HVAC Replacement Cost Calculator 2026

How this estimate is calculated

Last pricing review: October 2026. Figures are national installed project bands, not prices per square foot.

1. Start with the published project band for the system. Furnace only: $2,000 / $3,700 / $5,400. Central air only: $2,500 / $5,000 / $7,500. Furnace and central air: $5,000 / $8,000 / $11,000. Ducted heat pump: $3,800 / $6,000 / $8,200. One-zone ductless: $3,000 / $6,500 / $10,000. 2. If, and only if, the system is furnace-plus-air or a ducted heat pump, and you chose new ducts, add $2,000 / $3,500 / $5,000. 3. Multiply by 0.90, 1.00, or 1.15. Round to the cent, then to the nearest $100.

The $2,000 / $3,500 / $5,000 duct step is the difference between HomeGuide’s $5,000–$11,000 replacement and its $7,000–$16,000 “with ductwork” row. Midpoints are the average of the published ends, already on a hundred-dollar mark. Home size does not change the dollars.

Why these numbers can differ from the HVAC guide: this calculator deliberately uses HomeGuide’s system-specific project bands. The main HVAC guide also reports Angi’s broader $5,000–$12,500 overall replacement range and This Old House survey averages. Those figures describe different source samples and scopes, so they are shown as cross-checks rather than blended into one invented range.

Before requesting quotes

1. Ask for a load calculation. Do not accept a system sized only from square footage.
2. Ask whether the quote reuses the ducts or replaces them, and whether the thermostat, pad, and line set are included.
3. Ask what electrical, gas, flue, or condensate work is extra.
4. Compare at least two written scopes for the same efficiency range.

Related guide: HVAC Replacement Cost 2026 covers equipment, ductwork, efficiency, permits and quote comparisons. Browse all calculators.

Safety

Refrigerant, gas piping, flue venting, and household electrical work are not homeowner tasks. A heat pump or air conditioner has to be charged and recovered by someone allowed to handle refrigerant. This range is not a sizing method and not permission to open the equipment.

Questions homeowners ask

Does this size the equipment?

No. Square footage is not collected because a published project band is not a Manual J load. The contractor measures the house, the ducts, and the climate.

Why doesn’t a larger house raise the number?

HomeGuide’s main rows are project totals. Using them again as a price per square foot would count the same job twice.

When are new ducts added?

Only for a furnace-plus-air replacement or a ducted heat pump. The adder is $2,000, $3,500, and $5,000 on the low, mid, and high lines. Other system types leave that choice out of the math and say so.

Is the midpoint a quote?

No. It is the center of the published band after the scenario you picked. Brand, efficiency, access, and code work still move the invoice.

Sources

• HomeGuide, “How Much Does a New HVAC System Cost to Install or Replace? (2026),” written by Kristen Cramer, August 27, 2025. Furnace $2,000–$5,400, central air $2,500–$7,500, furnace plus air $5,000–$11,000, with ductwork $7,000–$16,000, heat pump $3,800–$8,200, ductless $3,000–$10,000. https://homeguide.com/costs/hvac-cost