Water heater replacement cost calculator
The new unit, removing the old one and installation, at your state's plumber wages.
Estimated cost
Typical installed cost
$2,250
- Water heater:
- $1,350
- Labor, removal, fittings:
- $900
8 in 10 jobsLow$1,800High$3,150
This size or efficiency is outside NREL's price data, so it is priced at the nearest value the data covers.
Labor at the US median wage for plumbers, $30.67 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
The range runs from the 10th to the 90th percentile of prices in the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's cost data, so 8 in 10 jobs of this kind fall inside it. The methodology shows every formula and source.
Replacement cost by type
| Water heater | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Gas tank, 50 gal, UEF 0.64 | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| Electric tank, 50 gal, UEF 0.93 | $2,050 | $1,750 - $2,350 |
| Heat pump (hybrid), 50 gal, UEF 3.75 | $3,500 | $3,150 - $4,350 |
| Gas tankless, UEF 0.93 | $2,600 | $2,250 - $3,250 |
| Electric tankless, UEF 0.98 | $1,500 | $1,300 - $1,850 |
US average, typical size and efficiency for each type, installed, in today's dollars.
What the estimate includes
NREL prices a "retrofit": a new water heater replacing an old one. That covers the unit, removing and hauling the old heater, connecting water, gas or power, and the labor to do it. It does not cover changes to the house itself. These are the items NREL lists as the main reasons a real quote lands above or below the typical price:
- The flue or vent. A gas heater needs a sound flue. Tankless and high-efficiency gas units often need new venting.
- The electrical supply. Heat pump and electric tankless heaters may need a new circuit or more panel capacity.
- A condensate drain. Heat pump and condensing gas heaters make water that has to drain somewhere.
- Access and travel. A heater in a cramped attic or crawlspace takes longer than one in a garage, and rural jobs add drive time.
- Local wages and code. The calculator already adjusts for your state's plumber wage; permits and local code rules vary by town.
Tank, tankless or heat pump?
A gas or electric tank is the cheapest to buy and the simplest swap, because it usually goes where the old tank was with the same connections. NREL puts the typical life of a gas tank at 14 years and an electric tank at 15 years.
A tankless heater heats water as it flows, so it never runs out but has a limit on how many showers and taps it can serve at once. It lasts longer, about 20 years in NREL's data, but switching from a tank often means new venting, a bigger gas line or a heavy electric circuit.
A heat pump water heater moves heat from the surrounding air into the tank. A UEF of 3.75 means it delivers almost four times as much hot water energy as it uses in electricity, against about 0.93 for a standard electric tank. In the table it costs about $1,250 more than a gas tank of the same size up front, and it needs space and air around it, a drain and usually a 240 V circuit.
How your state changes the price
Labor is about 40% of a typical gas tank replacement, so wages matter. Plumbers earn a median $30.67 an hour nationwide (May 2025, Bureau of Labor Statistics), and the calculator scales the labor part of each estimate by the median in your state. The unit itself is priced at national retail levels.
