CostInMyCity

Knoxville, TN / HVAC replacement

HVAC replacement cost in Knoxville, TN

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 Knoxville, TN is indexed to the BLS construction-and-extraction occupations mean hourly wage for Knoxville, TN of $26.73 (May 2025), applied to the 30% labor share.

City of Knoxville Plans Review & Inspections / Development Services is the issuing office. The typical permit fee recorded from City of Knoxville 2024 Development Services Fee Schedule, retrieved 2026-09-01, is $55. Fee model: valuation.

The national typical for this job is $7,500. Materials stay at the national figure while labor is wage-indexed for Knoxville, TN.

Typical all-in

$7,216

Job cost plus the recorded local permit fee at this size.

Low
$4,828
Typical
$7,216
High
$21,086

Breakdown

Labor (allocated)$2,149
Materials (allocated)$5,014
Job subtotal$7,163
Permit$53
All-in typical$7,216

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
$53
Range
$53 – $76
Retrieved
2026-09-01

Typical 3-ton (36,000 BTU) like-for-like split at $7,500: 0.5% = $55.00 (above $55 min). Low $5,000 = $55.00. High $16,000 = $80.00.

City of Knoxville. Stand-alone mechanical trade permit: the greater of 0.15% of total project valuation or 0.5% of the individual trade valuation, $55 minimum. Like-for-like HVAC uses 0.5% of HVAC valuation with the $55 floor.

City of Knoxville 2024 Development Services Fee Schedule

Citations

  1. 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).
  2. City of Knoxville 2024 Development Services Fee Schedule Retrieved Aug 31, 2026. City of Knoxville. Stand-alone mechanical trade permit: the greater of 0.15% of total project valuation or 0.5% of the individual trade valuation, $55 minimum. Like-for-like HVAC uses 0.5% of HVAC valuation with the $55 floor.
  3. BLS OEWS construction wages — Knoxville, TN BLS OEWS construction-and-extraction mean hourly wage / national same vintage, applied to laborShare only. Not a city-specific bid survey.

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