Comparison of Rinnai Tankless Hot Water Heater Costs | Rinnai System Buying Guide
When you’re looking at the cost of a tankless water heater, one of the common factors likely to affect the cost of the heater you buy is going to be the brand. Rinnai, Navien, Takagi and Rheem are highly popular choices in the tankless hot water heater market, and are among the biggest named brands out there. While their products can be costly, their reliability is also good.
What is the Cost of a Rinnai Tankless Water Heater?
What will a propane or natural gas Rinnai tankless water heater cost you with installation included? The average cost for a Rinnai tankless water heater is between $500 – $1,700 excluding installation. The total cost including installation ranges between $700 – $3,200.
| Rinnai Tankless Price Ranges for Main Series | |||
| Series | Models Included | Price Range (Including Pro Installation) | Budget Level |
| V HE Series Non-Condensing | V53, V65, V75, V94 | $700 – $1,600 | Low |
| RL HE+ Series Non-Condensing | RL75, RL94 | $1,350 – $2,100 | Low |
| RLX HE+ Series Non-Condensing | RLX94 | $1,900 – $2,500 | Medium |
| RUCS SE Series Condensing | RUCS65, RUCS75 | $1,250 – $1,780 | Medium |
| RUS SE Series Condensing | RUS65, RUS75 | $1,050 – $1,670 | Medium |
| RU SE Series Condensing | RU130, RU160, RU180, RU199 | $1,500 – $2,360 | High |
| RUR SE Series Condensing | RUR160, RUR199 | $1,975 – $3,200 | High |
| Key – HE = High-Efficiency | SE = Super High-Efficiency | |||
Overview of Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters
Rinnai is a leading brand in the tankless water heater market and they are known for some of the best products available today. As a company, Rinnai was founded as far back as 1920. It has gradually grown the company, starting with just cooking stoves and now offer multiple products around home heating, including natural and propane gas tankless water heaters.
Rinnai offers 7 series of tankless water heaters, each of which contains multiple models. The budget-line, the V HE Series, contains the largest range of models at the most affordable prices costing between $700 – $1,600, including installation. Rinnai’s premium line comes in the form of the RUR SE and RU SE series with prices up to $3,200 including installation. The series in between include the RLX HE+, RUCS SE and the RUS SE Series of non-condensing and condensing hot water heaters.
Understanding Your Rinnai Tankless Hot Water Heater Options & Model Codes
When you’re looking at buying a Rinnai tankless water heater and trying to figure out how much it’s going to cost, there are several ways they are categorized, these include:
- Series – Currently there are multiple models of tankless heater available from 7 different series, these include the V, RL, RLX, RUCS, RUR, RUS, and RU series (shown in the images above)
- Efficiency level – Rinnai make high efficiency (HE) models and super high efficiency (SE) models
- Condensing vs Non-Condensing – Both are an option with Rinnai, however condensing water heaters are only available through the RUCS, RUR, RU and RUS tankless series. Non-condensing heaters are available in the V, RL and RLX series and as a consequence, are in the lower price range category
- Indoor vs Outdoor – Indoor and outdoor tankless heaters are available through Rinnai, the V, RL, RU and RUR series have a range of both indoor and outdoor options available. Whereas, the RUCS and RLX series are only available in indoor units and the RUS series are only available in outdoor units (see the table overview for each series below).
The features mentioned above are easily identified from the Rinnai model number. Using the example of the V65iN and the RL75eN you can better understand what the Rinnai model numbers mean.
| Rules | V65iN | RL75eN |
| V | V model | RL model |
| 65 / 75 | Max hot water (e.g. 6.5 GPM) | Max hot water (e.g. 7.5 GPM) |
| i | Indoor | – |
| e | – | Exterior / Outdoor |
| N | Natural Gas | – |
| P | – | Propane Gas |
Rinnai Gas Tankless Water Heater Costs
Comparison of Natural Gas Tankless Prices by Series
Rinnai produces both natural gas and propane gas tankless water heaters and an overview of prices by fuel supply is shown in the tables below. You can expect there to be very little difference in the natural gas vs propane gas heaters, unlike gas vs electric tankless heaters. A Rinnai natural gas tankless heater will cost between $700 – $2,500 for a non-condensing unit from the V, RL or RLX series and $1,250 – $3,200 for a condensing unit from the RUCS, RUR, RU or RUS series of water heaters.
