HVAC Replacement Cost Calculator — 2026 Installation Prices
HVAC replacement and installation costs by home size and system. A 3.5-ton central AC runs $5,450–$9,700 installed (Fixr); add a furnace, ducts and permit.
HVAC Replacement Cost Calculator
Conditioned floor area, 800–3,000 sq ft. Rule of thumb: about 3.5 tons. A Manual J load calculation sets the real size.
Cooling efficiency. The 2023 federal minimum is 13.4 SEER2 in the North, 14.3 in the South and for heat pumps.
Adjusts the labor share by local construction wages (BLS, May 2025).
homeprojectestimator.com · · https://homeprojectestimator.com/calculators/hvac-replacement-cost/
Estimated HVAC replacement cost
$11,300
Typical range $8,100 – $14,450
Cost per sq ft of home
$5.65
Where the money goes
- Central AC, 3.5-ton, installed Fixr installed price, mid-efficiency (about 15.3 SEER2)$5,450 – $9,700
- Furnace, installed $1.20–$2.00 per sq ft of home (Fixr)$2,400 – $4,000
- Permit and inspection Today's Homeowner$250 – $750
National average. Pick your state and metro area to adjust the labor share (about 30% of this job) to local wages. Get three written quotes before you commit to a budget.
Installed prices from Fixr (2025–2026); permit fees and labor share from Today's Homeowner. Removal of the old unit is usually in the installer's price.
For a 2,000 sq ft home, This Old House puts a central AC plus gas furnace at $5,634–$14,686, with an average of $8,283; built from Fixr's line prices, this calculator lands at about $11,300. A ducted heat pump for that house runs $8,000–$20,000 installed (Fixr). A first installation of central air in a house without ducts costs more: about $8,650–$20,200 for a 3-ton system with new ducts (Fixr).
How to use this calculator
The calculator prices a like-for-like replacement in an existing house: the old equipment comes out, new equipment of the size the house needs goes in, and the installer connects it to the ducts, refrigerant lines, gas and power that are already there.
- System to replace. Pick what you are actually buying. Central AC + furnace is the usual split system in a forced-air house. Central AC only or furnace only is for when one half still has years left. Heat pump means a ducted air-source heat pump that heats and cools. Ductless mini-split is for houses without ducts, additions and single rooms.
- Home size. Enter the conditioned floor area — the rooms you heat and cool, not the garage or an unfinished basement. The calculator turns it into an approximate tonnage at about 600 sq ft per ton, the rule of thumb This Old House gives (one ton is 12,000 BTU per hour). A 2,000 sq ft home comes out at 3.5 tons, which is also what This Old House quotes for that size. For a mini-split you enter the number of indoor units instead.
- Efficiency. The tier sets the SEER2 rating of the cooling side: the federal minimum, a mid-range unit around 15–17 SEER2, or a high-efficiency unit around 18–19 SEER2. It does not change a furnace-only price, because furnaces are rated by AFUE.
- Ductwork. Tick it if the ducts are being replaced, not just reconnected, or if the house has none (see the section on houses without ducts below).
- Permit. Most jurisdictions require a mechanical permit for an equipment change-out. Untick it only if your installer has confirmed none is needed.
- State. Adjusts the labor part of the price to local construction wages.
The rule of thumb is just that. A Manual J load calculation, the industry method, works out heat gain and loss room by room from insulation, window area, orientation and climate. Rules of thumb disagree with each other: Fixr's central air page sizes by a climate-zone factor of 30–60 BTU per sq ft, which would give a larger system than the 600 sq ft per ton rule. That disagreement is the reason to insist on a load calculation before you accept a quote.
HVAC replacement cost in 2026
Central air conditioner by size
| Size | Typical home (at ~600 sq ft per ton) | Installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 tons | under 1,050 sq ft | $3,650 – $6,250 |
| 2 tons | 1,050–1,349 sq ft | $4,250 – $7,500 |
| 2.5 tons | 1,350–1,649 sq ft | $4,500 – $8,000 |
| 3 tons | 1,650–1,949 sq ft | $5,000 – $9,150 |
| 3.5 tons | 1,950–2,249 sq ft | $5,450 – $9,700 |
| 4 tons | 2,250–2,549 sq ft | $6,950 – $11,600 |
| 5 tons | 2,850 sq ft and up | $7,800 – $14,000 |
Source: Fixr, Cost to Install Central Air, updated August 29, 2025 (installed, mid-efficiency). The square-footage column is this page's rule-of-thumb conversion.
Fixr's national average for central AC is $8,750, with most jobs between $5,800 and $14,400. That average assumes a 3-ton, 16 SEER unit with new ductwork in a 2,000 sq ft home, so it sits above a plain swap on existing ducts.
