How Much Does a Heat Pump Cost in St. Louis? [2025 Data]

Normal Range: $3,861 - $6,890

A heat pump in St. Louis, Missouri, costs an average of $5,376, with most homeowners paying between $3,861 and $6,890. An HVAC pro will base your price mostly on the size of your home and the type of heat pump you want installed.

How we get this data
Heat pump exterior backyard
Photo: Maudib / Getty Images
Heat pump exterior backyard
Photo: Maudib / Getty Images
Highlights
  • The size of your home and the type of heat pump you want to install are the two most important cost factors to consider.

  • Air-source heat pumps are popular with St. Louis residents who have a central heating system, while mini-splits are more popular for those with baseboard heating.

  • Mini-splits are the most affordable type of heat pump, and they cost less than half what you’d pay for most other types.

  • The minimum heat pump efficiency allowed by law in Missouri is 14 SEER, but upgrading to a unit with a higher SEER rating can reduce utility costs.

Heat pump costs in St. Louis, Missouri, average $5,376, and most projects fall somewhere between $3,861 and $6,890. Your price will depend mostly on the capacity of the heat pump you need to heat and cool your home, as well as on the type of heat pump you install. Efficiency ratings and the need for ductwork can also play a role in your pricing.

Heat Pump Cost Factors

You could pay as little as $3,155 for a heat pump in St. Louis, and prices can rise as high as $9,800. There are a few things to consider to get an accurate estimate for your project.

Unit Capacity and Home Size

Your heat pump cost will depend largely on the size of your home. A heat pump’s output is rated in tons, and you’ll need a higher tonnage to heat and cool bigger interior spaces. Heat pumps with a higher output will cost more in materials, so the bigger your home is, the more you can expect to pay. The average home in St. Louis is just under 1,500 square feet, which means the most homes in the city require a 2.5-ton heat pump.

What is a heat pump?

Heat pumps both heat and cool your home and can be ducted or ductless. They work similarly to air conditioners, but heat pumps can reverse the cooling process and also warm your home.

You can use the table below to estimate your heat pump costs, but it’s always best to have a local HVAC pro size your system. They’ll consider other factors, like home age, home efficiency, and ceiling height, to get the most accurate size possible.

Home Size (Sq. Ft.)Capacity (Tons)Cost Range
1,0002$3,100–$4,900
1,5002.5$3,300–$5,100
2,0003$3,400–$5,500
2,5003.5$3,400–$5,600
3,0004$3,500–$6,400

Type of Heat Pump

The type of heat pump you want installed will affect material costs and can play a major role in labor costs, as well.

Most existing heating systems in St. Louis are either central heating systems that use forced hot air or baseboard heating systems. Homes with forced hot air systems already have ductwork, so installing an air-source heat pump makes the most sense. These cost between $4,000 and $7,000. Since homes with baseboard heating don’t have ductwork, ductless mini-splits are more popular. Mini-splits in St. Louis cost between $1,100 and $7,000 to install.

Geothermal heat pumps are the most expensive because they require massive excavation to get the heating loop underground. You’ll pay as much as $17,600 for a geothermal heat pump in St. Louis.

Type of Heat PumpCost RangeProsCons
Air-source$4,000–$7,000High efficiencyRequires ductwork
Geothermal$5,300–$17,600Long lifespanMost expensive
Hybrid$2,200–$8,800Most reliableMost maintenance
Mini-split$1,100–$7,000Most affordableVisible indoor units

Efficiency

Heat pumps come with varying levels of efficiency, expressed as a SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) rating or a more modern SEER2 rating. The higher the SEER rating, the more you’ll spend on your heat pump equipment, but your system will be more efficient and lower your heating and cooling costs.

In an area like St. Louis, which sees below-freezing temperatures for three months in the winter and highs above 90 degrees for five months in the summer, investing in a heat pump with a high SEER rating is wise. Ultimately, it will mean lower energy bills and less HVAC maintenance, which can help offset the up-front cost.

It’s important to note that the U.S. Department of Energy imposed new energy efficiency standards for heat pumps in 2023, so heat pumps in Missouri must have a minimum SEER rating of 14.

SEER RatingCost Range
14$1,400–$4,300
15$1,600–$5,200
16$2,100–$5,500
18$2,500–$5,900
20$3,200–$8,400

Duct Installation

More often than not, homeowners in St. Louis will opt for ductless mini-splits if they don’t already have ducts installed. Many will choose an air-source heat pump if they do already have ducts. However, if you have baseboard heat and don’t like the look of the indoor mini-split units mounted on your wall, you can opt to add ductwork installation, which will cost between $3,000 and $7,500, depending on the size of your home.

HVAC Pro Costs

When you hire an HVAC pro in St. Louis, Missouri, to install your heat pump, you can expect between $500 and $3,000 to go toward labor. Hourly rates for labor are just below the national average, thanks to the below-average cost of living in the city.

You should also budget for permits, which are required for all HVAC work. The City of St. Louis charges a $25 application fee plus $10 per $1,000 in project costs. For the average heat pump project in St. Louis, Missouri, you’re looking at a total permit fee of $85.

Does a Heat Pump Increase Home Value?

Heat pump essential maintenance tips, including checking and updating the thermostat settings

Installing a new heating system will almost always increase your home value, and the average return on investment (ROI) for the upgrade is 30%. Given the average cost of a heat pump in St. Louis, you can expect a value increase of over $1,600.

St. Louis sees some extreme temperatures in both the summer and the winter, so homeowners will often prioritize systems with a high efficiency since that means greater indoor comfort and lower heating and cooling costs. As such, you can maximize your return by choosing a heat pump with a high SEER rating.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.

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