How much should a new furnace and air conditioner cost?

There is no single safe national price for a new furnace and air conditioner that can stand in for a local quote. The installed cost depends on the equipment type and size, your ducts and electrical service, access to the equipment, permits, and the work needed to make the system operate safely. Use written local estimates to plan this project. The best starting point is to compare the same scope from two or three qualified HVAC professionals, rather than treating an online average as the price for your home.

“HVAC” means heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. In this guide, a replacement can mean a furnace, an air conditioner, both pieces together, or a different system such as a heat pump. Those are not interchangeable scopes, so a price for one should not be used to judge another.

Why a national installed-price range can mislead

Public agencies explain how heating and cooling systems should be selected and installed, but they do not publish a current, nationwide installed-price table for every home and equipment combination. A broad online range can hide important work: replacing only an air conditioner is different from replacing a matched furnace and air conditioner; a heat pump may require a different design; and an attic installation is different from an easy-to-reach basement installation.

For that reason, HomeFAQ does not provide a national dollar range here. A contractor’s written scope is more useful than a number that does not say what is included. Treat any estimate as a planning document until the professional has inspected the home and explained assumptions.

What should be in a comparable quote

Ask each contractor to identify the equipment and the installation work separately. A useful quote states the make and model, the heating and cooling capacity, and the efficiency information that applies to that equipment. It should also say whether the price includes removing old equipment, refrigerant-line work, a thermostat, condensate drainage, startup testing, cleanup, permits, and registration or warranty steps.

Sizing deserves special attention. The U.S. Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR both advise that equipment should be properly sized for the home rather than automatically matched to the old unit. Ask what information the contractor used about your home’s layout, insulation, windows, ducts, airflow, and local climate. A replacement that is too large or too small can affect comfort and operation, even if the equipment price looks attractive.

Costs that often change after the first visit

A quote may change when the contractor finds work that was not visible at first. Ask whether each item is included, excluded, or an allowance:

• Ductwork and airflow: damaged, undersized, leaky, or inaccessible ducts may need testing, sealing, repair, or replacement.
• Electrical and controls: a circuit, disconnect, panel work, thermostat, or safety control may need updating.
• Location and access: attic, crawl-space, roof, closet, or tight-access work can change labor and protection needs.
• Drainage and refrigerant work: condensate routing and refrigerant-line condition can affect the installation scope.
• Permits and local requirements: permit fees and local requirements vary. Confirm who obtains the permit and whether required inspections are included.

Do not assume a higher quote is padded or a lower quote is a bargain. First ask what explains the difference. If an added item is recommended, ask the contractor to show the condition, explain the risk of leaving it unchanged, and price the option separately when that is feasible.

A practical quote-comparison checklist

Make a one-page list with the same rows for every proposal: equipment model and size, included duct work, electrical work, permit responsibility, removal and disposal, testing, warranty terms, payment schedule, and exclusions. Mark any row that is missing or described differently. Then ask each contractor to revise or explain the scope before comparing totals.

For a decision between repairing an existing system and replacing it, consider the age, condition, repair history, comfort problems, and whether the proposed repair addresses the underlying issue. A sudden breakdown does not automatically make replacement the better choice; get the diagnosis and repair scope in writing first.

Questions to ask your HVAC professional

1. What sizing method and home information did you use to select this furnace and air conditioner?
2. Which duct, electrical, drainage, refrigerant-line, permit, and startup-testing tasks are included in this total, and which are excluded?
3. If you find an additional problem after work begins, how will you document it and obtain approval before changing the price or scope?

Next, use How to compare furnace and air conditioner replacement estimates to line up proposals, or read HVAC repair or replacement before deciding whether a repair is still the better fit.

Sources

• U.S. Department of Energy, “Air Conditioning”
• U.S. Department of Energy, “Heat Pump Systems”
• ENERGY STAR, “Properly Sized HVAC Equipment”

Be ready for the conversation

3 questions to ask your heating and air conditioning technician

1. 1What does your price include, and what would cost extra?
2. 2What could make the price go up after the job starts?
3. 3Will you show me the problem and get my approval before doing extra work?