By system type
| System | National range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Furnace (all fuels) | $2,800 – $7,500 | $4,800 |
| Heat pump (air-source, ducted) | $5,000 – $15,000 | $8,350 |
| Ductless mini-split | $2,000 – $8,000 | $4,400 |
| AC + gas furnace, 2,000 sq ft home | $5,634 – $14,686 | $8,283 |
Sources: Fixr, Furnace Replacement Cost 2026, January 28, 2026; Fixr, How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost in 2026?, January 22, 2026; Fixr, Ductless Heat Pump Cost in 2026, January 29, 2026; This Old House, How Much Does an Air Conditioner Cost for a 2,000-Square-Foot Home?, June 9, 2026.
By home size
| Home size | AC size (rule of thumb) | AC + furnace, installed | Heat pump, installed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 1.5 tons | $4,850 – $8,250 | $5,000 – $8,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 2.5 tons | $6,300 – $11,000 | $6,700 – $14,000 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 3.5 tons | $7,850 – $13,700 | $8,000 – $20,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 4 tons | $9,950 – $16,600 | $9,500 – $22,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 5 tons | $11,400 – $20,000 | $15,000 – $25,000 |
Sources: Fixr installed prices for central air by tonnage, furnaces at $1.20–$2.00 per sq ft and heat pumps by home size (pages listed under Sources); tonnage rule from This Old House. Existing ducts, mid-efficiency; permit extra.
By efficiency (SEER2)
| SEER2 | 3-ton AC, unit only | Heat pump, installed |
|---|---|---|
| 14.3 | $2,300 – $4,800 | $5,000 – $12,000 (14–15 SEER2) |
| 15.3 | $2,875 – $6,000 | $7,000 – $15,000 (16–17 SEER2) |
| 18.1 | $4,600 – $8,400 | $10,000 – $18,000 (18–19 SEER2) |
| 20 | $6,325 – $10,800 | $15,000 – $25,000 (20+ SEER2) |
Sources: Fixr, Cost to Install Central Air, August 29, 2025 (unit-only by SEER/SEER2); Fixr, How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost in 2026?, January 22, 2026.
Mini-split by number of zones
| Zones | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| 1 | $2,000 – $5,000 |
| 2 | $3,000 – $8,000 |
| 3 | $5,000 – $11,000 |
| 4 | $7,000 – $14,000 |
| 5 | $9,000 – $16,500 |
Source: Fixr, Ductless Heat Pump Cost in 2026, January 29, 2026.
What drives the price
- Capacity. Each half-ton step costs a few hundred dollars at the small end and well over a thousand at the top: Fixr's installed price climbs from $5,000–$9,150 at 3 tons to $7,800–$14,000 at 5 tons. Oversizing does not buy comfort — an oversized system short-cycles and leaves humidity behind.
- Efficiency. Moving a 3-ton condenser from 15.3 to 18.1 SEER2 adds about $1,725–$2,400 to the unit price on Fixr's table. Fixr also notes that the 2023 SEER2 rules pushed most AC and heat pump prices up by roughly 15–20%.
- Ductwork. New ducts are the biggest swing item. Fixr's retrofit figure of $3,600–$9,500 for a 2,000 sq ft house can add more than half again to a basic swap.
- Access and code work. Attics, crawlspaces and closets that no longer meet clearance rules add hours. Today's Homeowner puts code-compliance work at $500–$2,500 and inspections at $100–$300 on top of the permit.
- Labor rates. Today's Homeowner splits a typical replacement into about 60% equipment, 30% labor and 10% permits, with labor at $75–$150 an hour.
Cost breakdown
The result card shows up to four lines:
- Central AC, installed — condenser, matching indoor coil, refrigerant line connection, pad, startup and haul-away of the old unit, at Fixr's installed price for the tonnage. The efficiency tier adds or subtracts the SEER2 price gap scaled to the tonnage.
- Furnace, installed — Fixr's $1.20–$2.00 per sq ft of home. Fixr's own national average for a furnace ($4,800) sits above that line for a 2,000 sq ft house, because high-AFUE gas units and difficult venting push toward the top of its range.
- Heat pump or mini-split, installed — Fixr's installed prices by home size (heat pump) or by zone count (mini-split).
- New ductwork — only when ticked; Fixr's 2,000 sq ft figure scaled to your floor area.
- Permit and inspection — $250–$750.
Ask each installer to confirm the price covers refrigerant recovery and charging, the electrical disconnect, the condensate drain, a basic thermostat, startup checks and haul-away.
