AED cabinet cost 2026: $118 to $882, and which one you need
An AED wall cabinet costs $118.15 without an alarm and $135.15 with one at AED Leader and Response Ready (25 Oct 2026). Recessed cabinets run $162.25 to $296.65, outdoor cabinets $293.25 and brand-name steel up to $882. On a walkway wall, a surface cabinet over 4 inches deep breaks the ADA protrusion rule.
Compact cabinet with alarm, $135.15 See all 10 prices
01How much does an AED cabinet cost in 2026?
A wall cabinet for an AED costs $118.15 to $882 at AED Leader and Response Ready, checked 25 October 2026[1]. The price is set by four things: size, alarm, how it mounts, and whether it carries a brand name. A small kit cabinet without a door window starts at $67.15.
| Cabinet type | Price (25 Oct 2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Compact kit cabinet | $67.15 | Spare pads, gloves and a rescue kit, not the AED itself |
| Compact, no alarm | $118.15 | Staffed offices, clinics, homes |
| Compact with alarm Recommended | $135.15 | Lobbies, gyms, schools: most buyers |
| Compact, alarm and strobe | $160.65 | Noisy sites: plants, warehouses, arenas |
| Large, no alarm | $135.15 | Larger AEDs or AED plus a rescue kit |
| Fully recessed | $162.25 | Corridors where a box may not stick out (ADA) |
| Semi-recessed | $231.70 | Hallways, new builds |
| Outdoor, weatherproof | $293.25 | Parks, sports fields, building exteriors |
| Philips brand, surface mount | $384 | Matching a Philips fleet |
| Physio-Control stainless | $882 | LIFEPAK fleets that want brand-matched steel |
Other sellers sit in the same band: AED Superstore lists a compact cabinet at $109.99 and a fully recessed one at $230.39, AED.com starts at $109.99, and an unbranded steel cabinet sells for $75.99 on Amazon[2].
Alarm: $135.15 compact with alarm - $118.15 without = $17.00
Strobe on top of the alarm: $160.65 - $135.15 = $25.50
Brand name: $384 Philips - $118.15 universal = $265.85 for a logo[1]
02Does an AED need to be in a cabinet?
No federal rule says an AED must sit in a cabinet. What the law does control is how far anything on a wall sticks out. Under the 2010 ADA Standards, an object whose leading edge is between 27 and 80 inches above the floor may protrude no more than 4 inches into a walkway[3].
Compact surface cabinet depth: 6 3/4 in; large: 8 3/8 in[1]
ADA limit in a walkway: 4 in[3]
6.75 - 4 = 2.75 in too deep on a walkway wall. Use a fully recessed cabinet ($162.25), a semi-recessed one with the box set into the wall, or mount the surface cabinet in an alcove off the walking path.
Height matters too. The ADA reach range is 48 inches maximum and 15 inches minimum above the floor[3], so the cabinet handle should sit no higher than 48 inches. A cabinet also helps people find the AED: only about half of US workers can locate the AED at work[4], and every minute without CPR or a shock cuts survival by 7 to 10 percent[5].
| Option | Price | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Wall bracket or open shelf | Low | The AED is in a staffed room and nobody walks past it |
| Non-alarmed cabinet | $118.15 | Staff can see the cabinet all day |
| Alarmed cabinet | $135.15 | The public walks past it; the alarm deters theft and calls staff when it opens |
| Carry case only | Included with the AED | Mobile teams, vehicles, coaches |
03Alarmed vs non-alarmed AED cabinet: which should you buy?
An alarm sounds when the door opens. It does two jobs: it tells nearby staff that someone has taken the AED, and it makes casual theft less likely. For $17 more[1], it is the default for any cabinet the public can reach.
Public areas
- Lobbies, gyms, churches, schools
- Anywhere a stranger can open the door
- $135.15 compact[1]
Add the strobe ($160.65, or a $45.95 external strobe for an existing cabinet[1]) only where an alarm will not be heard: factory floors, pools, arenas. Retrofit parts are sold separately: alarm and keys $70, riser shelf $19.95[1].
04What does an outdoor AED cabinet cost?
The weatherproof outdoor cabinet is $293.25 at AED Leader and Response Ready[1], about 2.5 times an indoor compact cabinet. It has a sealable door, a clear window and a visible alarm indicator[1]. Every AED, pad and battery has a rated operating temperature range, so compare the cabinet with your model's range before you buy. Start with our AED batteries guide before you buy.
Cabinets that fit every AED we review
Universal compact cabinet with alarm: $135.15. Without alarm: $118.15. Fully recessed for ADA corridors: $162.25. Prices checked 25 Oct 2026.
