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Gas furnaces · 96% to 98% AFUE
High Efficiency Gas Furnaces: 96% and 97% AFUE Models at Wholesale Prices
Every furnace on this page is a condensing unit from Goodman or ACiQ, rated 96 to 98 percent AFUE. Pick your size, pick single-stage, two-stage, or modulating, and see today's price on the product page. No contractor markup on the equipment.
A high efficiency gas furnace is a condensing furnace rated 90 percent AFUE or higher; the models sold today are 96 to 98 percent. It burns about 16.7 percent less gas than an 80 percent furnace for the same heat, vents through PVC instead of metal, and produces condensate that must drain. It pays off fastest in homes with long heating seasons.
The rating
What "high efficiency" means on a gas furnace
AFUE, annual fuel utilization efficiency, is the share of the gas you buy that becomes heat in your ducts over a full heating season. A 96 percent AFUE furnace turns 96 cents of every fuel dollar into heat and sends 4 cents up the vent. An 80 percent furnace sends 20 cents up the vent. The rating comes from a standardized federal test, and every furnace sold in the United States carries one, so it is the one number that lets you compare brands on equal footing.
The jump from 80 to 96 percent is not a better burner. It is a second heat exchanger. After the hot combustion gases pass through the primary exchanger, a condensing furnace routes them through a stainless steel secondary exchanger that wrings out the heat an 80 percent furnace throws away. The exhaust leaves so cool, roughly 100 degrees instead of 300 or more, that the water vapor in it condenses, which is why these are called condensing furnaces and why they vent through PVC pipe and need a drain. More on that below.
ENERGY STAR, run by the EPA, currently certifies gas furnaces at 95 percent AFUE or higher in the southern states and 97 percent or higher in the northern states. Every unit on this page clears the southern bar, and the 97 and 98 percent modulating models clear the northern one.
The honest framing: 80 to 96 is a real, every-month fuel saving. 96 to 97 is about one percent more fuel saved. People who buy the 97 are buying the modulating valve and the variable-speed blower, which change how the house feels. Buy the number for the fuel. Buy the staging for the comfort.
Your numbers
What a high efficiency furnace saves you
Fuel savings scale with the ratio of the two AFUE ratings, so you can estimate them from your own gas bill without knowing your home's square footage or climate zone. Enter what you spend on heating gas in a typical year. If your bill mixes in a water heater and range, use the winter months minus the summer months.
Furnace fuel savings estimator
AFUE math, your numbersEstimate only. It assumes the new furnace is sized and installed correctly and that your usage stays the same. Rising gas prices raise the savings; a milder winter lowers them.
Side by side
80% vs 92% vs 96% vs 97%: what actually changes
| Rating | Heat exchangers | Vent | Condensate drain | Gas valve options | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80% AFUE | Primary only | Metal B-vent, hot exhaust | No | Single-stage, two-stage | Mild climates, short heating seasons, existing metal chimney |
| 92% AFUE | Primary + secondary | PVC | Yes | Single-stage | Budget condensing; limited models today |
| 96% AFUE | Primary + stainless secondary | PVC, 1-pipe or 2-pipe | Yes | Single-stage, two-stage | Most replacements in cold and mixed climates |
| 97% to 98% AFUE | Primary + stainless secondary | PVC, 1-pipe or 2-pipe | Yes | Modulating, variable-speed | Comfort-first buyers, long heating seasons, zoned or communicating systems |
In stock now
Shop 96% and 97% AFUE gas furnaces by size
Four lineups at every common size. Click through for today's price, the spec sheet, and the manufacturer's warranty terms. Not sure which BTU you need? Run the furnace sizing calculator first.
40,000 BTU gas furnaces
Small homes, condos, and tight mechanical rooms
Goodman 40000 BTU 96% AFUE Single-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Single-stage gas valve
- Multi-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GR9S960403AN
Goodman 40000 BTU 96% AFUE Two-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Two-stage gas valve
- Multi-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GR9T960403AN
ACiQ 40000 BTU 96% AFUE Two-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Two-stage gas valve
- Variable-speed ECM blower
- Multi-Position
- Model G96VTN0401410A
No 97% model is made at 40,000 BTU. The two-stage 96% units above are the top efficiency in this size.
