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Furnace & AC Replacement Cost Calculator
Furnace and AC replacement costs $1,800–$12,500 installed in 2026, depending on what you replace. A gas furnace alone runs $1,800–$5,500; central AC alone $5,000–$12,500; both bundled $5,000–$11,000 (saving 5–8%); a whole-home heat pump $8,000–$15,000. The AC side reflects 2026 R-454B pricing. Use the calculator below for a figure matched to your home.
Educational calculators — always consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.
Replacing the outdoor condensing unit and indoor air handler only. Furnace is staying.
Typical for 1–2 bedroom homes, condos, or small ranches. Needs a 1.5–2 ton unit.
AC: 13–15 SEER. Furnace: 80% AFUE. Minimum legal efficiency in most states.
Brands like Goodman or Rheem entry-level. Lower upfront cost, shorter warranties (5–10 years).
Most common in US. Lowest operating cost per BTU. Requires gas line connection.
Estimated replacement cost
$1,475 – $2,925
AC Unit Only, fully installed
Cost Breakdown
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Estimates based on national averages. Actual costs vary by region and contractor.
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Furnace Only, AC Only, or Both?
What you replace changes the price far more than brand or contractor does. Here is the full installed range for each scope:
| Scope | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Furnace only | $1,800–$5,500 |
| AC only | $5,000–$12,500 |
| Both (bundled) | $5,000–$11,000 |
| Heat pump (whole home) | $8,000–$15,000 |
Installed by what's replaced; bundling furnace + AC saves 5–8%. National average estimate for 2026; AC pricing reflects the R-454B/A2L transition. Note that bundling isn't automatically the cheapest path at every price point — the low end of "both" ($5,000–$11,000) overlaps the low end of AC-only ($5,000–$12,500), so a small AC-only job and a small bundled job can start at the same floor. The 5–8% savings applies to the total labor and equipment cost of doing both jobs at once versus scheduling them separately, not to every possible pairing of quotes.
AC Replacement Cost (Without Replacing the Furnace)
Replacing just the central AC — condenser, coil, and line set, keeping the existing furnace and ductwork — runs $5,000–$12,500 installed. This is the most common scope when only the AC has failed or the furnace is still well within its service life. The 2026 R-454B/R-32 refrigerant transition applies to this scope directly since it's the AC side that changed; expect the higher end of the range if your ductwork or coil also needs modification to accept the new refrigerant's equipment.
How it works
Select what's being replaced
Choose furnace only, AC only, or both — bundling saves 5–8% on labor.
Enter home size and efficiency
Input square footage and preferred SEER/AFUE rating for the new equipment.
Check state & utility rebates
The federal 25C credit ended after Dec 31, 2025 — but many states and utilities still offer rebates on high-efficiency equipment (check DSIRE).
Why replace both together
If both units are 10+ years old (or one is failing), replacing them together saves 5–8%on total labor, gives you matched efficiency ratings, a single warranty start date, and one install. The AC and furnace share the indoor coil and blower — a mismatched pairing loses efficiency. If one unit is under ~7 years old, replace them separately.
What's included — and what's extra
Usually included
- Furnace and/or condenser + coil
- Line set, pad, and whip
- Basic thermostat & startup
- Permit & old-unit haul-away
Often extra
- New/sealed ductwork
- Electrical or gas-line work
- Smart thermostat, zoning
- Chimney liner (high-efficiency venting)
Efficiency, sizing & the 2026 refrigerant change
- AFUE rates furnaces: 80% is the floor, 90–97% high-efficiency (worth it in cold climates — a 96% furnace saves ~16% vs 80%).
- SEER2 rates the AC: 2026 minimums are 13.4 (North) / 14.3 (South); 15–16 is the value sweet spot.
- Sizing: always require a Manual J load calc — oversizing short-cycles and wears out early.
- R-454B/R-32: new AC/heat-pump refrigerant (Jan 2026) adds ~10–15% to the cooling equipment; furnaces are unaffected.
Repair or replace, brands & warranty
Use the "$5,000 rule" (repair cost × age) — over $5,000, replace. Also replace R-22 or R-410A systems near end of life. Brands: Goodman/Amana (value), Rheem/York (mid), Carrier/Trane/Lennox (premium). Install quality beats brand.
Questions to ask — and red flags:
- Manual J load calc, and a matched coil?
- Itemized quote with model numbers, permit, and any ductwork?
- Get three quotes — pricing varies 20–40%. (Beware sizing by rule-of-thumb and one-line verbal quotes.)
