Europe AC Installation Costs Up to €1500, Chinese ACs Sell Over 10,000 Units Monthly

An extreme heat wave has been sweeping Europe recently, with Germany, the UK, France, and other places continuously breaking high temperature records, and many countries issuing heat warnings. In this context, Chinese-made air conditioners and other cooling appliances have become sought-after products locally, with monthly sales exceeding 10,000 units on e-commerce platforms, and even appearing "hard to find" offline.

Heat Wave Above 40°C Continues, Multiple European Countries Issue Heat Alerts

According to CCTV News, a World Meteorological Organization official stated that the heat wave currently sweeping Western Europe and breaking multiple temperature records will continue to spread eastward, affecting the entire European continent.

Data shows that France has experienced heat waves for several consecutive days, with temperatures in western France rising to 43°C, setting a record for the highest temperature in June; the UK's high temperature records were broken for three consecutive days from June 24 to 26, reaching 37.3°C on the 26th, causing over a thousand schools in England and Wales to fully or partially close; the Mocker-Drewitz area in eastern Germany recorded a temperature of 41.5°C on the 27th, breaking the high temperature record and damaging highway surfaces in many places, leading to closures or speed limits on some sections, with railway authorities calling on citizens to reduce long-distance travel that day; the Italian government has issued red heat alerts for 18 cities including Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan.

ACs Sell Well Under Heat: E-commerce Sales Exceed 10,000 Orders Per Month

Despite repeatedly breaking temperature records, the penetration rate of air conditioners in European countries remains far below that of other major global economies, with only about 20% of households equipped with cooling appliances like ACs.

Reasons are multifaceted: In the past, prolonged high temperatures in Europe, especially in the north, were not frequent, so the demand for AC installation was low; at the same time, to address climate change, Europe has set green development goals, and some countries have implemented policies restricting AC use. For example, Spain stipulated in 2022 that public places must not have AC temperatures below 27°C.

Against the backdrop of intense heat, demand for home cooling has surged dramatically. A Chinese national living in Paris for ten years said that Paris has been experiencing continuous high temperatures recently, making people feel like they are "melting" on the streets.

In France, the price range for ordinary portable ACs is €200 to €500, while split-type ACs range from about €500 to €1,200. A Blue Whale reporter checked Amazon France and found that by best-selling ranking, the top two are both Midea air conditioners: over 10,000 customers purchased in the past month, priced at €166; another model has over 7,000 orders, priced at €459.

In this heat wave, Chinese brand air conditioners have stood out with their cost-effectiveness, becoming the preferred choice for many local consumers. The Chinese national said that for the same specifications, domestic brands are usually significantly cheaper than European, American, and Japanese brands.

According to CCTV News, China's export volume of household air conditioners to Western European countries increased by 9.7% year-on-year in the first five months of 2026, with portable ACs seeing particularly strong growth, up over 70%. Many companies reported that in several Western European markets, consumers are queuing to buy machines, offline stores are out of stock, and supply is struggling to meet demand.

"Affordable to Buy, Expensive to Install, Expensive to Use": Installation Costs Up to €1,500

It's worth noting that buying an AC in Europe is not the hardest part; the installation process truly deters consumers. The one-time installation cost for a split AC generally ranges from €300 to €1,500, with the highest quotes even exceeding the price of the AC unit itself.

Why are installation costs so high? Local Chinese residents analyze that many buildings in Paris are decades or even centuries old, with thick walls, making drilling far more difficult than in modern buildings; high-rise residential units require high-altitude work for outdoor unit installation, increasing risk; most apartments also require submitting an installation application to the property management in advance, which must be approved by the owners' committee before work can proceed, making the process cumbersome.

At the same time, the hourly rate for local installers is quite high. With multiple costs adding up, split ACs have become an appliance that is "affordable to buy but cannot afford to install" locally.

Because of the difficulty and high cost of installation, portable ACs have become the preferred cooling option for local residents, especially renters.

However, in response to issues like restrictions on exterior wall protection and high installation costs, Chinese companies have launched customized products. For example, the "Midea U-Shaped Smart Inverter Window AC" features a U-shaped hollow design that can be fixed into a window gap for use. After installation, the window can still be opened and closed to a limited extent, thus avoiding the high labor costs of split ACs in Europe, property management approvals, and the difficulty of drilling into old walls. It is a hot-selling model in overseas rental markets.

Electricity Costs Also Key: Monthly Bill May Increase by €30 to €80

Additionally, purchasing the AC is just the first step; subsequent electricity expenses are also considerable. Local Chinese residents report that based on typical usage of 6 to 8 hours per day, a split AC can add €30 to €80 to the monthly electricity bill; a higher-consumption portable AC could cost €50 to €100 per month.

For this reason, energy efficiency has become a core consideration for local consumers when choosing an AC. On e-commerce platforms, energy-efficient models from Chinese brands also significantly outsell others.