Not included: a new electrical panel or circuit (Fixr prices a 200-amp service upgrade at $1,300–$3,000), a new gas line, asbestos abatement around old ducts, zoning dampers, smart thermostats, air purifiers and humidifiers, and extended labor warranties. Ask which of these each quote assumes.
Prices by state and metro area
Only the labor part of an HVAC job moves with local wages. The calculator takes the labor share — 30% for ducted systems (Today's Homeowner) and 20% for mini-splits (Fixr's 15–25%) — and multiplies it by the state's construction wage index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Equipment prices are left at the national level.
For the default house (2,000 sq ft, AC + furnace, mid efficiency, permit, no new ducts), the national estimate is about $11,300:
| State | Wage index | Adjustment | Typical estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1.20 | +6.0% | about $12,000 |
| Illinois | 1.25 | +7.5% | about $12,150 |
| Texas | 0.84 | −4.8% | about $10,750 |
| Mississippi | 0.78 | −6.6% | about $10,550 |
Because equipment is most of the bill, state differences are narrower for HVAC than for labor-heavy jobs such as rewiring or drywall.
Metro areas spread wider than states. With the default settings, this estimate is $11,300 at the national average, $12,600 in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area and $10,200 in Brownsville-Harlingen, TX (BLS construction wage index 1.39 and 0.67). Pick your metro area under the state to use the local figure.
Installing HVAC in a house without ducts
The calculator is built for replacements, where ducts, refrigerant lines, gas and power are already in place. Fixr says replacements tend to be less expensive than new installations, and that retrofitting ducts into an existing house costs nearly three times the labor of replacing existing ducts or installing them in new construction.
| Route in a house with no ducts | Installed cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 3-ton central AC with new ducts, 2,000 sq ft (retrofit) | $8,650 – $20,200 | Fixr |
| New ductwork alone, 2,000 sq ft | $3,600 – $9,500 | Fixr |
| Complete duct installation | $7,000 – $15,000 | Today's Homeowner |
| Ductless mini-split, 4 zones | $7,000 – $14,000 | Fixr |
To price a retrofit, pick the system and tick Replace the ductwork. For 2,000 sq ft and a 3.5-ton central AC only, the calculator returns $9,300–$19,950, close to Fixr's retrofit range; a furnace on the same ducts adds $2,400–$4,000. A multi-zone mini-split is often cheaper still, with no walls or ceilings opened for duct runs.
Time. Fixr says a central AC installation takes a few hours to a full day, and adding ductwork can take two more days. A furnace replacement takes 4–10 hours.
New construction. In a new build the ducts go in while the framing is open, so their labor is a fraction of a retrofit's. The prices on this page are for existing homes; for a new build, get the HVAC priced as its own line in the builder's contract, sized from a Manual J run on the plans.
Heat pump, furnace or mini-split?
A heat pump replaces both the AC and the furnace, so compare it with the combined price. In the default 2,000 sq ft house the calculator puts a mid-tier heat pump at about $14,500 against about $11,300 for AC plus furnace. Which is cheaper to run depends on your local electricity and gas prices; ask each contractor to show the rates behind any savings claim.
- Central AC + gas furnace fits cold climates with inexpensive natural gas and houses that already have a gas line.
- Heat pump fits homes that need new cooling anyway, homes without gas service, milder climates, and areas with state or utility heat pump rebates. Check the electrical service first: Fixr prices a 200-amp service upgrade at $1,300–$3,000.
- Dual fuel — a heat pump with a gas furnace as backup for the coldest days — costs roughly the heat pump and a furnace together.
- Ductless mini-split fits houses without ducts, additions, garages, finished basements and rooms that need their own temperature. Labor is only 15–25% of the price (Fixr).
Repair or replace?
Fixr gives these typical lifespans: central air conditioners 10–20 years, with 15 the average; furnaces 15–20 years with annual tune-ups, and oil furnaces up to 25; heat pumps 10–15 years. Today's Homeowner suggests considering replacement for a system over 15 years old or one that breaks down often.
Lean toward replacing when the system is near or past those ages and the failed part is a major component (compressor, heat exchanger), or when repairs have become a yearly event. R-22 refrigerant is another signal: since January 1, 2020, no new R-22 has been made or imported in the US, so a recharge depends on reclaimed and pre-2020 refrigerant. The EPA does not require homeowners to replace working R-22 equipment.
Lean toward repairing when the system is relatively new and the failure is a single, inexpensive part — a capacitor, contactor, igniter or fan motor — or a major part still under warranty. In between, divide the repair quote by the years it realistically buys and compare that with the replacement price spread over the new system's life.
