How Much Does It Cost To Install A Thermostat?

By Type

• Programmable thermostat: With LED lighted touchpad screens, programmable thermostats are easier to understand than ever. Plus, they provide a good balance for users who want a simple automatic scheduling system, while still being able to manually control the system. Total installation costs for programmable thermostats run around $170 to $190.
• Smart thermostats: Typically packed with features like Wi-Fi capability, geo-fencing, zoning, occupancy detectors, remote sensors and more, smart thermostat units range in cost from $100 to $200.

By Number of Units

Installing one thermostat will be less expensive than installing multiple units. For manual and programmable thermostats, multiple units must be installed for zoning. With smart thermostats, zoning can be accomplished with a single unit and multiple wireless sensors.

By Mode of Operation

Installing a thermostat for heat-only or furnace systems will be less expensive than installing a thermostat for heating and cooling systems. Heating systems with added cooling elements require additional wiring and setup, increasing the cost of installation.

Radiant heating systems are more difficult to install and this can result in higher costs. In-line or direct-line voltage thermostats may cost more to install when installed by an electrician since electricians charge a higher rate per hour than HVAC technicians. The average hourly rate for an electrician is $75 per hour.

Labor Costs

One of the key benefits of installing your own thermostat is that you will pay only for the thermostat but no labor costs. Hiring a professional to install your thermostat will add labor costs to the overall cost of the project. Pay starts at around $25 per hour for HVAC technicians, with the actual cost to the customer likely closer to $50 to $100 per hour to cover company overhead.

Installing a thermostat in an entirely new location will nearly always be more expensive than replacing a pre-existing unit because no wiring is present. The process of installing a new thermostat in a new location might mean removing drywall, installing the new wiring, installing the thermostat and repairing the wall. Some HVAC technicians may be able to fish all or part of the wiring through the walls and ceiling without removing the drywall.

Either process adds two to four more hours of labor to the estimate, which amounts to approximately $120 to $400. If any obstacles are found during the installation process, the cost likely will increase.

On average, the cost to move a thermostat can range from $100 to $500 or more, depending on factors such as the intended location of the new thermostat, the type of system and the location of the existing thermostat.

Older thermostats may cost more to move than smart thermostats because they depend on wiring to work. Many smart thermostats use remote sensors to detect the thermostat anywhere in the house, eliminating the need to move the main thermostat unit.

Type of Thermostat

Smart thermostats may require more complex wiring if upgrades are necessary. The units will have a higher upfront cost, as programmable thermostats are in the $25 to $75 range and smart thermostats are in the $100 to $200 range.

Existing Wiring

If the existing wiring is compatible with the new thermostat, the installation process will be straightforward and simple. Fishing new wiring through walls and ceilings significantly drives up the cost of a new thermostat.

Type and Size of System

The overall cost of the thermostat installation is affected by the type of thermostat, the type of heating or cooling system and the size of the system, particularly the number of zones to be heated or cooled.

In many cases, DIY thermostat installation is easy, fast and uncomplicated. Two-wire installation for furnaces and four-wire installations, with the added blue or yellow wire for cooling, are low-voltage wires that can be re-installed on a new thermostat.

Five-wire thermostats include the C (common) wire, and these are the most versatile thermostats for all heating and cooling systems. Plus, five wires are needed if you want to install a smart thermostat.

Upgrading to a five-wire system for smart thermostats may require professional help. For DIYers, some fifth-wire workarounds are available that provide five-wire service on a four-wire system. These devices wirelessly signal C-wire information between the thermostat and the remote air handler. Generally, though, for fixing a broken C-wire or for upgrading, it’s best to have an HVAC technician do the work.

Direct line thermostats that have 120V or 240V electricity passing through them (usually for wall or baseboard heaters) are best installed by an electrician or HVAC technician unless you are comfortable dealing with electricity. As safety hazards, these thermostats cannot be worked on the same as with low-voltage systems.

While finer details of thermostat efficiency are debatable, the large picture is clear: Programmable thermostats are more efficient than older mechanical or non-programmable types, and smart thermostats are more efficient than programmable thermostats.

The amount of energy and money savings depends on the type of thermostat, the age of the heating and cooling systems, the home’s insulation and the climate.

A programmable thermostat will save you about 10% per year on heating and cooling by allowing you to set the thermostat from 7 degrees Fahrenheit to 10 degrees Fahrenheit lower for eight hours a day, normally difficult to do with a manually controlled thermostat. So, a home that spends $150 per month on heating and cooling can save up to $180 per year.

Smart thermostats allow for more precise scheduling, remote control operation, geofencing and motion detection. Manufacturers suggest that these features save 10% to 12% on energy costs, with some manufacturers even bringing that number up to 26% to 31%.

Thermostat Covers

Clear, locking thermostat covers prevent thermostat tampering and range from $15 to $30 each. The thermostat usually must be removed from the wall so that the cover can be installed on the wall. Afterward, the thermostat is installed on top of the cover.

Additional Remotes

With the popularity of Wi-Fi-controlled smart thermostats, thermostat remotes are less common now. Few systems offer remote controls. The best way to control a thermostat remotely is by installing a smart thermostat and controlling it with your smartphone. Since smart thermostats learn the habits of homeowners, this may also eliminate the need to control the thermostat.

Temperature Sensors

Thermostat sensors detect the temperature at various locations within the home for balanced heating or cooling. Sensors cost about $30 to $40 each. Once the smart thermostat’s central unit has been installed, most homeowners can easily add more temperature sensors on their own.

To arrive at the average costs in this article, editorial team members surveyed seven providers on national and local levels. All averaged figures were correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change.