Boiler and heating costs in the US (2026): boilers, furnaces and heat pumps

Quick answer: a standard-efficiency boiler replacement in the US typically costs $2,200–$7,000 installed and a high-efficiency one $4,000–$10,000 (HomeGuide, checked September 2026). A boiler inspection is typically $70–$125. Most US homes have a furnace or heat pump instead: a gas furnace is typically $3,800–$12,000 installed and an air-source heat pump $10,000–$25,000.

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Pick a job to see the typical US price range from published cost guides, with the source for each figure. It is a guide, not a quote.

Prices change and depend on the size of the job, the property, access and location. Figures were last checked . Always get a written quote before work starts.

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Boilers are a regional product in the United States. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), steam or hot water boilers are the main heating in 8% of US homes, but 35% in New York State, while in Texas and Arizona they are too rare to estimate. So this guide covers boilers first, then the furnaces and heat pumps that most Americans actually replace. All figures come from published cost guides, checked in September 2026. Where we could not source a figure, we have left it out.

Boiler and heating prices by job

Typical installed ranges including equipment and labour. They are national figures; local labour rates, permits and access change the total.

JobTypical rangeBasisSource
Standard-efficiency boiler replacement$2,200–$7,000InstalledHomeGuide boiler replacement guide, checked September 2026
High-efficiency (condensing) boiler replacement$4,000–$10,000InstalledHomeGuide boiler replacement guide, checked September 2026
Gas boiler replacement$4,000–$9,000InstalledHomeGuide boiler replacement guide, checked September 2026
Oil boiler replacement (standard efficiency)$3,300–$7,200InstalledHomeGuide boiler replacement guide, checked September 2026
Combi boiler installation$6,000–$10,000InstalledHomeGuide boiler replacement guide, checked September 2026
Electric boiler replacement$1,800–$8,000InstalledHomeGuide boiler replacement guide, checked September 2026
Boiler inspection$70–$125Per visitHomeGuide boiler service guide, checked September 2026
Boiler repair (average job)$150–$700Per repairHomeGuide boiler service guide, checked September 2026
Gas furnace replacement$3,800–$12,000InstalledHomeGuide furnace guide, checked September 2026
Air-source heat pump$10,000–$25,000Installed, average-sized houseHomeGuide heat pump guide, checked September 2026

HomeGuide puts the national average boiler installation at $6,100, with a typical range of $3,200–$9,000, and says replacement labour and fitting alone is usually $1,200–$3,200. HomeGuide says it tracks the estimates homeowners get from contractors; treat its figures as market ranges rather than a quote.

Boiler prices by fuel

FuelUnit onlyInstalled
Gas$1,400–$5,600$4,000–$9,000
Propane$1,800–$4,000$2,800–$7,500
Oil$1,700–$6,500$3,300–$9,000
Electric$1,000–$6,000$1,800–$8,000

Source: How Much Does a New Boiler Cost to Install or Replace? (homeguide.com), checked September 2026. For unit prices by system, HomeGuide gives hot water boilers $1,200–$4,000 and steam boilers $1,800–$6,000. Our explainer on steam vs hot water systems helps you identify which you have, and condensing vs non-condensing boilers explains the efficiency difference.

Extras that change the total

ItemTypical costSource
Old boiler removal and disposal$200–$500HomeGuide boiler replacement guide
Condensate drain (high-efficiency models)$200–$600HomeGuide boiler replacement guide
Permits$50–$250HomeGuide boiler replacement guide
Manual J load calculation$200–$500HomeGuide boiler replacement guide
Chimney liner$1,500–$4,000HomeGuide boiler replacement guide
Oil tank replacement$1,000–$6,200HomeGuide boiler replacement guide
Radiator replacement$250–$500 eachHomeGuide boiler replacement guide
Annual boiler service contract$200–$500 a yearHomeGuide boiler service guide
Electrical panel upgrade for a heat pump$1,800–$2,500HomeGuide heat pump guide

For more on what moves a quote, see new boiler installation costs and what size boiler you need.

