2026 NATIONAL COST ANSWER
New furnace installation costs about $2,823–$6,897 on average in Angi's current 2026 data. Gas furnace replacements commonly run $3,800–$10,000, while high-efficiency gas systems can reach $12,000 or more.
Angi's March 17, 2026 national furnace guide places a new installation at $2,823–$6,897 on average. By fuel, it uses$2,000–$7,000 electric,$3,800–$10,000 natural gas,$6,750–$10,000 oil, and$3,700–$14,200 propane.
HomeGuide's current general furnace guide uses$3,500–$7,500+ for a standard-efficiency replacement and up to $11,500 for a high-efficiency unit. Its gas-specific guide stretches to $12,000 for high-efficiency installed systems.
GAS FURNACE REPLACEMENT BUDGET BUILDER
Estimate the installed furnace first, then add only the scope your contractor has separated
The base ranges use HomeGuide's current installed gas-furnace pricing by AFUE tier. This tool does not choose furnace size. Capacity should come from a heating-load calculation such as ACCA Manual J.
WHAT DOES THE FURNACE QUOTE ACTUALLY REPLACE?
A furnace replacement touches more systems than the steel cabinet suggests
The furnace generates heat, but installed performance depends on how the rest of the house receives that heat.
AHRI describes the blower as the component that pulls cool room air through the furnace and returns heated air through the duct system.
Combustion furnaces need both a fuel path and a safe exhaust path. Changing furnace type or efficiency can change either one.
In many split systems, the AC coil sits on or near the furnace and uses the furnace blower. Furnace replacement can therefore affect cooling compatibility.
A new furnace cannot correct undersized, badly leaking or poorly balanced ducts simply by having a newer blower.
A complete replacement quote should say what happens to the vent, gas or electrical connection, blower / coil interface, thermostat and ducts—not merely list a furnace model.
AFUE IS THE COST DIVIDE MOST HOMEOWNERS CAN SEE BEFORE INSTALLATION STARTS
HomeGuide's gas-furnace data moves from $3,800–$6,200 installed at 80%–89% AFUE to $7,500–$12,000 at 96%+
HomeGuide's standard-efficiency gas-furnace range. Lower equipment cost, but more fuel energy leaves through exhaust over the heating season.
HomeGuide's moderate-efficiency range. Installation details become increasingly important as the furnace moves into condensing territory.
HomeGuide's high-efficiency range. Premium models can also include staged / modulating heat and more advanced blower controls.
AFUE is an annual fuel-utilization efficiency metric. A 97% AFUE rating is not a promise that every dollar of the gas bill becomes room heat: actual household energy use also depends on climate, thermostat settings, envelope, ducts and installation quality. AFUE is most useful for comparing the combustion efficiency of furnace options.
AUGUST 2026: ENERGY STAR FURNACE VERSION 5.0 IS NOW IN EFFECT
The label became more demanding on July 31, 2026—but that is not the same thing as the federal minimum furnace standard
EPA's final ENERGY STAR Furnace Version 5.0 specification took effectJuly 31, 2026. Under that specification, certified gas furnaces must reach 97% AFUE in the U.S. North and95% AFUE in the U.S. South. Certified oil furnaces require 87% AFUE.
DOE finalized a 95% AFUE standard for non-weatherized gas furnaces and mobile-home gas furnaces that takes effect in late 2028.
The distinction matters when reading 2026 sales material. A furnace can be legal to sell without carrying the current ENERGY STAR label, and the 95% DOE standard does not become the operative nationwide furnace minimum simply because it has already been finalized.
THE VENTING FORK CAN EXPLAIN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS BETWEEN TWO GAS-FURNACE BIDS
Replacing an older non-condensing furnace with a condensing furnace can require a different exhaust path
DOE's Building Science Education site describes condensing furnaces as direct-vent / sealed-combustion equipment with AFUE values around90%–98%. ENERGY STAR Version 5.0 specifically calls out contractor training on system venting, condensate removal, code compliance and Manual J sizing.
A like-for-like replacement may preserve much of the existing venting arrangement when the new equipment and local code allow it.
DOE documents that condensing-furnace replacement can require modified venting. The project also has to handle condensate produced by the system.
ROUTEWhere will the new intake / exhaust terminate? A simple nearby sidewall route and a difficult interior chase are different labor projects.
WATER HEATERDoes it share the old chimney / vent? Removing the furnace from a common vent can change what remains for the water heater.
CONDENSATEWhere will furnace condensate drain? The quote should show the drain path rather than leaving “condensing furnace” as an equipment-only upgrade.
CODEWhat local venting requirements apply to this exact installation? The manufacturer instructions and local code control the finished system.
THE FURNACE MAY ALSO BE THE AIR MOVER FOR YOUR CENTRAL AC
Changing the blower can affect a cooling system you are not replacing today
AHRI explains that a forced-air gas furnace pulls cool indoor air through the return ducts, heats it across the heat exchanger and sends it back through the supply ducts. In a typical split AC arrangement, the same blower also moves cooling air across the evaporator coil.
If the coil remains, the contractor should verify physical fit and airflow requirements around the new furnace / blower cabinet.
