How much is a new furnace?

United States: homeowner survey

Households in the American Housing Survey that hired out new or replacement built-in heating equipment reported a median of $5,000; the typical range (middle half of 1,176 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) was $2,500 to $8,000.

When the household installed the heating equipment itself: a median (186 American Housing Survey data points, the United States, 2021-2023) of $1,700.

How measured: hired-out finished jobs, survey-weighted, not adjusted for inflation; do-it-yourself jobs the same way. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data read 16 October 2026.

These figures are estimates from U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, data years 2021-2023, read 16 October 2026, for the United States. They are not a quote, and they are not a promise of what any contractor on InstaBids will charge. Your price depends on your home, the materials and the contractor. Get written bids before you decide.

Researched by the InstaBids editorial team. Last checked: 16 October 2026 Updated 2026-10-16

What is the furnace replacement cost?

The survey asks about "Added or replaced built-in heating equipment", so gas and oil furnaces, boilers and other built-in heaters share one range, and the item does not separate the unit from the labour.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.

Heating is one of the jobs households hand off most: 85 percent of the heating jobs with a reported cost were hired out, more than water heaters (65 percent) though slightly fewer than central air (88 percent).

ENERGY STAR labels gas furnaces for the southern half of the country with a separate "U.S. South" logo, because homes there need less heat, and its furnaces pair higher AFUE ratings with more efficient blower motors.

Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Furnaces, read 16 October 2026.

What goes with the new furnace cost?

Fuel-burning heat brings a safety step. EPA lists back-drafting from furnaces among the sources of carbon monoxide indoors and advises a yearly inspection, cleaning and tune-up of the central heating system by a trained professional.

Source: U.S. EPA, Carbon Monoxide's Impact on Indoor Air Quality, read 16 October 2026.

EPA also cites the Consumer Product Safety Commission's advice of a carbon monoxide alarm on each level of the home, outside each sleeping area.

Source: U.S. EPA, Carbon Monoxide's Impact on Indoor Air Quality, read 16 October 2026.

For boilers, ENERGY STAR sets the bar at an AFUE of 90 percent or more for gas and 87 percent or more for oil, AFUE being its measure of heating efficiency.

Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Boilers, read 16 October 2026.

What changes the furnace install cost?

Switching to a heat pump: ENERGY STAR describes a ducted heat pump as a drop-in replacement in most climate zones when a furnace needs replacing, and says a home with central air should not need an electrical upgrade for one.
Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Air-Source Heat Pumps, read 16 October 2026.
Source: ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, read 16 October 2026.
Owner or contractor: the few households that installed their own heating equipment reported a much lower median than those who hired it out.
Boiler or furnace: both are in the survey item, so the range covers two quite different systems.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, read 16 October 2026.

Get written bids

Contractors who take part estimate from your photos and a written scope card, so nobody visits before you see any prices. InstaBids is in an early pilot in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Sources for the figures on this page

U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey 2023, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/data/2023/ahs-2023-public-use-file--puf-.html, read 16 October 2026. U.S. government work; no endorsement implied.
U.S. Census Bureau, AHS 2023 Value Labels Package, www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/ahs/2023/AHS%202023%20Value%20Labels%20Package.zip, read 16 October 2026.
ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Furnaces, www.energystar.gov/products/furnaces, read 16 October 2026.
U.S. EPA, Carbon Monoxide's Impact on Indoor Air Quality, www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/carbon-monoxides-impact-indoor-air-quality, read 16 October 2026.
ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Boilers, www.energystar.gov/products/boilers, read 16 October 2026.
ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Air-Source Heat Pumps, www.energystar.gov/products/air_source_heat_pumps, read 16 October 2026.
ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA), Make Your Home Electric Ready, www.energystar.gov/products/energy_star_home_upgrade/make_your_home_electric_ready, read 16 October 2026.