Your home
Your estimate
One system heats and cools. Check local utility rebates — many pay $500–$3,000 for qualifying heat pumps.
How much does a heat pump cost in 2026?
A ducted heat pump costs $8,000 to $18,000 installed in mid-2026 — standard systems at $8,000–$13,000, cold-climate models that hold full heating output near 5°F at $11,000–$18,000, and dual-fuel setups (heat pump plus gas furnace backup) at $10,000–$17,000. That’s 25–40% more than a comparable AC — but a heat pump replaces both your AC and your heating, so the honest comparison is against a furnace-plus-AC combo ($11,000–$19,000), where heat pumps frequently win on price and almost always on operating cost versus electric, oil, or propane heat.
Heat pump cost by home size (installed)
| Home size | Size | Standard | Cold-climate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft | 2 ton | $7,200 – $10,800 | $9,500 – $14,200 |
| 1,800 sq ft | 3 ton | $8,300 – $12,500 | $11,000 – $16,500 |
| 2,400 sq ft | 4 ton | $9,500 – $14,300 | $12,600 – $18,900 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 5 ton | $10,700 – $16,000 | $14,100 – $21,200 |
A note on incentives in 2026
The landscape shifted: the federal 25C tax credit (up to $2,000 for qualifying heat pumps) ended for installations after December 31, 2025, so quotes in 2026 no longer carry that line. What remains is a patchwork worth checking before you sign: state programs (several states run rebates through federal home-energy funds), utility rebates ($500–$3,000 is common for cold-climate models), and manufacturer promotions in shoulder seasons. Ask each bidding contractor to list applicable rebates in writing — good HVAC companies file the paperwork for you, and it’s a useful quality filter.
When a heat pump wins — and when it doesn’t
Clear win: you currently heat with electric resistance, oil, or propane (savings of 30–60% on heating are typical), your AC and furnace are both due, or you’re in a mild-to-moderate climate. Case-by-case: cold climates with cheap natural gas — modern cold-climate units genuinely work at -5°F, but cheap gas narrows the operating savings; a dual-fuel system that runs gas only below ~25°F is often the best-of-both answer there. The must-do: insist on a Manual J load calculation and, in cold states, ask specifically for the unit’s rated capacity at 5°F — not its nameplate tonnage — because that number decides whether your house is warm in January.
Frequently asked questions
Is a heat pump cheaper than a furnace and AC?
Do heat pumps work in cold climates?
How long do heat pumps last?
Is there still a federal tax credit for heat pumps?
Your zones
Your estimate
Includes outdoor condenser, indoor head(s), line sets, electrical circuit, and mounting.
How much does a mini-split cost in 2026?
A ductless mini-split costs $3,500 to $6,500 installed for a single zone in mid-2026, and $8,000 to $16,000 for multi-zone systems conditioning three to five rooms. Cold-climate models that heat efficiently to -5°F add about 20%. Mini-splits own three niches nothing else serves as well: additions and garages without ductwork, homes with no ducts at all (older houses, boiler heat), and room-by-room control for uneven homes — and per unit of energy they’re the most efficient heating/cooling equipment sold.
Mini-split cost by zones
| System | Covers | Installed (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Single zone (9–12k BTU) | 1 room, 350–550 sq ft | $3,500 – $6,500 |
| Dual zone | 2 rooms, up to 1,000 sq ft | $6,500 – $10,000 |
| 3 zones | ~1,500 sq ft | $8,500 – $13,000 |
| 4 zones | ~2,000 sq ft | $10,500 – $15,500 |
| 5 zones (whole home) | ~2,500 sq ft | $12,500 – $18,500 |
Mini-split vs central: the honest framing
For a whole ducted house, a central heat pump usually beats five mini-split heads on price and looks. Mini-splits win when ducts don’t exist (installing ductwork costs $8,000–$15,000 by itself), when you’re conditioning part of a home (one 12k head in a garage gym beats extending ducts every time), or when zoning matters more than aesthetics. The visible wall unit is the real tradeoff — ceiling cassettes hide it for ~25% more. On DIY: pre-charged DIY-rated kits ($1,800–$3,500 per zone) are legitimate for handy owners and legal in most places since no refrigerant handling is needed — but a botched line-set connection has no cheap fix, and pro installation preserves the full compressor warranty.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a mini-split for one room?
What size mini-split do I need?
Do mini-splits heat in winter?
Are mini-splits expensive to run?
Four free calculators for the systems that heat and cool your home — sized to your square footage and climate, with 2026 installed prices for all 50 states.
About these HVAC calculators
HVAC is the trade where getting oversold is easiest — equipment tiers, tonnage, and efficiency ratings give a salesperson plenty of levers. These calculators size systems from your square footage and climate the way a first-pass estimate should, then show the price range good contractors actually bid. Two rules apply to every quote regardless of what you buy: insist on a Manual J load calculation before anyone names a tonnage, and get three bids with equipment model numbers listed — HVAC quotes on identical specs routinely vary 30%+. Prices reflect the industry’s 2025–2026 refrigerant transition; methodology here.
Heat Pump cost by state
Prices are adjusted for each state’s construction wages, permit costs, and local code requirements.
Mini Split cost by state
Prices are adjusted for each state’s construction wages, permit costs, and local code requirements.