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AC Replacement Cost Calculator

Cost data last checked September 29, 2026.

A full HVAC replacement (new AC and furnace) for a 2,000 sq ft home with existing ducts reused typically costs $6,000 to $12,900 installed.

Typical installed cost$6,000 - $12,900

From published national cost guides, checked on the date above the calculator. Sources are listed below it.

1. What are you replacing?

500 to 6,000 sq ft.

2. Optional add-ons

  • Full HVAC change-out, new AC + furnace (2,000 sq ft)$6,000 - $12,000

Usually already in a contractor's price (counted in the high end only)

  • Permit$100 - $400
  • Removing the old equipment$60 - $500

HomeGuide prices a full HVAC system, installed, at $3 to $6 per square foot. For comparison, HomeGuide's average change-out range is $5,000 to $11,000, and Bob Vila, citing Angi, gives $5,000 to $12,500 with a $7,500 national average.

Neither guide prices a full system by SEER tier, so the tier does not change this range. To see how much the tier moves the price of the AC unit itself, switch to "Central air conditioner only."

Permit and removal: HomeGuide says contractors typically include permit fees in the estimate, and Bob Vila says the price of an HVAC replacement typically includes removing the old unit. So they are counted only in the high end of the total. HomeGuide prices permits at $100 to $250 for a replacement or $250 to $1,500 for an installation with ductwork, Bob Vila at $250 to $400; removal runs $100 to $200 per HomeGuide and $60 to $500 per Bob Vila.

Estimate only, from published national cost guides (see sources below). Local labor rates, permit fees and how hard the equipment is to reach all move the number. Get a written, itemized quote.

How we got this

  1. Full HVAC change-out: HomeGuide prices a full system, including a new furnace, AC unit and installation, per square foot of home. 2,000 sq ft × $3 to $6 per sq ft = $6,000 to $12,000 (HomeGuide)
  2. Ductwork: you are reusing the existing ducts, so no ductwork line is added.
  3. Add-ons: none ticked (zones, humidifier, dehumidifier, air purifier, UV light, thermostat), so nothing is added.
  4. Adding up the lines: system line, nothing added: $6,000 to $12,000
  5. Permit and removal: HomeGuide says contractors typically include permit fees in the estimate, and Bob Vila says the price of an HVAC replacement typically includes removing the old unit. So the low end stays at $6,000, and only the high end adds the top of the permit line ($100 to $400) and of the removal line ($60 to $500), each wide enough to cover both guides' figures: high end: $12,000 + $400 + $500 = $12,900; installed total: $6,000 to $12,900 (HomeGuide, Bob Vila)

The idea behind it: An HVAC replacement is priced as the system itself plus a separate line for each extra job, such as new ductwork, zones or a new thermostat, so those lines are added to the system price. Both guides say the permit and removal of the old unit are usually already inside a contractor's price, so they raise only the high end.

Federal tax credit: ENERGY STAR lists the central air conditioner credit (30% of project cost, up to $600, for split systems with SEER2 of 17.0 or more and EER2 of 12.0 or more) as effective for products "purchased and installed between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2025." A system installed after that is outside the window. ENERGY STAR's Rebate Finder lists utility, state and local rebates.

Refrigerant change: the EPA's HFC phasedown rules require new residential central air conditioning equipment made on or after January 1, 2025 to use a lower-GWP refrigerant such as R-454B instead of R-410A. Equipment made before that date could still be installed through January 1, 2026 under EPA's sell-through allowance. No price change from this transition is added to the price lines above; this note states only what EPA publishes.

3. Have a quote already? Check it

4. Repair it or replace it?

No quote yet? HomeGuide's AC repair cost guide gives installed price ranges for common repairs: overall repair $150 - $650, capacitor $100 - $400, refrigerant leak repair $200 - $1,500, compressor replacement $600 - $2,800. Where HomeGuide gives two ranges for the same repair, this uses the widest. HomeGuide publishes ranges, not a typical figure.

From HomeGuide's AC repair cost page. Picking one fills the repair quote field with the middle of that range; type over it once you have your own quote.

