PLUMBING
Tankless Water Heater Cost: Installed in 2026
Estimate tankless water heater installation cost — with the free plumbing calculator.
Tankless water heaters deliver endless hot water and save energy — but the upgrade cost is real. Here's what a pro installation actually runs in 2026.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The short answer
A tankless water heater runs $1,000–$3,500 installed in 2026 (average $2,800–$3,200). Electric units run $500–$1,500 plus $500–$1,000 install. Gas units cost more: unit $1,600–$2,000 plus venting, gas line and labor.
What it costs
Electric tankless units run $500–$1,500 with basic install $500–$1,000. Gas units run $1,600–$2,000, and installation (venting $300–$800, gas line $800–$2,000, labor) brings the total to $2,400–$5,400.
- Electric unit: $500–$1,500
- Gas unit: $1,600–$2,000
- Venting + gas line: $1,100–$2,800
- Total installed: $2,400–$5,400
Tankless vs tank
Tankless costs 2-3× more upfront but lasts 20+ years (vs 10-12 for tank), saves 8-34% on water heating energy, and never runs out. If you have 3+ people or use hot water heavily, the payback is real.
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