How Much Does Boiler Replacement Cost in 2024?
Typical Range:
$3,304 - $8,455
Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 969 HomeAdvisor members. Embed this data
How We Get This Data
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- Homeowners use HomeAdvisor to find pros for home projects.
- When their projects are done, they fill out a short cost survey.
- We compile the data and report costs back to you.
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Updated September 27, 2024
Written by HomeAdvisor.Highlights
Boiler replacement typically costs between $3,304 and $8,455, with the average cost sitting around $5,861.
Boiler replacement cost is affected by several factors, such as the size and capacity of the unit, the fuel type, and the associated ongoing costs.
Labor costs make up about 30% of the cost of boiler installation, between $75 and $200 per hour.
A boiler usually lasts 15 to 20 years, after which it’s usually better to replace the boiler than to continue repairing it.
You can reduce the cost of boiler replacement by limiting the size and capacity to what’s necessary for your home, choosing a more energy-efficient type, and taking advantage of energy-efficiency rebates.
Boiler replacement costs an average of $5,861, with most boiler replacements costing somewhere between $3,304 and $8,455. A properly working boiler helps warm your home and ensures a steady supply of hot water, but the price of replacing a boiler can vary greatly depending on a few cost factors, such as the size, type, brand, and more. This guide will cover everything you need to know about the cost of replacing a boiler.
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| National Average | $5,861 |
| Typical Range | $3,304 - $8,455 |
| Low End - High End | $600 - $12,000 |
Cost data is based on actual project costs as reported by 969 HomeAdvisor members.
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Gas Boiler Replacement Cost Factors
Several cost factors will impact the final price of replacing your gas boiler. These include the boiler’s size and BTUs, the type of boiler you use, and its energy efficiency.
Size and BTUs
Boilers are measured in BTUs, which stands for British Thermal Units. This essentially refers to the capacity of your boiler, determining the size of the home it will be able to serve. The climate of your area is another major factor in deciding how many BTUs you need, with warmer climates requiring fewer BTUs:
Year-Round Heat and Humidity: Require a capacity rating of 18 to 30 BTUs per square foot.
Moderate Heat, Warm Winters: Require a capacity of 25 to 40 BTUs per square foot.
Moderate Heat, Cold Winters: Require a capacity of 35 to 50 BTUs per square foot.
Extremely Cold Winters: Require a capacity of 40 to 60 BTUs per square foot.
The size of your home is a major factor in determining the size of boiler you need, which will in turn affect the price of replacing your gas boiler.
| Home Size (Square Feet) | Recommended Boiler Capacity (BTUs) | Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | 20,000–60,000 | $3,700–$6,200 |
| 1,200 | 24,000–72,000 | $3,400–$6,500 |
| 1,500 | 30,000–90,000 | $3,900–$6,800 |
| 1,750 | 35,000–105,000 | $4,600–$7,100 |
| 2,000 | 40,000–120,000 | $5,300–$7,400 |
| 2,500 | 50,000–150,000 | $5,400–$8,000 |
| 3,000 | 60,000–180,000 | $6,000–$9,700 |
Type
Most boilers serve two purposes: Heating your home and supplying your pipes with hot water. There are several boiler types, some of which only do one of these jobs, while others do both simultaneously. Some other types use a special condensing design by using heat exhaust to heat your home, making them more efficient. The type of boiler you use will greatly impact the final price of replacing it.
| Type of Boiler System | Price Range (Labor Not Included) |
|---|---|
| Non-Condensing | $1,200–$5,000 |
| Hot Water | $1,200–$8,000 |
| Condensing | $1,500–$7,000 |
| Conventional | $2,200–$7,000 |
| Combination | $2,300–$8,500 |
| Steam | $2,500–$9,000 |
| System | $3,000–$5,700 |
Energy Efficiency
Different types of boilers use different kinds of fuel to power their processes, greatly impacting the energy efficiency of the unit as well as the price to install it. While a less efficient option, such as an electric boiler, will cost less upfront, you’ll incur added electric boiler costs over time due to the lower efficiency. At the same time, more efficient systems like natural gas boilers will cost more to install because of the need to hook the unit up to utility lines.
| Fuel Type | Average Cost (Installed) |
|---|---|
| Electricity | $1,500–$8,000 |
| Propane | $3,300–$9,800 |
| Natural Gas | $3,900–$11,000 |
| Oil | $4,400–$9,000 |
| Wood | $7,500–$16,000 |
Additional Services
You may need to pay for a few extra services when installing a boiler, depending on the infrastructure that already exists in your home. Two of the most common additional services are radiators and gas line installation:
Radiator Installation: Assuming your home doesn’t already have radiators, you’ll need to install them to heat your home with your boiler. Radiator installation costs an average of $1,500, though this cost can increase for hot water and steam radiators compared to electric ones.
