AC Price Hike October 2026: Haier, Blue Star, LG, Voltas Raise Prices; TVs Up to 20% Costlier
Air-conditioners get costlier from Thursday, 1 October 2026. Haier, LG, Voltas and Blue Star are raising AC prices by 5–8%, BusinessLine reported on 26 September, and several makers are also raising prices of LED TVs, washing machines and refrigerators. The AC price hike October 2026 comes just before Dhanteras on 6 November and Diwali on 8 November. It will not reach every shop shelf straight away: Godrej says dealers are holding roughly a month’s stock bought at the old prices.
AC price hike October 2026: who is raising prices and by how much
| Company | Products | Hike | What was said |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haier | ACs | 5% | Confirmed by CEO N.S. Satish |
| Haier | LED TVs, washing machines, refrigerators | 3–4% | Confirmed by CEO N.S. Satish |
| Blue Star | ACs | 5–8% from 1 Oct | Confirmed by MD B. Thiagarajan |
| LG Electronics | ACs | 5–7% from 1 Oct | Told trade partners, according to sources; no decision on other categories |
| Voltas | Room ACs | 5–7% | Told trade partners, according to sources |
| Godrej | Across categories | 5–7% expected | Timing being evaluated; some categories from 1 Oct |
| SPPL | LED TVs | 10% in October | CEO Avneet Singh Marwah |
| Videotex | LED TVs | Up to 20% small screens, up to 10% large screens | Director Arjun Bajaj |
Source: BusinessLine, 26 September 2026. Other outlets have reported slightly different figures for some brands. ABP Live, for instance, put Haier’s increase on TVs and washing machines at 2–3%, so the table uses the figures that company executives gave on record to BusinessLine.
Why is there an AC price hike in October 2026?
Companies cited the rising cost of copper, steel and aluminium, crude-oil derivatives used in plastics and refrigerant gases, and a weaker rupee. For TVs, makers pointed to more expensive memory chips and higher freight costs. The rupee closed at 95.82 to the dollar on 30 September, which raises the cost of imported compressors, panels and chips.
This is not the first increase of the year. BusinessLine noted that the sector has taken more than one round of price hikes since January, triggered by the West Asia conflict. Godrej’s appliances head Kamal Nandi said inflation had been “to the tune of 8-10 per cent” since the last hike, making an industry-wide increase of 5–7% “inevitable”.
TV price hike: small screens hit hardest
The TV price hike is steepest at the budget end. Videotex’s Arjun Bajaj said prices of smaller screens could rise by up to 20%, against up to 10% for larger ones, and that “consumers are likely to see a new base price for consumer electronics after Diwali.” That matters for buyers of 32-inch and 43-inch sets, where memory and panel costs make up a larger share of the price.
What it means in rupees
The table below shows what the AC price hike October 2026 ranges, and the TV and fridge increases, would mean on typical prices. These are illustrative figures, not quotes from any brand.
| Product | Price before hike | Hike | New price | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5-tonne split AC | ₹40,000 | 5% | ₹42,000 | ₹2,000 |
| 1.5-tonne split AC | ₹40,000 | 8% | ₹43,200 | ₹3,200 |
| 32-inch LED TV | ₹14,000 | 20% | ₹16,800 | ₹2,800 |
| 55-inch LED TV | ₹45,000 | 10% | ₹49,500 | ₹4,500 |
| Double-door refrigerator | ₹30,000 | 4% | ₹31,200 | ₹1,200 |
Can you still buy at old prices?
Probably, for a few weeks. “Customers will have the festival window to buy at old prices as trade partners have line stocks for roughly about a month,” Godrej’s Nandi told BusinessLine. The AC price hike October 2026 list prices apply to fresh dispatches from companies; a retailer can keep selling old stock at the price printed on it.
If you plan to buy before Diwali, a few checks help:
- Compare against the carton MRP. Old stock carries the old MRP. A retailer can sell below MRP but not above it.
- Check the manufacturing date. A September-built AC is not worse than an October-built one, but make sure the warranty starts from your invoice date, not the manufacturing date.
- Look at the energy rating year. BEE star labels carry a validity period. An older-stock AC may carry the label valid when it was made, which is fine as long as you know what rating you are paying for.
- Get the price in writing. If you are booking now for delivery later, ask for the price to be locked on the invoice or order.
Old stock versus waiting for sale discounts
Sale-season discounts and bank offers can offset part of a 5–8% increase. Our round-up of Big Billion Days 2026 bank offers shows the card discounts available during the online sale. But there is no guarantee that discounts after 1 October will be larger than before, and a retailer’s remaining old stock may run out in the sizes or models you want. If you have already chosen a model and it is available at the old price, waiting mainly adds the risk of paying more.
Check the maths on “no-cost EMI”
Many shoppers will spread the cost over EMIs. Under the Reserve Bank of India’s Master Direction on credit and debit cards, card-issuers must show the principal, interest and any upfront discount before converting a purchase into EMIs, and “EMI conversion with interest component shall not be camouflaged as zero-interest/no-cost EMI.” In practice, a no-cost EMI usually works by giving you a discount equal to the interest. The bill should show both lines. Processing fees, if any, are extra.
Before choosing EMI, compare the “no-cost” price with the price you would pay upfront with other offers. If the upfront price is lower, the EMI is not free. A card linked to a fixed deposit, like the one in our SBI FD-backed credit card explainer, can help people without a credit history use such offers. Avoid taking an unsecured personal loan for an appliance purchase; the interest will usually be far more than the price hike you are trying to avoid.
FAQ
From when do AC prices go up?
Blue Star and LG have said 1 October 2026. Haier and Voltas are raising prices in the same round. Shops may continue selling old stock at old prices for a few weeks.
Are TVs and fridges also getting costlier?
Yes. Haier is raising TV, washing machine and refrigerator prices by 3–4%, and TV makers SPPL and Videotex by up to 10% and 20%.
Why are prices rising?
Higher prices of copper, steel, aluminium and crude derivatives, a weaker rupee, and for TVs, costlier memory chips and freight.
The AC price hike October 2026 round is the latest of several this year, and the old stock with dealers is the main buffer for festival shoppers.
Disclaimer: Price hike figures are as reported by BusinessLine on 26 September 2026 and may differ by model and city. The rupee examples are illustrative, not actual prices. This article is for information and is not a recommendation to buy any product.