The blower selection can affect airflow, electrical consumption and how staged heating / cooling behaves.
Paying for two-stage or modulating equipment only makes sense when the control strategy can actually use those capabilities.
If the AC is also near end of life, coordinating both projects can avoid designing the indoor side twice.
A NEW FURNACE CANNOT HEAT A ROOM THE DUCT SYSTEM DOES NOT SERVE WELL
Separate furnace performance from distribution problems before upsizing equipment
HomeGuide currently uses $300–$1,500 for minor duct sealing and repair and $1,400–$5,600+ for duct replacement. Angi's general furnace guide uses about$2,000–$5,000 for new ductwork when the existing distribution is incompatible or insufficient.
ONE COLD ROOMCheck delivery / return path before buying more BTU — a local airflow problem can survive a larger furnace.
SHORT CYCLINGCan be a sizing / control clue — do not automatically interpret frequent cycling as proof that more capacity is needed.
NOISY RETURNSAirflow resistance can be part of the system problem — blower replacement alone does not redesign duct geometry.
OLD LEAKY DUCTSDistribution repair can protect the new-equipment investment — make duct scope explicit in the proposal.
FUEL TYPE CHANGES BOTH THE INSTALLATION COST AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND THE FURNACE
The cheapest furnace cabinet is not necessarily the cheapest conversion
AHRI describes electric furnaces as forced-air units that heat air with electric resistance elements. They avoid combustion venting but can require substantial electrical capacity.
The most common fuel in Angi's customer data. Existing gas service and venting can make a like-for-like replacement straightforward.
Oil equipment adds burner / fuel-storage considerations. Angi's separate July 2026 oil guide uses a broader $2,500–$10,000 replacement range.
Property tank, fuel availability and conversion work can be as important to the project as the furnace itself.
Fuel conversion should be priced as an infrastructure project. HomeGuide currently uses about $350–$2,000+ for new gas-line installation in the context of furnace conversion. Electric conversion can instead move cost toward panel, service or circuit capacity.
WHY THE OLD 100,000-BTU FURNACE IS NOT PROOF THAT THE NEW ONE SHOULD ALSO BE 100,000 BTU
Replacement is the moment to verify the heating load
HomeGuide publishes useful budget ranges by house size—for example,$4,700–$8,000 for a gas furnace serving roughly a 1,600–2,000-square-foot home and$5,100–$9,500 for roughly 2,000–2,500 square feet. Those figures should remain budget anchors rather than sizing rules.
ACCA describes Manual J as the ANSI-recognized residential load calculation standard and says it produces heating and cooling loads using building characteristics such as windows, opaque assemblies, infiltration and ducts. ENERGY STAR Version 5.0 likewise calls for contractor training in Manual J or an equivalent sizing calculation.
Pay for capacity the house needs—not capacity inherited from a furnace selected before insulation, windows or additions changed the building.
REPAIR OR REPLACE?
A $300 ignition repair and a failing heat exchanger belong to different capital decisions
HomeGuide currently places furnace repair at$125–$480 on average. Angi's July 2026 furnace-repair data spans roughly $64–$1,475 depending on the failed part. Replacement becomes more attractive as age, repair frequency and major-component cost rise together.
Controls, igniters and other localized repairs can preserve a system with meaningful remaining life.
Compare the repair invoice with a properly scoped replacement before committing substantial money to a furnace near end of life.
This is where replacement can solve the equipment problem and correct venting, airflow or control deficiencies at the same time.
Angi says furnaces last around 20 years on average in its 2026 guide; HomeGuide's gas-furnace guide uses a broader 15–25-year life range with maintenance. Age alone is not a diagnosis, but it changes how much future life a major repair is buying.
THE HEAT PATH A FURNACE QUOTE HAS TO COMPLETE
Fuel enters one side; heated room air and combustion exhaust leave through different systems
The visual appears lower because the first job of this article is cost. Its purpose is to make the scope distinction clear: heated household air does not mix with combustion exhaust inside a properly functioning heat exchanger, and high-efficiency condensing equipment creates installation requirements beyond the furnace cabinet itself.
SEVEN FURNACE REPLACEMENT COST FILES
The equipment price matters less when the infrastructure changes
HomeGuide's current installed range is$3,800–$6,200. This is the cleanest like-for-like benchmark when existing venting, gas and ducts remain suitable.
HomeGuide uses $5,200–$8,800. Confirm whether the quoted system is condensing and what vent / condensate changes the installation requires.
HomeGuide's current installed range is$7,500–$12,000. In August 2026, ENERGY STAR Version 5.0 now requires 97% AFUE in the U.S. North and 95% in the South for certified gas furnaces.
HomeGuide currently uses $4,700–$8,000 for the corresponding 60,000–70,000 BTU planning band. Use the cost range, not the square-foot shortcut, until Manual J confirms capacity.
The furnace premium is only part of the project. Add the actual venting, condensate and any water-heater vent implications before comparing it with a non-condensing replacement.
HomeGuide uses $300–$1,500 for minor duct work and$1,400–$5,600+ for replacement. This can move a furnace-only budget into complete HVAC-system territory.
