Heat Pump Installation Cost Calculator
Ask five guides what a heat pump costs and you get five answers, from about $8,000 to about $25,000. Some guides put the average heat pump installation cost near $8,350, while real project data gives a median of $19,500 for a 1,500 to 2,500 sq ft home. Part of the gap is what each estimate counts: many price ductwork and electrical work as separate lines, so the calculator starts from the system and lets you add the house work.
Heat pump installation cost by home size
Ducted and ductless systems by the size of the home:
| Home size | System size | Ducted | Ductless, multi-zone | Cold-climate model adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 to 1,500 sq ft | 1.5 to 2 tons | $8,500 to $14,500 | $6,500 to $12,500 | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| 1,600 to 2,200 sq ft | 2.5 to 3 tons | $10,500 to $17,500 | $8,500 to $15,500 | $2,000 to $4,000 |
| 2,300 to 3,000 sq ft | 3.5 to 4 tons | $12,500 to $20,000 | $10,500 to $18,500 | $2,500 to $5,000 |
Some size bands run lower, from $5,000 to $8,000 for a 2-ton system up to $9,500 to $22,000 for 3.5 to 5 tons. Marketplace quotes average about $3,790 per ton for ducted systems.
Mini split installation costs and other system types
| System | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Ducted air-source, 2 to 4 tons | $9,500 to $18,500 |
| Cold-climate ducted | $12,500 to $22,000 |
| Ductless mini-split, one zone | $4,500 to $8,500 |
| Ductless mini-split, 2 to 4 zones | $8,500 to $17,500 |
| Dual-fuel, heat pump plus gas furnace | $11,500 to $20,000 |
A single-zone ductless mini-split is the lowest price in the table. Each extra indoor head adds $1,800 to $3,500, so a whole house of mini-splits can end up costing as much as a ducted system. Real project data puts the median single-zone mini-split at $6,600.
A cold-climate model costs roughly 18% to 25% more than a standard ducted system of the same size. A dual-fuel system pairs the heat pump with a gas furnace.
Efficiency moves the price too: $5,000 to $12,000 for a basic SEER2 14 to 15 unit and $15,000 to $25,000 for SEER2 20 and above.
What else the house may need
A typical job splits into equipment, $3,500 to $10,500, and labor, $2,500 to $7,500. Work on the house is priced separately:
| Work | Cost |
|---|---|
| Ductwork, modified or new | $2,000 to $7,500 |
| Electrical work, circuits and disconnect | $400 to $3,500 |
| Electrical panel upgrade | $1,500 to $4,000 |
| Refrigerant line set, valves and pad | $300 to $1,500 |
| Thermostat or controls | $100 to $600 |
| Permits and inspections | $50 to $500 |
Only the permit is switched on by default. If you are pricing heat pump replacement cost in a home that already has ducts and a recent system, you may not need most of these lines. None of the sources we checked publish a separate price for replacing an existing heat pump, so get the contractor to list them.
Running costs, credits and rebates
A heat pump earns part of its price back on energy bills. NREL estimates $300 to $650 a year in savings, and savings average about $898 a year for homes switching from electric resistance, oil or propane heat. A heat pump typically lasts 10 to 15 years.
The federal tax credit of up to $2,000 a year has ended. The IRS says the credit does not apply to property placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a heat pump cost in 2026 gets no federal tax break, even though some guides still list it. State-run rebates are a different program: the Department of Energy says its Home Energy Rebates, worth up to $14,000 per household, are available in select states. Check with your state energy office before you sign.