If only one half of a split system is failing, the Central AC only and Furnace only options price a partial replacement; for the default house the furnace adds about $2,400–$4,000 when replaced alongside the AC. Replacing both at once means one crew visit, one permit and a matched indoor coil, so ask for a quote on both and on the failing half alone. See also repair vs replace.
Example: a typical replacement estimate
A worked example from the sourced prices above, not a real project: a 2,000 sq ft home replacing a central AC and gas furnace on existing ducts, mid-efficiency, with a permit.
| Line | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Central AC, 3.5 ton, installed | $5,450 – $9,700 | Fixr |
| Furnace, $1.20–$2.00 per sq ft | $2,400 – $4,000 | Fixr |
| Permit and inspection | $250 – $750 | Today's Homeowner |
| Total | $8,100 – $14,450 |
These are the default calculator lines. New ducts would add Fixr's $3,600–$9,500. A ducted heat pump instead would make the equipment line $8,000–$20,000, plus a 200-amp service upgrade ($1,300–$3,000, Fixr) if the panel cannot carry the load. Compare each quote line by line against this structure.
Federal tax credits and rebates in 2026
The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (Section 25C) used to cover up to $2,000 a year for heat pumps and up to $600 per item for central air conditioners and furnaces. The IRS page for the credit, last reviewed on 28 April 2026, says: "You can claim the credit for improvements made through December 31, 2025." It gives no later date. As of 30 October 2026, then, a system installed this year falls outside the credit as the IRS describes it. Utility rebates and state programs are separate and still worth checking; Fixr points readers to the DSIRE database for local incentives.
How to cut the cost
- Replace before it fails, if you can. An emergency replacement in peak season leaves no time to collect quotes; an aging system can be quoted in spring or fall.
- Don't overbuy efficiency. The 15.3-to-18.1 SEER2 step adds $1,725–$2,400 to a 3-ton unit. If you run the AC only a few months a year, that premium takes longer to recover through lower bills.
- Test the ducts before replacing them. A duct leakage test or static pressure measurement shows whether sealing or a repair will do. Today's Homeowner puts base duct repairs at $500–$1,000 and replacing damaged sections at $1,500–$5,000, well under a full retrofit.
- Check state and utility rebates. DSIRE (dsireusa.org) lists incentives by ZIP code. Read the rules before installation, since some programs require approval in advance.
- Compare the cash and financed prices. If the installed price rises when you finance, the difference is part of the cost of borrowing. The renovation loan payment calculator shows the monthly payment for any rate and term.
How to compare HVAC quotes
- Ask for the Manual J. A quote sized from square footage alone is a guess.
- Compare model numbers, not brands. The outdoor unit and indoor coil should be a matched pair listed together in the AHRI directory, because the SEER2 rating applies to the pair.
- Read good-better-best tiers on their merits. Many contractors present three options. Choose on SEER2, warranty and the Manual J result, not on the tier's position in the list.
- Check the SEER2 against the regional minimum. In the Southeast and Southwest an AC installed after January 1, 2023 must reach 14.3 SEER2 (under 45,000 Btu/h).
- Get the permit in writing. Who pulls it, and is the inspection fee included?
- Ask what happens to the ducts. Reuse, seal, or replace — and whether static pressure was measured.
- Get the labor warranty in writing, and ask whether the parts warranty depends on registering the equipment.
Get at least three quotes for the same equipment and scope. For more on vetting installers, see how to hire a renovation contractor.
Sources
- Fixr, Cost to Install Central Air — installed price by tonnage, unit price by SEER/SEER2, national average, retrofit ductwork and retrofit installation costs, duct labor versus new construction, installation time, AC lifespan, price rise after the SEER2 rules (updated August 29, 2025). link
- Fixr, Furnace Replacement Cost 2026 — furnace price by home size, national average, whole-house ductwork, furnace lifespan, replacement time (updated January 28, 2026). link
- Fixr, How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost in 2026? — heat pump price by home size and SEER2, heat pump lifespan 10–15 years, DSIRE pointer (updated January 22, 2026). link
- Fixr, Ductless Heat Pump Cost in 2026 — mini-split price by zones, labor 15–25%, permit $250–$400, 200-amp upgrade $1,300–$3,000 (updated January 29, 2026). link
- Today's Homeowner, HVAC Installation Cost: Real Prices & Sample Estimate — equipment, labor and permit split, labor rate, permit, inspection and code-work costs, duct repair and installation costs, replacement age (updated September 3, 2025). link
- This Old House, HVAC Replacement Cost Calculator — one ton per about 600 sq ft, Manual J recommendation (updated September 2, 2026). link
- This Old House, How Much Does an Air Conditioner Cost for a 2,000-Square-Foot Home? — AC + gas furnace $5,634–$14,686, average $8,283; 3.5 tons for 2,000 sq ft (updated June 9, 2026). link
- U.S. Department of Energy, 2023 Energy Conservation Standards for Central Air Conditioners — FAQ — SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2 minimums and regions (issued October 5, 2022). link
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Homeowners and Consumers: Frequently Asked Questions — no new HCFC-22 (R-22) made or imported since January 1, 2020; no requirement to replace existing equipment (updated April 1, 2026). link
- IRS, Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit — credit limits and the December 31, 2025 end date (last reviewed April 28, 2026). link
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — state construction wage index. link
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to replace an AC and furnace together?