Furnaces and heat pumps

If you live in the South or West, the replacement you are pricing is probably a furnace or heat pump. HomeGuide’s national ranges:

SystemTypical installed costSource
Electric furnace$2,500–$7,000+HomeGuide furnace guide
Gas furnace$3,800–$12,000HomeGuide furnace guide
Oil furnace$4,000–$10,000+HomeGuide furnace guide
Air-source heat pump (average house)$10,000–$25,000+HomeGuide heat pump guide
Ductless heat pump$2,000–$17,000+, by number of zonesHomeGuide heat pump guide
Geothermal heat pump$20,000–$50,000+HomeGuide heat pump guide

Our guide boiler or furnace explains the difference between water-based and warm-air systems.

Which heating is common where

State (EIA, 2020)FurnaceCentral heat pumpSteam or hot water boiler
New York44%3%35%
Illinois76%2%11%
California62%3%1%
Texas61%19%Too few to estimate
Arizona55%25%Too few to estimate
United States60%13%8%

Source: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state, 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (eia.gov).

Rebates: what utilities actually pay

Gas boiler rebates are now scarce; most money goes to heat pumps. Examples from our city guides, checked September 2026:

UtilityAreaOffer
Con EdisonNew York CityUp to $10,000 for a single-family home replacing its heating with air-source heat pumps (Weatherized Tier; $11,000 in a Disadvantaged Community)
National GridBrooklyn, Queens, Staten IslandTotal Home Comfort not accepting new applications
Peoples GasChicago$150–$500 for qualifying high-efficiency boilers; $200–$225 for furnaces
LADWPLos AngelesUp to $2,500 per ton for qualifying heat pump HVAC systems
CenterPoint EnergyHoustonHVAC replacement incentives from $200 (15.2 SEER2 or better)
SRPPhoenix metroCool Cash rebates on qualifying AC and heat pumps

The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, which paid up to $2,000 towards a qualifying heat pump, applied to installations through 31 December 2025 (ENERGY STAR). Some older cost guides and contractor pages still mention it, so do not count it in a 2026 budget.

City guides

Ready to compare? See our boiler options comparison or request a quote.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a new boiler cost in the US?

HomeGuide puts a standard-efficiency replacement at $2,200–$7,000 and a high-efficiency one at $4,000–$10,000 installed, checked September 2026.

Is a boiler more expensive than a furnace?

The ranges overlap: HomeGuide gives $4,000–$9,000 installed for a gas boiler and $3,800–$12,000 for a gas furnace. Switching from one system to the other costs far more than replacing like for like, because of new ducts or pipework.

Can I still claim a federal tax credit?

Not for 2026 installations. The Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit applied through 31 December 2025.

How often should a boiler be serviced?

HomeGuide says a new boiler needs its first service one to two years after installation, then yearly. Some cities, such as New York and Chicago, also require inspections of boilers in larger buildings.

Sources

  • How Much Does a New Boiler Cost to Install or Replace? (homeguide.com)
  • How Much Does It Cost to Service and Repair a Boiler? (homeguide.com)
  • How Much Does a New Furnace Cost? (homeguide.com)
  • How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost? (homeguide.com)
  • Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state, 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey (eia.gov)
  • Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency (energystar.gov)
  • Get Thousands Off an Air-Source Heat Pump (coned.com)
  • Total Home Comfort (nationalgridus.com)
  • Home Energy Rebate Program HVAC and Water Heating Application 2026 (peoplesgasdelivery.com)
  • Consumer Rebate Program (ladwp.com)
  • Heating and Cooling Solutions (centerpointenergy.com)
  • SRP Cool Cash Rebate Program terms (srpnet.com)

Last checked: September 2026.

Best Boiler Deals is a comparison and referral service, not a heating contractor. We do not install or repair boilers, furnaces or heat pumps, and a listing here is not a recommendation.

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