How much does appliance installation cost?

Before you start reaching for your wallet and praising the gods of inexpensive home repair work, there are a few things to keep in mind. What kind of appliance are you installing? Are you looking to install a simple stove cooktop or a double wall oven?

The cost of installation for a stove cooktop or double oven is on the cheaper side. Small, easy-to-install appliances, like a slide-in electric range, might cost even less. But installation for complicated appliances that require additional electrical, plumbing or gas work — like a brand-new dishwasher — may cost more. Before you hire a contractor to help you with your installation, get an estimate on how much this job will cost you.

• Hourly rates
• Appliance installation cost factors
  
  • Type of appliance
  • Make and model
  • Additional parts
  • Unique circumstances
• Electricity, gas and plumbing cost considerations
• How to hire a pro
• Find appliance installation services near you

On average, appliance installers charge $65 per hour. 

The type of appliance, make and model, additional parts, and whether you need electricity and plumbing work can all impact the total cost to install an appliance in your home.

Type of appliance

While the average installation cost is about $125 nationwide, the exact installation cost varies tremendously based on your appliance. Installation for larger appliances tends to cost more, as do the installation of appliances that need to be hooked up to gas or water lines. Here are some more specific national average expenses:

Typically, a contractor at an appliance installation company will provide potential customers with a flat quote for installation. Sandman Appliance Installations owner David Gervais, for instance, provides a set rate with his customers, but he also has a "modification charge" if complications arise during the installation (such as additional electrical work or installation of a gas line).

Several other factors can affect the cost of your appliance installation, too.

Make and model

Not all brands are made the same way — so the appliance installation cost may vary depending on which make or model you choose. (Pro tip: Make sure they know this information in advance!) A professional installer may charge a little more for the work to install an unfamiliar brand, especially if it uses uncommon or complicated hook-ups to plumbing or natural gas lines.

Your appliance installation specialist may provide a set price for a popular company or brand, such as Wolf, Sub-Zero, Viking, and Meile. As a bonus, many of these brands have certification courses, so you can be sure your contractor knows how to install them.

Additional parts

Unfortunately, not every appliance comes with everything you need and additional parts can raise costs.

For example, if you're putting in an over-the-range microwave in your current kitchen cabinet set-up, you might need cabinet trim. A cabinet trim kit can cost between $100 and $200, and you shouldn't skimp on the cabinet trim kit. Cabinets are usually the focal point of a kitchen. In order to make your microwave oven look like it is built into the cabinets, a trim kit is a must. Same goes for dishwashers, which may need insulation to fit properly into your base cabinet setup.

Another example is washer and dryer installation. Your new washer and dryer might need ducting, which runs between $10 and $30. While your appliance installation specialist will be happy to provide these parts for you, doing so will cost money. The exact amount is highly dependent on the type of appliance you're installing and how it's being installed, so talk to your installation company.

Unique circumstances

Sometimes, installing a new appliance is as simple as sliding a new gas oven into the spot your previous gas oven occupied. Other times, it's more complicated — especially if you pull out the old oven and stove to find the flooring or baseboards destroyed, if extensive electrical work needs to be done, or if a new gas line needs to be installed.

Making these basic repairs can increase the cost of your repair. However, just like Gervais, many professional appliance installation specialists will state their hourly labor cost upfront so you can properly estimate the exact expense.

Appliances don't exist in a vacuum. While some appliances require only a basic wall hook-up, like a built-in microwave, many appliances need more complicated connections and require more work, like a dryer or double oven.

Is your appliance (stove/oven/dryer) gas or electric? There may be some electrical work that needs to be done, or a gas line may need to be installed if your appliance uses natural gas as its energy source – both of which can affect the cost.

Here's what to consider when you're determining the cost:

Are you switching from electric to natural gas (or vice versa)?

The cost of your stove and oven installation just got more expensive. The electrical work required to install a new outlet can cost between $120 and $200, and your local natural gas company might charge between $200 and $2,000 to run a new natural gas line to your oven. That new gas line can really increase the cost of your stove and oven installation.

New addition or replacement?

Having an oven or another appliance installed or replaced can be as easy as sliding it into place. It can also be a difficult procedure that involves electrical, carpentry, vents, and specialty installation by an appliance installation professional. Cooking appliances, such as stoves and wall ovens, that use natural gas may also need additional work to run an energy source.

Generally, a direct replacement wall oven, dishwasher, dryer, or refrigerator is going to be cheaper to install than a new addition. This is because existing appliances already have the designated space, supports, electrical, and/or gas lines available. The further away from gas lines or power lines, the more a professional installer will charge to install your appliance.

Whether you're replacing an old wall oven or adding a new double oven, be sure to keep this in mind when totaling up the cost of installation.

How old were your old appliances?

Cynthia Roman, the owner of Roman Appliance Installation, says new appliances have significantly more complicated electrical control panels than older versions. If your old appliance was really old, you may need to run more electricity to the location or add a new electrical outlet.

Additionally, there may be an extra charge for removing your old oven or dryer. A professional installer will be able to give you an accurate quote prior to installation.

Do you need to run water?

If you didn't have a dishwasher before, you lack a garbage disposal or your new refrigerator has an ice maker, a licensed plumber may need to run water lines. Basic plumbing services costs between $130 and $150.

To find an appliance installation pro, search online so you can read customer reviews and ratings.

Look for a few high-rated pros in your area who has experience installing the type of appliance you need help with. Better yet, ask the pros if they know how to install the specific make and model you have. 

After you find a handful of pros who seem like a great fit, reach out to them and ask for cost estimates. Let the pros know:

• How many appliances you need installed
• The type of appliance (include the make and model)
• The power source (gas or electric)
• Where you want the appliance installed

Hire a pro after you receive a few price quotes so you can make the most cost-effective decision.