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HVAC cost guide

How much does HVAC replacement cost?

What drives the number, and why sizing matters more than the brand on the box.

Written by Priya Nathan, Staff writer, remodeling and movingReviewed by Marcus Reed, Expert reviewer, exteriors and structureUpdated June 202610 min read

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This guide is editorial. Nothing in it is placed, paid for or approved by a company named on the site.

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Key takeaways

  • A Manual J load calculation should come before any quote
  • Oversized equipment short-cycles and dehumidifies poorly
  • Ductwork condition often matters more than the equipment
  • Efficiency ratings pay back differently depending on your climate zone

How much does HVAC replacement cost? at a glance

How we calculate these estimates

Every figure on this page traces back to a source named at the bottom of the guide.

  • Figures are market ranges compiled from published contractor pricing and regional cost data
  • They are for budgeting; nothing here is an estimate or an offer from any company
  • Actual pricing depends on scope, materials, labour, permits and property condition
  • Where we have no sourced figure we say so rather than inventing one

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A full system replacement typically runs $5,500 to $13,800 installed, with heat pumps at the upper end and straight AC replacements at the lower. Correct load sizing affects both comfort and equipment life more than brand choice does.

  • Typical project$5,500–$13,800What most homeowners end up paying once the job is scoped.
  • Sources cited0Every figure on this page traces back to one of them.
  • Last reviewedJune 2026Prices move. This is when an editor last checked them.

Typical range

Low end$5,500Most homeowners$5,500 – $13,800High end$13,800+

What the work costs

WorkTypical rangeWhat it covers
AC replacement, existing ductwork$5,500–$9,500
Heat pump replacement$7,500–$13,800
Furnace replacement$3,500–$7,500
Repair call$150–$600
Diagnostic fee$75–$180
Full duct replacementQuoted per projectQuoted per project after inspection.

Sizing comes first

The single most common installation fault is equipment sized by rule of thumb rather than by a load calculation. Oversized systems cool quickly, shut off, and never run long enough to pull humidity out of the air.

What each kind of replacement runs to

Whole-project ranges on existing ductwork, drawn from the same figures as the table below.

dollars per project

Furnace replacement$3,500 to $7,500
AC replacement, existing ductwork$5,500 to $9,500
Heat pump replacement$7,500 to $13,800

Duct replacement is not shown because it is quoted after an inspection rather than from a range.

A gloved hand holding manifold gauges connected to the service ports of a condenser unit
A load calculation, not a rule of thumb, is what decides the size of the system you are quoted.
A newly installed furnace and coil in an unfinished basement with sheet metal plenum and flexible duct above

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About this guide

Originally published
June 2026
Last reviewed
June 2026
Written by
Priya Nathan
Reviewed by
Marcus Reed
Reading time
10 min
Sources cited
0

About the author

Priya Nathan

Staff writer, remodeling and moving

Priya writes the remodeling, moving and cost guides. She spends most of her time reading contracts and estimates, which is where the differences between two apparently identical quotes usually turn up.

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Expert review

Marcus Reed

Expert reviewer, exteriors and structure

Reviewed this guide for technical accuracy. Review does not imply endorsement of any company named on TenBestFind.

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