The split-versus-ducted question comes up on almost every air conditioning quote we do, and there’s no single right answer — it depends on how many rooms you’re cooling, whether you’re renovating or retrofitting, and what you’re trying to solve. This is the version of that conversation we’d have with you on site, without the sales angle.
The short version
| Split system | Ducted | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | One to a few rooms, or a retrofit onto an existing home | Whole-home cooling, new builds or major renovations |
| Visible indoors | Yes — a head on the wall in every room cooled | No — hidden in the ceiling, just discreet vents |
| Zoning | Automatic — each head is its own zone | Needs a zone controller (e.g. AirTouch) for room-by-room control |
| Install disruption | Low — one hole through an external wall per head | Higher — ceiling access needed throughout the home |
| Running cost pattern | Cheap to run one or two rooms; each head is independent | Efficient cooling the whole home at once; less efficient running one zone only |
| Typical use case | Bedrooms, a single living area, an existing home | Open-plan living, whole-home comfort, homes being renovated anyway |
Why people choose split systems
- ✓You're only cooling one or two rooms. A bedroom and a living area rarely justify a whole-home ducted system — two split systems, each controlling itself, does the job for less.
- ✓It's a retrofit onto an existing home. Running ducted into a home that wasn't built for it means real ceiling and roof-space work. A split system is one hole through an external wall and a discreet pipe run — far less disruption.
- ✓Independent control matters. Each split system is its own zone by default. If one bedroom needs to be cooler than another, or a room is empty most of the day, it simply doesn't run.
- ✓Budget or staging. You can install one split system now and add more rooms later as budget allows — ducted is generally a one-time whole-home decision.
Why people choose ducted
- ✓Whole-home comfort with nothing on the walls. No indoor heads to work around — just ceiling vents, which suits open-plan living and homes where a wall-mounted unit doesn't fit the design.
- ✓Zone control, with a system like AirTouch, lets you run only the rooms in use rather than the whole home — the efficiency gap with split systems narrows a lot once proper zoning is in place.
- ✓You're already renovating or extending. If the ceiling is open and access is already sorted for the renovation, running ducted at the same time is far more efficient than retrofitting it later.
- ✓Consistent temperature throughout. A well-zoned ducted system holds a more even temperature across connected areas than several independent split heads trying to match each other.
What actually decides it
- 1How many rooms need cooling, and how often at the same time. Two rooms used independently favours splits; five rooms often run together favours ducted with zoning.
- 2Is the ceiling already open? Mid-renovation or a new build removes ducted's biggest cost and disruption factor — access.
- 3Wall space and aesthetics. Limited external wall space, heritage facades, or a preference for nothing visible indoors pushes toward ducted.
- 4Budget staging. Need to spread the cost over time, or only cool part of the home for now? Split systems let you add rooms as you go.
- 5Switchboard capacity. Both need a dedicated circuit, but ducted systems draw more and are more likely to trigger a switchboard upgrade — worth checking either way before the quote.
There's a third option
Multi-head systems run several indoor heads off one outdoor unit — a middle ground between separate splits and full ducted, useful where outdoor wall or ground space for multiple outdoor units is limited, or a body corporate restricts unit placement.
What we actually recommend
We size and quote both properly rather than steering you toward whichever is easier to install. For most Brisbane retrofits cooling a bedroom or two, a split system genuinely is the better answer — it’s not just the cheaper one. For a full renovation, a new build, or a home where every room runs the air conditioning most of the day, ducted with proper zoning usually wins on comfort and long-run efficiency. See split system installation or ducted air conditioning for what each involves, or we can walk both options through on site.
Not sure which suits your home? We'll size both options, free.