Plan it

Replacing a rooftop unit: the crane, the curb and the permit are the quote

Industry guides put a well-maintained rooftop unit at 15 to 20 years, and the quotes will differ mostly on what is left out, not on the unit.

What is probably happening

Installed rooftop unit replacement runs roughly $7,500 to $35,000 for typical projects, with $2,800 to $3,500 per ton for smaller units and $1,800 to $2,500 per ton for larger ones.
By size: 2 to 3 ton $6,000 to $10,000; 4 to 5 ton $9,000 to $14,500; 7.5 to 10 ton $14,000 to $24,000; 15 to 20 ton $24,000 to $41,000.
The line items that get left out of a cheap quote: crane mobilization $1,500 to $4,500, curb adapter $800 to $3,000, electrical upgrades $500 to $3,500, permits and inspections $150 to $1,200 or more, refrigerant recovery and disposal $300 to $900.
Refrigerant: the EPA's AIM Act rules stopped manufacture of new R-410A light commercial equipment after 2024 in favour of lower GWP A2L refrigerants (GWP under 700), and in 2026 the EPA removed the deadline for installing leftover R-410A stock. New A2L units cost roughly 10 to 15 percent more by one vendor's estimate; existing R-410A units can still be serviced.

Do this in the next five minutes

Get the data plate: model, serial, tonnage, refrigerant, year. Photograph it.
Ask the current technician for a written repair-versus-replace comparison with the fault, the age and both prices.
If you rent, stop and read the lease. Replacement is usually the landlord's. See the ownership leaf.
Get three written quotes that each itemise crane, curb adapter, electrical, disposal, permits and any structural engineer.
Ask whether a structural engineer is needed for a heavier unit on the same curb.
If the failure is in peak season, price a temporary cooling rental (industry figure $500 to $2,500 a week) so you can decide without pressure.

Do not

Do not take the lowest quote until you have confirmed the crane and curb adapter are in it.
Do not decide on the roof, in July, with the technician waiting. A day of rental cooling is cheaper than a rushed five figure decision.
Do not accept an old-stock R-410A unit without a price reduction and a clear statement of the refrigerant on the quote.

Who to call

A licensed commercial or mechanical contractor with EPA Section 608 Type II or Universal certification

A rooftop replacement involves rigging, gas, electrical and refrigerant. The contractor should pull the permit and coordinate the crane, not you.

Get a free shortlist The seven questions for this trade

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What it should cost

$7,500 to $35,000 installed

Typical rooftop unit replacement projects, corroborated across two industry vendors (Oxmaint and Kahn Mechanical, both 2026). Vendors, not neutral research

Source: Oxmaint, RTU replacement cost 2026 (vendor); Kahn Mechanical, commercial HVAC replacement cost guide 2026 (vendor). View source

National published range, not a quote for your job. The full cost table for this trade is on the commercial hvac page.

Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out

Tap each one as you ask it.

Does this quote itemise crane and rigging, curb adapter, electrical, disposal and permits?
Who pulls the permit, and is a structural engineer needed for this unit on this roof?
What is the refrigerant, and how does the A2L transition affect this price and future service?
What diagnostic readings led you to replacement rather than repair?
What is the equipment warranty, what is your labor warranty, and are they separate in writing?

End the call if

A quote materially below the others. The crane is probably not in it.
Pressure to sign during a peak season failure.
Full payment up front or cash only.

Where this comes from

Not my problem, tap through instead Every commercial hvac answer