Updated: October 17, 2025
Written by Dan Simms
Laura Madrigal is the Home Design Specialist at Fixr.com, dedicated to identifying and analyzing significant changes within residential design. She is the author of leading trends reports on interior design, kitchen, and bathroom, and her insights have been featured in publications like Realtor and the New York Post.
Learn moreReviewed by Laura Madrigal
Your thermostat is the main control center in your home that keeps your living space safe and comfortable all year long. Since most of us set it and forget it, it’s easy to take it for granted, but replacing yours every five to ten years is a good way to avoid malfunctions, like faulty sensors that leave your home hotter or cooler than you’d like. Upgrading to smart models can also boost your home’s energy efficiency, and they often pay for themselves in savings on utility bills.
The average cost of thermostat replacement is $200, and most projects total between $85 and $300 for a programmable electric thermostat, which is the most common type of thermostat in modern homes.
Thermostat Replacement Cost


Thermostat Installation Cost by Type of Thermostat
There are four main types of thermostats you can choose for your home, and your choice between them will have the biggest impact on your overall costs.


Thermostat Type | Cost to Install |
Manual | $50 – $150 |
Non-programmable electronic | $85 – $200 |
Programmable electronic | $100 – $300 |
Smart/Wi-Fi | $185 – $600 |
Manual
A manual thermostat is an older type of thermostat that allows you to set the temperature manually using a dial or slider. Once it’s wired, it sends information to your HVAC system to call for heating or cooling.
Manual thermostats are the most affordable options, totaling between $50 and $150, including the thermostat itself and labor. They’re cheap and quick to install, but they give you imprecise control over the temperature in your home, and they aren’t programmable, so they tend to be the least energy-efficient.
Non-Programmable
An electronic thermostat works similarly to a manual one, but the interface is digital, so you can set more precise temperatures, usually to the degree.
These are still affordable, costing just $85 to $200 to install, including the materials and labor. While they’re more precise than manual thermostats, they still don’t give you the option to automate temperature settings, so the efficiency is still lacking compared to more advanced models.
Programmable Electronic
Programmable electronic thermostats are the most common option for modern homes. They cost between $100 and $400 to install, with an average of around $200. While they’re more expensive, they give you the ability to program temperatures for different times of the day and different days of the week.
Programmable temperatures mean these models are far more energy-efficient than non-programmable models. You can automatically raise or lower the temperature at night when you’re only using parts of your home, or during the day when everyone is at work or school. These are more expensive, but they often lead to energy savings that can quickly pay for the upgrade.
Smart/Wi-Fi
Smart thermostat installation costs between $185 and $600, making it the most expensive option overall, but the total depends on the specific model. However, smart thermostats are often eligible for energy efficiency rebates, and they offer the biggest potential for savings on your utility bills by giving you the most control and the highest level of efficiency.
Smart thermostats connect to Wi-Fi for remote control, allowing you to adjust temperatures from your phone. They offer advanced features like geofencing, which automatically adjusts the temperature when you leave or return home, and integration with other smart devices for a more connected home. Additionally, some models provide personalized energy-saving recommendations and can manage other aspects of your home's air quality, such as humidity and air purification.
Investing in a more efficient type of thermostat, like a smart thermostat, will almost always pay for itself in a short amount of time. They can drastically reduce heating and cooling bills by giving you automated control over your temperature settings so you can set your preferences and never worry about wasted energy again. Additionally, models that offer greater efficiency are often eligible for rebates, which brings down your effective costs.
Labor Costs of Thermostat Replacement
Electricians are your best bet for thermostat replacement, and they charge between $65 and $100 per hour for their labor. In most cases, replacing a thermostat will take 1 to 2 hours, which puts your total labor costs between $65 and $200. You could see lower costs if you go with a handyperson, but hiring an electrician is the safest option and is worth the added cost.
Labor costs can increase from there if the installation is more complicated than simply swapping out an old thermostat for a new one. For example, expect to pay more if you’re moving your thermostat, if you’re installing one for the first time, or if you’re upgrading from an old manual thermostat to a more modern one that requires additional wiring.
Replacement vs. New Installation
Installing a thermostat where one didn’t previously exist is almost always going to cost more than a simple replacement because you’ll need your electrician to run new wiring behind your walls. The addition of wiring installation can add between $90 and $400 to your total, depending on the distance to existing wiring and the ease of getting behind your drywall.
Not only does new wiring make the installation take longer, but you may also need to pay for minor drywall repairs, depending on accessibility. This can add $120 to $160 to your total.
Thermostat Housing Replacement Cost by Number of Units
In some cases, you may need to replace multiple thermostats at once, in which case your total cost will go up, but your per-unit cost will often come down. This is common in homes with multiple climate zones. Expect to pay between $50 to $300 for each thermostat installed. Electricians often offer a discount on labor per unit because the trip fee is spread across all units. Additionally, some suppliers may offer bulk purchase discounts on the thermostat units themselves.
You can often save by investing in one smart thermostat that can handle multiple zones rather than buying and installing individual programmable thermostats for each zone. Just be prepared to pay for some minor drywall repair where you’re getting rid of wall-mounted units.
Additional Cost Factors
The type of thermostat you install and the labor costs are the primary cost drivers, but there are some other factors you may need to consider that can influence your thermostat installation price.
Moving a Thermostat
Moving a thermostat involves rerouting the wiring behind your walls, which takes quite a bit of time and effort and may demand some minor drywall repairs afterward. Consider keeping your thermostat where it is to save, but if you do need to move it, expect to add between $200 and $560 to your total, including drywall repairs and added labor to move the wires.
