Ductless mini-split installs in Boulder County
Strata Heat Pumps installs heat pumps in Boulder County, in every ZIP code listed on this page. The online estimate gives a price range and your rebates for an address in Boulder County in about two minutes.
Ductless mini-splits in Boulder County
Ductless mini-splits heat and cool without central ductwork. They move heat instead of burning fuel. They suit homes without ducts, additions, condos, and rooms that need separate temperature control. Census figures count 142,809 homes in Boulder County, with a median build year of 1986. Colorado's median build year is 1987.
Detached houses account for 57.9% of Boulder County homes. Multi-unit buildings account for 30.7%, above Colorado's 26.9%. That mix supports both whole-home ductless layouts and smaller room-based systems. Electricity heats 24.3% of county homes, while gas heats 69.9%. A ductless system can replace electric heat or serve a gas-heated home without useful ducts.
Homes built before 1960 account for 12.5% of county housing. Another 29% were built from 1960 to 1979. Older homes are more likely to lack ducts or have small ducts. Ductless indoor units avoid the need to build a new central duct system through those homes.
Ductless fit across Boulder County towns
Boulder has 46,765 homes and 50.8% multi-unit buildings. Longmont has 42,435 homes, 60.5% detached houses, and a 1990 median build year. Louisville has 8,304 homes and 66.5% detached houses. Lafayette has 13,323 homes, a 1993 median build year, and 22.5% multi-unit buildings. Superior has 4,907 homes, with 26.4% multi-unit buildings. Erie has 11,277 homes, 86.6% detached houses, and 39.4% homes built in 2010 or later.
Allenspark has 97% detached homes and 54.4% propane heat. Altona has 100% detached homes and 37.5% electric heat. Bark Ranch has 100% detached homes and 38.3% propane heat. Bonanza Mountain Estates has 46.9% electric heat and 53.1% propane heat. Crisman has 57.9% propane heat. Eldora has 91.3% homes built before 1960. Eldorado Springs has 36.5% homes built before 1960. Glendale has 75% propane heat. These housing patterns favor ductless planning where central ducts are missing or unsuitable.
Gold Hill has 85.7% homes built before 1960 and 66.3% propane heat. Gunbarrel has 4,897 homes and 40.4% multi-unit buildings. Hidden Lake has 100% propane heat. Jamestown has 63.6% homes built before 1960. Lazy Acres has 74.3% propane heat. Lyons has 82.6% detached homes. Mountain Meadows has 73.3% propane heat. Nederland has 90.3% detached homes. Niwot has 78.2% detached homes. Paragon Estates, Pine Brook Hill, St. Ann Highlands, Sugarloaf, Sunshine, Tall Timber, and Valmont have 100% detached homes. Seven Hills has 100% multi-unit buildings. Ward has 97.1% detached homes.
Ductless pricing by indoor unit count
Our estimate tool assigns 500 sq ft of floor area to each ductless indoor unit. One indoor unit is priced at $5,800 to $9,400. Two indoor units are priced at $8,800 to $14,300. Three indoor units are priced at $11,800 to $19,200. Our ductless example uses 3 indoor units and costs $11,800 to $19,200 before rebates.
Four indoor units are priced at $14,800 to $24,100. Five indoor units are priced at $17,800 to $28,900. Our estimate prices up to 5 indoor units before a custom quote. The exact layout matters because bedrooms, living areas, additions, and open spaces need different indoor-unit locations.
Price includes the Outdoor unit, Wall-mounted indoor units, Line sets, Standard 240V circuit, and Permit. We measure the home and check the electrical panel before installation. Most installations take one day. Jobs with several ductless units can take two or three days.
Prices by build year in Boulder County
Our estimate tool uses a 2,000 sq ft, two-story gas-heated home to show how build year affects load and price. For homes built before 1960, the design load is 3.4 tons. Ducted heat pump pricing is $17,400 to $37,800, and dual-fuel pricing is $14,000 to $30,600. For the ductless example home, pricing is $11,800 to $19,200.
For homes built from 1960 to 1979, the design load is 3.2 tons. Ducted pricing is $17,400 to $31,200, dual-fuel pricing is $14,000 to $25,200, and ductless pricing is $11,800 to $19,200. This build group makes up 29% of Boulder County homes, so duct condition and room layout deserve close review.
For homes built from 1980 to 1999, the design load is 2.8 tons. Ducted pricing is $15,100 to $27,900, dual-fuel pricing is $12,100 to $22,500, and ductless pricing is $11,800 to $19,200. For homes built from 2000 to 2009, the load is 2.4 tons, with $12,800 to $24,600, $10,200 to $19,800, and $11,800 to $19,200 pricing.
