing or contractors during October–December 2025.[49]
  • 91% of 200 leading food-services and facility-management buyers in the United States and Europe expected their outsourcing budgets to increase over the five years to 2030, based on a 2024 survey.[50]
  • 32% of building-service contractors expected a trend toward increased outsourcing of cleaning tasks, according to a 2024 U.S. market study.[51]
  • 18% of facility organizations worldwide reported decreasing their use of outsourcing or contractors during October–December 2025.[49]
  • 37% of facility organizations worldwide reported increasing their use of outsourcing or contractors in the October–December 2025 survey period.[49]

11 Statistics

Finance & Pricing

Pricing and margin sensitivity show up in benchmarks, including U.S. average import price of $11.88 thousand per ton in 2024 and Carrier’s $2.308 billion HVAC segment operating profit in 2024.

Pricing strategy in the air conditioning industry

  • $390 was the median 2024 U.S. retail price for a window air conditioner in a California market-characterization review.[52]
  • 9% growth in Carrier’s Americas HVAC sales in 2024 was driven partly by customer demand and pricing improvements.[46]
  • $11.88 thousand per ton was the average U.S. import price for air conditioners in 2024, according to trade data classified under HS 8415.[53]
  • 120 basis points was Watsco’s 2025 gross-margin expansion, attributed partly to pricing-optimization technology.[54]
  • $550 was the median 2024 U.S. retail price for a portable air conditioner in the same market-characterization review.[52]

Cost reduction in the air conditioning industry

  • 250 basis points of Carrier operating-margin expansion was reported in its 2024 results release on an adjusted basis.[46]
  • 1% year-on-year growth in Carrier HVAC operating profit was reported for 2024 after acquisition, amortization and restructuring effects.[46]
  • Standardization of key components was identified by Daikin as a fiscal 2024 cost-reduction measure for air-conditioning products.[47]
  • Copper-to-aluminum conversion was identified by Daikin as a fiscal 2024 measure to reduce product costs in air-conditioning manufacturing.[47]
  • Four-way coordination across development, production, procurement and suppliers was used by Daikin to strengthen global cost reductions in fiscal 2024.[47]

Profitability in the air conditioning industry

  • ¥392.1 billion was Daikin’s fiscal 2023 operating profit, while its operating-profit margin was 8.9%.[20]
  • $1.0348 billion was Lennox International’s 2024 operating income.[46]
  • $806.9 million was Lennox International’s 2024 net income.[46]
  • ¥4,395.3 billion was Daikin’s fiscal 2023 net sales, its highest reported level at that time.[20]
  • $2.308 billion was Carrier HVAC segment operating profit in 2024.[46]

Financial planning in the air conditioning industry

  • ¥500.0 billion was Daikin’s fiscal 2025 operating-profit target under its latter-half FUSION 25 plan.[47]
  • $12 billion was Trane Technologies’ cumulative capital deployment from 2020 through 2024.[46]
  • ¥180.0 billion was Daikin’s planned investment in digital technology under the latter-half FUSION 25 plan.[47]
  • 11% was Daikin’s fiscal 2025 operating-profit-margin target under the latter-half FUSION 25 plan.[47]
  • 2030 was the target year for Trane Technologies’ commitment to reduce customer greenhouse-gas emissions by one billion metric tons.[46]

12 Statistics

Product & Service

Service and lifecycle assumptions shape procurement tradeoffs, with U.S. average lifetimes for central air conditioners in hot-humid regions at 18.0 years and service-solutions share of net sales at 60% in Daikin’s three North American applied-systems businesses.

Product development in the air conditioning industry

  • 9 R&D centers operated across all 50 U.S. states within Daikin’s U.S. operations in fiscal 2024.[20]
  • 1,600+ dedicated R&D personnel worked for the air-conditioner manufacturer as of March 31, 2025, China.[48]
  • RMB710.0 million was spent on research and development by an air-conditioner manufacturer in 2024, China.[48]
  • 491.2 billion yen was Panasonic Group’s total R&D expenditure in fiscal 2024, including air-conditioning development within its Lifestyle business, Japan.[55]

Product lifecycle in the air conditioning industry

  • 15.3 years was the estimated national average lifetime for U.S. heat pumps in the Department of Energy’s lifecycle analysis.[56]
  • 18.0 years was the estimated average lifetime for U.S. central air conditioners in hot-humid regions.[56]
  • 21.2 years was the estimated national average lifetime for U.S. central air conditioners in the Department of Energy’s lifecycle analysis.[56]
  • 19.3 years was the average assumed lifespan across 41 air-conditioning lifecycle-assessment studies reviewed in the literature.[57]
  • 24.1 years was the estimated average lifetime for U.S. central air conditioners in the North region.[56]

