Europe AC Installation Fee Up to €1,500: Heatwave Boosts Sales, Chinese AC Breaks Through with Cost Performance

An extreme heatwave is sweeping across Europe, breaking high-temperature records in Germany, the UK, France, and other countries, with many issuing heat warnings. Against this backdrop, Chinese-made air conditioners and other cooling appliances are in high demand locally, with monthly sales exceeding 10,000 units on e-commerce platforms and even shortages in offline stores.

Over 40°C Heatwave Continues, Multiple European Countries Issue Heat Alerts

World Meteorological Organization officials said the heatwave that swept through Western Europe, breaking multiple temperature records, will continue to spread eastward, affecting the entire continent.

France has been hit by consecutive days of heatwave, with temperatures in western France reaching 43°C, the highest June temperature ever recorded in France.

The UK set new high-temperature records for three consecutive days from June 24-26, reaching 37.3°C on the 26th. On the 26th, over a thousand schools in England and Wales were either fully or partially closed.

In eastern Germany, the Mücken-Drewitz area recorded 41.5°C on the 27th, setting a new high-temperature record. Persistent heat damaged highway surfaces in many areas, leading to closures or speed limits, and railway authorities urged people to reduce long-distance travel that day.

Italy also suffered from intense heat, with the government issuing red heat alerts for 18 cities including Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan.

Despite record-breaking temperatures, air conditioning penetration in Europe is far lower than in other major economies, with only about 20% of households equipped with cooling appliances. Reasons include historically infrequent prolonged high temperatures in northern Europe, low installation demand; additionally, green development goals have led some countries to impose restrictions on AC use. For example, Spain mandated in 2022 that public places must not set AC below 27°C.

Under Heatwave, Single AC Product Monthly Sales Exceed 10,000

With extreme heat, home cooling demand has surged sharply. Local mobile AC prices range from €200 to €500, split-type ACs from €500 to €1,200.

On Amazon France, sorting by best-selling, the top two are both Midea ACs: one sold over 10,000 units in the past month at €166; another had over 7,000 orders at €459.

Chinese Brands Break Through with Cost Performance, but Installation Issues Are More Critical

In this heatwave, Chinese brand air conditioners have become a top choice for many local consumers thanks to cost performance. Respondents said that brands like Midea, Haier, and Gree are all available in France, and under the same configuration, Chinese brands are often significantly cheaper than European, American, and Japanese brands.

According to reports, China's exports of household air conditioners to Western European countries grew 9.7% year-on-year in the first five months of 2026; mobile ACs saw particularly strong growth, with a year-on-year increase of over 70%. Many companies reported queues for purchases in Western European markets, stockouts in offline stores, and supply-demand imbalance.

"Can Afford to Buy, Not to Install": Installation Fee Up to €1,500

Notably, buying an AC in Europe is not the hardest part; the true deterrent is the installation. For split ACs, a single installation typically costs between €300 and €1,500, with the highest quotes exceeding the price of the unit itself.

Reasons for high installation costs include: many buildings in Paris are decades or even centuries old, with thick walls making drilling much more difficult than in modern buildings; high-rise outdoor unit installation involves risky high-altitude work; most apartments require prior approval from building management and owners' committees before installation, a cumbersome process.

Additionally, local installers' high hourly rates combine with these factors to make split ACs a "can afford to buy, can't afford to install" appliance.

Thus, portable mobile ACs have become the cooling choice for many residents, especially renters.

Customized Window Units Bypass Installation and Approval Issues

Targeting Europe's facade protection restrictions and high installation fees, Chinese companies have launched customized products. For example, the Midea U-shaped smart inverter window AC, with over 7,000 monthly sales, features a U-shaped cutout that fits over a window sill for easy installation, allowing the window to remain partially open. This bypasses the high labor costs, property approvals, and wall-drilling issues of split ACs, making it a popular model in overseas rental markets.

Electricity Bills Also Bite: Energy Efficiency Becomes Key Purchase Criterion

Buying an AC is just the first step; subsequent electricity bills are also significant. Based on typical daily usage of 6-8 hours, a split AC adds €30 to €80 per month to the electricity bill; a higher-energy mobile AC can cost €50 to €100 per month.

Consequently, energy efficiency has become a core consideration for local AC buyers. On e-commerce platforms, Chinese brands' high-efficiency, energy-saving models are selling particularly well.