Gas Line Installation: If your new boiler will be fueled by gas, you’ll need to pay to connect your home to a gas line. Connecting gas lines to your meter for the first time costs up to $2,000, plus $250 to $350 for the hookup itself. Depending on the material and placement of the actual gas line, you’ll pay between $30 and $75 per linear foot to install a gas line.
Ongoing Costs
A major price factor to consider with boiler replacement is the ongoing costs of running and maintaining your boiler. While an electric boiler is much less expensive to buy and install, it offers far less energy efficiency than a natural gas or propane boiler—especially in colder climates. At the same time, gas boilers may require gas line repairs over time, which is a unique added expense to consider.
Additional Gas Boiler Replacement Cost Factors
Beyond the factors of size, system type, and energy efficiency, there are a few other boiler replacement cost factors to consider:
Accessibility
If your boiler is being placed in a hard-to-access area (or if the associated gas lines are difficult to reach), you can expect to pay more in labor costs due to the extra installation time needed.
Labor
Most local boiler installation pros charge per project, with labor costs sitting between $700 to $5,000, or $2,500 on average. These costs make up about 30% of the total cost of replacing a boiler. For some projects, your boiler pro might charge per hour—these rates are usually between $75 to $200 per hour.
Permits
Depending on your local laws, you or your boiler contractor might have to secure permits to install your new boiler. Permit prices vary by area, but most cost between $50 and $300. If you’re installing new gas lines, this usually requires a separate permit as well, further increasing the price.
Removal
If you’re replacing an old boiler with a new one, you’ll need to pay to have the old unit removed and properly disposed of. This cost is almost always factored into the cost to install a boiler but tends to add $50 to $200 to the final price of the project.
Rebates
One cost factor that can decrease the cost of boiler replacement is rebates. Many states and municipalities offer energy-efficiency rebates for people purchasing more efficient boilers. The exact amount varies greatly by area, but you may be able to get a rebate for a significant amount of the total boiler replacement cost if you opt for a more fuel-efficient unit.
Gas Boiler Cost by Brand
There are many, many boiler brands to choose from. While they share much in common, you may find that the features, types, and prices available from a certain brand better fits your needs.
| Boiler Brand | Average Cost (Unit Only) |
|---|---|
| Bosch | $2,500–$5,000 |
| Burnham | $2,000–$8,000 |
| Lennox | $2,000–$8,000 |
| Peerless | $1,800–$15,000 |
| Rinnai | $1,700–$2,900 |
| Utica | $2,000–$6,000 |
Gas Boiler Replacement vs. Repair
How do you know whether to repair or replace your boiler? Boiler service costs are almost always the less expensive option, meaning you should contact a professional to have a look at a malfunctioning unit before jumping straight into a replacement. The average boiler repair costs about $400, which is far less than the national average boiler cost of $5,861.
Of course, boilers don’t last forever, and aging units will eventually cost more to repair than they’re worth. A handy calculation is to multiply your boiler’s age in years by the cost of repairs. If the amount is more than $5,000, it probably makes more financial sense to replace the unit—ideally for something with good energy efficiency to save you even more money down the line.
Does Boiler Replacement Increase Home Value?
Replacing a boiler can definitely boost the value of your home. Because boilers are meant to last for many years, a recently replaced unit will tell potential buyers that they’ll have fewer issues with the boiler, go longer without having to replace the boiler themselves, and probably pay less in energy bills thanks to the modern, energy-efficient technology of new boilers.
Budgeting for a Boiler Replacement
Boiler replacement can be pricy, but it’s an essential project to ensure your home is heated and supplied with the hot water it needs. Here are a few tips to reduce the cost of boiler replacement:
Don’t buy a larger boiler than you need for your home’s size and the usual climate of your area.
Choose the right fuel type for your needs, opting for the most energy-efficient option you can afford to maximize future savings.
Maintain your boiler regularly and make repairs as soon as they’re needed—we suggest having the boiler inspected annually to ensure you’re catching problems early on.
Consider having a new boiler installed during warmer months when boiler professionals are in less demand and labor rates are lower.
Take advantage of any state or local rebates for energy-efficient boilers to reduce upfront costs and save on future utility bills.
How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data
No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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FAQs
How much does a boiler cost per hour?
The average boiler costs between $1 and $1.50 per hour in energy costs to run. This amount can vary depending on the boiler’s size, system type, and the kind of fuel it runs on. Operating costs also depend on the current costs of oil, gas, or electricity in your area.
How long does boiler replacement take?
Boiler replacement takes as little as a few hours, as long as a week. The installation time depends on the accessibility of the unit, and whether you’re changing boiler types and need to install gas lines or other retrofitted systems.
How long does a new boiler last?
Typically, a new boiler will last between 15 and 20 years when properly maintained and repaired when needed. If your boiler is approaching this age and having repeated issues, it might be time to replace the unit.
What’s the difference between a boiler and a furnace?
Boilers heat homes with water, while furnaces heat homes with air. A furnace works by blowing hot air through vents and ducts, while boilers supply hot water to radiators around the home, which then heat the surrounding air directly.
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