Heat Pump Cost Calculator
Estimate what a heat pump will cost to install and to run, based on your home size, climate, ductwork and efficiency tier.
Estimated installed cost
—2026 U.S. contractor range, before any rebates or incentives.
These are planning estimates only, not quotes. Real pricing depends on your load calculation, electrical work, permits and local labor rates. Always get at least three quotes.
What drives the priceHow this estimate is built
The calculator sizes a system from your square footage and climate zone, then applies typical 2026 U.S. contractor pricing for equipment and labour at your chosen efficiency tier. Running cost is modelled from estimated annual heating and cooling hours for your climate, the seasonal efficiency of that tier, and the electricity rate you enter.
It is a planning tool, not a quote. It cannot see your insulation, your window area, your electrical panel, your local labour rates or the shape of your ductwork — and those are exactly the things that move a real price. Treat the range as a sanity check on the quotes you receive, not a target.
What the calculator cannot include
- Electrical work. A panel upgrade to accommodate a heat pump and backup heat can add $1,500–$4,000.
- Ductwork repair. Sealing and rebalancing existing ducts is common and worth doing; full replacement is a different order of cost.
- Permits and inspections. These vary widely by jurisdiction.
- Removal and disposal of the old system, and any asbestos or oil-tank complications.
- Incentives. The federal 25C credit ended for property placed in service after December 31, 2025, but state and utility rebates may still apply where you live.
Getting a real number
Ask at least three contractors for a written quote that includes a Manual J load calculation, the exact AHRI-matched indoor and outdoor model numbers, the refrigerant type, the warranty terms and registration requirements, and a line for commissioning. If a quote arrives with a tonnage but no load calculation, that is a warning sign — see what a good installation looks like.
Frequently asked questions
Because installed heat pump prices genuinely are. The same equipment can vary by thousands of dollars depending on ductwork condition, electrical capacity, permit costs, roof or crawlspace access, and regional labour rates. A wide honest range is more useful than a narrow false one.
Not always. Moving from an entry single-stage system to a mid-tier two-stage system usually pays back reasonably in a climate with real heating and cooling seasons. Moving from mid-tier to top-tier variable-speed often does not pay back on energy alone — you are buying comfort, quiet and better humidity control as much as savings.
It is a modelled estimate using typical seasonal hours for your climate band and the average efficiency of the tier you selected. Real consumption depends on your insulation, thermostat behaviour, backup heat usage and actual weather. Expect the true figure to land within roughly 25% of the estimate for a typical home.
In cold climates, yes. Many installations keep an existing furnace as a dual-fuel backup or add electric resistance strips. The calculator does not price that separately, so add an allowance if your contractor recommends it.