Cost engine

How much does ductwork replacement cost?

National price ranges for ductwork replacement, the unit pricing contractors quote from, and what the same job costs across local markets.

Model reviewed August 2026

Ductwork Replacement cost

$2,500 – $12,000

Most homeowners pay around $5,400 for ductwork replacement, or $250–$600 per supply run. Permit fees add $90–$320.

Estimate your job

Run your own numbers before scrolling — the same engine behind the ranges below.

Recommended size

5 tons

Round to the nearest half ton

Cooling load
61,000 BTU/hr
Typical equipment costInstalled, 14-17 SEER2
$8,500 – $16,000
Rule-of-thumb check
400 sq ft per ton

Estimates only. Local pricing, site conditions and code requirements change the real number.

What homeowners reported paying

Invoice amounts submitted by homeowners nationwide, shown beside the model.

Price breakdown

Budget scope$2,500
Typical project$5,400
Premium / complex$12,000
per supply run$250 – $600
Permit fees$90 – $320
Timeline1-3 days of work, 1-3 weeks including permitting

What drives the price

  • Number of supply and return runs
  • Flex duct versus rigid sheet metal
  • Attic access and clearance
  • Return air sizing corrections
  • Removal of contaminated duct board

Cost by state

The same scope priced through each state's labor, material and code load.

Most expensive states

Hawaii$8,900California$7,600Alaska$7,300New York$7,200Massachusetts$7,100District of Columbia$7,000

Least expensive states

Mississippi$4,700West Virginia$4,800Oklahoma$4,800Kansas$4,800Arkansas$4,800South Dakota$4,900

Ductwork Replacement runs about 89% more in Hawaii than in Mississippi for an identical scope — almost entirely a labor and code-load difference.

Ductwork cost in Hawaii$4,100 – $19,800 · +65%Ductwork cost in California$3,500 – $16,900 · +41%Ductwork cost in Alaska$3,400 – $16,200 · +35%Ductwork cost in New York$3,400 – $16,100 · +34%Ductwork cost in Massachusetts$3,300 – $15,700 · +31%Ductwork cost in District of Columbia$3,200 – $15,500 · +29%Ductwork cost in New Jersey$3,200 – $15,300 · +27%Ductwork cost in Connecticut$3,100 – $14,800 · +23%Ductwork cost in Rhode Island$3,000 – $14,500 · +21%Ductwork cost in Washington$3,000 – $14,400 · +20%Ductwork cost in Oregon$3,000 – $14,200 · +19%Ductwork cost in Maryland$2,900 – $13,900 · +16%Ductwork cost in Illinois$2,800 – $13,600 · +13%Ductwork cost in Colorado$2,800 – $13,300 · +10%Ductwork cost in New Hampshire$2,800 – $13,300 · +11%Ductwork cost in Florida$2,700 – $13,100 · +9%Ductwork cost in Nevada$2,700 – $13,000 · +9%Ductwork cost in Delaware$2,700 – $12,800 · +7%Ductwork cost in Maine$2,700 – $12,800 · +7%Ductwork cost in Minnesota$2,700 – $12,800 · +7%Ductwork cost in Pennsylvania$2,700 – $12,900 · +8%Ductwork cost in Vermont$2,700 – $12,900 · +8%Ductwork cost in Virginia$2,700 – $12,700 · +6%Ductwork cost in Arizona$2,600 – $12,300 · +2%Ductwork cost in Montana$2,500 – $12,200 · +1%Ductwork cost in Wisconsin$2,500 – $12,000 · 0%Ductwork cost in Idaho$2,400 – $11,700 · -2%Ductwork cost in Louisiana$2,400 – $11,700 · -2%Ductwork cost in Michigan$2,500 – $11,900 · -1%Ductwork cost in North Dakota$2,500 – $11,800 · -2%Ductwork cost in Texas$2,400 – $11,700 · -2%Ductwork cost in Utah$2,500 – $11,900 · -1%Ductwork cost in Wyoming$2,500 – $11,800 · -2%Ductwork cost in Georgia$2,400 – $11,500 · -4%Ductwork cost in New Mexico$2,400 – $11,500 · -4%Ductwork cost in Indiana$2,300 – $11,200 · -6%Ductwork cost in North Carolina$2,400 – $11,400 · -5%Ductwork cost in Ohio$2,400 – $11,400 · -5%Ductwork cost in South Carolina$2,400 – $11,300 · -6%Ductwork cost in Alabama$2,300 – $11,000 · -8%Ductwork cost in Missouri$2,300 – $11,000 · -8%Ductwork cost in Tennessee$2,300 – $11,000 · -8%Ductwork cost in Iowa$2,300 – $11,000 · -9%Ductwork cost in Kentucky$2,300 – $10,900 · -9%Ductwork cost in Nebraska$2,300 – $10,900 · -9%Ductwork cost in South Dakota$2,300 – $10,900 · -9%Ductwork cost in Arkansas$2,200 – $10,600 · -11%Ductwork cost in Kansas$2,200 – $10,800 · -10%Ductwork cost in Oklahoma$2,200 – $10,600 · -11%Ductwork cost in West Virginia$2,200 – $10,700 · -11%Ductwork cost in Mississippi$2,200 – $10,400 · -13%

