Thermostat Installation Cost

National average

$200 - $250

(digital thermostat plus labor)

Low: $50

(DIY - manual themostat)

High: $400 - $700

(electronic thermostat plus labor)

Cost to install a thermostat varies greatly by region (and even by zip code).
Get free estimates from electricians in your city.

How much does it cost cost to install a thermostat?

In an era with lots of technical advancements, many people are choosing to upgrade their thermostats to newer models. For this example, we'll look at the cost of installing a standard digital thermostat, which typically costs $200-$250 for a standard 2000 square foot home. Although you can hire a professional, many thermostats can be installed on your own.

Cost breakdown

Thermostat¹: the cost of the thermostat¹ itself varies greatly depending on the brand and features. The average manual thermostat¹ costs $25-$60, digital programmable thermostats¹ cost $90-$150, and electronic smart thermostats¹ cost $200-$300. Here are the five most common thermostat¹ brands:
- Honeywell: $175-$250.
- Nest: $250-$300.
- Sensi: $100-$150.
- Ecobee: $250-$300.
- Luxe: $100-$150.
Labor: Most electricians charge $65-$85 per hour and can install a new thermostat¹ in less than two hours, for a total labor cost of less than $170.

Enhancement and improvement costs

Many wireless smart thermostats¹ come with a remote for programming, but an additional remote can add around $200 to your total cost. You may also need to purchase a hub to connect the thermostat¹ with your wireless internet, which can add another $100-$200.

Additional considerations and costs

A built-in² on-unit thermostat¹ can be easier to install, which may lead to a lower overall cost, but a wall thermostat¹ tends to be more accurate.
The more expensive thermostats¹ can often break the home into different zones to automatically change the heat at different levels throughout the house. This is much more difficult to do with manual thermostats¹.
Most electronic smart thermostats¹ require a smartphone or tablet with the corresponding app installed to control the system remotely.
Digital and electronic thermostats¹ are the most energy efficient and can lead to energy savings in the long run.
Some electronic smart thermostats¹ can sync with your home security system or smoke detectors³, allowing you to monitor everything from the same app.
Most thermostats¹ are compatible with central heat or central air, but if you have a less common heating system, such as gas, oil or electric, you may need to double check that your new thermostat¹ will connect to the system.
Some thermostats¹ allow users to program the settings every day for a week, while others apply the same settings to every day, regardless of the day of the week. Make sure you know exactly how programmable your thermostat¹ is before you buy it.

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Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet

Definitions in laymen's terms, cost considerations, pictures and things you need to know.
See full cheat sheet.

¹ Thermostat: A device that senses and regulates temperature by turning heating and cooling devices on and off

² Built-in: An item of furniture, such as a bookcase or set of cabinets, that is built directly into the structure of the room. Built-ins are therefore customized to the room and not detachable