After-sales in the air conditioning industry

  • 13 of 18 planned major North American cities had Daikin integrated sales-and-service networks established by the end of fiscal 2023.[20]
  • Below 40% was the service-solutions share of net sales for comparable North American applied-systems competitors cited by Daikin.[20]
  • 60% was Daikin’s service-solutions share of net sales in its three North American applied-systems businesses, according to its fiscal 2023 report.[20]
  • 50%+ was Daikin’s targeted service-solutions share of North American applied-systems net sales by the end of fiscal 2025.[20]

Value proposition in the air conditioning industry

  • 1.7 million Midea U and U+ smart air conditioners were recalled in the United States because pooled water could create mold concerns.[58]
  • 2,020 TWh was global electricity demand for space cooling in 2015 in Daikin’s IEA-based analysis.[20]
  • 25,000+ employees worked in Daikin’s U.S. operations in fiscal 2024, supporting local production, sales and service delivery.[20]
  • 10% of global electricity consumption is attributed to air conditioning, according to Daikin’s 2025 climate-transition discussion.[20]
  • 2.47-fold was the increase in applied-system air-conditioning demand in North America between 2022 and 2024.[20]

13 Statistics

Sustainability & Ethics

Use-phase emissions dominate reported impacts, with Daikin stating 98% of HVAC-R equipment CO2 emissions occur during use and end-of-life phases, and Carrier reporting 632 million metric tons of GHG emissions avoided since 2020.

Sustainability in the air conditioning industry

  • 98% of HVAC-R equipment CO2 emissions occur during use and end-of-life phases, according to Daikin’s 2024 sustainability reporting.[59]
  • 50% of Carrier’s revenue in 2024 came from products and services supporting energy efficiency or greenhouse-gas reduction, globally reported.[22]
  • 38% of Carrier’s U.S. residential HVAC sales in 2024 came from furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps meeting ENERGY STAR efficiency metrics.[22]
  • $2.1 billion has been invested in sustainable research and development by Carrier since 2020, reported globally in 2026.[23]
  • 632 million metric tons of GHG emissions have been avoided since 2020 through Carrier customer use of high-efficiency and lower-GWP refrigerant products globally, reported in 2026.[23]

ESG in the air conditioning industry

  • 100% of Johnson Controls’ new suppliers were screened using social criteria in 2023, globally.[60]
  • 100% of Johnson Controls’ new suppliers were screened using environmental criteria in 2023, globally.[60]
  • 33% was the reduction in Johnson Controls’ Scope 3 emissions from use of sold products, reported globally in 2026.[60]
  • 43 million metric tons of CO2e had been avoided through Johnson Controls performance-contracting projects since January 2000, reported in 2025.[60]
  • 44% lower embodied carbon is offered by Johnson Controls’ new low-embodied-carbon chiller options compared with conventional systems in 2026.[60]

Ethics in the air conditioning industry

  • 1 supplier category was identified by Johnson Controls as refusing to abide by its Code of Ethics or equivalent in its reported supplier-metrics framework for 2023.[60]
  • 0.001 was Johnson Controls’ global work-related fatality rate in 2023, measured across its workforce.[60]
  • 100% of Johnson Controls’ new suppliers were screened using environmental criteria in 2022, globally.[60]
  • 100% of Johnson Controls’ new suppliers were screened using social criteria in 2022, globally.[60]

CSR in the air conditioning industry

  • 27,000+ employee volunteer hours were recorded by Carrier through its volunteer program in 2025, globally.[23]
  • 0.35 was Carrier’s total recordable incident rate in 2025, globally.[23]
  • 75 was Carrier’s inclusion score in its 2025 Pulse Employee Engagement Surveys, globally.[23]
  • 0.14 was Carrier’s lost-time incident rate in 2025, globally.[23]
  • 76 was Carrier’s employee-engagement score in its 2025 Pulse Employee Engagement Surveys, globally.[23]

Circular economy in the air conditioning industry

  • 1,000+ pounds of refrigerant can be contained in a building chiller, according to U.S. EPA equipment-disposal guidance.[61]
  • 98% of CO2 emissions from HVAC-R equipment occur during use and end-of-life phases, according to Daikin’s 2024 sustainability reporting.[59]
  • 9 million metric tons of refrigerant were recovered in the United States in 2024, according to an industry estimate cited in a 2026 HVAC circularity study.[62]
  • Less than 4% was the estimated U.S. refrigerant recovery rate in 2024, based on 9 million recovered from 230 million metric tons consumed.[62]
  • 7.5–9.5 pounds is the typical refrigerant charge range listed by EPA for a unitary air conditioner.[61]

Carbon footprint in the air conditioning industry

  • 39% of Carrier’s electricity consumption came from renewable energy sources in 2025, globally.[23]
  • 632 million metric tons of customer GHG emissions were avoided by Carrier products since 2020, reported in 2026.[23]
  • 2% was Carrier’s reduction in energy intensity versus 2021, reported globally in 2026.[23]
  • 28% was Carrier’s decrease in absolute Scope 3 GHG emissions versus 2021, reported globally in 2026.[23]

15 Statistics

Globalization & Expansion

China’s scale remains central, with China representing 37.8% of 2024 demand and 49.726 million units recorded in China, plus 60 million air conditioners exported annually from China.

