HVAC replacement cost in Denver, CO
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 Denver, CO is indexed to the BLS construction-and-extraction occupations mean hourly wage for Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO of $33.00 (May 2025), applied to the 30% labor share.
Community Planning and Development (CPD) is the issuing office. The typical permit fee recorded from Denver CPD Development Fees / ADMIN 138, retrieved 2026-08-13, is $83. Fee model: valuation.
The national typical for this job is $7,500. Materials stay at the national figure while labor is wage-indexed for Denver, CO.
Typical all-in
$7,696
Job cost plus the recorded local permit fee at this size.
- Low
- $5,135
- Typical
- $7,696
- High
- $22,554
Breakdown
| Labor (allocated) | $2,284 |
|---|---|
| Materials (allocated) | $5,328 |
| Job subtotal | $7,612 |
| Permit | $84 |
| All-in typical | $7,696 |
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
- Based on project value
- Typical fee
- $84
- Range
- $60 – $224
- Retrieved
- 2026-08-13
- Plan review (50% of permit, if required)Typical/low assume Quick Permit mechanical (no PR). High includes 50% plan review.
Same valuation table applies to mechanical permits. Like-for-like change-outs often skip plan review; new systems or structural work do not.
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).
- Denver CPD Development Fees / ADMIN 138 Retrieved Aug 12, 2026. Same valuation table applies to mechanical permits. Like-for-like change-outs often skip plan review; new systems or structural work do not.
- BLS OEWS construction wages — Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO BLS OEWS construction-and-extraction mean hourly wage / national same vintage, applied to laborShare only. Not a city-specific bid survey.