HVAC replacement cost in Boston, MA
Average $7,500; common $5,000–$12,500; up to $22,000 with new ductwork. Central AC $3,900–$7,900; gas furnace $3,800–$10,000; heat pump $4,200–$7,600; labor about $1,500.
Labor for HVAC replacement in Boston, MA is indexed to the BLS construction-and-extraction occupations mean hourly wage for Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH of $39.88 (May 2025), applied to the 30% labor share.
The official permit fee was not extracted from the published schedule, so the permit line stays blank. Source on file: Boston ISD Building Fees 5/15/2023; Gas Permits; Sheet Metal Permits, retrieved 2026-09-01. ISD has no dedicated HVAC replacement page.
The national typical for this job is $7,500. Materials stay at the national figure while labor is wage-indexed for Boston, MA.
Typical all-in
$8,153
Job cost plus the recorded local permit fee at this size.
- Low
- $5,450
- Typical
- $8,153
- High
- $23,782
Breakdown
| Labor (allocated) | $2,432 |
|---|---|
| Materials (allocated) | $5,676 |
| Job subtotal | $8,108 |
| Permit | — |
| All-in typical | $8,153 |
Labor is adjusted for construction wages in this metro. Materials stay at the national figure. This is an estimate, not a contractor quote.
Permit fee
- Fee model
- Not yet recorded
- Typical fee
- —
- Range
- from $45
- Retrieved
- 2026-09-01
- Sheet metal minimum (first 200 lin/sq ft) — $45 $20 primary + $25. Low only; duct area unknown.
- Gas furnace/heater$20 + $50 each + $0.09 per 1,000 BTU. BTU rating not in the official project definition — not dollarized.
- Electrical$20 + $1/outlet or $0.25/amp if new circuit. Not dollarized.
Low = sheet-metal minimum $45. Typical/high left null (BTU and duct area not official).
ISD has no dedicated HVAC replacement page. Gas furnace uses $20+$50+$0.09/kBTU; sheet metal is $20+$25/200 lf or sf. Typical cannot be closed without BTU and duct area. Electrical extra if a new circuit.
Boston ISD Building Fees 5/15/2023; Gas Permits; Sheet Metal Permits
Citations
- How Much Does HVAC Replacement Cost? [2026 Data] Retrieved Aug 12, 2026. Average $7,500; $5,000–$22,000; labor about $1,500; national permit range $50–$500 (not city-specific).
- Boston ISD Building Fees 5/15/2023; Gas Permits; Sheet Metal Permits Retrieved Aug 31, 2026. ISD has no dedicated HVAC replacement page. Gas furnace uses $20+$50+$0.09/kBTU; sheet metal is $20+$25/200 lf or sf. Typical cannot be closed without BTU and duct area. Electrical extra if a new circuit.
- BLS OEWS construction wages — Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH BLS OEWS construction-and-extraction mean hourly wage / national same vintage, applied to laborShare only. Not a city-specific bid survey.