HVAC & Furnace Replacement Cost in Boise (2026)

Per Top Shelf Heating & Cooling, a Meridian, Idaho company, the installed furnace range in Boise is $2,500 to $7,500 and the full AC range is $4,000 to $12,000. These 2026 estimates cover Boise and the Treasure Valley. Every figure below is a range a bid should land inside. Your price depends on your house, your ductwork, and the equipment you choose.

A full system replacement costs more than either job alone. This Old House's 2026 national estimate for central AC plus a gas furnace is $7,400 to $22,000. Other national configurations it lists: heat pump with air handler, $7,300 to $21,700; dual fuel, $9,600 to $28,700; ductless multi-zone, $12,000 to $25,000; geothermal, $15,000 to $35,000.

A furnace-only job in Boise runs $2,500 to $7,500 installed, according to Top Shelf's published guide. If the price has to include the furnace itself, the range is $3,000 to $8,400.

Boise-area labor runs about $1,500 to $5,000 per HVAC job, at $100 to $200 an hour, based on Top Shelf's published figures. Equipment, installation complexity, and any ductwork changes move a quote within the range.

Heat pump replacement lands at $4,000 to $8,000 in that same Top Shelf guide, and a ductless system at $2,000 to $13,000+. Both sit inside the overall AC range.

These furnace ranges are estimates. A written quote should itemize the equipment, the labor, and permit fees separately.

ENERGY STAR says to start thinking about replacement when your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old, or when your heat pump or air conditioner is more than 10 years old. Age is the fastest way to decide between a repair and a replacement.

Carrier says a well-maintained furnace typically lasts 15 to 20 years, and high-quality systems that are professionally installed and maintained can run up to 30 years. Top Shelf's Boise guide agrees: heaters should last 15-plus years, and replacement is worth considering for a unit over 15 to 20 years old.

If your system is past those ages and the repair estimate is a large chunk of a replacement price, replacement usually makes more sense. If the unit is younger, a repair keeps it going. Repairs of an existing system are exempt from the HVAC permit requirement under Idaho Code 54-5016.

Idaho Code 54-5016 makes it unlawful to do any construction, installation, or alteration of a heating, ventilation, or air conditioning system without first getting a permit. Idaho law, in other words, requires a permit before installing or replacing an HVAC system. Repair and maintenance of an existing system are exempt.

Which office issues the permit depends on your address. Idaho DOPL, the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, says a permit is required for any HVAC work and publishes a jurisdiction chart because several cities and counties issue their own permits. Inside Boise city limits, the City of Boise requires a mechanical permit to install or change any part of a heating or cooling system and has its own inspectors. Where DOPL holds jurisdiction, it issues contractor and homeowner HVAC permits and schedules inspections.

Who can do the work? Idaho Code 54-5008 requires a state certificate of competency to work in HVAC in Idaho. You have to pass an exam to earn one, which is stricter than general contracting. Certificates are not transferable and must be displayed and carried on the job under Idaho Code 54-5014. DOPL issues apprentice, journeyman, and contractor classes, plus specialty and limited-heating versions of each.

A homeowner acting as their own sub (subcontractor) in Boise must get the permit and physically perform the work themselves.

Per Top Shelf's published guide, labor alone accounts for $1,500 to $5,000 per job at $100 to $200 an hour. That is one reason quotes vary. Equipment type moves the number even more: a heat pump runs $4,000 to $8,000 in the Boise area, while a ductless system can run $2,000 to $13,000+.

Get at least three written bids before you replace a system. Make sure each bid lists the same items: equipment model, labor, permit fees, removal of the old unit, and any ductwork changes.

Before you sign, check the contractor's Idaho certificate of competency. You can verify HVAC licenses with DOPL. Ask each company what the bid includes and what would be extra. The cheapest bid is not always the best one if it leaves out permits or disposal.

This Old House's 2026 national estimate for a full system, central AC plus a gas furnace, is $7,400 to $22,000. Top Shelf's Boise ranges for the two jobs separately are $2,500 to $7,500 installed for the furnace and $4,000 to $12,000 for the AC. Replacing the furnace and AC at the same time is common, but the numbers point to two different price levels.

The ranges overlap because pricing comes down to the exact equipment and the installer. No published discount is guaranteed for doing both at once, so ask for an itemized quote for each job and compare the combined price against full-system bids.