Europe’s High AC Installation Costs: A China Brand Opportunity as Monthly Sales Top 10,000

Extreme heat waves continue to sweep Europe. Germany, the UK, France and others have repeatedly broken temperature records, and many countries have issued heat alerts.

Against this backdrop, Chinese-made air conditioners and other cooling appliances have become hot sellers locally. On e-commerce platforms, monthly sales exceed 10,000 units, and offline stores are even seeing supply shortages.

Heat Above 40°C Keeps Searing Europe as Multiple Countries Issue Warnings

According to CCTV News, a World Meteorological Organization official said on the 26th that the heat wave that has hit Western Europe and broken several temperature records will continue moving east and affect the entire continent.

Data show France has endured heat for several consecutive days, with temperatures in western France reaching 43°C, the highest June temperature on record there; the UK broke its June heat record for three straight days, reaching 37.3°C on the 26th. More than 1,000 schools in England and Wales were fully or partially closed that day; eastern Germany’s Merken-Drewitz region recorded 41.5°C on the 27th, setting a new national high. The heat has damaged highways in many places, prompting closures or speed limits, and rail authorities urged people to avoid long-distance travel. Italy is suffering too, with red heat alerts issued for 18 cities including Rome, Venice, Florence, and Milan.

Despite record heat, AC penetration in Europe remains far lower than in other major economies, at only about 20% of households.

There are many reasons. Historically, European summers—especially in northern Europe—did not see long periods of extreme heat, so demand for AC was limited. In addition, Europe’s green-development goals led some countries to restrict AC use. For example, Spain set a rule in 2022 that public venues cannot set AC below 27°C.

One AC Model Sells Over 10,000 Units a Month as Chinese Brands Win on Value

A Blue Whale reporter interviewed a Chinese resident who has lived in Paris for ten years. He said Paris has been very hot lately: “In past summers, even when it was warm, we rarely saw such extreme heat. Walking outside feels like you’re melting.”

In this heat, demand for home cooling has surged.

According to him, in France, a normal portable AC costs about €200–€500, while split units cost around €500–€1,200.

Blue Whale reporter checked Amazon France and found that the top two best-selling ACs were both Midea products. One had been bought by more than 10,000 customers in the past month and sold for €166; the other had more than 7,000 orders and sold for €459.

In this heat wave, Chinese AC brands stand out on value and have become the first choice for many local consumers.

“Brands like Midea, Haier, and Gree are all available in France. For the same configuration, Chinese brands are usually much cheaper than European or Japanese ones,” the interviewee said.

According to CCTV News, in the first five months of 2026, China’s exports of household ACs to Western European countries rose 9.7% year over year. Portable ACs grew especially fast, with shipments up more than 70%. Many companies say some Western European markets are seeing consumers queueing to buy, offline stockouts, and supply shortages.

“Can Buy It, Can’t Install It, Can’t Afford the Power”: Installation Can Cost Up to €1,500, Electricity Bills Rise by €100 a Month

It is worth noting that buying an AC in Europe is not the hardest part—the real obstacle is installation. Split-unit installation typically costs €300–€1,500 each time, and the highest quotes can exceed the price of the AC itself.

Why is installation so expensive? Local Chinese residents told Blue Whale that many buildings in central Paris are decades or even over a century old. Their walls are thick, making drilling much harder than in modern buildings. Installing outdoor units on high floors also requires risky work at height. Many apartment buildings require prior submission to property management and approval by the owners’ committee before work can begin, making the process very cumbersome.

At the same time, local labor hourly rates are relatively high. With multiple costs stacked together, split ACs have become products that people can “buy, but not afford to install.”

Because installation is hard and expensive, portable ACs are the preferred cooling option for locals, especially renters.

To address Europe’s façade-protection rules and high installation costs, Chinese companies have introduced customized products.

For example, the “Midea U-shaped smart inverter window AC” mentioned above, which sold more than 7,000 units, has a U-shaped hollow design. You just place it in the window gap and secure it; the window can still open partially after installation. It neatly avoids Europe’s costly labor, property approval process, and wall-drilling issues, making it a hit in overseas rental markets.

It is also worth noting that buying the AC is only the first step—electricity bills are another major issue. Local residents said that based on 6–8 hours of daily use, a split AC can add €30–€80 per month to the bill, while a more power-hungry portable AC may add €50–€100 a month.

That is why energy efficiency has become a key buying factor. On e-commerce platforms, Chinese brands’ high-efficiency and energy-saving models are clearly leading in sales.