| Rinnai Natural Gas Tankless Price Comparison | ||||
| Series | Models Included | Energy Star Qualified | GPM | Installation & Unit Cost |
| Non-Condensing | ||||
| V HE Series | V53, V65, V75, V94 | No | 5.6 – 9.8 | $700 – $1,600 |
| RL HE+ Series | RL75, RL94 | No | 7.5 – 9.8 | $1,350 – $2,100 |
| RLX HE+ Series | RLX94 | No | 9.8 | $1,900 – $2,500 |
| Condensing | ||||
| RUCS SE Series | RUCS65, RUCS75 | Yes | 6.5 – 7.5 | $1,250 – $1,780 |
| RUS SE Series | RUS65, RUS75 | Yes | 6.5 – 7.5 | $1,050 – $1,670 |
| RU SE Series | RU130, RU160, RU180, RU199 | Yes | 7.0 – 10.0 | $1,500 – $2,360 |
| RUR SE Series | RUR160, RUR199 | Yes | 9.0 – 11.0 | $1,975 – $3,200 |
Comparison of Propane Gas Tankless Prices by Series
Rinnai propane gas tankless heaters cost similar to natural gas water heaters, with very no difference in the price of the unit and very little difference in the installation cost.
| Rinnai Propane Gas Tankless Price Comparison | ||||
| Series | Models Included | Energy Star Qualified | GPM | Installation & Unit Cost |
| Non-Condensing | ||||
| V HE Series | V53, V65, V75, V94 | No | 5.6 – 9.8 | $700 – $1,600 |
| RL HE+ Series | RL75, RL94 | No | 7.5 – 9.8 | $1,350 – $2,100 |
| Condensing | ||||
| RUS SE Series | RUS65, RUS75 | Yes | 6.5 – 7.5 | $1,050 – $1,670 |
| RU SE Series | RU130, RU160, RU180, RU199 | Yes | 7.0 – 10.0 | $1,500 – $2,360 |
| RUR SE Series | RUR160, RUR199 | Yes | 9.0 – 11.0 | $1,975 – $3,200 |
Rinnai Electric Tankless Water Heaters
There are currently no options for Rinnai electric tankless water heaters and therefore we have only included prices for their propane and natural gas water heaters above. Other popular brands which do make electric tankless heaters include Rheem, ATMOR, EcoSmart and Stiebel Eltron.
Installation Cost
As previously covered in our cost of tankless units section, labor costs for a natural gas or propane gas tankless unit will cost between $50 – $150 per hour. The average time required to install a gas unit would usually be between 3 and 4 hours, not taking into account any complexities. However, with additional factors taken into account, the labor cost for tankless installation can be as much as $650. Additional supplies and tools usually cost $100 – $200. The supply of an installation permit for a gas heater may cost an extra $45 – $250.
Popular / Best Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters
The following models are currently rated as the best rated Rinnai tankless water heaters, this have been listed along with their total unit price and average installed cost:
- Rinnai HE Natural Gas (V65iN) Tankless Water Heater – Cost: $830 – $1,330
- Rinnai HE+ Propane (RL75eN) Tankless Water Heater – Cost: $1,350 – $1,750
- Rinnai HE+ Propane (RL94iP) Tankless Water Heater – Cost: $1,850 – $2,100
- Rinnai HE+ Propane (RL75iP) Tankless Water Heater – Cost: $1,450 – $1,950
- Rinnai SE+ Natural Gas (RU199iN) Tankless Water Heater – Cost: $1,910 – $2,360
More Information on the Rinnai Product Range
Below are the latest Rinnai tankless water heater series, divided into high-efficiency models and super high-efficiency models, installation is included in the price ranges.
High-Efficiency (HE & HE+) Models
Rinnai high efficiency (HE) thankless water heaters include the V, RL and RLX high efficiency series, these are all non-condensing water heaters. These HE and HE+ units provide reasonable efficiency on a budget. Non-condensing tankless heaters won’t be as efficient as a condensing heater, but condensing heaters are going to cost quite a bit more. A simple non-condensing tankless water heater will cost around $550 for the unit and an additional $150 – $650 for installation.