For homes built in 2010 or later, the design load is 2.0 tons. Ducted pricing is $12,800 to $21,300, dual-fuel pricing is $10,200 to $17,100, and ductless pricing is $11,800 to $19,200. Newer homes account for 12.6% of county housing. Lower design load does not decide ductless unit count by itself. The room layout still sets the indoor-unit plan.
Sizing a ductless system for Boulder County
We size each system for 1°F outdoors and 70°F indoors at 5,300 ft. Air-source units lose 18% of heat output at that elevation. Sizing must account for that loss and for the home's heat demand during the coldest design conditions.
At the design temperature, selected equipment delivers 2 units of heat per unit of electricity. We measure the home, review its layout, and check the electrical panel before we install. A winter gas bill makes the online estimate more accurate because it gives us another view of the home's heating demand.
A 2,000 sq ft, two-story gas-heated home built from 1980 to 1999 has a design load of 2.8 tons in our example. Its electrical panel needs 30 A. That example shows why floor area alone does not determine equipment size. Elevation, build year, home layout, and the design temperature all affect the selection.
Ductless, ducted, and dual-fuel choices
Ductless equipment uses wall-mounted indoor units and needs no central ducts. It fits additions, condos, and older homes where ductwork is absent or too small. A ducted heat pump uses central ducts, making it the direct choice for homes with usable ductwork. Both system types provide heating and cooling.
Dual fuel pairs a heat pump with a gas furnace. The furnace remains for the coldest hours. For a 2-ton system, ducted pricing is $12,800 to $18,000, while dual-fuel pricing is $10,200 to $14,400. For a 3-ton system, prices are $17,400 to $24,600 and $14,000 to $19,800. Those comparisons use the same system size.
For a 4-ton system, ducted pricing is $22,100 to $31,200, while dual-fuel pricing is $17,900 to $25,200. For a 5-ton system, ducted pricing is $26,800 to $37,800, while dual-fuel pricing is $21,700 to $30,600. We choose between ductless, ducted, and dual fuel after measuring the home, reviewing ducts, and sizing for Boulder County conditions. Brands we install include Mitsubishi, Bosch, Daikin, Carrier and Trane.
Ductless rebates in Boulder County
For Xcel Energy customers with a gas furnace, gas boiler, or propane heat, the Xcel Energy rebate is $1,500 per ton of heating on any of the three systems. Homes with electric heat can receive $750 per ton of heating from Xcel Energy. The State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount is $1,000 for every Colorado home on any of the three systems.
Power Ahead Colorado provides $1,500 for Boulder County homes on any of the three systems. For a ductless mini-split replacing electric heat, total rebates are $4,700, from the Xcel Energy rebate ($2,200), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). For a gas-heated ductless home, total rebates are $7,000, from the Xcel Energy rebate ($4,500), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500).
Households under the program income limit can qualify for the Boulder County income-qualified rebate of 50% of the price (up to $2,000). We file every rebate for the homeowner, and the Colorado state discount comes off the invoice. The federal 25C credit ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31.
Boulder County towns
| Homes | Median year built | Built before 1960 | Built 2010 or later | Gas heat | Electric heat | Propane | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder | 46,765 | 1978 | 18.2% | 9% | 62.5% | 33.6% | 1.2% |
| Longmont | 42,435 | 1990 | 10% | 15.5% | 76.3% | 21% | 1.3% |
| Louisville | 8,304 | 1991 | 6.6% | 18% | 77.1% | 21.4% | 0.1% |
| Lafayette | 13,323 | 1993 | 7.1% | 21.5% | 73.4% | 24.4% | 0.6% |
| Superior | 4,907 | 1997 | 0.6% | 9.2% | 77.1% | 20.6% | 1.9% |
| Erie | 11,277 | 2007 | 2.3% | 39.4% | 81.3% | 16.8% | 0.3% |
| Allenspark | 813 | 1950 | 62.9% | 0.7% | 0% | 20.1% | 54.4% |
| Altona | 280 | 1978 | 5.7% | 6.4% | 55.2% | 37.5% | 0% |
| Bark Ranch | 60 | 1990 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 11.7% | 38.3% |
| Bonanza Mountain Estates | 98 | 1969 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 46.9% | 53.1% |
| Crisman | 95 | 1975 | 13.7% | 8.4% | 14.7% | 18.9% | 57.9% |
| Eldora | 517 | 1938 | 91.3% | 0% | 5.2% | 12.1% | 35.7% |
| Eldorado Springs | 170 | 1965 | 36.5% | 5.9% | 72.9% | 11.8% | 2.9% |
