Free · no sign-up · every California ZIP

HVAC Replacement Cost Calculator, California

Replace or add central AC, a gas furnace, both, a heat pump, or ductless mini-splits, with new or tested ductwork, thermostat, permit and the Title 24 HERS check. Sized from your home area, or pick the size.

Typical mid-range budget: $14,900–$16,800, depending on the city, for an 1,800 sq ft home: a new 3-ton central AC with matching coil and a 60,000 BTU gas furnace, keeping and sealing the existing ducts, with a new thermostat, permit and the Title 24 HERS check.

Estimate my HVAC replacement by ZIP Costs by city

Budget estimate, not a bid, appraisal, or insurance claim valuation. Get licensed contractor bids. Pilot.

Heating and air conditioning cost by California city

Mid finish, same size everywhere. Likely is the median of 4,000 simulated outcomes; the range is the 10th to 90th percentile.

City (ZIP)	Likely	Range
Los Angeles (90026, Los Angeles County)	$15,600	$13,800–$17,600
San Diego (92104, San Diego County)	$15,400	$13,700–$17,400
San Jose (95112, Santa Clara County)	$16,800	$14,700–$19,400
San Francisco (94110, San Francisco County)	$16,400	$14,400–$19,000
Sacramento (95819, Sacramento County)	$15,100	$13,400–$17,100
Fresno (93704, Fresno County)	$14,900	$13,200–$16,900
Riverside (92507, Riverside County)	$15,100	$13,500–$17,100
Santa Cruz (95060, Santa Cruz County)	$16,000	$14,100–$18,300
South Lake Tahoe (96150, El Dorado County)	$16,400	$14,500–$18,700

By finish level (Los Angeles, 90026)

Finish	Likely	Range
Basic	$13,300	$11,800–$15,000
Mid	$15,600	$13,800–$17,600
Premium	$17,400	$15,600–$19,600

By option: What to replace or install (mid finish, Los Angeles; other choices at their defaults)

Option	Likely	Range
Central AC and gas furnace	$15,600	$13,800–$17,600
Central AC only	$10,400	$9,300–$11,900
Gas furnace only	$6,100	$5,400–$6,900
Heat pump with air handler	$15,200	$13,500–$17,300
Ductless mini-split	$10,500	$9,400–$11,800

Ductwork

Option	Likely	Range
Keep the existing ducts	$15,600	$13,800–$17,600
Replace about half the duct runs	$20,300	$18,000–$23,200
All new ducts	$25,700	$22,500–$29,700

Where the money goes (likely, Los Angeles)

Materials, with sales tax	$9,200
Labor at local billed rates	$3,900
Permit fees (estimate)	$500
Contingency	$1,400

Time on site: about 4 crew days; roughly 1 week start to finish. This permit is often issued over the counter or online within days; allow 1 to 2 days of waiting per inspection.

How the numbers are built

Local labor
Each trade at the hourly rate contractors bill in your county: BLS wages, payroll taxes, California workers' comp rates for that trade, and contractor overhead and profit.
Real product prices
Materials priced from public store pages, each with its link and the date checked (latest 2026-10-29), plus waste and your county's sales tax.
Honest ranges
Low, likely and high from 4,000 simulated outcomes, not one number that sounds more certain than it is.

Open the free estimator to change the size, finish and ZIP, leave out or add line items, and print a scope sheet for contractor bids. Method and sources.

Questions

How much does an HVAC replacement (AC and furnace) cost in California?

For an 1,800 sq ft home: a new 3-ton central AC with matching coil and a 60,000 BTU gas furnace, keeping and sealing the existing ducts, with a new thermostat, permit and the Title 24 HERS check, our mid-finish likely budget is $14,900 to $16,800 across nine California cities (Fresno lowest, San Jose highest). Your own size, finish and ZIP change this; the free estimator recalculates it line by line.

Why do costs vary so much by city?

Mostly labor. We price each trade at the hourly rate a contractor bills in your county, built from Bureau of Labor Statistics wages, payroll taxes, California workers' comp rates and contractor overhead. Sales tax and permit fees also vary by county and city.

Does the estimate include permits and contractor profit?

Yes. Permit fees are estimated from the job's valuation. When three or more trades are involved, a general contractor overhead and profit line is shown separately; single-trade jobs are priced at the trade's billed rate only. There is no separate markup on materials: they are priced at the store price plus sales tax.

Is this a quote?

No. It is a budget estimate, not a bid, appraisal, or insurance claim valuation. Get written bids from licensed contractors, and check licenses with the Contractors State License Board.

Other cost guides

Remodel Estimator is self-serve budgeting software from Caissonix, in pilot. Budget estimate, not a bid, appraisal, or insurance claim valuation. Figures computed 2026-10-29 from price book 2026-10-29.8; they change as prices and wages are updated. Get licensed contractor bids, and check a contractor's license with the Contractors State License Board before you sign.