Air-to-Air Heat Exchanger Price & Cost Guide (2026)
A practical, sourced range of what air-to-air heat exchangers actually cost in USD — by type, capacity and duty — plus the factors that move the number, and how to get a fixed quote. Figures reflect typical ex-works / FOB pricing for standard catalogue and light-custom units; project-integrated systems are quoted separately.
1. Price bands by exchanger type
| Type | Typical capacity | Indicative USD price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential ERV/HRV core | 100–400 m³/h | $80 – $400 | Homes, small apartments |
| Commercial plate (compact) | 300–1,000 m³/h | $300 – $1,500 | Small offices, clinics |
| Commercial plate (standard) | 1,000–10,000 m³/h | $1,500 – $6,000 | AHU retrofits, schools |
| Rotary heat wheel | 1–10 m³/s | $2,000 – $15,000 | Large HVAC, high effectiveness |
| Heat pipe exchanger | custom | $1,500 – $10,000 | No cross-contamination, redundant duty |
| Run-around coil system | custom | $5,000 – $40,000 | Remote supply/exhaust streams |
| AHU-integrated / large custom | >10 m³/s | $10,000 – $80,000+ | Plants, data centers, pharma |
Indicative only. Final price depends on materials, effectiveness target, certifications and order volume (see §3).
2. Price per kW recovered
A useful normaliser for budgeting: air-to-air recovery cores typically land at $40–$120 per kW of recovered heating/cooling capacity, with plate cores at the lower end and rotary/enthalpy wheels (with purge, sensors, controls) at the upper end. A 50 kW recovered-duty rotary unit might quote ~$4,000–$6,000; a 500 kW custom AHU core $25,000–$45,000.
3. What drives the cost
| Factor | Cost impact | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Aluminium < polymer < 316L SS < coated SS | Corrosion, hygiene and temperature rating |
| Effectiveness target | +5–20 % per +10 pts | Deeper cores, more surface, tighter seals |
| Custom geometry | +20–60 % | Non-standard face size, duty point off catalogue |
| Certifications | +5–15 % | AHRI 1060 / EUROVENT / CE / UL / GB-T testing |
| Enthalpy / desiccant | +15–35 % | Membrane or wheel coating for moisture transfer |
| Controls & sensors | +$200–$2,000 | Modbus/BACnet, RH & temp transmitters, bypass |
| Order quantity | −10–30 % at volume | Tooling amortisation, batch production |
| Incoterms | FOB < CIF < DDP | Freight, insurance, import duty, last-mile |
4. Sample configurations
- School retrofit, 4,000 m³/h, 75 % plate: ~$2,200 – $3,400 ex-works, + freight & install.
- Data-center extract recovery, 20 m³/s rotary wheel w/ purge: ~$12,000 – $20,000, controls extra.
- Pharma make-up air, 8,000 m³/h enthalpy wheel, 316L: ~$9,000 – $14,000 with AHRI + EUROVENT.
5. Get a fixed quote
Published bands are a starting point. For a firm number we need your duty point (airflow, temperatures, humidity, allowed pressure drop, air quality) and target effectiveness. Two ways to proceed:
- Request a written proposal via our contact form — typical response within 1–2 business days.
- Download the specification sheet and send back the selection checklist so engineering can size the unit precisely.
Air-to-Air Heat Exchanger Specification Sheet
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