Furnace Replacement Cost: Full Breakdown for 2026

Prepared by NumeralQ Our methodology

NumeralQ planning estimate: Furnace replacement cost: $5,060-$8,370 (80,000 BTU furnace).

Pricing and claim scope: Installed-cost ranges are NumeralQ planning estimates, not measured market prices or contractor bids. The ACEEE 2004 study covers monitored variable-speed furnace blower electricity use in 31 Wisconsin homes; it does not establish AFUE fuel savings, equipment lifespan, or project payback.

📅 NumeralQ planning estimate
📊 National Pricing Data
🔥 AFUE Efficiency Guide

Furnace replacement cost by size

SizeCost
40,000 BTU$4,630-$7,500
60,000 BTU$4,840-$7,930
80,000 BTU$5,060-$8,370
100,000 BTU$5,280-$8,810
120,000 BTU$5,500-$9,240

Installed: Gas furnace, 95-96% AFUE

Chart: Furnace replacement cost by size, Installed: Gas furnace, 95-96% AFUE

Furnace replacement cost by material or type

TypeUnitMaterialsInstalledTypical jobLifespan
Gas furnace, 80% AFUE (single stage)80,000 BTU$1,880-$3,620$4,360-$6,850$4,360-$6,85015-25 years
Gas furnace, 95-96% AFUE80,000 BTU$2,690-$5,290$5,060-$8,370$5,060-$8,37015-25 years
Gas furnace, 96%+ 2-stage or modulating80,000 BTU$3,830-$6,440$6,820-$10,330$6,820-$10,33015-25 years
Electric furnace80,000 BTU$1,090-$2,880$3,360-$5,820$3,360-$5,82020-30 years
Propane furnace (95%)80,000 BTU$2,880-$5,520$5,480-$8,910$5,480-$8,91015-25 years
Oil furnace80,000 BTU$4,020-$7,130$6,490-$10,330$6,490-$10,33015-20 years
Gas boiler, hot water (high efficiency)80,000 BTU$3,560-$6,670$7,090-$11,250$7,090-$11,25015-30 years

Materials include waste and contractor markup. 80,000 BTU furnace

Chart: Furnace replacement cost by material or type, Materials include waste and contractor markup. 80,000 BTU furnace

Add-ons and extra work

AddonUnitInstalled
New PVC venting (when going 80% to 95%)job$407-$1,070
Gas line workjob$299-$881
Ductwork repairsjob$2,490-$3,510
Variable-speed blower upgradejob$460-$1,110
Smart thermostateach$270-$501

Installed price per unit

Labor rates

TradeMedian payBilled rate
Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$29.33/hr$59-$76/hr

Median pay: BLS May 2025. Billed rate: what a contractor charges per worker-hour, estimated at 2.0 to 2.6 times pay (insurance, payroll taxes, overhead, profit).

Permits for this kind of job typically run $70-$166 in the cities we checked (35 cities). Your city may differ. Shown separately from the price range.

Furnace size and cost by home size

Home size (sq ft)Climate zone 3Climate zone 5Climate zone 7
100040,000 BTU, $4,630-$7,50060,000 BTU, $4,840-$7,93060,000 BTU, $4,840-$7,930
150060,000 BTU, $4,840-$7,93080,000 BTU, $5,060-$8,370100,000 BTU, $5,280-$8,810
200080,000 BTU, $5,060-$8,370120,000 BTU, $5,500-$9,240120,000 BTU, $5,500-$9,240
2500100,000 BTU, $5,280-$8,810120,000 BTU, $5,500-$9,240120,000 BTU, $5,500-$9,240
3000120,000 BTU, $5,500-$9,240120,000 BTU, $5,500-$9,240120,000 BTU, $5,500-$9,240

Gas furnace efficiency (AFUE) and yearly gas cost

AFUEGas used thermsYearly cost
80%675$998
90%600$887
95%568$841
98%551$815

EIA Natural Gas Monthly, Sept 2026, Table 20; U.S. DOE consumer furnace standard final rule (2023)

Federal tax credits

CreditStatus
Energy efficient home improvement credit (25C): heat pumps, AC, furnaces, windows, insulationEnded. Not allowed for property placed in service after December 31, 2025.
Residential clean energy credit (25D): solar, batteries, geothermalEnded. Not allowed for expenditures made after December 31, 2025.

Many competitor pages still show prices 'after the 30% tax credit'. That credit is gone for 2026 projects.

Some states run federally funded Home Energy Rebates (HEAR and HOMES) for heat pumps, insulation and electrical upgrades. Which states are open changes month to month, and a May 2026 DOE notice removed the fuel-switching allowance. Link each state page to the state energy office rather than stating amounts.

Lifespan and upkeep by material

MaterialLifespanUpkeepEveryUpkeep per year
Gas furnace15-25 yearsYearly tune-up and filter changes1 years$100-$250
Heat exchanger10-15 yearsChecked during tune-up1 years$0-$0

Lifespans: InterNACHI and manufacturer data. Upkeep costs: NumeralQ estimates.

