How to price HVAC jobs profitably in 2026

Pricing HVAC jobs in 2026 isn’t as simple as checking competitor rates and adding a markup. Refrigerant costs fluctuate. Equipment gets backordered. Labor rates rise. If your pricing system isn’t built on real numbers, your margins shrink fast.

Too many HVAC pros undercharge because they guess, match competitors, or forget to account for overhead. The fix is a structured HVAC pricing system built around real labor costs, material costs, overhead, and target profit margins.

This guide walks you through exactly how to calculate HVAC prices step by step, using clear formulas and real-world examples you can apply immediately. You’ll learn how to set service call fees, choose the right pricing model, calculate overhead per billable hour, apply markup correctly, and build a price book that protects your margins.

→ Want to price jobs quickly? Download our free HVAC price book template with customizable branding and built-in formulas to save you time.

Table of contents

Average HVAC prices and rates in 2026

HVAC pricing varies by system type, efficiency rating (SEER2/HSPF2), regional labor rates, home size, and job complexity.

As of 2026, national average HVAC costs typically fall within these ranges:

• HVAC repairs: $150–$450
• Major HVAC repairs (compressor, coil replacement): $900–$2,500
• Full HVAC system replacement: $5,000–$12,500

National averages provide a benchmark, but your final HVAC pricing should reflect your true labor burden, overhead, and target profit margin. “A lot of new HVAC owners look around, see what the competition’s charging, and just try to match that. The problem is that’s the fastest way to undercut yourself,” says Irena Martincevic, an industry analyst at Fixr.com.

Set your rates to reflect your true labor burden, margins, and profit goals. Be sure to account for regional labor costs, overhead, and each technician’s fully loaded labor rate—including hourly pay, PTO, insurance contributions, payroll taxes, and any company-paid benefits.

*All HVAC prices in this guide are sourced from national contractor cost studies, home-services pricing benchmarks, and publicly available HVAC pricing data, including updated 2026 cost reports from Angi, HomeAdvisor, HomeGuide, HVAC.com, and Fixr.

HVAC service call cost

Most HVAC pros charge a service call or diagnostic fee to ensure they’re compensated for travel, fuel, diagnostic tools, and admin work, regardless of whether the customer approves the repair.

In 2026, average service call fees range from $70–$200. Emergency, weekend, and after-hours calls typically fall on the higher end of that range.

What a service call fee should cover:

• Travel time
• Fuel and vehicle costs
• Diagnostic time
• Basic system inspection
• Administrative overhead

HVAC repair cost

HVAC repair costs depend on the type of system, parts, and labor involved. Minor jobs like capacitor swaps are quick and inexpensive, while major repairs like compressors can take hours and cost more in parts.

Average HVAC repair costs in 2026 include:

Service	Average price range
Minor repairs, such as capacitor replacement	$150–$600
Major repairs, such as compressor replacement	$900–$2,500

Pro tip: Track how long these jobs actually take—knowing your real labor time helps you avoid undercharging.

HVAC installation and replacement cost

Installation costs vary based on system type, home size, and labor rates. Make sure to account for more than the new equipment when setting you pricing; you’ll need to factor in labor, planning, and overhead too.

Average HVAC installation costs in 2026 include:

Service	Average price range
Mini-split (per zone)	$2,000–$8,000
Furnace install	$3,000–$7,000
Central AC	$3,500–$10,000
Heat pump	$4,500–$12,000

Cost to replace or clean ductwork

Ductwork pricing can be tricky—jobs vary a lot depending on home size and layout. Duct installation is usually priced per linear foot, while duct cleaning covers the whole system.

Service	Average price range
New duct installation	$10 to $25 per linear foot
Duct cleaning	$450–$,1000

Learn more: How to price duct cleaning jobs

HVAC maintenance plan cost

Maintenance plans create predictable revenue and help build long-term customer relationships. Pricing varies based on how many systems a home has and the level of service you offer.

Average residential HVAC maintenance plan pricing in 2026:

• $150–$500 per year for residential maintenance plans
• Slightly more for multi-system homes or indoor air quality (IAQ) add-ons
• Premium tiers for priority scheduling and extended warranties

Maintenance plans typically include:

• Seasonal tune-ups
• Discounted repair rates
• Priority scheduling
• Reminder notifications

Many companies offer both annual and monthly payment options.

Pro tip: Automate renewals and billing inside Housecall Pro using our HVAC maintenance agreement software to save time, reduce missed payments, and generate steady revenue with less effort.

HVAC service price list (sample)

Below is a sample HVAC price list showing common repair and service ranges.

