Quick Answer: The best budget mini split for most buyers on pure sticker price is the Della 12k, running as low as $600-750 in equipment cost. If you’d rather buy a more established name at a similar price, the Senville LETO 12k runs $700-900 with a wider track record. But once you factor in the $500-$2,000 in installer labor that any pro-install system needs, the MRCOOL DIY 9k at $900-1,050 — a pre-charged, no-vacuum-pump kit you install yourself — often works out to the lowest total cost of the three.
“Budget” only means one thing if you’re comparing equipment stickers side by side — it means something different once labor enters the picture. A $650 Della system and a $2,950 MRCOOL DIY 12k look nothing alike on price until you remember one of them still needs a licensed technician to braze the line set and pull a vacuum, at $500-$2,000 per zone according to HomeAdvisor’s 2026 HVAC installation cost data. That gap is the real budget decision: cheapest equipment, or cheapest total cost. Here’s how the leading low-cost options compare on both.
Best budget mini splits compared
| System | Best for | Install | Equipment price | Realistic total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Della 12k | Lowest sticker price | Pro (braze + vacuum) | ~$600-750 | ~$1,100-2,750 |
| Senville LETO 12k | Known brand, budget price | Pro (braze + vacuum) | ~$700-900 | ~$1,200-2,900 |
| MRCOOL DIY 9k | Lowest total cost | DIY (quick-connect) | ~$900-1,050 | ~$900-1,050 |
1. Della 12k — Lowest Sticker Price
Della 12,000 BTU Mini Split
- Typically undercuts every other brand covered on this site for a comparable BTU size, at the cost of a smaller dealer network and less long-term reliability data to judge it against.
- Ships as a standard pro-install system — no pre-charged quick-connect line set, so budget a licensed technician to braze the connections and pull a vacuum.
- A reasonable bet for a lower-stakes space like a garage or workshop; riskier as the only system conditioning a primary living area, per our brands breakdown.
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2. Senville LETO 12k — Known Brand, Budget Price
Senville LETO Series 12,000 BTU
- Longer market track record than Della, with a broader parts and accessories ecosystem if something needs replacing down the line.
- Still a pro-install system — a licensed technician braces the line set and pulls a vacuum, adding $500-$2,000 in labor on top of equipment cost depending on your market.
- The step-up AURA line covers cold-climate heating down to roughly -22°F if you outgrow the budget tier's heating performance later.
If brand recognition and a wider support network matter more to you than shaving another $100-150 off the equipment price, LETO is the safer budget pick over Della.
3. MRCOOL DIY 9k — Lowest Total Cost
MRCOOL DIY 4th Gen 9,000 BTU (115V)
- Runs on a standard 115V household outlet — no dedicated 230V circuit and no electrician needed for the power side of the install.
- Pre-charged, quick-connect line set skips both the vacuum pump and the EPA 608 refrigerant certification a pro-install system requires — a homeowner can mount both units in an afternoon.
- Once you add the $500-$2,000 in typical installer labor a pro-install budget system needs, this DIY kit's higher sticker price is often still the cheaper total cost.
If you’re comfortable mounting an outdoor condenser and running a pre-charged line set yourself, the DIY route turns “budget” from an equipment question into a labor question — and skipping that labor line is usually the bigger saving.
The bottom line
If equipment price alone is what you’re comparing, the Della 12k wins outright at $600-750. If you’d rather pay a bit more for a name with a longer track record, the Senville LETO 12k is the safer budget pick. But once you add the $500-$2,000 in installer labor either pro-install system needs, the MRCOOL DIY 9k frequently comes out as the lowest real-world total cost, since there’s no technician to pay at all. Comparing more capacity tiers? See our best 1 ton mini split roundup for 12,000 BTU picks across price points, or our best DIY mini split roundup if skipping the installer entirely is the priority. Want the full labor-cost math before you decide? Our mini split installation cost guide breaks down pro-install pricing by region and BTU size.