Gas tank water heater (50 gal) replacement cost in all 50 states and DC
| State | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | $2,050 | $1,600 - $2,950 |
| South Dakota | $2,100 | $1,600 - $3,000 |
| Idaho | $2,100 | $1,650 - $3,000 |
| Florida | $2,100 | $1,650 - $3,000 |
| South Carolina | $2,100 | $1,650 - $3,000 |
| Mississippi | $2,150 | $1,700 - $3,050 |
| West Virginia | $2,150 | $1,700 - $3,050 |
| North Carolina | $2,150 | $1,700 - $3,050 |
| Georgia | $2,150 | $1,700 - $3,050 |
| Oklahoma | $2,150 | $1,700 - $3,050 |
| Tennessee | $2,200 | $1,700 - $3,050 |
| Alabama | $2,200 | $1,700 - $3,050 |
| Texas | $2,200 | $1,750 - $3,100 |
| Virginia | $2,200 | $1,750 - $3,100 |
| Nebraska | $2,200 | $1,750 - $3,100 |
| New Mexico | $2,200 | $1,750 - $3,100 |
| Nevada | $2,200 | $1,750 - $3,100 |
| Utah | $2,250 | $1,750 - $3,100 |
| Arizona | $2,250 | $1,750 - $3,100 |
| Vermont | $2,250 | $1,750 - $3,100 |
| Wyoming | $2,250 | $1,750 - $3,150 |
| Colorado | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| Ohio | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| North Dakota | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| Louisiana | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| Iowa | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| Maine | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| Kentucky | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| Delaware | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| Kansas | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| Maryland | $2,250 | $1,800 - $3,150 |
| Missouri | $2,300 | $1,850 - $3,200 |
| New Hampshire | $2,300 | $1,850 - $3,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,300 | $1,850 - $3,200 |
| California | $2,400 | $1,900 - $3,250 |
| Indiana | $2,450 | $1,950 - $3,300 |
| Rhode Island | $2,450 | $1,950 - $3,300 |
| Connecticut | $2,450 | $2,000 - $3,350 |
| New York | $2,450 | $2,000 - $3,350 |
| Hawaii | $2,450 | $2,000 - $3,350 |
| New Jersey | $2,450 | $2,000 - $3,350 |
| Montana | $2,500 | $2,000 - $3,350 |
| Michigan | $2,500 | $2,000 - $3,350 |
| Washington | $2,500 | $2,050 - $3,400 |
| Wisconsin | $2,500 | $2,050 - $3,400 |
| Massachusetts | $2,650 | $2,200 - $3,550 |
| Alaska | $2,650 | $2,200 - $3,550 |
| Minnesota | $2,650 | $2,200 - $3,550 |
| Oregon | $2,700 | $2,250 - $3,600 |
| Illinois | $2,750 | $2,300 - $3,650 |
| District of Columbia | $2,750 | $2,300 - $3,650 |
Tax credits and rebates
The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, which covered 30% of a qualifying heat pump water heater up to $2,000 a year, applies only to improvements made through 31st Dec. 2025, according to the IRS. Some utilities and states still offer their own rebates, especially for heat pump water heaters, so check your utility's website before you buy. The estimates here are before any rebate.
How to get a fair quote
- Ask two or three licensed plumbers to quote the same thing: type, gallons and UEF.
- Ask what is included: removal and disposal of the old heater, the permit, new valves and connectors, an expansion tank if your system needs one, and any venting or electrical work.
- Compare each quote with the range above. A quote far above it should come with a reason you can see, such as new venting or a move to a new spot.
Questions and answers
How much does it cost to replace a water heater?
A 50 gallon gas tank costs about $2,250 installed at the US average, with 8 in 10 jobs between $1,800 and $3,150, in NREL's cost data adjusted to today's dollars. Electric tanks cost less, while tankless and heat pump models cost more. Use the calculator for your state and model.
Is a tankless water heater worth the extra cost?
It lasts longer (about 20 years against 14 for a gas tank in NREL's data) and never runs out of hot water, but it costs more to buy, and switching from a tank often adds venting, gas line or electrical work. It pays off best when you keep the house for a long time.
How long does a water heater last?
NREL's database puts typical lifetimes at about 14 years for a gas tank, 15 years for an electric tank and heat pump tank, and 20 years for tankless heaters. Hard water and skipped maintenance shorten them.
Can I still get a tax credit for a heat pump water heater?
Not the federal one. The IRS says the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit applies only to improvements made through 31st Dec. 2025. Check your utility and state for rebates, which some still offer.
Why is labor such a big part of the price?
Replacing a water heater means draining and removing the old one, hauling it away, fitting new connections and testing gas, venting or power. In NREL's data labor is about 40% of a typical gas tank replacement, and the calculator scales it to your state's plumber wages.