What does a furnace igniter replacement cost?

Prices checked October 2026. Wages: BLS, May 2025.

Hot surface igniters are made of brittle ceramic, and sooner or later they crack or burn out. Most gas furnaces built in the last few decades light this way instead of with a standing pilot. When the thermostat calls for heat, the control board heats the igniter until it glows, then opens the gas valve. A White-Rodgers control manual describes a warm-up of about seven seconds, after which flame must be detected within four seconds. When the igniter fails, the furnace tries to light, fails, retries, and then locks out.

Furnace igniter replacement: typical bill

Low$120

Typical$170

High$320

Part $48 (online list price, middle of 16 listings) plus about 0.75 hours of hands-on time and a trip and diagnosis hour, billed at roughly $70 an hour (a HVAC technician earning the national median of $29 an hour, times the 2.4 billing multiplier we use). Method.

The range above prices one visit by an HVAC technician to swap the igniter. It combines the online list price of replacement igniters (a spread of universal and brand-specific parts from retailer listings) with about an hour and three quarters of billed time, roughly 45 minutes hands-on and an hour for the trip and diagnosis. The hourly rate is built from local HVAC technician wages, multiplied to cover the company's overhead and profit.

What moves the price

Universal or brand-specific part

Many furnaces can take a universal igniter, while others need the manufacturer's exact part with a specific mounting bracket and plug. Retail listings range from low-cost universal models to brand parts costing several times more. The model and part number should be on your invoice.

The diagnostic hour

A no-heat call can come from a dozen causes: a dirty flame sensor, a pressure switch, a clogged filter, a blocked vent, a bad board. Most of the bill pays for a technician to watch the startup sequence, read any fault code and test parts. Then they confirm the furnace runs normally after the fix.

Winter demand

No-heat calls bunch up on the first cold nights of the season. So do surcharges. After-hours or weekend rates then can push a bill above the high end shown.

Your area's labor rates

The billed rate is set from the 25th, median and 75th percentile HVAC technician wages for your metro or state. A company's overhead and markup sit on top of that, which is what the multipliers in the model represent.

Repair or replace?

An igniter is a wear part. On a furnace with years left, replacing it is an easy yes. DOE's analysis uses an average furnace life of about 21 years, so even a furnace in its teens usually justifies the repair. The math changes when the technician finds a cracked heat exchanger, a failing inducer motor or a control board problem on the same visit, or when the furnace is past 20 years and has needed several recent repairs. Then add up the repairs and hold them against the replacement range on the furnace cost page before approving more work.

Run the numbers for your unit.

What a complete quote lists

Fault code or test result showing the igniter failed (for example, an open circuit or a visible crack)
Igniter part number, and whether it is the brand's part or a universal replacement
Labor charge or flat-rate repair price
Service call or diagnostic fee
Any other parts replaced on the same visit, each with a reason
A note that the technician watched at least one full heating cycle after the repair
Parts warranty and labor warranty terms
After-hours surcharge, if one was applied

Paste your quote and we'll tick these off for you.

Common questions

How do I know the igniter is the problem?

Typical signs are a furnace that clicks on, runs its inducer fan, but never lights, then tries again and stops. Many control boards flash a fault code you can see through the small window in the blower door. A technician confirms it by testing the igniter.

What does lockout mean?

After several failed attempts to light, the control stops trying. The White-Rodgers control manual describes lockout after the third failed attempt, with an automatic retry after one hour or a reset when power or the thermostat call is interrupted. Repeated lockouts mean something needs to be fixed.

Can I replace the igniter myself?

This page does not give steps. The igniter sits beside the burners and gas valve inside the furnace, and handling or testing it involves line voltage. Have an HVAC technician do it. Homeowner checks include the thermostat setting, the furnace switch, the filter and resetting a tripped breaker once.

How long do furnace igniters last?

There is no single figure. Life depends on how many times the furnace lights each season, the igniter material and the voltage it sees. Some last most of a furnace's life, while others fail in a few seasons, which is why it is one of the most common no-heat repairs.

Is it normal to be charged a diagnostic fee and a repair price?

Yes, many companies charge a service fee to come out and diagnose, then quote the repair. Some credit the fee toward the repair. Ask how it works before the technician starts.