Service	Typical price range
Tune-up	$70–$100
Thermostat repair or replacement	$75–$575
Repair or replace flame sensor	$80-$250
Capacitor replacement	$150–$400
Drain line cleaning	$150–$350
Blower motor repair	$150–$700
Refrigerant recharge	$200–$600
AC fan motor replacement	$200–$700
Furnace gas valve replacement cost	$200–$800
Refrigerant leak repair	$200–$1,500
HVAC duct cleaning cost	$300–$700
Blower motor replacement	$300–$900

Pro tip: Add these prices directly into Housecall Pro’s Price Book so every tech quotes from the same approved rates in the field.

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HVAC pricing structures

Every HVAC job has different challenges, so pricing needs to reflect the time, materials, and expertise involved. Most HVAC businesses choose between flat-rate, time and materials pricing, or a hybrid approach.

Here’s a clear breakdown of the most common HVAC pricing methods and what affects the final cost.

HVAC hourly rates

HVAC pros charge an average of $75–$150 per hour. Hourly billing is typically part of a broader time-and-materials pricing structure, where customers pay for actual labor hours plus the cost of materials used.

Time-and-materials pricing works best for:

• Diagnostic and troubleshooting calls
• Minor repairs (e.g., replacing capacitors, switches, belts)
• System inspections outside a maintenance plan
• Ductwork adjustments or small fixes
• After-hours or emergency service (often at a higher hourly rate)

HVAC flat-rate pricing

Flat-rate billing means you charge a set price for standard jobs, regardless of how long it takes. This pricing model is common in HVAC because many repairs, tune-ups, and standard replacements follow predictable labor and material patterns.

Flat-rate pricing supports predictable revenue and faster approvals, since customers know the total cost upfront. It also protects both your business and the customer. When an experienced technician completes a job efficiently, your margins improve. If unexpected issues extend the repair time, the customer isn’t surprised with a higher bill.

Hybrid HVAC pricing

Most HVAC pros use a hybrid pricing model. This approach gives you more flexibility, ensuring predictable jobs stay profitable while more unpredictable work is fairly priced. 

Typical structure:

• Flat rate for standard repairs, tune-ups, and common replacements
• Time-and-materials for troubleshooting, multi-system problems, remodels, or custom ductwork
• Service call fees layered on top to cover travel and overhead

Emergency and after-hours pricing

Emergency HVAC calls require higher pricing because they disrupt scheduling and require immediate response. Customers expect a higher rate during nights, weekends, or holidays, but you should always clearly communicate emergency pricing upfront to avoid disputes..

Typical emergency pricing includes:

• $150–$300 after-hours diagnostic fee
• 1.5x–2x overtime or emergency labor multiplier
• Travel or fuel surcharges for long-distance or difficult-to-reach jobs

For example, a weekday repair might normally cost $200 for a service call plus $100 per hour labor, but the same job on a Sunday evening could jump to $250–$300 for the call plus $150–$200 per hour labor. This ensures your business is compensated for the inconvenience and urgency.

Additional HVAC cost considerations

Numerous factors can impact how long or complex a job is. Beyond basic labor and material costs, always consider the following when creating estimates:

• Location: High-cost metro areas, remote areas, and regions with severe weather typically command higher rates. Adjust your pricing to match local demand and operating costs.
• Home size and age: Larger homes and older systems often need more diagnostic time, longer duct runs, or additional components, increasing material and labor costs.
• Accessibility: Systems in attics, tight crawl spaces, or roofs take longer to reach and work on. Add time for setup, safety, and limited maneuverability.
• Local market rates: Research what other reputable contractors in your area are charging to understand how you should position your company. The goal isn’t to charge the cheapest price, but to price confidently within your market while protecting your margins and reflecting the value you provide.

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How to calculate HVAC prices step by step

Use this step-by-step approach to confidently price any HVAC job. Having a system in place makes it easier and faster to create accurate, profitable estimates each time.

→ Speed up the process with Housecall Pro’s free HVAC service price calculator.

Step 1: Choose your pricing model

Choosing the right pricing model sets the foundation for how you present your services and how predictable your income is. As we discussed earlier, HVAC contractors usually use a combination of models.

• Time-and-materials pricing: Best for troubleshooting and custom work.
• Flat-rate pricing: Best for predictable, repeatable jobs.
• Hybrid pricing: A flexible combination used by most successful HVAC businesses.

Step 2: Research your local HVAC market

Customers compare your rates to local HVAC companies they see online—usually the top five results. For accurate benchmarking, review:

• Competitor starting prices
• Online reviews mentioning price
• Service packages offered

Use this information as a reference point, not a rule. Your costs and desired margins may be higher than competitors, so adjust accordingly to avoid undercutting yourself while staying competitive in your area. If your pricing is higher, make sure your value is clear to customers—highlight your expertise, reliability, or included services that justify the difference.

