Furnace Replacement Cost Calculator
Estimate the cost to replace a furnace by fuel type (gas, electric, propane, oil), efficiency (AFUE), home size, and whether it's a straight swap or a conversion. Get a materials and labor breakdown in seconds.
Estimated Cost
Low
$2,450
Average
$4,000
High
$6,450
Project Details
Adjust the project scope below to update the estimate instantly.
Preparing interactive controls…
Conditioned floor area the furnace serves. Output BTU is sized to home size and climate — a contractor's Manual J load calculation is the accurate method.
AFUE applies to combustion furnaces (gas/propane/oil); electric resistance furnaces are ~100% efficient by design but cost more to run.
Adds components for the selected target fuel: gas/vent, electric feeder, LP storage/line, or oil tank/chimney allowances.
Scope Notes & Exclusions7 planning notes included with this estimate
- The 1.00× equipment factor follows the visible 80,000-BTU planning input; it does not scale labor or accessories.
- Confirm available gas pressure and volume, vent category, combustion air, return airflow, and the furnace/coil cabinet match.
- Warning: Square footage is only a screening proxy. Final furnace input/output, airflow, and duct compatibility require an ACCA Manual J load calculation and equipment selection.
- Warning: Fuel conversion is modeled from the selected target fuel. The source-fuel removal and utility-provider scope still require a site-specific quote.
- Excluded: Duct replacement, major plenum redesign, zoning, humidification, filtration, and cooling equipment
- Excluded: Electrical service upgrade, utility meter work, structural/finish repair, hazardous-material abatement, and environmental remediation
- Excluded: Gas meter or utility-service upgrade and masonry chimney repair
Cost Breakdown
Review the subtotals first, then expand a section for itemized quantities and price ranges.
Materials & Equipment3 line items · 48% of the average estimateAverage$1,900
| Item | Qty | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Gas Furnace — 80,000 BTU input / 80% AFUE | 1 job | $975 | $1,750 | $2,650 |
| Gas Shutoff, Connector & Sediment-Trap Materials | 1 job | $50 | $75 | $100 |
| Standard Vent Adapter & Electrical Connection Materials | 1 job | $75 | $75 | $150 |
| Subtotal | $1,100 | $1,900 | $2,900 |
Labor, Trade Services & Removal5 line items · 46% of the average estimateAverage$1,850
| Item | Qty | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furnace Setting, Plenum Transition & Connection Labor | 1 job | $600 | $900 | $1,400 |
| Natural Gas Fuel / Power Connection Labor | 1 job | $200 | $300 | $500 |
| Gas Pressure, Combustion & Safety Commissioning | 1 job | $300 | $400 | $700 |
| Existing Furnace Disconnect & Removal | 1 job | $100 | $175 | $300 |
| Old Furnace Haul-Away / Disposal | 1 job | $50 | $75 | $150 |
| Subtotal | $1,250 | $1,850 | $3,050 |
Design, Permits & Project Costs1 line items · 6% of the average estimateAverage$250
| Item | Qty | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical / Fuel / Electrical Permit Allowance | 1 job | $100 | $250 | $500 |
| Subtotal | $100 | $250 | $500 |
About the Furnace Replacement Calculator
A furnace replacement tends to arrive at the worst time — the first cold snap, when the old unit won't light. The final cost depends on target fuel, rated efficiency, planning BTU capacity, and whether the new furnace reuses compatible utilities or needs fuel, venting, electrical, tank, or relocation work. This calculator separates the furnace, fuel/power connections, vent or electrical materials, installation and commissioning, high-efficiency components, old-unit removal and disposal, and permits before you request quotes.
How We Calculate Furnace Replacement Cost
Home area produces a visible 40-BTU-per-sq-ft screening load, rounded to a 40,000–140,000 BTU/hr single-furnace input range. That BTU selection gently scales only the furnace equipment, not labor or accessories. Each fuel profile supplies its own furnace, connection materials, vent/electrical scope, setting, fuel/power hookup, and commissioning. Gas and propane high-efficiency selections add condensing vent and drain work; oil uses its own 90% planning tier; electric resistance ignores AFUE and uses 100% point-of-use conversion efficiency. Conversion adds target-fuel-specific components. Removal, disposal, and permit remain separate.
