CostInMyCity

San Francisco, CA / HVAC replacement

HVAC replacement cost in San Francisco, CA

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 San Francisco, CA is indexed to the BLS construction-and-extraction occupations mean hourly wage for San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA of $43.66 (May 2025), applied to the 30% labor share.

San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) is the issuing office. The typical permit fee recorded from SF DBI Table 1A-C Plumbing/Mechanical, effective July 12, 2026, retrieved 2026-09-01, is $290. Fee model: flat.

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

Typical all-in

$8,668

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

Low
$5,875
Typical
$8,668
High
$24,864

Breakdown

Labor (allocated)$2,513
Materials (allocated)$5,865
Job subtotal$8,378
Permit$290
All-in typical$8,668

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
$290
Range
$290
Retrieved
2026-09-01
  • Table 1A-C Category 1M mechanical gas appliance — $290Furnace, hydronic heat, or heat pump. Included.

Typical 3-ton heat pump or 80 kBTU furnace = Category 1M $290.

Category 1M is a single residential unit mechanical gas appliance (furnace, hydronic heat, heat pump). Separate electrical (Table 1A-E) is extra and not computed.

SF DBI Table 1A-C Plumbing/Mechanical, effective July 12, 2026

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. SF DBI Table 1A-C Plumbing/Mechanical, effective July 12, 2026 Retrieved Aug 31, 2026. Category 1M is a single residential unit mechanical gas appliance (furnace, hydronic heat, heat pump). Separate electrical (Table 1A-E) is extra and not computed.
  3. BLS OEWS construction wages — San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 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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