New Wiring or Electrical Work
Running new wiring can add $90 to $400 to your total, and you may need to plan for this added cost if you’re installing a thermostat for the first time. Additionally, upgrading from an older, manual thermostat to a digital one will often require running common wire, often called C-wire, to the installation site for proper functionality. This can add $90 or more to your total, as well.
Thermostat Brand
The thermostat itself can cost anywhere from $15 to $500, depending mostly on the thermostat type, but the brand can also affect your costs. Cadet and Emerson typically offer the most affordable units, with prices starting as low as $15 and $20, respectively.
On the other end, Ecobee and Google Nest are among the most expensive brands. Their thermostats are known for advanced features like smart home integration and geofencing, with some models costing as much as $415.
Thermostat Location
Where you live can affect labor costs, which usually track the local cost of living. Expect to pay around $65 per hour for an electrician in a less expensive area and closer to $100 per hour in high-cost states and in and around major cities. Additionally, in areas with extreme climates that just require heating or cooling but not both, like parts of Florida and Alaska, you can save a bit of money by buying a single-setting thermostat rather than one that handles both.
The location of your thermostat in your home can also affect your total. Smart thermostats with multiple sensors may require extra standalone sensors for accurate temperature control, especially if it is centrally located. Additionally, dedicated thermostats for appliances like water heaters or instant-hot water dispensers can add to the total expense.
Signs a Thermostat Needs to be Replaced
Most thermostats can last for around a decade, but some components, like temperature sensors, can fail prematurely. It’s a good idea to understand the signs you need a new thermostat so that you can stay ahead of breakdowns and keep your home running as efficiently as possible. Here are some things to look out for:
Outdated thermostat: If you’re still fiddling with manual dials or sliders and don’t have any automation options, an upgrade is worthwhile for efficiency and convenience.
Inaccurate temperature readings and uneven temperatures: If your home feels too hot or too cold and the thermostat reading doesn’t match the actual temperature, the sensors may be failing.
Higher energy bills: A malfunctioning thermostat may cause your HVAC system to run longer than needed. Have an HVAC technician confirm it’s not inefficiency in your actual heating and cooling system, and then replace your thermostat if they believe that’s the issue.
Unresponsive display or controls: When the electronics inside your thermostat wear down over time, buttons, touchscreens, or digital displays may not work properly. These can all signal a major malfunction.
Short-cycling: If you can hear your heating or cooling equipment turning on and then quickly turning off, it could be an issue with your thermostat, causing the short-cycling. This can drive up utility costs and increase the risk of damage to your HVAC system.
DIY vs. Professional Installation
It’s technically possible to swap out a thermostat yourself, provided you’re not upgrading from one type to another and assuming you don’t need to run new C-wire for the installation. However, even in those cases, you run the risk of electric shock when working with wiring in your home, and you could even do damage to the HVAC equipment that your thermostat interfaces with.
You should always hire a professional electrician to replace your thermostat, and you may have to in order to get a permit for the work and to keep everything legal. Many manufacturers void warranties if you DIY, and doing your own electrical work can cause issues with homeowner’s insurance coverage if something goes wrong. DIYing the work would save you between $65 and $200 on labor, on average, but it’s not worth the risk in most cases.
Additional Considerations & Cost Savings
There are a few other minor costs you should think about, as well as some general things worth considering before you dive into this project.
Permits: In cases where you’re just replacing an existing thermostat, you usually won’t need a permit. However, if you’re installing a thermostat for the first time or running new wiring for a thermostat upgrade, permits can add a minimum of $50 to your total.
Rebates: Rebates are often available from local municipalities or utility companies if you install a programmable electronic thermostat or a smart thermostat. Rebates could bring down your upfront costs significantly. Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) for local information.
Multiple zones: If you have multiple heating or cooling zones in your home, you’ll either need one thermostat for each zone or a single smart thermostat that can control multiple zones at once. Usually, investing in a single thermostat that can control your whole home will save you some money.
Interfacing with your equipment: If you’ve upgraded to smart water heaters, forced hot air systems, or boilers, make sure you also invest in a smart thermostat that can interface with them. This will ensure you can control your equipment as intended and won’t lose out on functionality or efficiency.
FAQs
Labor to replace a thermostat usually costs between $65 and $200, though this can vary depending on the type of thermostat and the complexity of the job. If you’re replacing your existing thermostat with a similar model, you can expect the labor to fall toward the lower end of that range. Prices will usually push closer to the higher end if you’re upgrading from a manual to an electronic thermostat, or to a smart thermostat, which may require additional wiring.
It’s possible to replace your thermostat yourself if you’re not upgrading from one type to another. However, it’s usually best to hire a professional. While DIYing is possible, you run the risk of electric shock, damaging your HVAC equipment, or, in extreme cases, increasing the risk of house fire. Hiring a pro is relatively affordable and is always worthwhile.
Electricians typically charge between $65 and $100 per hour to install a thermostat, and with installations taking 1 to 2 hours, you’re looking at a total labor cost of between $65 and $200. Prices can climb up from there if you need new wiring run through your home, which could be the case if you’re upgrading your thermostat type or installing one where there wasn’t one previously.
In most cases, it’s better to replace a thermostat rather than repair one. Thermostat repairs usually cost at least $150, and for an additional $50, on average, you could get a brand new one that’s less likely to fail going forward and may offer more functionality. Replacements that boost your home’s energy efficiency can end up saving you more on utility bills in the long run, anyway.
Most professionals can replace a thermostat in under an hour, but the job can take up to 2 hours if they need to run new wiring behind your walls. If you’re replacing your thermostat yourself, expect the process to take 1 to 2 hours, but note that you’ll need to call in a pro if any electrical modifications are needed for the installation.