HVAC
HVAC Replacement Cost Calculator
Build a replacement price from equipment, labour and the work a changeout usually uncovers.
Result
Excludes asbestos remediation, structural work and permit variations. Ductwork is the most commonly under-quoted item. A new high-efficiency system on undersized ducts will not perform to its rating.
Get a Free Business AuditWhat moves the number
- Whether the existing ductwork, electrical and venting are reusable.
- Access, since attic, crawlspace and rooftop work are very different labour.
- Line set condition, particularly where the refrigerant type is changing.
Where this one goes wrong
Quoting equipment plus labour and discovering the rest on site. Pad, disconnect, whip, thermostat, condensate, permit and disposal are all routine and all commonly missing from a quote that looked competitive.
Before you quote
- Whether the line set can be reused with the new refrigerant.
- Whether the electrical service and breaker suit the new equipment.
- Whether the venting category changes with the new appliance.
Questions
About this calculator
Can the existing line set be reused?
Sometimes, and it depends on size, condition and the refrigerant involved. Where the refrigerant is changing, the manufacturer's position on flushing or replacing has to be followed rather than assumed.
What makes one changeout cost more than another?
Access and what has to change around the equipment. The same models can be a straightforward swap in a garage and a long day in a tight attic with new ducting.
Should permits be in the price?
Yes, and stated. Permit and inspection requirements vary by jurisdiction, and a price that excludes them quietly becomes a difficult conversation later.
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How to use this calculator
- System size (tons). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 3.
- System type. Enter your own figure; the page starts at AC + furnace (split system).
- Equipment and install per ton ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $2,400.
- Ductwork repairs or replacement ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $1,800.
- Electrical, pad, thermostat, permits ($). Enter your own figure; the page starts at $900.
- Contingency (%). Enter your own figure; the page starts at 8%.
The result updates as you type, so you can try a figure, see what it does to total installed cost, and change it back. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere or saved.
A worked example
These are the figures the calculator opens with. Every number in the results column below is produced by the same calculation the page runs, so you can follow it through before putting your own figures in.
What goes in
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| System size (tons) | 3 |
| System type | AC + furnace (split system) |
| Equipment and install per ton | $2,400 |
| Ductwork repairs or replacement | $1,800 |
| Electrical, pad, thermostat, permits | $900 |
| Contingency | 8% |
What comes out
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Total installed cost main result | $10,692 |
| Equipment and installation | $7,200 |
| All-in cost per ton | $3,564 |
| If financed over 5 years at 9% | $221.95 |
A 3-ton replacement comes to about $10,692 installed, $3,564 per ton, or roughly $221.95 a month if financed over five years.
How sensitive the answer is
Holding everything else steady and changing only equipment and install per ton, this is what happens to total installed cost. It is worth knowing which of your inputs the answer actually hinges on, and which barely move it.
| Equipment and install per ton ($) | Total installed cost |
|---|---|
| $1,200 | $6,804 |
| $1,800 | $8,748 |
| $2,400 example above | $10,692 |
| $3,600 | $14,580 |
| $4,800 | $18,468 |
Every other input is held at the example value while this one changes, which is not how a real job behaves. Treat it as a guide to which number matters most, not as five separate quotes.
What each figure means
- System size (tons)
- A number, between 0 and 30, starting at 3.
- System type
- Choose from AC only, AC + furnace (split system), Heat pump, Ductless mini-split.
- Equipment and install per ton ($)
- A money amount, starting at $2,400.
- Ductwork repairs or replacement ($)
- A money amount, starting at $1,800.
- Electrical, pad, thermostat, permits ($)
- A money amount, starting at $900.
- Contingency (%)
- A percentage, between 0 and 40, starting at 8%.
What the results tell you
| Result | What it is |
|---|---|
| Total installed cost | The headline result. A money figure. |
| Equipment and installation | A money figure. |
| All-in cost per ton | A money figure. |
| If financed over 5 years at 9% | A money figure. |
Before you rely on this number
Sizing, capacity and load figures here are planning estimates. A real installation depends on the manufacturer's data for the specific equipment, the duct system it is going into, and a proper load calculation for the building. Use this to sanity-check a number or price a job, not to select equipment.
Keep going
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