Step 3: Calculate HVAC material costs

Material costs form a major part of your pricing, especially for installs and part replacements. Always price materials based on current supplier costs, not outdated invoices.

Material categories include:

• HVAC equipment (furnaces, condensers, heat pumps)
• Repair parts (capacitors, motors, valves)
• Consumables (refrigerant, adhesives, cleaners)

Step 4: Calculate labor costs

Your true labor cost includes far more than hourly wages. Even if you work alone, you need to pay yourself a fair wage to cover your time, skills, and business expenses.

Labor cost should include:

• Base wage (what you pay yourself or employees)
• Payroll taxes (or self-employment taxes for solo owners)
• Workers comp (or insurance coverage for liability and injury)
• PTO and unbillable hours (time spent on admin instead of jobs)
• Training and onboarding (courses, certifications, or ongoing learning you invest in)

Step 5: Calculate overhead per billable hour

Overhead represents the cost of keeping your business operating. Spreading this cost over your billable hours ensures your pricing reflects your true financial needs.

Overhead typically includes:

• Rent or office space
• Software tools and subscriptions
• Vehicles, fuel, and insurance
• Office staff and administrative labor
• Marketing and licensing

Use this simple formula:

Overhead per Hour = Total Overhead per Year / Total Billable Hours per Year

Step 6: Set your target profit margin

Your target margin ensures you don’t just cover costs but also generate healthy profit. Different job types may require different margins based on risk and complexity.

Typical HVAC target margins include:

• 20%–40% on service work
• Higher margins on small repairs
• Lower margins on equipment-heavy installs

Step 7: Apply markup to get your final price

Markup is the percentage you add to cover overhead. Applying a consistent markup helps you maintain predictable margins regardless of job complexity. Always double-check the resulting margin after applying markup, especially for equipment-heavy work.

Use this simple formula:

Final Price = (Labor Cost + Material Cost + Overhead) × (1 + Markup %)

→ Use Housecall Pro’s HVAC service markup calculator to ensure you’re applying the right markup to materials and labor so every job is profitable.

Step 8: Build your HVAC price book

A price book is the backbone of consistent pricing. It stores every service, part, and rate so you or your techs can quote confidently from the field.

Your price book should include:

• Diagnostic pricing
• Flat-rate repair pricing
• Equipment pricing tiers
• Add-on IAQ products
• Membership pricing

Building a comprehensive price book from scratch can take weeks—or even months—of detailed, labor-intensive work. Prebuilt price books from other companies can save time, but often don’t include services specific to your market, like oil-fired or coal systems, meaning you still end up adding and customizing many items.

Profit Rhino (integrated with Housecall Pro) offers a faster alternative by providing a custom, prebuilt price book tailored to HVAC pros. It uses national average part costs and typical labor times to generate flat-rate pricing content you can import directly into your system, and lets you set your own hourly rates and part markups—so you keep control of your margins while dramatically reducing the work it takes to build your book.

Step 9: Update your prices regularly

Pricing isn’t “set and forget.” Regular updates keep your business protected from sudden increases in labor, fuel, and equipment costs.

Price updates should occur:

• Annually or semiannually
• Whenever suppliers raise prices
• When job costing shows declining margins

HVAC job pricing example: Furnace + heat pump

This example walks through pricing a full furnace and heat pump installation, which includes removing the old system, setting up new equipment, connecting ductwork, and testing the system to ensure it runs properly.

• Labor: 20 hrs × $60/hr = $1,200
• Materials and equipment: $7,000
• Overhead: $500
• Total cost before margin: $8,700
• Final price with 20% margin: $10,440

Example HVAC price book

This sample HVAC price book shows how you can structure clear, consistent pricing for diagnostics, repairs, and emergency services. The formulas demonstrate exactly how cost, overhead, and margin combine to create a final flat-rate price.

Scenario	Inputs	Formula	Final price
Standard diagnostic	1 hr @ $90/hr + $15 overhead + $10 materials + $25 margin	(1 × 90) + 15 + 10 + 25	$140
AC capacitor replacement	0.75 hr @ $95/hr + $20 part + $15 overhead + $35 margin	(0.75 × 95) + 20 + 15 + 35	$141.25
Heat pump service call	1.25 hr @ $95/hr + $10 materials + $20 overhead + $30 margin	(1.25 × 95) + 10 + 20 + 30	$178.75
Drain line clearing	0.5 hr @ $90/hr + $5 materials + $15 overhead + $20 margin	(0.5 × 90) + 5 + 15 + 20	$85
After-hours emergency diagnostic	1 hr @ $95/hr × 1.75 + $15 overhead + $25 margin	(1 × 95 × 1.75) + 15 + 25	$206.25

Advanced HVAC pricing techniques

Advanced pricing strategies go beyond basic cost-plus calculations to help your HVAC business earn more while staying competitive. These approaches focus on boosting perceived value, improving your chances of closing the job, and protecting your margins on tricky or high-effort work. By adding these techniques on top of your standard pricing system, you can build a stronger, more flexible business that grows sustainably.

