HVAC System Replacement Cost: $5,000 to $12,500 (Angi 2026)

Installed prices for replacing heating and cooling together. Angi's and HomeGuide's whole-system figures assume existing ductwork unless noted.

How much is a new HVAC system

A new HVAC system costs $7,500 on average in Angi's August 2026 guide and $8,000 in HomeGuide's, with most homeowners paying $5,000 to $12,500 (Angi) or $5,000 to $11,000 (HomeGuide). HomeAdvisor's 2026 HVAC repair guide also puts the full-system average at $7,500. HomeGuide's full spread runs from $2,500 to $18,500, and Angi says new ductwork and extras can take the total to $22,000.

Labor is a large share: Angi puts it at about $1,500 and HomeGuide at $1,000 to $3,000. HomeGuide says a straight change-out takes about a day, and 3 to 5 days when the ducts are replaced too.

New HVAC system cost by home size

A new HVAC system for a 2,000 square foot home costs $6,000 to $12,000 in HomeGuide's guide, or $3 to $6 per square foot for a replacement.

The right size comes from a load calculation, not square footage alone. The DOE says contractors should size equipment with ACCA Manual J.

The DOE also warns that an oversized system costs more and gives poor comfort, so a quote that simply matches the old unit's size is worth questioning.

How much is a new furnace and AC

A new furnace and AC cost $5,000 to $12,500 together in Angi's July 2026 guide, an average of $7,500. Priced one at a time, Angi puts a furnace at $2,800 to $6,900 and an AC at $3,900 to $8,000, and HomeAdvisor's 2026 figures are $2,823 to $6,897 for a furnace and $3,887 to $8,073 for a central AC. By fuel, Angi lists a gas furnace at $3,800 to $10,000 and an electric furnace at $1,700 to $7,100.

Single-system prices are on furnace replacement cost and AC replacement cost (by tonnage and SEER2).

Heat pump system vs furnace and AC

A heat pump does both jobs with one outdoor unit and costs $4,236 to $7,942 installed in HomeAdvisor's 2026 data, against $5,000 to $12,500 for a furnace and AC pair in Angi's. Angi's own heat pump range is $4,200 to $7,600. A hybrid (dual fuel) system keeps a gas furnace for the coldest days and runs $2,500 to $10,000 (Angi). Under the DOE's 2023 standard, a new split heat pump must be rated at least 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. Sizes and rebates are on heat pump installation cost; homes without ducts usually look at mini split installation.

Should I replace my furnace and AC at the same time

Replace both when the furnace is more than 15 years old or you are moving to a higher-efficiency AC, HomeGuide says, because one installation costs less and the indoor and outdoor parts are matched. Angi suggests replacing both when both are more than a decade old, after a contractor looks at them.

• Mismatched parts: HomeGuide says replacing only the outdoor unit can lower efficiency and may cause early failure, and Angi says manufacturers may not honor warranties in some mixed-system cases.
• Age marks: ENERGY STAR says to consider replacing an AC or heat pump past 10 years and a furnace or boiler past 15.
• Paying twice: Angi notes that replacing the AC now and the furnace later means paying for a second installation.
• Young furnace: if it works and is under 15, HomeGuide says replacing only the blower motor may be enough; then price the AC alone.

What else goes on an HVAC replacement quote

Ductwork is the biggest add-on, at about $3,500 on average in Angi's guide; the rest are smaller lines worth seeing itemized.

• Ductwork: HomeGuide puts replacement at $1,400 to $5,600 and says ducts usually need work when the system is more than 15 years old. HomeAdvisor prices new ductwork at $1,000 to $5,000.
• Permit: $250 to $400 in Angi's calculator; $100 to $250 for a replacement in HomeGuide's.
• Old equipment removal: $100 to $200 (HomeGuide) or $60 to $500 (Angi).
• Thermostat: $120 to $260 (Angi) or $140 to $350 (HomeGuide).
• Zoning: $2,000 to $3,000 (Angi) or $2,000 to $6,500 (HomeGuide).
• Electrical: a heat pump or larger AC may need a new circuit; if the panel is full or old, see electrical panel upgrade.

How long does an HVAC system last

A whole HVAC system lasts 15 to 25 years in both HomeGuide's and Angi's guides, though the parts age at different rates:

With regular maintenance.

Yearly service keeps the system at the long end of these ranges; prices are on AC tune-up and maintenance.

Repair or replace your HVAC system

HomeGuide's rule is to consider replacing a system that is more than 10 years old when a repair costs at least half the price of a new one, or when the repair cost times the system's age tops $5,000. Angi says replacing is often the better value past about 10 years with frequent or expensive repairs, and that newer systems are usually worth repairing. Other signs both guides list: rising energy bills, rooms that will not hold temperature, humidity problems, noise and dust. Common repair prices are on HVAC repair and AC repair.

Tax credits and efficiency rules in 2026

There is no federal tax credit for a new HVAC system installed in 2026: the IRS says the 25C credit covered improvements made through December 31, 2025. A new split AC must meet the DOE's 2023 minimum of 13.4 SEER2 in the North and 14.3 SEER2 in the Southeast and Southwest for units under 45,000 Btu/h. Ask your utility about rebates before you sign.

Best time to replace an HVAC system

Spring and fall are the best times to replace an HVAC system, Angi says, because contractors are less busy than in peak heating and cooling season, and buying an AC in the off-season can save 10% to 15%. A system that fails in July or January leaves less room to compare quotes, so price a replacement while the old one still runs.

HVAC replacement near me: getting a fair quote

1. Ask for a Manual J load calculation rather than a size matched to the old unit (DOE).
2. Get the model numbers of the furnace or air handler, the coil and the outdoor unit, with the SEER2 rating of the matched set.
3. Ask what happens to the ducts: reused, sealed or replaced, priced on separate lines.
4. Ask who pulls the permit and whether it is in the price.
5. Ask for the license number and proof of insurance, and check the license with your state.

Local installation guides: AC installation in Phoenix, Houston and Miami. Big-ticket jobs across the house are compared on home repair costs.

Calls go to an independent company that serves your area and takes this kind of job. Ask for its license number and proof of insurance yourself, and check the license with the state; the HVAC license table lists who issues it in six states. How calls work.