Rinnai V Model Series Non-Condensing Tankless Prices
These are a compact and affordable budget unit to provide small to medium sized homes with instant hot water.
Rinnai V HE series cost between $700 – $1,900, including installation and fees. The lowest priced unit in the range is the Rinnai V53 which is available as an outdoor unit only, in both propane and natural gas. Our choice would be the V65 model, which is available as both natural and propane gas, and in indoor and outdoor variants. The V65 is one of the most popular tankless heaters from Rinnai.
| Rinnai V Model Series Non-Condensing Tankless Water Heaters Water Heaters | |||||
| Model | GPM | BTU | Indoor / Outdoor | Fuel Type | Installation & Unit Cost |
| V53DeN | 5.6 | 120,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $700 – $1300 |
| V53DeP | 5.6 | 120,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $700 – $1300 |
| V65iN | 6.5 | 150,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $830 – $1,330 |
| V65iP | 6.5 | 150,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $830 – $1,330 |
| V65eN | 6.5 | 150,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $680 – $1,180 |
| V65eP | 6.5 | 150,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $680 – $1,180 |
| V75iN | 7.5 | 180,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $899 – $1,500 |
| V75iP | 7.5 | 180,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $899 – $1,500 |
| V75eN | 7.5 | 180,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $799 – $1,350 |
| V75eP | 7.5 | 180,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $799 – $1,350 |
| V94XiN | 9.8 | 192,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,450 – $1,900 |
| V94iN | 9.8 | 192,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,450 – $1,900 |
| V94iP | 9.8 | 192,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $1,450 – $1,900 |
| V94eN | 9.8 | 192,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $1,250 – $1,600 |
| V94eP | 9.8 | 192,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $1,250 – $1,600 |
Rinnai RL Model HE+ Series Non-Condensing Tankless Prices
The Rinnai RL models are still non-condensing like the V models, however they offer more in the way of features which includes Wi-Fi technology for remote control and monitoring. The RL has been around for over 10 years and costs between $1,450 – $1,950 for their low-end models, to $1,850 – $2,100 for models with similar features which provide a higher GPM.
| Rinnai RL Model Series Non-Condensing Tankless Water Heaters | |||||
| Model | GPM | BTU | Indoor Outdoor | Fuel Type | Installation & Unit Cost |
| RL75iN | 7.5 | 180,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,450 – $1,950 |
| RL75iP | 7.5 | 180,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $1,450 – $1,950 |
| RL75eN | 7.5 | 180,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $1,350 – $1,750 |
| RL75eP | 7.5 | 180,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $1,350 – $1,750 |
| RL94iN | 9.8 | 199,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,850 – $2,100 |
| RL94iP | 9.8 | 199,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $1,850 – $2,100 |
| RL94eN | 9.8 | 199,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $1,700 – $1,980 |
| RL94eP | 9.8 | 199,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $1,700 – $1,980 |
Rinnai RLX Model HE+ Series Non-Condensing Tankless Prices
The RLX is available in one model, the RLX94i, which is priced between $1,900 – $2,500 for the unit including installation. However, the RLX is only available in an indoor natural gas unit, therefore for those homeowners looking for a propane outdoor unit, this will not be suitable.
| Rinnai RLX Model Series Non-Condensing Tankless | |||||
| Model | GPM | BTU | Indoor Outdoor | Fuel Type | Installation & Unit Cost |
| RLX94iN | 9.8 | 192,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,900 – $2,500 |
Super High-Efficiency (SE & SE+) Models
Super high efficiency models from Rinnai are coded as SE and SE+ in the model name. They are a little more expensive than the high efficiency models (coded with HE and HE+) and are offered only in condensing units, which overall are more efficient than their non-condensing counterparts.