Furnace replacement cost by state

StateTypical jobVs national
Alabama$4,570-$7,730-8%
Alaska$5,700-$9,200+11%
Arizona$5,000-$8,290-1%
Arkansas$4,560-$7,720-9%
California$5,510-$8,950+8%
Colorado$5,220-$8,580+3%
Connecticut$5,670-$9,160+10%
Delaware$5,110-$8,440+1%
District of Columbia$5,970-$9,550+16%
Florida$4,890-$8,150-3%
Georgia$4,880-$8,140-3%
Hawaii$5,230-$8,600+3%
Idaho$4,880-$8,130-3%
Illinois$5,700-$9,200+11%
Indiana$5,040-$8,340-0%
Iowa$5,050-$8,350-0%
Kansas$5,040-$8,340-0%
Kentucky$4,970-$8,250-2%
Louisiana$4,970-$8,250-2%
Maine$5,150-$8,480+2%
Maryland$5,410-$8,830+6%
Massachusetts$5,690-$9,190+11%
Michigan$5,060-$8,360-0%
Minnesota$5,660-$9,150+10%
Mississippi$4,580-$7,750-8%
Missouri$5,020-$8,320-1%
Montana$5,060-$8,360-0%
Nebraska$5,020-$8,310-1%
Nevada$5,040-$8,350-0%
New Hampshire$5,560-$9,020+9%
New Jersey$5,580-$9,050+9%
New Mexico$4,640-$7,830-7%
New York$5,580-$9,050+9%
North Carolina$4,920-$8,180-2%
North Dakota$5,590-$9,050+9%
Ohio$5,120-$8,450+1%
Oklahoma$4,930-$8,200-2%
Oregon$5,140-$8,470+1%
Pennsylvania$5,120-$8,440+1%
Rhode Island$5,310-$8,690+4%
South Carolina$4,890-$8,150-3%
South Dakota$5,080-$8,390+0%
Tennessee$4,850-$8,090-4%
Texas$4,940-$8,210-2%
Utah$4,970-$8,260-2%
Vermont$5,110-$8,430+1%
Virginia$5,010-$8,310-1%
Washington$5,630-$9,110+10%
West Virginia$4,590-$7,760-8%
Wisconsin$5,090-$8,410+0%
Wyoming$4,820-$8,050-4%

80,000 BTU furnace

Sources
  • NumeralQ estimator (pricing as of 2026-10-26)
  • Fixr cost guide, retrieved 2026-10-26
  • Home Depot online prices, store 121, retrieved 2026-10-26
  • NumeralQ estimate (no single published range; set from material prices and typical install hours)
  • This Old House cost guide, retrieved 2026-10-26
  • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (https://www.bls.gov/oes/)
  • City permit fee schedules, retrieved October 2026 (see the permit line for this page's source)
  • NumeralQ pricing model v2: materials plus local labor, methodology at /methodology

How Much Does Furnace Replacement Cost?

These are model values, not national transaction averages or contractor bids.

AFUE describes a furnace’s fuel-use efficiency rating; it does not determine a home’s bill savings or project payback by itself. Those depend on equipment, heating load, fuel rates, use, installation, and project cost. The cited ACEEE study concerns variable-speed blower electricity use, not AFUE fuel savings.

Furnace Replacement Cost by Type

📊
Market Insight

Emergency scheduling and equipment availability vary by market, season, and project. When safe, compare written proposals and confirm timing and scope directly with contractors.

80% vs. 95%+ AFUE: Is High Efficiency Worth It?

Warning Signs Your Furnace Needs Replacement

  • System condition, service history, safety, repair scope, and a written replacement proposal
  • Cracked heat exchanger — CO safety emergency, replacement required immediately
  • Repair and replacement proposals should be compared for the specific equipment and scope
  • Frequent repairs (more than once per heating season)
  • Inconsistent heating or cold spots between rooms and floors
  • Yellow or flickering flame (should be steady blue for gas furnaces)
  • Carbon monoxide detector alarms or occupants experiencing headaches/nausea
  • Energy bills rising significantly without explanation

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I replace the furnace alone or the whole system?

Whether to replace a furnace alone or consider the air conditioner too depends on the condition, compatibility, warranty, and repair history of both systems. Ask the contractor to assess each system and itemize the options.

What is a cracked heat exchanger and why is it dangerous?

The heat exchanger is the metal barrier between combustion gases and the air circulated through your home. A crack allows carbon monoxide — a colorless, odorless gas — to enter the living space. This is a safety emergency: shut down the furnace, ventilate the home, and arrange immediate replacement. A cracked heat exchanger is not repairable. This condition is diagnosed during annual HVAC tune-ups, which is why annual service is essential.

How long does furnace replacement take?

Installation and scheduling depend on equipment, venting, permits, season, and contractor availability. Request a property-specific work plan and schedule.

Market Intelligence A Wisconsin field study of 31 new furnaces reported lower blower electricity use for variable-speed ECM models than typical non-ECM models. Results depended on duct static pressure and continuous-fan operation; the study does not establish recent adoption or temperature-swing percentages.

Source: Scott Pigg and Tom Talerico, “Electricity Savings from Variable-Speed Furnaces in Cold Climates,” ACEEE 2004. Field monitoring covered 31 new Wisconsin furnaces during 2001–2002: 14 ECM variable-speed, 16 single-stage non-ECM, and one two-stage non-ECM. Accessed October 2, 2026.

How the Furnace Replacement Estimate Works

The estimate uses the selected project scope, the selected material or project option, additional project details only when this service model supports an adjustment and the ZIP code to identify supported local-market context.

Only factors supported by this service model change the planning range. Other project details may help with context or follow-up without changing the estimate. NumeralQ planning estimates are not contractor quotes or records of completed transactions.