See all 40,000 to 72,000 BTU furnaces60,000 BTU gas furnaces
The most common replacement size for 1,200 to 1,800 sq ft
Goodman 60000 BTU 96% AFUE Single-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Single-stage gas valve
- Multi-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GR9S960603BN
Goodman 60000 BTU 96% AFUE Two-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Two-stage gas valve
- Multi-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GR9T960603AN
ACiQ 60000 BTU 96% AFUE Two-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Two-stage gas valve
- Variable-speed ECM blower
- Multi-Position
- Model G96VTN0601412A
Goodman 60000 BTU 97% AFUE Modulating Gas Furnace
- 97% AFUE condensing
- Modulating gas valve
- Variable-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GRVM970603BN
80,000 BTU gas furnaces
Mid-size homes, 1,800 to 2,400 sq ft in most climates
Goodman 80000 BTU 96% AFUE Single-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Single-stage gas valve
- Multi-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GR9S960803BN
Goodman 80000 BTU 96% AFUE Two-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Two-stage gas valve
- Multi-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GR9T960803BN
ACiQ 80000 BTU 96% AFUE Two-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Two-stage gas valve
- Variable-speed ECM blower
- Multi-Position
- Model G96VTN0801716A
Goodman 80000 BTU 97% AFUE Modulating Gas Furnace
- 97% AFUE condensing
- Modulating gas valve
- Variable-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GRVM970804CN
100,000 BTU gas furnaces
Larger homes and colder regions
Goodman 100000 BTU 96% AFUE Single-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Single-stage gas valve
- Multi-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GR9S961005CN
Goodman 100000 BTU 96% AFUE Two-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Two-stage gas valve
- Multi-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GR9T961004CN
ACiQ 100000 BTU 96% AFUE Two-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Two-stage gas valve
- Variable-speed ECM blower
- Multi-Position
- Model G96VTN1002120A
Goodman 100000 BTU 97% AFUE Modulating Gas Furnace
- 97% AFUE condensing
- Modulating gas valve
- Variable-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GRVM971005CN
120,000 BTU gas furnaces
Big footprints and the coldest climates
Goodman 120000 BTU 96% AFUE Single-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Single-stage gas valve
- Multi-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GR9S961205DN
Goodman 120000 BTU 96% AFUE Two-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Two-stage gas valve
- Multi-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GR9T961205DN
ACiQ 120000 BTU 96% AFUE Two-stage Gas Furnace
- 96% AFUE condensing
- Two-stage gas valve
- Variable-speed ECM blower
- Multi-Position
- Model G96VTN1202422A
Goodman 120000 BTU 97% AFUE Modulating Gas Furnace
- 97% AFUE condensing
- Modulating gas valve
- Variable-speed ECM blower
- Upflow or horizontal
- Model GRVM971205DN
Three ways to deliver the heat
Which lineup fits your house
All of these are 96 percent or better. The difference is how they deliver the heat, and that is what you feel.
Single-stage 96%
Full output every cycle, multi-speed ECM blower. The lowest cost way into condensing efficiency. Cycles are shorter and the temperature swings a little more, which most people in mild climates never notice.
Goodman GR9S96 / GD9S96 · ACiQ N96MSNTwo-stage 96%
Runs at a reduced first stage most of the time and steps up only on cold mornings. Longer, quieter cycles, steadier room temperature, better humidity control in summer when paired with AC. The sweet spot for most homes north of the Sun Belt.
Goodman GR9T96 / GD9T96 · ACiQ G96VTNModulating 97% to 98%
Adjusts output in small steps, down to about 40 percent, with a variable-speed blower that ramps gently. The house holds temperature within a degree and the furnace is close to silent. Communicating controls on both brands.
Goodman GRVM97 / GDVM97 · ACiQ G97CMNA note on the Goodman and ACiQ pairing. Goodman is the brand most installers have put in a thousand times; parts are everywhere and the lineup is simple. ACiQ is built on the same platform family as several national brands and competes hard on features per dollar, with 18-speed and variable-speed ECM blowers through the range and modulating units that test up to 98 percent AFUE in the upflow position. Both carry manufacturer parts warranties with online registration; the terms are on each product page and at Goodman support.
Sizing
Match the BTUs to the house, not to the old furnace
Furnace input is rated in BTU per hour. Oversizing is the most common mistake in replacement work, because the old unit was often oversized too and it is tempting to match it. An oversized condensing furnace short cycles, which wastes the efficiency you paid for and wears parts faster. A right-sized two-stage or modulating furnace runs long and low, which is exactly how it earns its rating.
Rough starting points for a well insulated home: 40,000 to 60,000 BTU for roughly 1,000 to 1,500 square feet, 60,000 to 80,000 for 1,500 to 2,200, 80,000 to 100,000 for 2,200 to 2,800, and 100,000 to 120,000 above that. Cold climates push you to the top of each band and mild ones to the bottom. Ceiling height, insulation, window area, and air leakage move the number more than square footage does, which is why a Manual J load calculation is the right answer when the house is unusual. Use the furnace sizing calculator to narrow the band, then confirm with your installer.
One more sizing detail that only matters on condensing furnaces: the output. A 96 percent 80,000 BTU furnace delivers about 76,800 BTU of heat; an 80 percent 80,000 BTU furnace delivers 64,000. If you are replacing an 80 percent unit, you may be able to step down one size and get the same heat. Read the sizing guide before you order.
Planning the job
What changes at installation (so you can talk to your installer)
AC Direct sells and ships the equipment; your licensed HVAC contractor installs it. These are the five things a condensing furnace needs that an 80 percent furnace does not, so you can plan the job and read the quote.
- PVC venting. Exhaust is cool enough for schedule 40 PVC. Two-pipe direct vent, with a dedicated pipe bringing combustion air from outside, is the cleanest install and keeps the furnace from pulling air from the basement. One-pipe venting is allowed on these models where codes permit.
