HVAC Replacement Cost Calculator: What Will a New System Cost?

Replacing heating or cooling equipment costs equipment plus labor, along with a few smaller items: parts like the refrigerant line set and pad, removal of the old unit, the permit and any ductwork. This calculator builds each of those from the system type, size and efficiency you choose. It prices labor from the median wage for HVAC technicians in your state and gives a low, typical and high estimate.

How it works

equipment = (base + size × rate) × efficiency factor × markup
parts     = parts allowance × markup
labor     = crew hours × HVAC wage × billing multiplier
total     = equipment + parts + labor + ducts + removal + permit

Equipment. Central air conditioners are priced at about $1,600 plus $600 per ton for the outdoor unit and matching coil. Heat pumps are about $2,000 plus $750 per ton with the air handler. Gas furnaces are about $1,500 plus $120 per 20,000 BTU/h of input. Those are typical values for standard efficiency, and each has a low and high range. High-efficiency equipment costs about 1.3× as much and top-tier variable-speed equipment about 1.7×. For furnaces, standard means 80% AFUE at 0.8× the 96% price. Contractors mark equipment up 20 to 50 percent. We checked equipment prices with distributors and retailers in October 2026.

Labor. A like-for-like replacement takes a crew about 8 to 16 hours for an AC, 10 to 18 for a heat pump, 6 to 14 for a furnace and 14 to 26 for both together. Mini-splits take 6 to 11 hours per indoor unit. Hours are priced at the BLS median HVAC mechanic wage for your state, multiplied by 2.8 to 4.5 to cover payroll costs, insurance, trucks, tools, overhead and profit.

Ranges. The low estimate combines every low assumption and the high estimate every high one. Real quotes usually land between them.

What’s not included: rebates and tax credits, electrical panel upgrades, new gas lines, relocating equipment, zoning, air cleaners and humidifiers.

Worked example

An Ohio homeowner is replacing an old AC and furnace with a 3.5-ton high-efficiency heat pump and an air handler. They’ll reuse the ducts but have them sealed. Ohio’s median HVAC technician wage is $30.06 an hour.

• Equipment: ($2,000 + $750 × 3.5) × 1.3 × 1.35 = about $8,100
• Parts (line set, pad, disconnect, thermostat): $500 × 1.35 = about $675
• Labor: 13 hours × $30.06 × 3.6 = about $1,400
• Duct sealing $700, removal $200, permit $250

That’s a typical total of about $11,350, with a range of roughly $7,150 to $18,350. Replacing the AC and furnace with a new high-efficiency AC and furnace instead would come to about $13,650 typical, so the heat pump is the cheaper replacement here before any rebates.

HVAC replacement cost by state: reference table

Typical installed prices at standard efficiency, reusing the existing ducts, for each state’s HVAC technician wage.

Tips and common mistakes

Size before you price. A contractor who quotes “the same size as before” may be repeating an old mistake. Run our AC size calculator or furnace size calculator, and ask for a Manual J.

Compare model numbers, not brands. Most brands sell entry-level and premium lines. Get the outdoor unit, coil or air handler, and furnace model numbers on every quote, and check that the combination is listed in the AHRI directory.

Ask about the refrigerant. Under EPA rules, new air conditioners and heat pumps are moving from R-410A to lower-impact refrigerants such as R-454B and R-32. Make sure the outdoor unit and the coil are designed for the same one.

Read the warranty terms. Parts warranties often require online registration within 60 to 90 days. Labor warranties vary a lot between contractors, and they’re worth comparing.

Schedule in spring or fall if you can. HVAC contractors are busiest in summer heat waves and winter cold snaps. Replacing a working but aging system in the off-season gives you time to compare quotes.

Check rebates before you sign. Utility and state rebates for heat pumps can be large, and many require a participating contractor or pre-approval.