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How much does evaporator coil replacement cost in California?

Updated September 2026 · California price index 1.14 for HVAC work (national = 1.00)

In California, an HVAC company typically charges $460 to $3,100 to replace an AC evaporator coil, with most jobs landing near $1,700. That is about 14% above the national average of $400–$2,700, based on what HVAC technicians earn in California.

Low end

$460

Most jobs

$1,700

High end

$3,100

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AI-powered second opinion using these same California figures. No account, no card. Need someone to do the work? Verified pros in California took the Fair Price Pledge.

What a California quote means

Quote for this job	What it means
Under $276	Suspiciously low — ask what is excluded, and check licensing and insurance
$276 – $3,410	Fair price — inside the typical range (up to 10% over the top is still normal)
$3,410 – $5,425	Running high — get the quote itemized, and get a second one
Over $5,425	Ripoff territory — more than 1.75× the high end of the typical range

Same rules the QuoteJury checker uses on every quote.

What you're paying for

What is usually included: The new indoor coil, refrigerant recovery and recharge, brazing, a new filter drier, leak test and startup, in 4–6 hours.

What moves the price:

System size and refrigerant type; matching a coil to an older R-22 system may not be possible
Parts warranty coverage that leaves only labor and refrigerant to pay
Access to the air handler or furnace plenum
Age of the system — on units over 12–15 years old, a full replacement may be the better value

Coil tonnage and style (cased vs uncased, A vs N/Z), refrigerant type and recharge amount, access difficulty (attic/closet), and whether the parts warranty covers the coil.

Evaporator coil replacement cost across California

Typical range by metro and rural area, from BLS wage data for HVAC technicians in each area.

Area	Typical range	Most jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA	$410 – $2,800	$1,550
Chico, CA	$400 – $2,700	$1,500
El Centro, CA	$440 – $2,950	$1,650
Fresno, CA	$400 – $2,700	$1,500
Hanford-Corcoran, CA	$400 – $2,700	$1,500
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$460 – $3,100	$1,700
Merced, CA	$400 – $2,700	$1,500
Modesto, CA	$410 – $2,800	$1,550
Napa, CA	$490 – $3,350	$1,850
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	$430 – $2,950	$1,650
Redding, CA	$400 – $2,700	$1,500
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$410 – $2,750	$1,550
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$440 – $2,950	$1,650
Salinas, CA	$430 – $2,950	$1,650
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$470 – $3,150	$1,750
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$510 – $3,450	$1,900
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$540 – $3,650	$2,050
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	$450 – $3,050	$1,700
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	$470 – $3,150	$1,750
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$460 – $3,150	$1,750
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	$480 – $3,250	$1,800
Stockton-Lodi, CA	$450 – $3,050	$1,700
Vallejo, CA	$440 – $2,950	$1,650
Visalia, CA	$400 – $2,700	$1,500
Yuba City, CA	$400 – $2,750	$1,550
Eastern Sierra-Mother Lode Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$410 – $2,750	$1,550
North Coast Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$430 – $2,900	$1,600
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area	$400 – $2,700	$1,500

Frequently asked

Is $1,700 a fair price for evaporator coil replacement in California?

Yes. $1,700 is right around what most homeowners in California pay. Anything from $276 to $3,410 is inside the normal range for an HVAC company; above $3,410 it is worth getting a second quote.

Why do quotes for the same job vary so much?

System size and refrigerant type; matching a coil to an older R-22 system may not be possible. Parts warranty coverage that leaves only labor and refrigerant to pay. Company overhead matters too: a large company with trucks, dispatchers and a warranty department charges more than a one-person shop, and both can be honest prices.

When should I get a second quote?

Any time a quote lands above $3,410, or when the contractor cannot break it into parts, labor and fees. Ask for the itemized version, ask what would change the price, and confirm licensing and insurance. You can also paste the quote into the free QuoteJury checker for an instant second opinion.

Other HVAC jobs in California

Evaporator coil replacement in other states

United States (national) · Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming

Sources

Angi (2026): $550–$2,250 nationally
Forbes Home (2025): $550–$2,500 nationally
This Old House (2026): $627–$2,700 nationally
HomeGuide (2025): $650–$2,400 nationally
Fixr (2026): $400–$2,700 nationally
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 — median hourly wages by state and metro area

About these numbers. Ranges are typical market rates for a licensed, insured contractor, blended from published U.S. cost guides and adjusted with U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data (OEWS, May 2025) for each state and metro area. They are estimates, not a bid, appraisal or inspection. Real prices move with parts, access, permits and code requirements. The quote checker is AI-powered and labeled as such.