Massachusetts Heat Pump Cost Calculator

Home size & room count

Ductless systems are priced per room (excluding bathrooms because we wouldn’t typically put a mini-split in a bathroom unless it is really big). Ducted systems are priced per floor (for equipment swaps) or per room including bathrooms (for new ductwork). Larger homes cost more because they need more equipment, more ductwork, and more mini-split heads.

Here are examples of what you might expect for pricing for a Whole-home ductless heat pump system in many cases (before rebates):

• 3 rooms: $10,900 – $20,900
• 5 rooms: $21,500 – $31,500
• 7 rooms: $32,100 – $42,100
• 9 rooms: $42,700 – $52,700

Here are examples of what you might expect for pricing for a ducted equipment swap in many cases (before rebates):

• 1 floor / zone: $13,900 – $23,900
• 2 floors / zones: $32,800 – $42,800
• 3 floors / zones: $51,700 – $61,700

For ducted systems, we assume each floor is its own designated zone, but in some smaller homes, the entire home can be set up as one zone – so, even if you have 2 floors, pricing for 1 zone might apply to your home.

All prices are shown as a ballpark range — your exact cost for your home is determined after an in-home assessment. New ductwork is very unique to the foot print of your home and whether your attic and/or basement are finished. Because of that, we didn’t include ranges for new ductwork because they would be highly variable.

Ducted vs. ductless

Ducted systems use ductwork to distribute air throughout the home. Ductless systems (mini-splits) mount individual units in each room or zone.

If your home already has ductwork in good condition, a ducted equipment swap is often the most cost-effective option — it’s priced per floor rather than per room.

If your home has no ducts, which is common in older Massachusetts homes heated via baseboards or radiators, ductless avoids the cost of installing new ductwork entirely. If your home has no ductwork but your basement and attic are both unfinished, then new ductwork can be a really good option, too. It is typically more expensive than ductless, so the path you choose will depend on your preference. At Forge, we can present you with multiple options.

New ductwork is also recommended when a home has poor or missing ductwork and has unfinished attic and basement space where ducts can be run.

Whole-home vs. partial-home coverage

Whole-home systems heat and cool your entire home. Partial-home systems cover a subset of your home — an addition, a basement, or the rooms you use most.

Partial-home ductless costs more per room because smaller projects carry proportionally more fixed costs for permitting, equipment minimums, and dispatch. However, the total project cost is lower since fewer rooms are covered.

Partial-home ductless examples (before rebates):

• 1 room: $7,000 – $13,400
• 2 rooms: $11,800 – $21,800
• 3 rooms: $20,200 – $30,200

Existing system type

What you're replacing matters — not just for cost, but for rebate eligibility.

• Oil or propane: Qualifies for Mass Rebates, but switching from oil or propane typically produces the largest cost and energy savings. 
• Natural gas: Eligible for Mass Save rebates, though the energy cost savings are smaller than switching from oil or propane.
• Electric baseboard: Qualifies for Mass Save rebates. Heat pumps are dramatically more efficient than electric resistance heating — most homeowners see a significant reduction in heating costs.

Electrical upgrades

About half of homes need some form of electrical work to support a heat pump system. This is quoted separately from the base installation. For both labor and materials, this is the average price of our most common electrical upgrades:

• Service upgrade (100→200 amp panel): $6,000
• Simple switch (load management): $3,000–$3,500
• Sub panel addition: $1,250–$1,750

Forge evaluates this during every site visit and includes it in your estimate if needed. We always explain to you why a particular electrical upgrade is needed and walk you through all of your options.