Compact cabinet with alarm, $135.15 See it at Response Ready05Is a cabinet cheaper inside an AED package?
Often, yes. AED Leader and Response Ready sell value packages that bundle the AED with a wall cabinet, and on two models the package costs less than the AED alone[6].
| AED | AED alone | Package with cabinet | Cabinet effectively costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philips OnSite | $1,589 | $1,581.80 | -$7.20 (package is cheaper) |
| ZOLL AED 3 | $2,399 | $2,369.70 | -$29.30 (package is cheaper) |
| HeartSine 350P | $1,411 | $1,463.80 | $52.80 |
| Defibtech Lifeline | $1,478.80 | $1,541.50 | $62.70 |
| ZOLL AED Plus | $2,082 | $2,144.70 | $62.70 |
Buying the AED and a $135.15 alarmed cabinet separately costs more than any of these packages. Compare all five in our AED value packages list or the AED kit guide.
06AED cabinet buying checklist
- Measure your AED in its carry case. Outside size: compact 14 3/4 x 11 5/8 in, large 16 x 14 5/8 in[1]. If your AED case is close to the compact size, take the large one.
- Walkway wall? Choose fully or semi-recessed, or an alcove, to stay inside the 4-inch ADA limit[3].
- Public area? Pay $17 for the alarm[1].
- Set the handle at 48 inches or lower[3] and keep the cabinet in sight from the main walkway.
- Add a sign above it: see our AED signage requirements.
- Check the AED inside every month: our AED maintenance checklist has the steps.
07AED cabinet questions
How much does an AED cabinet cost?
An AED wall cabinet costs $118.15 to $882 at AED Leader and Response Ready, checked 25 Oct 2026. Most buyers pay $135.15 for a compact cabinet with an alarm. Other sellers list compact cabinets from $109.99.
Does an AED need to be in a cabinet?
No federal rule requires a cabinet. The 2010 ADA Standards limit wall objects between 27 and 80 inches above the floor to 4 inches of protrusion into a walkway, so a deep surface cabinet on a corridor wall may need to be recessed.
How high should an AED cabinet be mounted?
Keep the handle at 48 inches or lower above the floor. That is the maximum forward and side reach in the 2010 ADA Standards.
Is an alarmed AED cabinet worth it?
For public areas, yes. The alarm costs $17 more on a compact cabinet ($135.15 vs $118.15), warns staff when the AED is taken and deters theft.
How much is an outdoor AED cabinet?
The weatherproof outdoor cabinet at AED Leader and Response Ready is $293.25, checked 25 Oct 2026.
Is it cheaper to buy an AED package with a cabinet?
Often. The Philips OnSite package ($1,581.80) and ZOLL AED 3 package ($2,369.70) cost less than the AED alone. The HeartSine 350P, Defibtech Lifeline and ZOLL AED Plus packages add $52.80 to $62.70 for the cabinet.
Related guides
What is in an AED kit · Cheapest AED in 2026 · AED signage requirements · AED maintenance checklist · How many AEDs you need · AED packages for business
How we check: prices are read from the live AED Leader and Response Ready listings on the date shown; rules are quoted from the eCFR. See our editorial standards and methodology. AED Best Brands is independent of AED manufacturers.
Sources
- AED Leader cabinet listings, checked 25 Oct 2026 (Response Ready lists the same prices): compact non-alarmed, compact with alarm, compact alarm and strobe, large non-alarmed, fully recessed, outdoor, Philips surface mount, Physio-Control stainless. Dimensions from the same listings. Semi-recessed cabinet: Response Ready listing (the AED Leader page redirects to another cabinet on 25 Oct).
- Competitor cabinet prices read from each seller's own listing via Google US results on 25 Oct 2026: AED Superstore (compact $109.99, standard $119.99, semi-recessed $250.79, fully recessed $230.39), AED.com (basic from $109.99, alarmed from $119.99), HeartSmart ($90 to $696) and Amazon (unbranded steel cabinet, $75.99).
- U.S. Access Board, 36 CFR Part 1191, Appendix D (2010 ADA Standards technical chapters): 307.2 protrusion limits, 307.4 vertical clearance, 308.2.1 and 308.3.1 reach ranges.
- American Heart Association, CPR Facts and Stats.
- OSHA, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
- AED Leader value package and device listings (Philips OnSite, ZOLL AED 3, HeartSine 350P, Defibtech Lifeline, ZOLL AED Plus), lowest configuration, checked 25 Oct 2026; Response Ready lists the same prices.
Updated 25 October 2026.