CostInMyCity

Madison, WI / HVAC replacement

HVAC replacement cost in Madison, WI

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 Madison, WI is indexed to the BLS construction-and-extraction occupations mean hourly wage for Madison, WI of $35.09 (May 2025), applied to the 30% labor share.

City of Madison Building Inspection Division is the issuing office. The typical permit fee recorded from City of Madison Building Inspection fees (replacement heating equipment / AC unit lines), retrieved 2026-09-01, is $50. Fee model: flat.

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

Typical all-in

$7,812

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

Low
$5,200
Typical
$7,812
High
$22,845

Breakdown

Labor (allocated)$2,329
Materials (allocated)$5,433
Job subtotal$7,762
Permit$50
All-in typical$7,812

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
Flat fee
Typical fee
$50
Range
$25 – $75
Retrieved
2026-09-01
  • Replacement heating equipment up to 100,000 BTU output — $25Included in typical. Official Building Inspection fees: $25 up to 100,000 BTU; $50 for 100,001-165,000; $75 for 165,001+.
  • Air conditioning unit (new or replaced) — $25Included in typical.

Typical 3-ton (36,000 BTU) like-for-like split with documented 80,000 BTU furnace companion = furnace $25 + AC $25 = $50.00. Low = furnace only $25.00. High = furnace 100,001-165,000 BTU $50 + AC $25 = $75.00.

City of Madison, not Dane County. Replacement heating equipment and AC unit inspection fees from the official Building Inspection fees page. HVAC $0.03/sf min $100 is a commercial alterations/remodeling plan-review line and is not used. Typical 80,000 BTU furnace companion for a 3-ton split is in the up-to-100,000 BTU band.

City of Madison Building Inspection fees (replacement heating equipment / AC unit lines)

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 Madison Building Inspection fees (replacement heating equipment / AC unit lines) Retrieved Aug 31, 2026. City of Madison, not Dane County. Replacement heating equipment and AC unit inspection fees from the official Building Inspection fees page. HVAC $0.03/sf min $100 is a commercial alterations/remodeling plan-review line and is not used. Typical 80,000 BTU furnace companion for a 3-ton split is in the up-to-100,000 BTU band.
  3. BLS OEWS construction wages — Madison, WI 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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