Replace, by HomeGuide's rule

HomeGuide says to consider replacing instead of repairing when the system is more than 10 years old, the repair costs at least 50% of a new system, or the repair cost times the system's age is over $5,000. Here, the system is 12 years old, more than HomeGuide's 10 years. Bob Vila puts the life of an air conditioning unit at 12 to 17 years and a furnace or heat pump at 15 to 20 years, and cites the U.S. Department of Energy for replacing the system every 10 to 15 years.

5. Is the proposed unit the right size?

For 2,000 sq ft, HomeGuide's 16 to 30 BTU per square foot works out to 32,000 to 60,000 BTU, or 2.5-5 tons rounded outward to the nearest half ton (12,000 BTU per ton).

6. Optional: what would this cost per month?

This is arithmetic on the numbers you enter below, not a price from any source: your numbers, not ours. It does not suggest a rate, and it is not an offer of credit.

Defaults to the middle of the installed-cost estimate above; type over it to use your own quote.

Use the rate on your own financing offer; this tool does not suggest one. 0-40%.

1-240 months.

Pick the system and your home's size to see the typical installed price. Then check a quote you already have, run HomeGuide's repair-or-replace rule on your old system, and see whether the tonnage a contractor proposed fits your square footage.

How this is calculated

Each system type is priced from the figure the sources publish for that job. A full change-out (new AC and furnace, ducts reused) uses HomeGuide's $3 to $6 per square foot. HomeGuide's table for that rate runs from 1,000 to 3,000 sq ft, so a smaller or larger home uses the nearest end of the table rather than stretching the rate past it; that keeps the change-out line itself between the $2,500 minimum and $18,500 maximum replacement costs HomeGuide reports. Replacing only the AC unit uses HomeGuide's SEER table plus its $1,000 to $3,000 installation figure, which is the one place the SEER tier changes the price. A heat pump ($3,800 to $8,200 per HomeGuide, with Bob Vila's $4,500 to $8,000 inside it) and a mini-split ($2,000 to $14,500 across both guides) each have one published installed range. So for those two, and for the AC unit alone, home size feeds the tonnage check but does not change the price; the guides do not publish a per-square-foot rate for them.

Replacing ductwork adds its own line of $500 to $5,600 on top of the system price, so choosing new ducts can only raise the estimate. The permit and removal of the old equipment are shown separately and counted only in the high end: HomeGuide says contractors typically include permit fees in the estimate, and Bob Vila says the replacement price typically includes removing the old unit. Every add-on you check adds its own line, and every dollar figure comes from the sources listed at the bottom of this page.

Worked example

A 2,000-square-foot house has a 16-year-old system, and a technician quoted $1,400 for a repair. The owner wants a full change-out (new AC and furnace, existing ducts reused) with a new thermostat.

Line itemTypical range
Full change-out, 2,000 sq ft at $3 to $6 per sq ft$6,000 - $12,000
New thermostat$125 - $350
Permit (usually in the price; high end only)$100 - $400
Removing the old equipment (usually in the price; high end only)$60 - $500
Total installed cost$6,125 - $13,250

The low end is $6,000 plus $125; the high end is $12,000 plus $350, $400 and $500. A quote of $9,000 lands inside the range. On repair or replace, two of HomeGuide's rules trip: the system is past 10 years, and $1,400 x 16 = $22,400 is over $5,000. The 50% rule does not: $1,400 is under half of the $6,000 low end. If the same $1,400 repair were quoted on a 3-year-old system, no numeric rule would trip ($1,400 x 3 = $4,200), and the verdict would depend on whether any of HomeGuide's warning signs, such as rising bills or odd noises, are present.

What this estimate leaves out

For a final price, get at least three written quotes for the same size and quality of equipment.

Checking the size before you sign

A price range cannot tell you whether the unit on the quote is the right size, and HomeGuide notes that larger AC units cost more. Bob Vila says an oversized unit adds $300 to $400 per ton of cooling, and HomeGuide says a system that is too large will cost more and use more energy. HomeGuide's rule of 16 to 30 BTU per square foot gives a 1,200-square-foot home 19,200 to 36,000 BTU, or 1.5 to 3 tons after rounding outward to the half ton. A proposal of 5 tons for that house is 2 tons over the top of the band, about $600 to $800 of extra equipment at Bob Vila's per-ton figure. The rule is a starting point: HomeGuide says to have a licensed contractor run a Manual J load calculation, and it is fair to ask for that calculation when a quote's tonnage falls outside the band.