Warranty: 10-year parts is standard but only with registration; labor warranty (1–2 yrs) is separate. Buy in spring/fall for the best price.
Methodology & sources
The cost figures on this page are generated from a single, sourced cost-data file (Installed by what's replaced; bundling furnace + AC saves 5–8%. National average estimate for 2026; AC pricing reflects the R-454B/A2L transition.). Replacing both at once ensures matched efficiency and one install. Gas furnaces are unaffected by the refrigerant rule; the AC side uses low-GWP R-454B/R-32 (~10–15% higher equipment cost). Last verified July 2026.
- HomeGuide — HVAC Cost (2026) — retrieved 2026-07-13
- Angi — New Furnace and AC Cost (2026) — retrieved 2026-07-13
Other HVAC cost calculators
- HVAC Installation Cost Calculator — for a full new system rather than a like-for-like replacement.
- Central Air Installation Cost Calculator — adding central AC to a home that doesn't already have it.
Frequently asked questions
Should I replace my furnace and AC at the same time?+
If both units are over 10 years old or one is near end of life, replacing both together saves 5–8% on total cost versus two separate jobs. You also get matched efficiency ratings, a single warranty start date, and one service call. If one unit is relatively new (under 7 years), replace them separately to maximize each unit's lifespan.
How much does furnace replacement cost?+
Replacing the furnace on its own costs $1,800–$5,500 installed. Where you land in that range depends on the unit's efficiency rating (AFUE), its capacity, and how much ductwork or venting has to change — a high-efficiency condensing furnace needs different venting than an 80% AFUE unit, which is a common reason a quote lands at the top of the range. Replacing the furnace and central AC together runs $5,000–$11,000, and a whole-home heat pump $8,000–$15,000.
How long do furnaces and AC units last?+
Gas furnaces last 15–25 years with proper maintenance. Central AC units last 12–17 years. Heat pumps last 15–20 years. Key factors affecting lifespan: filter changes (monthly or quarterly), annual professional maintenance, proper sizing, and local climate. Units in very hot or cold climates run harder and wear faster.
What is a good AFUE rating for a furnace?+
AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) measures furnace efficiency. 80% AFUE is the federal minimum for most climates. 90–95% is considered high-efficiency. 96–98% are premium units that save the most on fuel. In cold climates, upgrading from 80% to 96% AFUE saves roughly 20% on heating bills annually — the payback is typically 5–8 years in cold areas.
Does the 2026 refrigerant change affect AC replacement cost?+
Yes, for the AC side. Since January 1, 2026, new residential AC and heat pump systems must use a low-GWP (under 700) A2L refrigerant — R-454B (GWP 466) or R-32 (GWP 675) — instead of R-410A (GWP 2,088). The new leak-detection hardware and A2L-rated components raise AC equipment cost by roughly 10–15%. Gas furnaces are unaffected by the refrigerant rule. If you're replacing only the furnace, this does not apply; if you're replacing the AC or bundling both, expect the higher 2026 equipment pricing.
How much does it cost to replace just the AC, without the furnace?+
Replacing central AC only — condenser, coil, and line set, keeping the existing furnace and ductwork — runs $5,000–$12,500 installed. This is the most common scope when the AC has failed but the furnace still has useful life left.
Is it cheaper to replace the furnace and AC together?+
Bundling typically saves 5–8% on the total labor and equipment cost versus scheduling the two jobs separately. It is not automatically the cheapest option in every case — a bundled job runs $5,000–$11,000 installed, and AC-only replacement alone can run $5,000–$12,500, so the low ends of both scopes overlap. The 5–8% savings applies to doing both at once compared to the same two jobs done separately, not to every possible combination of quotes.
What does a whole-home heat pump replacement cost compared to a furnace and AC?+
A whole-home heat pump installed runs $8,000–$15,000, which is higher than a bundled furnace + AC replacement at $5,000–$11,000. A heat pump replaces both heating and cooling with one system rather than two separate units, which is why it's priced and evaluated on its own rather than as a discount off doing furnace and AC separately.
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Furnace & AC Replacement Cost Calculator is built and maintained by the RealCostIQ editorial team. Cost ranges and rates are checked against published industry data and contractor quotes, and revised when the underlying figures move. Read our data methodology or more about who builds this. Every calculation runs in your browser — no account, and none of your inputs are stored.
Cost ranges and rates here are checked against contractor quotes and published industry data. If a number still looks off, email Support@RealCostIQ.com and we'll review and fix it.