Offer tiered options

Tiered options help customers compare value and choose the best system for their budget. For example, you might offer a basic, standard, and premium package for a furnace or heat pump installation, with each tier including different equipment brands, warranties, or add-on features. This not only makes pricing easier to present, it also encourages customers to see the value in higher-end options, increasing your average ticket while giving them choice and transparency.

Useful HVAC pricing tiers include:

• Standard-efficiency equipment
• Mid-efficiency systems (common upgrades)
• High-efficiency premium systems (variable speed, inverter technology)

For installs, you can also tier by:

• Single-stage vs. two-stage vs. variable-speed
• Square footage or tonnage needs
• Ductwork complexity

Bundle services and add-ons

Sergey Nikolin, co-founder of Product Air Hearing & Cooling LLC, recommends adding something to increase value rather than lowering rates to compete. “For example, a seasonal tune-up if they book through you again or an extended labor warranty at no extra cost.” Bundling services like this not only makes you more attractive to customers but also helps encourage repeat business.

Here are some other ideas to bundle services:

• Discount IAQ products with a system install
• Combine duct cleaning with a furnace replacement
• Include a free filter replacement kit with a new system

Sell HVAC membership plans

Membership plans are subscription-style programs that give customers ongoing benefits in exchange for a recurring fee. They create recurring revenue, encourage long-term customer loyalty, and help prevent slow seasons. Typical membership perks include:

• Seasonal tune-ups
• Discounted repairs
• Priority service

Use Housecall Pro’s Service Plans to automate recurring billing and reminders.

Charge for complexity

Some jobs involve extra time, advanced skills, or hard-to-reach areas. Charging for complexity ensures your team is compensated fairly.

Situations that merit higher pricing include:

• Crawlspaces
• Attics
• VRF systems
• Zoned systems
• Use overtime multipliers or higher service call fees to cover schedule disruption.

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How to explain HVAC price increases to customers

Price increases are a normal part of running a service business, especially in HVAC where equipment and refrigerant costs shift frequently. Customers respond well when pricing changes are communicated clearly and confidently.

Here are simple ways to explain pricing adjustments professionally:

• Give customers advance notice: Providing at least 30 days’ notice (or before the next scheduled maintenance visit) shows respect and reduces pushback.
• Explain the value they’re receiving: Clearly outline what the price change covers (higher-quality parts, extended warranties, updated tools, rising material costs) so customers understand they’re paying for.
• Keep the message simple: Share the new price, the effective date, and what’s included in their service. Short, friendly communication works best.
• Offer loyalty perks when appropriate: Long-term clients appreciate small gestures like priority scheduling, extended labor warranties, or a one-time discount on a maintenance plan.
• Stay confident in your pricing: Customers take cues from your tone, so present adjustments clearly and professionally. Believing in the value you provide helps them accept the change without pushback.

HVAC price increase letter (template)

Hi [Customer Name],

I’m reaching out to let you know about a small update to our HVAC service pricing. Due to rising equipment, refrigerant, and labor costs, your rate for [service] will change from [old price] to [new price] starting on [date].

This adjustment helps us maintain fast response times, certified technicians, and reliable service for your heating and cooling system. Everything currently included in your plan or service package will remain the same.

If you have any questions, I’m here to help. Thank you for trusting us with your home’s comfort.

[Your Name] 
[Business Name] 
[Phone Number] 
[Email or Website]

Learn more: How to Write a Price Increase Letter Like a Pro

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How Housecall Pro’s HVAC software can help 

Housecall Pro acts as the operations and marketing engine behind your business—helping you stay organized, profitable, and scalable. With our HVAC software, you can:

• Schedule and dispatch jobs efficiently: See real-time technician availability, assign jobs faster, and reduce downtime.
• Automate invoices and payments: Create invoices on-site, send them instantly, and collect payment through online or card processing to speed up cash flow.
• Use flat-rate pricing and built-in price books: Standardize your HVAC service prices, prevent inconsistent quoting across techs, and build invoices directly from pre-approved pricing.
• Track performance metrics and job profitability: See which services, equipment, and maintenance plans deliver the strongest margins.
• Manage customer relationships: Store job history, system details, and service notes so you can drive repeat business, membership renewals, and referrals.
• Store certifications and licenses: Keep technician credentials organized in one place for easy compliance and audit readiness.

Start your free 14-day trial today and see how much smoother your business can run with the right tools.

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