Angi's current combined furnace-and-AC replacement guide uses$5,000–$12,500. If both units are near end of life, pricing the matched heating / cooling project can avoid designing the furnace cabinet and coil relationship twice.
THE 15-POINT FURNACE BID NORMALIZER
The model number tells you what is being bought; the installation notes tell you what house you get afterward
01Heating load — Manual J or equivalent basis for furnace capacity?
02Input / output BTU — exact capacities, not just cabinet size?
03AFUE — certified efficiency rating of the proposed model?
04Stages / modulation — single-stage, two-stage or modulating?
05Blower — motor / airflow capability and AC compatibility?
06Vent class / route — reuse old path or install new venting?
07Combustion air — how is the new furnace supplied as required by its design?
08Condensate — drain / pump / neutralization scope where applicable?
09Gas / fuel connection — existing piping reused or modified?
10AC coil — retained, repositioned or replaced?
11Ducts — reuse, repair, resize or replace?
12Controls — thermostat and staging / communication compatibility?
13Permit / removal — old furnace disposal and permit included?
14Commissioning — gas pressure / electrical, temperature rise, airflow and safety checks?
15Warranty — equipment registration, heat-exchanger coverage and labor terms?
Normalize the venting and airflow scope before deciding that one 97%-AFUE furnace quote is “$2,000 more for the same thing.”
COMMON COST QUESTIONS
Furnace replacement cost in plain terms
How much does furnace replacement cost in 2026?Angi's current average range is $2,823–$6,897. Fuel type and efficiency can move the project materially above or below that range.
How much does a gas furnace cost to replace?Angi currently uses $3,800–$10,000. HomeGuide's gas-specific guide extends to $12,000 for high-efficiency installed systems.
How much does a high-efficiency gas furnace cost?HomeGuide uses $7,500–$12,000 installed for 96%+ AFUE systems.
How much does an electric furnace cost?Angi currently uses $2,000–$7,000 installed. HomeGuide's current general furnace guide uses $2,500–$7,000+.
How much does an oil furnace cost?Angi's general furnace guide uses $6,750–$10,000; its July 2026 oil-specific guide uses a broader $2,500–$10,000 range.
What AFUE qualifies for ENERGY STAR in August 2026?ENERGY STAR Furnace Version 5.0 took effect July 31, 2026: gas furnaces require at least 97% AFUE in the U.S. North and 95% in the U.S. South; oil furnaces require at least 87% AFUE.
Does a high-efficiency furnace need different venting?Condensing furnaces can require a different vent / combustion-air arrangement and condensate removal. The exact method must follow the equipment instructions and local code.
Should I replace the furnace and AC together?Not automatically. It becomes worth pricing when both are aging or when the furnace / blower / coil relationship makes separate projects inefficient. Angi's current combined range is $5,000–$12,500.
How should a furnace be sized?ACCA identifies Manual J as the ANSI-recognized residential load calculation standard. Do not select capacity from square footage alone.
METHODOLOGY & SOURCES
Current 2026 cost data separated from efficiency, venting and load-calculation standards
Pricing was reviewed August 9, 2026. Angi supplies the primary current national furnace range and fuel-type cross-check. HomeGuide provides installed gas-furnace ranges by AFUE, home-size budgets, ductwork and conversion costs. ENERGY STAR, DOE, AHRI and ACCA are used for current technical and standards context.
$2,823–$6,897 national range; gas, electric, oil, propane, size, labor, permits, removal and ductwork.
02 · HOMEGUIDE · CURRENT 2026 GUIDEFurnace Replacement Cost$3,500–$7,500+ standard-efficiency; up to $11,500 high-efficiency; fuel-type and home-size ranges.
03 · HOMEGUIDE · CURRENT GAS GUIDEGas Furnace Cost by AFUE$3,800–$6,200 at 80%–89%; $5,200–$8,800 at 90%–95%; $7,500–$12,000 at 96%+; ducts and conversion costs.
04 · ENERGY STAR · VERSION 5.0Furnace Final SpecificationEffective July 31, 2026; 97% AFUE gas in U.S. North, 95% in U.S. South, 87% oil; venting, condensate and Manual J training provisions.
05 · U.S. DOEResidential Gas Furnace Efficiency StandardFinalized 95% AFUE standard for covered gas furnaces taking effect in late 2028.
06 · U.S. DOE · BUILDING SCIENCE EDUCATIONDirect-Vent / Condensing Furnace FundamentalsDirect-vent sealed-combustion concept and 90%–98% AFUE condensing-furnace context.
07 · AHRI · CURRENTHow Furnaces WorkGas, oil and electric forced-air furnace operation; heat exchanger, blower, ducts and venting.
08 · ACCA · CURRENTManual J Residential Load CalculationANSI-recognized residential HVAC load-calculation standard and inputs affecting heating / cooling loads.
This is U.S. cost-planning information. Furnace sizing, fuel piping, venting, combustion air, condensate, electrical connections, ducts, permits and efficiency requirements depend on the equipment and local jurisdiction. Use the manufacturer's instructions, required load calculation and a qualified local HVAC contractor for the final design.