Rinnai RUCS Model SE Series Condensing Tankless Prices
The RUCS range of heaters are a luxury series from Rinnai, they are energy star certified and sleek and modern in their overall design. RUCS models are more at the medium/high end in terms of budget and will cost between $1,250 – $1780, including installation.
| Rinnai RUCS Model Series Condensing Tankless Water Heaters | |||||
| Series/Model | GPM | BTU | Indoor Outdoor | Cost | Installation & Unit Cost |
| RUCS65iN | 6.5 | 130,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,250 – $1,650 |
| RUCS65iP | 6.5 | 130,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,250 – $1,650 |
| RUCS75iN | 7.5 | 160,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,300 – $1,780 |
| RUCS75iP | 7.5 | 160,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,300 – $1,780 |
Rinnai RUS Model SE Series Condensing Tankless Prices
RUS models are available as outdoor units only, but in both natural and propane gas fuel supplies. The Rinnai RUS costs between $1,050 and $1,670.
| RUS Model Series Condensing Tankless Water Heaters | |||||
| Model | GPM | BTU | Indoor Outdoor | Fuel Type | Installation & Unit Cost |
| RUS65eN | 6.5 | 130,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $1,050 – $1,450 |
| RUS65eP | 6.5 | 130,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $1,050 – $1,450 |
| RUS75eN | 7.5 | 160,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $1,200 – $1,670 |
| RUS75eP | 7.5 | 160,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $1,200 – $1,670 |
Rinnai RU Model SE Series Condensing Tankless Prices
Rinnai RU models are a premium range of units with a wide variety of options available, including natural and propane gas, indoor and outdoor, and 7.0 – 10.0 GPM water flow. An Rinnai RU model will set you back between $1,500 and $2,000+.
| RU Model Series Condensing Tankless Water Heaters | |||||
| Model | GPM | BTU | Indoor Outdoor | Fuel Type | Installation & Unit Cost |
| RU130iN | 7.0 | 130,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,500 – $1,950 |
| RU130iP | 7.0 | 130,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $1,500 – $1,950 |
| RU130eN | 7.0 | 130,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $1,420 – $1,750 |
| RU130eP | 7.0 | 130,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $1,420 – $1,750 |
| RU160iN | 9.0 | 160,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,620 – $2,070 |
| RU160iP | 9.0 | 160,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $1,620 – $2,070 |
| RU160eN | 9.0 | 160,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $1,560 – $1,870 |
| RU160eP | 9.0 | 160,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $1,560 – $1,870 |
| RU180iN | 10.0 | 180,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,780 – $2,230 |
| RU180iP | 10.0 | 180,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $1,780 – $2,230 |
| RU180eN | 10.0 | 180,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $1,720 – $2,030 |
| RU180eP | 10.0 | 180,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $1,720 – $2,030 |
| RU199iN | 11.0 | 199,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $1,910 – $2,360 |
| RU199iP | 11.0 | 199,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $1,910 – $2,360 |
| RU199eN | 11.0 | 199,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $1,850 – $2,180 |
| RU199eP | 11.0 | 199,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $1,850 – $2,180 |
Rinnai RUR Model SE Series Condensing Tankless Prices
Rinnai RUR are the most expensive units currently offered by the brand, they offer the highest GPM alongside the RU units and will cost between $2,000 and $3,200.
| RUR Model Series Condensing Tankless Water Heaters | |||||
| Model | GPM | BTU | Indoor Outdoor | Fuel Type | Installation & Unit Cost |
| RUR160iN | 9.0 | 160,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $2,025 – $2,550 |
| RUR160iP | 9.0 | 160,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $2,025 – $2,550 |
| RUR160eN | 9.0 | 160,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $1,975 – $2,400 |
| RUR160eP | 9.0 | 160,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $1,975 – $2,400 |
| RUR199iN | 11.0 | 199,000 | Indoor | Natural Gas | $2,400 – $3,200 |
| RUR199iP | 11.0 | 199,000 | Indoor | Propane Gas | $2,400 – $3,200 |
| RUR199eN | 11.0 | 199,000 | Outdoor | Natural Gas | $2,200 – $2,670 |
| RUR199eP | 11.0 | 199,000 | Outdoor | Propane Gas | $2,200 – $2,670 |
Warranty Information
All of the Rinnai tankless products come with a warranty which means you can have peace of mind, each unit comes with a 10-year warranty and a 5 year warranty on parts.
Corporate Contact Details
- Rinnai America
- Address: 103 International Drive Peachtree City, GA 30269 United States
- Phone: 1-800-621-9419
- Website: www.rinnai.us
