How Much Does an AED Cost in 2026? Purchase Price vs 10-Year Ownership
A new AED costs between roughly $1,400 and $3,700 in 2026. But that figure answers the wrong question, because an AED is not a one-time purchase — it is a device that eats pads and batteries for eight to ten years. Once you account for that, the ranking changes completely.
Here are real current prices, and then the number that actually matters.
Purchase price — every model, today
| AED | From |
|---|---|
| HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P | $1,411 |
| Defibtech Lifeline | $1,523 |
| HeartSine samaritan PAD 360P | $1,651 |
| Philips HeartStart OnSite | $1,687 |
| HeartSine samaritan 450P | $1,761 |
| ZOLL AED Plus | $2,082 |
| Defibtech Lifeline VIEW | $2,086 |
| Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 | $2,157 |
| LIFEPAK CR2 | $2,256 |
| ZOLL AED 3 | $2,399 |
| Philips HeartStart FRx | $2,427 |
| ZOLL AED Pro | $3,466 |
| LIFEPAK 1000 | $3,701 |
Starting configurations as of August 2026. The AED Pro and LIFEPAK 1000 sit higher because they are professional-responder devices, not workplace units.
The number that actually matters
Every AED needs new pads every 2 to 5 years and a new battery every 2 to 5 years, for its whole 8–10 year life. Those intervals differ enormously between models, and so does the price of the parts. Here is what a decade actually costs.
| AED | Device | Consumables / 10 yrs | Reorders | 10-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HeartSine 350P | $1,411 | $472 (2 × Pad-Pak $236) | 2 | $1,883 |
| Defibtech Lifeline | $1,523 | $546 | 5 | $2,069 |
| ZOLL AED Plus | $2,082 | $340 (pads + battery once) | 1 | $2,422 |
| Philips HeartStart OnSite | $1,687 | $795 | 5 | $2,482 |
| ZOLL AED 3 | $2,399 | $455 | 1 | $2,854 |
| Defibtech Lifeline VIEW | $2,086 | $838 | 6 | $2,924 |
| LIFEPAK CR2 | $2,256 | $1,030 | 2 | $3,286 |
| Philips HeartStart FRx | $2,427 | $854 | 6 | $3,281 |
| Cardiac Science Powerheart G5 | $2,157 | $1,342 (battery is $495) | 6 | $3,499 |
How we calculated this — and where to be sceptical
Adult pads and one battery only, at our published August 2026 prices, over a ten-year life with no deployment. Excludes paediatric pads, cabinet, signage, training and programme management. Replacement intervals are the typical manufacturer figures for each model — verified from product specification where available, and confirmed as approximate otherwise.
What would change your numbers: using the AED even once (you replace pads immediately); adding paediatric pads to any model that needs them; or prices moving. Treat these as directionally reliable rather than a quotation — and ask us to run your exact configuration.
Three things that fall out of this
1. The cheapest AED to buy is also the cheapest to own — but only just
The HeartSine 350P wins both, at $1,411 to buy and $1,883 over ten years. That is because the Pad-Pak bundles pads and battery into one part with one date, so a decade needs two purchases and nothing else. If the budget is genuinely fixed, this is the answer.
2. The ZOLL AED Plus is the biggest gap between sticker and reality
It looks like a $2,082 AED sitting well above the OnSite's $1,687. Over ten years it costs $60 less, because five-year pads and a five-year battery mean one reorder in a decade against the OnSite's five. Same money, half the device price gap, and one-fifth the admin.
3. A cheap battery matters more than a cheap device
The Powerheart G5 is the clearest case. At $2,157 it is cheaper to buy than the AED 3 or the CR2 — but its $495 battery makes it the most expensive of the group over ten years at $3,499. That is $1,077 more than the AED Plus, on a device that costs $75 less. The battery price line is the one people never check before buying.
What else you need to budget
| Wall sign — often required by state law | $27–$44 |
| Wall bracket | from $59 |
| Cabinet — alarmed for public sites | $149–$814 |
| Pediatric pads, where the model needs them | $127–$279 |
| Trainer unit, if you run in-house training | from $495 |
Realistically, add $200–$900 to any device price for a compliant installation. See AED cabinet and mounting requirements for what your location actually needs.
Ways to pay less
- Grants. Schools, churches, fire departments and nonprofits often qualify. See our AED grants and funding guide.
- Refurbished units. A genuine saving if you understand what you are buying — see new vs refurbished AEDs.
- Tax-exempt and PO purchasing. If you are a school, municipality or nonprofit, do not pay sales tax you do not owe — see purchase orders and institutional purchasing.
- Maintenance packages. Bundling pads and battery is cheaper than buying separately and means one date to remember.
- Buy the right model. As above — the consumable schedule matters more than the sticker price.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an AED cost in 2026?
New AEDs range from about $1,411 to $3,701. Most workplace units sit between $1,700 and $2,400. Professional-responder devices such as the ZOLL AED Pro and LIFEPAK 1000 cost more.
What is the total cost of owning an AED?
Over a ten-year life, expect roughly $1,900 to $3,500 including the device and its pads and batteries, plus $200 to $900 for mounting, signage and a cabinet. The consumable schedule varies enough between models to reorder the rankings entirely.
Which AED is cheapest to own?
On our current pricing the HeartSine samaritan PAD 350P is cheapest over ten years at about $1,883, because its Pad-Pak combines pads and battery into a single part replaced twice in a decade. The ZOLL AED Plus is next at about $2,422 and needs only one reorder in ten years.
Why is one AED cheaper to buy but more expensive to own?
Because pad and battery intervals and prices differ sharply. The Powerheart G5 costs less than the ZOLL AED 3 to buy but roughly $645 more over ten years, largely because its battery is $495.
Do AEDs need ongoing costs every year?
Not every year, but on a cycle. Pads run 2 to 5 years and batteries 2 to 5 depending on model, so budget for a replacement event every few years rather than an annual fee.
We will run your ten-year numbers
Tell us how many units, where they are going and whether children may be treated. We will price the device, the mounting and a decade of consumables so you can compare properly — and we will point out when the cheaper device is the more expensive choice.
Compare AEDs → | Purchase orders → | Call 888-541-2337
Related
- Philips OnSite vs ZOLL AED Plus
- ZOLL AED 3 vs LIFEPAK CR2
- AED pads & batteries by model
- Is my AED discontinued?
Last reviewed: 20 August 2026. Prices are starting configurations at published rates and change — check the product pages. Ten-year figures are modelled estimates, not quotations.
