New oil furnace & boiler prices: what replacement really costs
Updated 2026-06-11 · In progress — full guide arrives before the heating season
Quick answer
A straight oil-furnace replacement typically lands in the mid four figures installed; oil boilers run higher, and add-ons (chimney liner, tank, oil lines, controls) move the number more than the brand does. Get itemized quotes — the install quality matters more to your fuel bill than the nameplate.
The number everyone wants first
- Honest installed-price bands: furnace swap, boiler swap, with-tank combo; what moves a job between bands. Dated clearly (prices drift).
Furnace vs boiler: you’re replacing what you have
- One paragraph each; why fuel-type switches are a different article (link the conversion guide when it exists).
What a proper install includes
- Load calc (not square-foot guessing), flue/chimney liner assessment, new oil line/filter/valve, controls, combustion test + commissioning numbers, permit/inspection.
Efficiency tiers and the payback math
- 80-something AFUE baseline vs higher; honest gallons-saved arithmetic at current oil prices (worked example; feeds the oil-usage calculator).
When repair beats replace (and vice versa)
- Age × failure type matrix: heat exchanger crack vs control/parts failures; the “$500 repair on a 30-year unit” judgment call framed honestly.
Reading quotes: the red-flag list
- Square-footage-only sizing, no combustion numbers promised, “while we’re here” upsells, tank ignored on an old system, lowball with no itemization.
Timing and money notes
- Off-season pricing reality, lead times, financing/rebate pointers (kept generic; no programs promised).
Sources
- Manufacturer literature (e.g., Thermo Pride, Williamson, Buderus/Bosch, Energy Kinetics)
- U.S. EIA heating fuel and efficiency data