Reading an HVAC quote

Bob Vila says estimates from reputable companies will be similar to one another, and to use caution with one that is considerably lower than the rest, since the lowest bidders may not be licensed or insured. HomeGuide says to get at least three estimates and confirm they include equipment of the same size and quality. A quote above the range can have a real reason. HomeGuide says labor costs more where the equipment is hard to reach, such as rooftops, tight crawl spaces and attics. Bob Vila prices a rooftop AC unit at an additional $1,000 and a new utility closet for the furnace at $1,000 to $2,500. HomeGuide notes asbestos removal may be required in homes built before 1986 and prices it at $5 to $15 per square foot inside the home; Bob Vila gives $5 to $20. A higher SEER rating, a bigger unit or bundled add-ons also raise the total. A quote that lists none of those and still sits well above the range is worth pricing again with other contractors.

What the labor line covers

HomeGuide puts installation labor at $1,000 to $3,000, depending on home size, equipment type and size, and how complex the install is, and says HVAC labor rates are $75 to $150 per hour. Bob Vila puts labor at around $1,500. Those are what a contractor bills. What the technician is paid is lower: the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median wage of $27.55 an hour ($57,300 a year) and a mean of $28.66 an hour ($59,620 a year) for HVAC mechanics and installers nationally as of May 2023, with the highest-employment and top-paying states listed on the same page. HomeGuide says an install takes 1 to 2 days with the existing ductwork and 3 to 5 days with new ductwork.

Questions people ask

How much does AC replacement cost?

Replacing a central air conditioner, with the furnace staying in place, runs $2,500 to $7,500 installed per HomeGuide and $3,900 to $7,900 per Bob Vila, so $2,500 to $7,900 across both. Priced by efficiency instead, HomeGuide's SEER table plus its $1,000 to $3,000 installation figure gives $2,000 to $7,200 at 13-14 SEER and $4,700 to $11,500 at 22-26 SEER. That top figure is a combination of two HomeGuide numbers; HomeGuide's own installed tables stop lower, at $7,500 for a central AC replacement and $8,000 for a 5-ton system. Replacing the whole system (AC and furnace) is a bigger job: HomeGuide's average is $5,000 to $11,000, and Bob Vila, citing Angi, gives $5,000 to $12,500 with a $7,500 national average.

How much does it cost to replace an entire HVAC system?

HomeGuide prices a full system, installed, at $3 to $6 per square foot: $3,000 to $6,000 for 1,000 sq ft, $6,000 to $12,000 for 2,000 sq ft, and $9,000 to $18,000 for 3,000 sq ft. Its average change-out range is $5,000 to $11,000, or $7,000 to $16,000 with new ductwork, and the lowest and highest replacement costs it reports are $2,500 and $18,500. Bob Vila, citing Angi, gives $5,000 to $12,500.

Does a higher SEER rating cost more?

Yes. HomeGuide's AC unit prices by SEER (unit only): 13-14 SEER $1,000 to $4,200; 15-16 SEER $1,500 to $5,700; 17-18 SEER $1,800 to $6,100; 19-21 SEER $2,500 to $7,500; 22-26 SEER $3,700 to $8,500. Installation adds $1,000 to $3,000. HomeGuide says higher-SEER units cost more up front but reduce long-term energy costs, and advises comparing the annual energy savings before paying for a high-SEER unit. HomeGuide's table is labeled in SEER, while the ENERGY STAR tax credit rules are written in SEER2, so check which of the two ratings a quote lists before comparing it to these tiers.

Should I repair or replace my AC or HVAC system?

HomeGuide says to consider replacing instead of repairing if the system is more than 10 years old, the repair costs at least 50% of a new system, or the repair cost multiplied by the system's age is over $5,000. It also lists rising energy bills, trouble holding a comfortable temperature, a home that is too dry in winter or too humid in summer, odd noises, and excessive dust or musty odors. Bob Vila says the air conditioning unit lasts 12 to 17 years and the furnace or heat pump 15 to 20 years, and cites the U.S. Department of Energy for replacing the system every 10 to 15 years. Section 4 of the calculator applies HomeGuide's rule to your own age and repair quote.

Should I replace the furnace and AC at the same time?