State benchmark table

Low, typical and high ductwork replacement pricing in every state, from the same model as the ranges above.

StateLowTypicalHighvs US
Hawaii$4,100$8,900$19,800+65%
California$3,500$7,600$16,900+41%
Alaska$3,400$7,300$16,200+35%
New York$3,400$7,200$16,100+34%
Massachusetts$3,300$7,100$15,700+31%
District of Columbia$3,200$7,000$15,500+29%
New Jersey$3,200$6,900$15,300+27%
Connecticut$3,100$6,700$14,800+23%
Rhode Island$3,000$6,500$14,500+21%
Washington$3,000$6,500$14,400+20%
Oregon$3,000$6,400$14,200+19%
Maryland$2,900$6,300$13,900+16%
Illinois$2,800$6,100$13,600+13%
Colorado$2,800$6,000$13,300+10%
New Hampshire$2,800$6,000$13,300+11%
Florida$2,700$5,900$13,100+9%
Nevada$2,700$5,900$13,000+9%
Delaware$2,700$5,800$12,800+7%
Maine$2,700$5,800$12,800+7%
Minnesota$2,700$5,800$12,800+7%
Pennsylvania$2,700$5,800$12,900+8%
Vermont$2,700$5,800$12,900+8%
Virginia$2,700$5,700$12,700+6%
Arizona$2,600$5,500$12,300+2%
Montana$2,500$5,500$12,200+1%
Wisconsin$2,500$5,400$12,0000%
Idaho$2,400$5,300$11,700-2%
Louisiana$2,400$5,300$11,700-2%
Michigan$2,500$5,300$11,900-1%
North Dakota$2,500$5,300$11,800-2%
Texas$2,400$5,300$11,700-2%
Utah$2,500$5,300$11,900-1%
Wyoming$2,500$5,300$11,800-2%
Georgia$2,400$5,200$11,500-4%
New Mexico$2,400$5,200$11,500-4%
Indiana$2,300$5,100$11,200-6%
North Carolina$2,400$5,100$11,400-5%
Ohio$2,400$5,100$11,400-5%
South Carolina$2,400$5,100$11,300-6%
Alabama$2,300$5,000$11,000-8%
Missouri$2,300$5,000$11,000-8%
Tennessee$2,300$5,000$11,000-8%
Iowa$2,300$4,900$11,000-9%
Kentucky$2,300$4,900$10,900-9%
Nebraska$2,300$4,900$10,900-9%
South Dakota$2,300$4,900$10,900-9%
Arkansas$2,200$4,800$10,600-11%
Kansas$2,200$4,800$10,800-10%
Oklahoma$2,200$4,800$10,600-11%
West Virginia$2,200$4,800$10,700-11%
Mississippi$2,200$4,700$10,400-13%

Cost by city

Same scope, adjusted for local labor, material and permit pricing. Each city also has a permit page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for ductwork replacement?

In most jurisdictions this work is permitted and inspected. Requirements are set locally, so confirm the current application and inspection checklist with your building department before work starts.

How long does ductwork replacement take?

1-3 days of work, 1-3 weeks including permitting. Permit review and inspection scheduling are usually the largest source of variation.

What changes the price the most?

The largest cost drivers are number of supply and return runs; flex duct versus rigid sheet metal; attic access and clearance.

Sources

Sources & verification

Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.