Ductless mini-split
A heat pump system with no ductwork — an outdoor compressor connected to one or more wall-mounted indoor heads, priced per zone instead of per ton.
A ductless mini-split is a heat pump that skips ductwork entirely: a single outdoor compressor connects by refrigerant line to one or more indoor heads ("zones"), each independently controlled. Because there's no ducted air handler, mini-splits are the default option for homes without usable ducts, additions, garage conversions, and rooms a central system can't reach.
Mini-splits price per zone rather than per ton: the first zone (outdoor unit plus one indoor head) runs $3,500–$6,500 installed, and each additional zone adds $2,500–$4,500. Plan roughly one zone per 600 sq ft of open living area — about 3 zones for a typical 1,800–2,000 sq ft home, landing around $9,050–$17,100 installed. A single outdoor unit supports up to 6 zones before a second condenser is needed.