FairangeData report · Nov 2, 2026
Furnace replacement cost by metro
Mainland mid estimates from about $3,504 (Sebring) to $4,285 (San Jose). equipment still flattens the map.
Furnaces don’t get the same viral “sticker shock” posts as AC, but the planning math is similar: local HVAC wages on top of a materials-heavy box. We ranked metros on our mid estimate for a like-for-like furnace replacement. same BLS OEWS May 2025 HVAC file as the AC report, different hours and equipment baselines.
Mainland metros with local HVAC wages stretch from about $3,504 in Sebring ($21.97/hr) to $4,285 in San Jose ($43.89/hr). Spread: roughly $781: Equipment still does a lot of the lifting, so labor markets move the band without turning it into a different sport.
National mid on the same baseline: $3,831.
Priciest metros (mid estimate)
| # | Metro | St | Mid | Band | HVAC wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose | CA | $4,285 | $2,240–$7,819 | $43.89/hr |
| 2 | San Francisco | CA | $4,204 | $2,174–$7,639 | $41.61/hr |
| 3 | Seattle | WA | $4,185 | $2,182–$7,626 | $41.07/hr |
| 4 | Anchorage | AK | $4,183 | $2,221–$7,216 | $41.01/hr |
| 5 | Fairbanks-College | AK | $4,174 | $2,197–$7,222 | $40.78/hr |
| 6 | Napa | CA | $4,172 | $2,179–$7,271 | $40.70/hr |
| 7 | Santa Rosa | CA | $4,164 | $2,165–$7,497 | $40.50/hr |
| 8 | Salinas | CA | $4,101 | $2,152–$7,342 | $38.71/hr |
| 9 | Santa Cruz | CA | $4,101 | $2,141–$7,338 | $38.72/hr |
| 10 | Boston | MA | $4,090 | $2,157–$7,116 | $38.41/hr |
Least expensive metros (mid estimate)
| # | Metro | St | Mid | Band | HVAC wage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sebring | FL | $3,504 | $1,912–$6,020 | $21.97/hr |
| 2 | Parkersburg-Vienna | WV | $3,505 | $1,914–$5,996 | $22.00/hr |
| 3 | Beckley | WV | $3,506 | $1,918–$6,012 | $22.04/hr |
| 4 | Dothan | AL | $3,537 | $1,932–$6,032 | $22.91/hr |
| 5 | Daphne-Fairhope-Foley | AL | $3,551 | $1,939–$6,040 | $23.30/hr |
| 6 | Florence-Muscle Shoals | AL | $3,557 | $1,936–$6,047 | $23.47/hr |
| 7 | Anniston-Oxford | AL | $3,559 | $1,935–$6,101 | $23.52/hr |
| 8 | Hot Springs | AR | $3,560 | $1,945–$6,113 | $23.54/hr |
| 9 | Valdosta | GA | $3,562 | $1,934–$6,124 | $23.60/hr |
| 10 | Morgantown | WV | $3,563 | $1,940–$6,078 | $23.65/hr |
What drives the price
- AFUE tier and fuel type: a basic gas furnace isn’t the same bill as a high-efficiency or electric unit.
- Flue and vent work: PVC venting upgrades or chimney liners show up as extras, not in our baseline.
- Local HVAC wages: OEWS means in our file run from the low $20s/hr in some Southern metros into the low $40s in coastal California and Alaska.
- Access and add-ons: attic installs, new thermostats, zoning, and permits are the usual scope creep.
How to tell if your quote is fair
- Get the model number, AFUE, and whether it’s gas or electric in writing.
- Ask what’s included for venting, condensate, thermostat, and haul-away.
- Compare the labor line to our band for your ZIP on the calculator. then ask about anything thousands under our low end.
- Confirm permit and inspection are in the price, not “you handle that.”
- City notes when we have them: San Jose (calculator), Sebring (calculator).
Methodology & sources
Hours and materials are our published furnace baselines (6/9/14 hours; $1,800/$3,200/$5,200 materials). Labor = hours × local BLS OEWS HVAC mean (SOC 49-9021) × markup 2.25× at mid; low/high mix p10/p90 wages with 2.0×/2.5×. Materials get a dampened regional factor tied to the local wage vs national mean. Full write-up: methodology. Estimates, not bids.
Also: ZIP calculator · city guides · how we estimate · press kit
By The Fairange team · [email protected]