Globalization in the air conditioning industry

  • 17% of Carrier’s 2024 net sales came from Asia-Pacific markets.[21]
  • 170 million air-conditioning units were produced annually in China, the world’s largest manufacturing base for the equipment.[65]
  • 84% of Daikin’s 2023 sales originated outside Japan, demonstrating the company’s international market exposure.[66]
  • 60 million air conditioners were exported from China annually, according to the IEA’s assessment of China’s global manufacturing role.[65]
  • 41% of global air-conditioner sales were attributed to China in a 2026 industry filing based on JRAIA estimates.[46]

Cultural adaptation in the air conditioning industry

  • 50% of Daikin’s Japan product mix consisted of ducted unitary systems for houses in fiscal 2023.[20]
  • 54% was the modeled mid-century increase in summer air-conditioner sales in China’s Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region under a fossil-fueled development scenario.[67]
  • 55% of Daikin’s China air-conditioning product mix consisted of residential multi-split air conditioners in fiscal 2023.[20]
  • 40% of Daikin’s Asia and Oceania product mix consisted of residential air conditioners in fiscal 2023.[20]
  • 71% was the modeled mid-century increase in summer air-conditioner sales in China’s Pearl River Delta under a fossil-fueled development scenario.[67]

Supplier management in the air conditioning industry

  • 34% of Daikin Taiwan Air Conditioning Systems was owned by Hotai Development in the 2024 joint venture.[20]
  • ¥800 million was the capital of Daikin Taiwan Air Conditioning Systems, established to manufacture air-handling units in Taiwan.[20]
  • 51% of Daikin Taiwan Air Conditioning Systems was owned by Daikin Malaysia in the 2024 joint venture for large commercial HVAC equipment.[20]
  • 100+ years of Viessmann climate-solutions innovation strengthened Carrier’s supplier and installer ecosystem after the 2024 acquisition.[23]
  • 15% of Daikin Taiwan Air Conditioning Systems was owned by LEADING in the 2024 joint venture.[20]

Stakeholder management in the air conditioning industry

  • 25% of Carrier’s 2024 net sales came from parts and service, linking the company’s revenue model to ongoing customer relationships.[21]
  • 12,000 Viessmann Climate Solutions employees joined Carrier through the completed 2024 acquisition.[23]
  • 75% of Carrier’s 2024 net sales came from new equipment.[21]
  • 100 years was Daikin’s operating history celebrated in its 2024 integrated report and stakeholder communications.[20]

Distribution channels in the air conditioning industry

  • 16.5% of U.S. commercial air-conditioner shipments moved through the new-construction channel involving manufacturers, wholesalers, contractors, general contractors and consumers.[6]
  • 16% of residential HVAC purchases in the survey were made directly from manufacturers.[41]
  • 12% of residential HVAC purchases in the survey were made through mass merchants.[41]
  • 52% of residential HVAC purchases in a contractor survey were made through wholesalers or distributors.[41]
  • 10% of residential HVAC purchases in the survey were made through internet-only distributors.[41]

Key questions about the Air Conditioning Industry

What is the current size of the air-conditioning market?
The International Energy Agency valued the global air-conditioning systems market at $120 billion in 2024, and JRAIA recorded 131.638 million units in 2024.
How fast is air-conditioner demand expected to grow?
KH Neochem, citing JARN estimates, projects demand to rise from 140 million units in FY2024 to 190 million units in FY2030, a 5% CAGR.
Which companies lead the air conditioning industry?
Trane Technologies leads Gitnux's 2026 air conditioning ranking with an Overall score of 9.3, with revenue growth 7.5% and operating margin 18.6%. Midea Group is the highest-ranked air-conditioner producer at 9.2, with revenue growth 12.1% and R&D at 3.9% of revenue.
What technology shifts are shaping purchases?
The market is shifting toward higher-efficiency equipment as cooling demand expands, and regulation is tightening minimum efficiency levels, including 13.4 SEER2 for some U.S. split-system categories.
How does the market structure differ between residential and commercial equipment?
Residential equipment accounted for about 86% of global air-conditioner sales in 2025, while commercial equipment was about 14%, with Carrier reporting 72% new equipment and 28% parts and service in 2025.
What refrigerant and policy changes affect the industry timeline?
California bans new equipment using refrigerants with GWP of 750 or greater from January 1, 2025 for air-conditioning equipment, and from January 1, 2026 for new VRF systems.
Reference

Cite This Report

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APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Air Conditioning Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/air-conditioning-industry-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Air Conditioning Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/air-conditioning-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Air Conditioning Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/air-conditioning-industry-statistics.

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