| Glendale | 69 | 1993 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 75% |
| Gold Hill | 175 | 1938 | 85.7% | 0% | 0% | 14.9% | 66.3% |
| Gunbarrel | 4,897 | 1979 | 1.2% | 5.5% | 79.3% | 16.9% | 1.6% |
| Hidden Lake | 54 | -666666666 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 100% |
| Jamestown | 132 | 1952 | 63.6% | 3.8% | 16.9% | 5.9% | 69.5% |
| Lazy Acres | 478 | 1979 | 2.7% | 3.8% | 0% | 14.9% | 74.3% |
| Lyons | 792 | 1998 | 9.8% | 11.9% | 79% | 13.3% | 5.7% |
| Mountain Meadows | 105 | 1981 | 0% | 9.5% | 11.4% | 0% | 73.3% |
| Nederland | 691 | 1976 | 24.7% | 7.1% | 58% | 22.1% | 7.2% |
| Niwot | 1,577 | 1981 | 5.9% | 1.6% | 76.9% | 15.9% | 7.3% |
| Paragon Estates | 338 | 1972 | 15.7% | 3.6% | 81.7% | 18.3% | 0% |
| Pine Brook Hill | 319 | 1976 | 0% | 3.1% | 90.4% | 0% | 0% |
| Seven Hills | 44 | -666666666 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 0% | 0% |
| St. Ann Highlands | 189 | 1992 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 16.9% | 33.3% |
| Sugarloaf | 215 | 1977 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 19.9% | 26.7% |
| Sunshine | 75 | 1965 | 18.7% | 0% | 0% | 38.7% | 61.3% |
| Tall Timber | 133 | 1973 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 69.2% |
| Valmont | 43 | 1948 | 79.1% | 0% | 46.5% | 53.5% | 0% |
| Ward | 68 | 1938 | 57.4% | 0% | 0% | 2% | 52.9% |
- Heat pumps in Boulder46,765 homes, median year built 1978.
- Heat pumps in Longmont42,435 homes, median year built 1990.
- Heat pumps in Louisville8,304 homes, median year built 1991.
- Heat pumps in Lafayette13,323 homes, median year built 1993.
- Heat pumps in Superior4,907 homes, median year built 1997.
- Heat pumps in Erie11,277 homes, median year built 2007.
- Heat pumps in Allenspark813 homes, median year built 1950.
- Heat pumps in Eldora517 homes, median year built 1938.
- Heat pumps in Gunbarrel4,897 homes, median year built 1979.
- Heat pumps in Lazy Acres478 homes, median year built 1979.
- Heat pumps in Lyons792 homes, median year built 1998.
- Heat pumps in Nederland691 homes, median year built 1976.
- Heat pumps in Niwot1,577 homes, median year built 1981.
- Heat pumps in Paragon Estates338 homes, median year built 1972.
- Heat pumps in Pine Brook Hill319 homes, median year built 1976.
More for Boulder County
- Ducted heat pump in Boulder CountyPrices by home age and the Boulder rebates for this system.
- Dual-fuel heat pump in Boulder CountyPrices by home age and the Boulder rebates for this system.
- Heat pump rebates in Boulder County$7,000 on a 3-ton gas home, program by program.
- Pool heat pumps in Boulder CountyPool and spa heat pumps: local code rules, running cost and the swim season.
Questions we hear
What does a ductless mini-split cost in Boulder County?
Price depends on the number of indoor units. Our estimate tool prices one indoor unit at $5,800 to $9,400, three indoor units at $11,800 to $19,200, and five indoor units at $17,800 to $28,900. The ductless example uses 3 indoor units and costs $11,800 to $19,200 before rebates.
How do you size a ductless mini-split in Boulder County?
We size for 1°F outdoors and 70°F indoors at 5,300 ft. Air-source equipment loses 18% of heat output at that elevation. We measure the home, review the room layout, and check the electrical panel. A winter gas bill makes the online estimate more accurate.
Are ductless systems a good fit for Boulder condos?
Yes. Ductless systems suit condos because they use wall-mounted indoor units instead of central ducts. Boulder has 50.8% multi-unit buildings, compared with Boulder County's 30.7%. Each indoor unit can serve a defined room or living area, which works well for a room-by-room comfort plan.
What ductless rebates apply in Boulder County?
A ductless mini-split replacing electric heat has total rebates of $4,700, from the Xcel Energy rebate ($2,200), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). A gas-heated home has total rebates of $7,000, from the Xcel Energy rebate ($4,500), the State of Colorado Heat Pump Discount ($1,000) and the Power Ahead Colorado rebate ($1,500). Income-qualified households can receive 50% of the price (up to $2,000). We file every rebate, and the state discount comes off the invoice.
How does ductless compare with dual fuel?
Ductless equipment does not need central ducts and heats rooms through wall-mounted indoor units. Dual fuel uses a heat pump with a gas furnace for the coldest hours. A 3-ton ducted heat pump is priced at $17,400 to $24,600, while a 3-ton dual-fuel system is priced at $14,000 to $19,800.