- A condensate drain. Expect somewhere around a half gallon to a gallon of slightly acidic water per hour of full-fire operation. It runs to a floor drain, or to a condensate pump if the furnace sits below the drain line. Some jurisdictions require a neutralizer cartridge before the water reaches a drain.
- Orientation. Upflow, horizontal, and downflow are different cabinets or different setups. The Goodman GR series is upflow or horizontal and the GD series is downflow; ACiQ units are multi-position. Match the airflow direction of the furnace you are removing.
- Fuel. All of these ship for natural gas and convert to propane with the manufacturer's LP kit, fitted at install. Same AFUE on either fuel. LP conversion kits are here.
- Emissions rules. Standard Goodman and ACiQ 96 and 97 percent furnaces meet the 40 ng/J low NOx standard. California's South Coast and San Joaquin Valley districts require ultra low NOx models, which Goodman makes at 96 percent AFUE. Those are listed separately.
A thought for anyone comparing quotes: the condensing furnace itself usually adds modest labor over an 80 percent swap, mostly the vent run and the drain. Where the price jumps is when a chimney liner or a long vent run is involved. Ask the installer to break those out so you are comparing the furnace, not the pipe.
Where it pays
Where a 96% furnace pays off, and where it is a comfort purchase
The savings math above runs on your gas bill, so a long heating season produces a big number and a short one does not. In the upper Midwest, the Northeast, the Mountain West, and the Plains, a 96 percent furnace typically pays back its premium over an 80 percent unit well inside its service life, and the two-stage models add comfort on top. Across the Gulf Coast and the Desert Southwest, the furnace may run a few hundred hours a year; the fuel saving is real but small, and the case for condensing is mostly about quieter, steadier heat and future-proofing. Our knowledge base has the climate-by-climate version of this argument.
Future-proofing deserves one sentence. A federal minimum efficiency rule finalized in 2023 would require gas furnaces manufactured after December 18, 2028 to meet 95 percent AFUE; it was upheld on appeal in late 2025 and is under further court review in 2026. Whatever the final outcome, the industry is moving toward condensing, and parts and installer familiarity are moving with it.
Ready to size it and see the price?
Run the furnace sizing calculator, then open any model above for today's wholesale price and free shipping.
Furnace sizing calculator Back to the furnacesQuestions
High efficiency gas furnace questions
What AFUE counts as a high efficiency gas furnace?
A gas furnace with an AFUE of 90 percent or higher is a condensing, high efficiency furnace. Most high efficiency models sold today are 95 to 98 percent AFUE. ENERGY STAR currently certifies gas furnaces at 95 percent AFUE or higher in the southern United States and 97 percent or higher in the northern United States.
How much less gas does a 96% furnace use than an 80% furnace?
About 16.7 percent less for the same delivered heat. Fuel use scales with the ratio of the two AFUE ratings: 80 divided by 96 is 0.833, so the 96 percent furnace burns 83.3 percent of the gas the 80 percent furnace burns. Moving from 92 to 96 percent saves about 4.2 percent.
Is a 97% furnace worth it over a 96% furnace?
The extra percentage point saves about 1 percent of fuel, so the efficiency alone rarely pays for the step up. People choose 97 percent models for the modulating gas valve and variable-speed blower, which run longer, quieter, and steadier cycles and hold a tighter temperature. Buy the 97 for comfort, not for the AFUE.
Can a high efficiency gas furnace run on propane?
Yes. The Goodman and ACiQ 96 and 97 percent furnaces on this page ship set up for natural gas and convert to propane with the manufacturer's LP conversion kit, installed by your installer during setup. The AFUE rating is the same on either fuel.
Why does a 96% furnace need PVC pipes and a drain?
A condensing furnace pulls so much heat out of the exhaust that the water vapor in it condenses. The flue gas is cool enough to vent through PVC instead of metal, and the condensate, roughly a half gallon to a gallon per hour at full fire, has to drain to a floor drain or a condensate pump. Both are normal parts of a high efficiency installation.
What is the difference between single-stage, two-stage, and modulating?
A single-stage furnace runs at 100 percent output every time it fires. A two-stage furnace runs at a reduced first stage, around 65 to 70 percent, most of the time and steps up to full output only when the house needs it. A modulating furnace adjusts its output in small increments, typically from about 40 percent to 100 percent, to match the heat loss of the house minute by minute. All three are available at 96 percent AFUE; modulating models reach 97 to 98 percent.
Does AC Direct install gas furnaces?
No. AC Direct sells the equipment at wholesale pricing and ships it to you. Installation is done by your own licensed HVAC contractor. The manufacturer's parts warranty covers the furnace; labor is not covered by the manufacturer and is arranged with your installer. Warranty terms and registration requirements are listed on each product page and at Goodman support.
Keep reading
Sources: ENERGY STAR furnace criteria (EPA); ACCA Manual J; manufacturer product documentation for the Goodman GR9S96, GR9T96, GRVM97 and ACiQ N96MSN, G96VTN, G97CMN series as published on each product page.