Factors That Affect Furnace Replacement Cost
The biggest cost drivers are fuel type, rated efficiency, and conversion scope. A standard 80% AFUE gas furnace is the baseline; a condensing gas or propane model adds PVC intake/exhaust and condensate handling. Oil requires burner, tank/line, draft, and chimney coordination. Electric resistance avoids combustion work but can require substantial service capacity and may cost more to operate than a heat pump. Actual Manual J load, airflow, duct condition, chimney/vent condition, utility availability, access, and local labor rates can all move the quote. Confirm current federal, state, and local efficiency requirements for the installation date and equipment class.
Furnace Cost by Fuel Type
Typical installed cost and operating profile by fuel. Installed cost is for a standard-efficiency, like-for-like replacement; high-efficiency and conversions run higher.
| Fuel | Installed cost | Efficiency | Operating cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural gas | $3,000 – $7,500 | 80–98% AFUE | Low where gas is available |
| Propane (LP) | $3,500 – $8,000 | 80–98% AFUE | Higher — propane costs more than gas |
| Electric | $2,000 – $4,000 | ~100% (resistance) | High in most regions |
| Oil | $4,000 – $9,000 | 80–90% AFUE | High and volatile |
Source: Installed-cost ranges, 2026 (HomeAdvisor / Fixr); operating cost varies by local fuel and electricity prices.
80% vs. 95% AFUE: is high-efficiency worth it?
AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) is the share of fuel a furnace turns into heat. An 80% furnace sends a fifth of your fuel dollars up the flue; a 95% condensing furnace wastes only a twentieth. The condensing model costs more — both the unit and the PVC venting and condensate drain it needs — but it claws that back through lower bills.
The payback math swings on climate and fuel price. In a cold northern climate with a long heating season and pricey gas, a high-efficiency furnace can pay for the upgrade in a handful of years and keep saving after. In a mild climate where the furnace runs a few weeks a year, the payback stretches out and a standard unit is often the smarter buy. One caveat that's tipping the scale: a federal Department of Energy rule is scheduled to raise the minimum to 95% AFUE for most new non-weatherized gas furnaces beginning in 2028, so high-efficiency is set to become the standard, not the upgrade.
Replace the furnace and AC together?
If your furnace and central AC are both near the end of their lives, replacing them as a matched system usually beats doing them piecemeal. The furnace houses the blower that also moves your cooled air, so a new high-efficiency furnace paired with an aging AC — or vice versa — leaves performance on the table. A matched, correctly sized system runs more efficiently and is easier to warranty.
There's a labor argument too: doing both at once means one mobilization, one set of permits, and one disruption instead of two, which typically trims the combined price. The flip side is the bigger bill all at once. If only one unit is failing and the other has real life left, replace the failed one now and plan for the other later — there's no rule that says they must die together.
Furnace Replacement Cost by Home Size
| Home Size to Heat | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $2,353 | $3,825 | $6,185 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $2,401 | $3,913 | $6,318 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $2,450 | $4,000 | $6,450 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $2,499 | $4,088 | $6,583 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $2,548 | $4,175 | $6,715 |
Natural gas furnace, standard 80% AFUE, like-for-like swap, at the national average. Use the calculator above for other fuels, high efficiency, and your state.
Planning a larger project? You may also want to estimate costs for central ac installation cost, heat pump installation cost, ductless mini-split cost, or water heater replacement cost.
Cost basis & data provenance
Scope-matchedThis calculator checks a typical 2,000 sq ft, standard-efficiency gas furnace swap against a scope-matched benchmark of $3,500–$5,000, using Fixr furnace-replacement guide (accessed 2026-07-20). Cost data is scheduled for review by 2027-01.
- Fixr — Furnace Cost: $2,400–$4,000 for a 2,000-sq-ft house. The canonical default is an 80,000-BTU-input, 80%-AFUE gas swap with explicit furnace, gas/vent materials, setting, connection/commissioning, removal, disposal, and permit scope. Checked 2026-07-20.
Sources
- • HomeAdvisor — Furnace Installation & Replacement Cost (2026)
- • Fixr.com — Furnace Replacement Cost
- • Angi — Cost to Replace a Furnace
- • U.S. Department of Energy — Furnaces and Boilers (Energy Saver) (checked 2026-06)
Costs are based on current industry ranges and vary by location and market conditions. See how we calculate costs — cost data last reviewed July 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to replace a furnace?
Is it worth replacing a 20-year-old furnace?
What is the average lifespan of a furnace?
Should I replace the furnace and AC at the same time?
Is a high-efficiency (95% AFUE) furnace worth the extra cost?
How long does it take to replace a furnace?
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