HomeGuide says replacing both at once keeps installation costs down and makes sure the parts are compatible. It recommends replacing both if the furnace is over 15 years old or you are upgrading to a higher-SEER AC, and warns that replacing the outdoor AC unit without replacing the indoor furnace blower motor lowers efficiency and may cause premature system failure. If the furnace is under 15 years old, HomeGuide suggests considering replacing only the blower motor.

What size AC do I need?

HomeGuide's rule of thumb is 16 to 30 BTU of air conditioning per square foot of living space. Its tonnage table lists 2 tons as 24,000 BTU, so one ton is 12,000 BTU. For a 2,000-square-foot home that is 32,000 to 60,000 BTU, or about 2.7 to 5 tons. HomeGuide also says to hire a licensed contractor to perform a Manual J load calculation, which accounts for climate, insulation, windows, ceiling height, sun exposure and the number of people in the home.

What happens if the contractor installs an oversized unit?

You pay more for it. Bob Vila: "Installing an HVAC unit that is too large for your home will increase the price by $300 to $400 per ton of cooling." HomeGuide adds that a system that is too large will cost more and use more energy. Too small is also a problem; per Bob Vila, an undersized system "will run constantly to maintain the correct temperature, which will drive up energy costs." Section 5 of the calculator checks a proposed tonnage in both directions.

Is the federal tax credit for a new AC unit still available?

ENERGY STAR lists the central air conditioner credit (30% of project cost, up to $600, for split systems with SEER2 of 17.0 or more and EER2 of 12.0 or more) as effective for products "purchased and installed between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2025." A system installed after that date is outside that window. ENERGY STAR's Rebate Finder lists utility, state and local rebates.

What changed with AC refrigerant in 2025 and 2026?

The EPA's HFC phasedown rules required new residential central air conditioning equipment manufactured on or after January 1, 2025 to use a lower-GWP refrigerant such as R-454B instead of R-410A. Equipment manufactured before that date could still be installed through January 1, 2026 under EPA's sell-through allowance, a window that has now closed. EPA does not publish a price change from this transition, so this page does not add one; it states only what EPA says.

How much does it cost to repair an AC before I even have a quote?

HomeGuide's AC repair cost page gives typical installed prices for the most common jobs: an overall repair runs $150 to $650 on average. A capacitor replacement is $100 to $250 in its price table and $250 to $400 in its text, so this page uses $100 to $400. A refrigerant leak repair is $200 to $1,500. A compressor replacement is $600 to $2,500 in its table, or $600 to $1,200 under warranty and $1,800 to $2,800 out of warranty in its text, so this page uses $600 to $2,800. HomeGuide publishes ranges, not a typical figure. Section 4 of the calculator lets you pick the closest match and fills in the middle of that range, so you can run the repair-or-replace check before you have called anyone.

How much does new ductwork add?

HomeGuide prices ductwork replacement at $1,400 to $5,600, and installing new ductwork at $2,400 to $6,600. Bob Vila prices duct replacement at $500 to $2,000, or $10 to $20 per linear foot for a section. The calculator's ductwork line uses the replacement figures from both, $500 to $5,600. HomeGuide says most ducts need work when replacing a system more than 15 years old or upgrading to a bigger or higher-efficiency unit, and that a change-out (reusing the ducts) only makes sense if the ductwork is in excellent condition.

How long does an AC unit or HVAC system last?

HomeGuide says HVAC systems last 15 to 25 years on average: the AC unit 15 to 20 years, the furnace 15 to 30 and a heat pump 10 to 20. Bob Vila gives 12 to 17 years for the AC unit and 15 to 20 for the furnace or heat pump, and says the U.S. Department of Energy recommends replacing the system every 10 to 15 years.

What add-ons show up on HVAC quotes, and what do they cost?

HomeGuide gives installed prices for a whole-house humidifier ($400 to $1,200), dehumidifier ($1,500 to $3,500) and air purifier ($400 to $4,000), and Bob Vila's add-on table lists the same three figures. HomeGuide prices a UV light filter at $400 to $800 and notes it works on mold and germs but not dust, allergens, gases or smoke. Adding zones runs $2,000 to $6,500 per HomeGuide and $2,000 to $3,000 per Bob Vila. Thermostat installation is $140 to $350 per HomeGuide and $125 to $275 per Bob Vila, who adds that smart or Wi-Fi models can run an additional $100 and that many pros include a thermostat with a new system.

Where these numbers come from

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