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How much a new furnace costs in Spokane, and why quotes vary
Two furnace quotes for the same house can be thousands of dollars apart. Most of that gap comes from a handful of decisions, and once you know them you can compare bids on equal terms.
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NBy Nell Bradshaw, HVAC Guides Editor · Updated September 2026
Quick answerA furnace replacement in Spokane typically combines a furnace unit of roughly $650 to $1,500 for an 80,000 BTU home with $1,800 to $4,000 in installation labor, according to published local project data, while local operators have advertised installed prices around $4,199 to $6,799. Efficiency, venting, ductwork and the permit explain most of the spread.
What the published numbers say
Cost data tracked on Spokane furnace projects puts the equipment for a typical 80,000 BTU home at roughly $650 to $1,500 and the installation labor at about $1,800 to $4,000. Local operators have advertised installed furnaces around $4,199 to $6,799, and furnace plus air conditioner packages around $8,199 to $10,999.
Those are planning ranges, not quotes. A real price depends on what is in your basement: the venting you have, the ductwork the new furnace connects to, and how much work it takes to get the old unit out and the new one in.
Efficiency is the first big fork
An 80 percent furnace vents up an existing chimney and costs less to buy. A 95 percent condensing furnace costs more, vents through plastic pipe out the side of the house and needs a condensate drain, but it burns noticeably less gas. In a city where the furnace runs from September into May, that difference adds up every year.
Avista has offered a rebate on qualifying 90 percent or better gas furnaces, which narrows the gap. Check the current program before comparing bids, and see our guide to Avista rebates for heating upgrades.
Staging and the blower
Single-stage furnaces run at full output every time. Two-stage furnaces run on low most of the time and step up on the coldest days, and variable-speed blowers adjust airflow in small steps. They cost more, run quieter and keep rooms more even. For a house that is heated most of the year, many homeowners find the comfort worth it; others would rather keep the money. Neither choice is wrong.
Venting, ducts and the things you cannot see
Switching from an 80 percent to a 95 percent furnace means new venting, and sometimes a chimney liner for the water heater left behind. Older homes may need a new return or a transition to meet the new furnace's cabinet. A furnace in a tight closet or crawlspace takes longer to swap than one in an open basement.
These items rarely show up in a phone quote, which is why a bid that looks cheap can grow once the installer arrives. Ask each contractor to list venting, drain, duct transitions and haul-away separately.
Want a written furnace quote, itemized line by line?
Call (509) 404-0016The permit and the load calculation
Washington requires a mechanical permit even for a like-for-like furnace swap, and Spokane residential HVAC permit fees typically run about $75 to $300. A bid that leaves the permit out is not cheaper, only incomplete.
The load calculation matters just as much. Many older furnaces were oversized for houses that have since been insulated and fitted with new windows. A right-sized furnace costs less and short cycles less. Ask every bidder how they chose the size.
How to compare two quotes fairly
Put the bids side by side and check that each one lists the same things:
- Furnace brand, model, efficiency rating and number of stages
- Venting and condensate drain work
- Duct transitions, returns or plenum changes
- Thermostat, filter cabinet or other add-ons
- The mechanical permit
- Removal of the old furnace
- Labor and parts warranty terms in writing
Timing the purchase
Published 2026 cost guidance points out that spring and fall are the cheapest seasons to replace heating equipment, and an emergency replacement in the middle of January gives you the least room to compare bids. If your furnace is 15 years old and has needed two repairs in two winters, getting quotes in September lets you choose the efficiency, staging and installer you want instead of taking whatever can be installed tomorrow.
A planned replacement also lets you line up rebate paperwork before the work starts, since some utility programs need specific efficiency ratings on the invoice.
When repair still makes sense
If your furnace is under about 12 years old and the problem is an ignitor, flame sensor, blower motor or control board, a furnace repair is usually the better value. A cracked heat exchanger, a furnace past 15 years, or a repair that costs more than a third of replacement tips the decision the other way. When you are ready, our furnace replacement service starts with a load calculation and a written quote.
More Spokane heating and cooling guides
Furnace cost questions
Is a 95 percent furnace worth it in Spokane?
Usually, because the heating season is long. The added cost is partly offset by lower gas use and, when available, utility rebates.
Why did two quotes differ so much?
Different efficiency, staging, venting and ductwork scope, or one quote leaving out the permit or haul-away. Compare them line by line.
Should I replace the AC at the same time?
If the AC is over 12 years old, doing both together saves labor and lets the equipment be matched.
How long does a replacement take?
Most furnace replacements are finished in one day.
Does the permit add much to the cost?
Spokane residential HVAC permit fees typically run about $75 to $300, a small share of the total.
Get an itemized furnace quote.
Call for a furnace replacement estimate in Spokane, WA.
