I'm not surprised. Last year I bought packaged heat pump (a heat pump that sits on the roof and includes the compressor, blower,...everything except the ducts in the walls and the thermostat. Quotes were all over the place and I tried to get apples-to-apples comparisons.

BTW, I'd recommend a two-stage air conditioner. When demand is low, the compressor and blower operate at slower speeds. The slower blower speed dramatically reduces the whooshing sound from the registers and longer cycle times helps reduce the humidity in the house.

• Carrier 24SPA6 (single stage)
• Carrier 24TPA7 or 24ACB7 (two stage)

same as:

• Bryant 127A or 127T (two stage)

same as:

• Heil* HCA7 (two stage)

*and similar products from all these Carrier Corporation Brands

Thank you

You need to post the model numbers of the equipment being quoted. This includes the air handler and the outdoor condenser. Also if there if a thermostat is included, any modifications to duct work, line set replacements and anything else that will be done as part of the installation. You are being quoted installed equipment. That will help in comparing the relative costs of the quotes.

In 2023 all equipment must have a SEER2 rating. The US Government has decided the way the testing was done for SEER ratings in the past does not taken into account the duct work air resistance of a typical house. Therefore the testing method has been changed and will be called a SEER2 rating. It is the same equipment sold in the past, but with a more stringent rating.

My other advice is not to base your buying decision solely on SEER ratings.

Make sure it's properly sized.