Gas furnace replacement cost in Cleveland, OH
Installed, 80,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency
A typical furnace (80,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency) costs about $4,850 installed in the Cleveland area, about the same as the national figure, because HVAC technicians here earn a median $30 an hour against $29 nationally.
Prices by size in Cleveland
| Size | Low | Typical | High | National typical |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60,000 BTU, 80% efficiency | $3,650 | $4,150 | $5,400 | $4,100 |
| 60,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency | $4,400 | $4,750 | $5,750 | $4,750 |
| 80,000 BTU, 80% efficiency | $3,750 | $4,100 | $5,000 | $4,050 |
| 80,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency | $4,450 | $4,850 | $5,900 | $4,850 |
| 100,000 BTU, 80% efficiency | $3,900 | $4,250 | $5,450 | $4,250 |
| 100,000 BTU, 95%+ efficiency | $4,600 | $5,000 | $5,950 | $4,950 |
Local labor: what HVAC technicians earn here
| Hourly wage | Cleveland metro | United States |
|---|---|---|
| 25th percentile | $24 | $23 |
| Median | $30 | $29 |
| 75th percentile | $38 | $37 |
The Cleveland market
The City of Cleveland's Department of Building and Housing requires residential permits for plumbing and HVAC work, and its permits page gives replacing a furnace as an example. For 1-3 family homes, each central heating or air conditioning system is $50, plumbing fixtures and appliances (including hot water heating devices) are $8 each, and any HVAC or plumbing permit has a $50 minimum. Contractors must hold a State of Ohio license and register with the City. An owner who personally performs the work can file instead, but the homeowner affidavit must be notarized. Inspections need at least 24 hours' notice, and homeowners must be present. Suburbs such as Lakewood and Parma run their own departments. Statewide, EIA's 2020 survey found 64% of Ohio homes heat with gas and 77% use a furnace.
With so many Ohio homes on furnaces, Cleveland contractors have plenty of comparable jobs, so get two or three bids. Each should list the furnace's AFUE and say whether the flue or chimney liner needs work. Long winters make a high-efficiency furnace pay back faster here than in milder places. Those units vent through plastic pipe and drain condensate, so ask where the vent will exit and where the drain will go.
Permits in Cleveland
| Permit for this job | Yes (source) |
|---|---|
| Fee | 1-3 family HVAC: 'Each central heating and/or air conditioning systems - $50.00'; plumbing: $8.00 per fixture/appliance/device (incl. hot water heating devices); minimum fee for any HVAC or plumbing permit $50.00. |
| Who can pull it | Homeowner (owner who personally performs the work, notarized affidavit) or State-of-Ohio-licensed contractor registered with the City |
| Inspection | Yes |
Rebates in Ohio
HEAR: status unclear. HOMES: status unclear. Source: Ohio Department of Development, Office of Energy, checked October 13, 2026.
What these programs cover, and other states
Other systems in Cleveland
- Gas tank water heater
- Gas tankless water heater
- Central air conditioner
- Heat pump (ducted, outdoor unit + air handler)
Gas furnace cost in other metros
Sources
- Cleveland, OH permit source (water heater permit)
- Cleveland, OH permit source (hvac permit)
- Cleveland, OH permit source (who can pull)
- Cleveland, OH permit source (inspection)
- Cleveland, OH permit source: HVAC $50 per central heating/AC system (1-3 family); plumbing $8 per
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating fuel in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for space heating in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for air conditioning in U.S. homes by state
- EIA RECS 2020: Highlights for water heating in U.S. homes by state
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Cleveland, OH (49-9021 HVAC mechanics and installers)
- DOE Consumer Furnaces Final Rule TSD (Sep 2023), Table 8.2.12 (2022$); labor share from App. 8D (11.97 person-hours, $705 of $2,527)