For a 2,000 sq ft home, This Old House puts an AC plus gas furnace at about $8,283 on average, with a low of $5,634 and a high of $14,686 (June 2026). Built from Fixr's line prices, this calculator lands at about $11,300 for the same house: $5,450–$9,700 for a 3.5-ton AC, $2,400–$4,000 for the furnace and $250–$750 for the permit.
How much does HVAC installation cost in a house with no ducts?
More than a replacement. Fixr puts a 3-ton central AC with new ducts in a 2,000 sq ft home at about $8,650–$20,200, of which the ductwork is $3,600–$9,500, and says retrofitting ducts into an existing house costs nearly three times the labor of new construction. A ductless mini-split is often the cheaper route: Fixr prices four zones at $7,000–$14,000 installed.
What size HVAC system do I need for my square footage?
The common rule of thumb is one ton of cooling (12,000 BTU per hour) for about 600 sq ft, which gives roughly 3.5 tons for a 2,000 sq ft home. That is only a starting point. Insulation, windows, ceiling height and climate change the answer, which is why This Old House and Fixr both tell you to ask the contractor for a Manual J load calculation.
What is the minimum SEER2 rating for a new air conditioner?
Under the federal standards in force since January 1, 2023, a split-system central AC under 45,000 Btu/h must reach 13.4 SEER2 in the North and 14.3 SEER2 in the Southeast and Southwest. Split-system heat pumps need 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 nationwide. In the South the rule follows installation date, so a contractor may not install a non-compliant unit there.
How much more does a high-efficiency AC cost?
On Fixr's unit-only table for a 3-ton system, a 15.3 SEER2 condenser costs $2,875–$6,000 and an 18.1 SEER2 unit $4,600–$8,400, so the step up adds about $1,725–$2,400 before labor. For heat pumps, Fixr lists $7,000–$15,000 installed at 16–17 SEER2 and $10,000–$18,000 at 18–19 SEER2.
Is a heat pump cheaper than an AC and furnace?
Usually not up front. A heat pump replaces both units, so compare it with the combined price. For a 2,000 sq ft home Fixr prices a ducted heat pump at $8,000–$20,000 installed; this calculator puts a mid-tier heat pump at about $14,500 against about $11,300 for a 3.5-ton AC plus furnace. Which costs less to run depends on your local electricity and gas prices.
How much does a ductless mini-split cost?
Fixr prices a single-zone mini-split at $2,000–$5,000 installed and a two-zone system at $3,000–$8,000, rising to $9,000–$16,500 for five zones. Each extra zone adds roughly $2,000–$3,000. Labor is a smaller share than on ducted systems, about 15–25% of the total, and the permit typically runs $250–$400.
How much does new ductwork add to an HVAC replacement?
Fixr prices retrofit ductwork at $3,600–$9,500 for a 3-ton system in a 2,000 sq ft home. Sources disagree widely: Fixr's furnace page gives $1,400–$6,000 for whole-house ductwork and Today's Homeowner $7,000–$15,000 for a complete installation. Replacing only damaged sections costs $1,500–$5,000 according to Today's Homeowner, and base repairs $500–$1,000.
How long does an HVAC system last?
Fixr puts central air conditioners at 10–20 years, with 15 the average, furnaces at 15–20 years with annual tune-ups (oil furnaces up to 25), and heat pumps at 10–15 years. Today's Homeowner suggests considering replacement for a system over 15 years old or one that breaks down often. A system on R-22 refrigerant is a stronger case: no new R-22 has been made or imported in the US since 2020 (EPA).
Can I still get the 25C federal tax credit for a new HVAC system?
Not under the rules the IRS currently publishes. Its Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit page, last reviewed 28 April 2026, states: "You can claim the credit for improvements made through December 31, 2025." It lists no later date, so a system installed in 2026 is outside the credit as the IRS describes it. Utility and state rebates are separate programs and worth checking.