How Much Is a Nest Thermostat?

The Evolution of Smart Thermostats

As connected devices and smart home tech took off in the 2010s, legacy home appliances evolved to add connectivity and intelligence. One example was the humble thermostat – a device most people rarely thought about beyond occasional seasonal adjustments.

The idea of a "smart" learning thermostat first emerged in 2011 when Nest Labs released the first generation Nest Learning Thermostat. It pioneered features like WiFi-connectivity, remote control, intuitive programming, and usage-based optimization.

Over the next decade, Nest iterated on hardware upgrades and software improvements across 3 generations. Other players like Ecobee entered the scene as well. Fast forward to today – intelligent learning capabilities are now the norm for high-end thermostats.

Currently Nest sells two main consumer thermostat models:

• Nest Learning Thermostat: The flagship model with the most features and highest price
• Nest Thermostat E: A more affordable streamlined model

Now let‘s explore exactly how much these Nest thermostats cost along with pricing history and analysis.

Pricing for Current Nest Thermostats

Nest thermostat prices vary primarily based on the model. But additional costs like installation fees and accessories can alter budget considerations. First let‘s break down the base pricing.

Flagship Nest Learning Thermostat Pricing

The Nest Learning Thermostat debuted in 2011 for $249 and has held steady at that MSRP for over a decade.

Interestingly, pricing has not fallen drastically over 3 generations like many consumer electronics. But Nest has added hardware improvements and new capabilities with each generation:

• 1st Gen: Introduced learning algorithms, Auto-Schedule, remote control
• 2nd Gen: Slimmer profile, higher resolution display, Farsight
• 3rd Gen: Faster processor, updated industrial design, Google Assistant integration

So while the MSRP price is unchanged, the value provided by current models has increased substantially.

Nest Thermostat E Pricing

In 2017, Nest released a more affordable model dubbed the Nest Thermostat E. It retails for $169 – $80 lower than the flagship learning model.

By targeting a lower price point, Nest extended their appeal to wider demographics beyond early tech adopter markets. And the streamlined Thermostat E still includes core smart features like remote access, scheduling, and energy usage reporting.

The Thermostat E pricing also offers a nice mid-point for consumers who find top End models overkill but still want intelligence beyond basic programmable thermostats.

Pricing From Major Retailers

*Sale Price ** With eligible trade-in

Google Store pricing represents overall market retail pricing for both models. Most other major online and retail stores align with Google‘s set MSRP or occasionally undercut it during sales.

Third party seller pricing on Amazon can vary more drastically – ranging from $175 to $300 for flagship Learning models. This volatile pricing represents smaller suppliers with fluctuating inventory and demand.

Spending Forecasts for Nest Thermostat Buyers

The upfront hardware purchase represents only part of the total spend for most Nest thermostat owners. Installation costs and ongoing subscriptions can alter budgets, so let‘s explore some hypothetical pricing scenarios.

Installation by Handyman

For homeowners who aren‘t comfortable tackling their own electrical work or lack the required tools, hiring a handyman is the simplest option:

• Typical installation cost: $100
• Total hardware + installation cost:
  • Nest Learning: $249 + $100 = $349
  • Nest E: $169 + $100 = $269

So with handyman installation factored in, buyers should budget $100 above the base thermostat price.

DIY Installation With Power Accessories

Devices like the Nest Power Connector which enables C-wire hookup for certain dual transformer systems cost $35 extra. While not required for most standard installations, it adds another optional purchase consideration:

• Power connector: $35
• Total DIY hardware cost:
  • Nest Learning + Power connector = $249 + $35 = $284
  • Nest E + Power connector = $169 + $35 = $204

With Nest Aware Subscription

Nest Aware adds capabilities like extended smart camera footage history and facial recognition alerts for $6 to $12 per month based on features.

Over 2 years of ownership with a standard $6 per month subscription, the total cost becomes:

• Nest Aware Subscription: $6 * 24 months = $144
• Total cost with subscription:
  • Nest Learning: $249 + $144 = $393
  • Nest E: $169 + $144 = $313

So buyers interested in unlocking the complete Nest ecosystem should budget an extra $144 to $288 for 2 to 4 years of subscription access.

Best and Worst Case Spending Scenarios

As modeled above, realistic customer spending ranges from $169 for DIY budget installs up to $400+ for full-service setup with ongoing subscription. So current owners likely spent $200 to $350 depending on options.

Historical Nest Thermostat Pricing Trends

The average selling price for Nest thermostats has dropped over 20% from an initial $250 in 2012 to around $175 to $200 in 2022 based on market sales data.

Let‘s analyze longer term historical pricing trends using a pricing index normalized to 2012 levels:

Key observations:

• Pricing remained very stable from 2012 through 2014
• The introduction of the lower-cost Nest E in 2017 helped bring overall average market prices down
• Recent average selling prices today are around $200, a 20% drop from 2012 debut levels

So while official MSRP from Nest hasn‘t changed, increased competition and high availability of subsidized units has brought down market pricing over the past decade relative to inflation levels.

Nest Temperature Sensor

In late 2022, Nest released an add-on temperature sensor that lets users monitor and control the temperature in specific rooms for added climate zone control.

The key details around pricing and compatibility for the new Nest Temperature Sensor include:

• MSRP: $39 per sensor
• Compatible Models: Nest Learning Thermostat and Nest Thermostat E
• Features: Specific room temperature monitoring, remote temperature control, temperature-based automations

Early reviews indicate the new sensor is easy to install and provides helpful zone-based climate insights not available from the thermostat alone. It‘s a nice accessory for enhancing whole-home temperature management.

How Nest‘s Learning Algorithm Saves Energy

We‘ve explored the upfront hardware and installation costs – but how much does a Nest thermostat ultimately save?

The embedded learning algorithms is the secret sauce that unlocks meaningful energy savings. Here is a deeper look at how it works:

Days 1-3: During initial installation, you manually set your ideal temperatures for various times like weekends vs weekdays.

Days/Weeks After: Nest records actual heating/cooling equipment runtimes and identifies usage patterns and changes.

Months After: Nest auto-tunes the schedule based on learned usage patterns to minimize runtime while keeping comfort levels.

Ongoing software improvements and new datasets further optimize adjustments to strike the right comfort vs. efficiency balance.

Most users see optimization after 2 to 4 weeks with 10-12% HVAC energy savings. So the hands-off learning features ultimately pay dividends on hardware costs while keeping users comfortable.

Key Takeaways on Nest Thermostat Pricing

For prospective Nest thermostat buyers, keep these pricing, technology, and compatibility considerations in mind while budgeting:

• Current MSRP from $169 to $249; historical average prices closer to $175 to $225
• Installation, accessories, subscriptions can add $100 to $250+ to total spend
• New Nest Temperature Sensor enables zoning at $39 per sensor
• Learning algorithms optimize to deliver 10-12% HVAC energy savings over time
• Works with 95% of low-voltage systems like forced air, radiant, heat pump, etc.

Overall, Nest thermostats deliver outstanding value via intelligent optimization and convenience features that enhance real world usage. Both upfront and ongoing costs continue to advance downwards – while functionality and integrations increase each product generation.

For most homeowners, Nest thermostats strike an excellent balance of usability, efficiency gains, and affordability resulting in high customer satisfaction. The smart investment pays off with years of energy savings in customized comfort.