A skylight costs $1,014 to $2,828 to install in 2026, with a national average of $1,920 per skylight across 1,577 verified projects. That is Angi’s 2026 figure, and it covers a typical new installation with labor, flashing, and finishing included.
Your quote can land far outside that band, and the reason is usually not the skylight itself. The unit matters, but the roof it goes into matters more: cutting a brand new opening costs hundreds more than swapping an old skylight into an existing one, and a flat or metal roof changes the labor picture completely.
This guide lays out real 2026 skylight prices by type, the new versus replacement math, and every factor that moves your number, so the quotes you collect make sense.
Skylight Installation Cost at a Glance
| Skylight type | Installed cost in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Tubular (sun tunnel) | $900 to $2,100 |
| Fixed (does not open) | $1,200 to $2,400 |
| Vented, manual | $1,500 to $3,500 |
| Vented, electric or solar | $2,300 to $5,250 |
| Custom sizes and shapes | $2,500 to $5,500 and up |
Ranges combine Angi’s 2026 project data with contractor reported pricing. Expect $150 to $300 per square foot of skylight, and $500 to $1,500 for labor alone, depending on complexity and your market.
Skylight Installation Cost by Type
Fixed skylights: $1,200 to $2,400
The simplest and most popular choice. Fixed skylights do not open; they exist to pour daylight into a room. They cost less than every type except tubular, and they have fewer moving parts to fail, which is part of why contractors recommend them for living rooms, stairwells, and anywhere ventilation is already handled. VELUX’s FS line is the classic example: a sealed glass unit in a fixed frame.
Replacing an old fixed unit typically runs $2,000 to $3,600, assuming the opening and flashing need attention. For the broader picture, see our guide to average roof replacement cost.
Manual vented skylights: $1,500 to $3,500
These open on a hinge for fresh air, using a hand crank or a telescopic control rod for out of reach units. They are the natural pick for kitchens and bathrooms, where dumping humid air out through the roof does more for the room than daylight alone. The extra hardware and the more complex flashing around an opening sash push the price above fixed units. Replacement of a manual vented unit typically lands between $2,200 and $3,900.
Electric and solar vented skylights: $2,300 to $5,250
These open and close by remote, and major brands build in a rain sensor that shuts the unit at the first sign of rain. Solar models charge a small battery from a roof mounted panel, skipping the electrical wiring entirely, a real saving on a finished ceiling. Replacements run $3,350 to $5,250 for electric and $3,250 to $5,150 for solar. Under a high cathedral ceiling you cannot reach, this is the only vented option that makes sense.
Tubular skylights: $900 to $2,100
Sun tunnels are the budget hero of the skylight world. A small dome on the roof captures light and funnels it down a reflective tube to a diffuser in your ceiling. They cannot match a full skylight for drama, but for a dark hallway, closet, or laundry room they are transformative, and budget installs can start as low as $500 to $1,000. Because they transfer light without much heat, they are the most energy efficient type, and a 14 inch tube can light a room like several 100 watt bulbs on a sunny day.
Custom skylights: $2,500 to $5,500 and up
Oversized or oddly shaped glass, pyramid and ridge skylights, and multi unit runs fall here. Pricing is effectively bespoke: engineering, custom flashing, and crane time can push real projects well past $5,500. If a standard unit fits your room, take it; contractors recommend stock sizes for a reason.
New Installation vs Replacement: The Biggest Price Driver
This single question decides more of your final number than the skylight type.
Installing a new skylight means cutting a fresh opening: removing roofing, cutting the deck, framing, flashing the unit, then building the interior lightwell and finishing drywall and paint. Demolition and prep add $200 to $700, and new installs run the full ranges above.
Replacing an existing skylight skips most of that. If the opening is sound and the flashing is still good, a replacement drops to roughly $800 to $2,400. The catch: a 20 year old opening often hides soft decking or tired flashing, and opening the roof up only to find rot turns a replacement into a repair job. Budget a cushion for surprises.
The timing rule contractors swear by: if your roof is more than 15 years old, weigh the roof’s own timeline before cutting into it. A skylight on shingles that need replacing in five years means paying for the install twice. In that situation, combining the skylight with a shingle roof replacement is usually the smarter money, since the crew integrates the flashing with new shingles in one pass.
What Moves Your Skylight Quote Up or Down
Size. Residential skylights typically run from 16×32 inches to 48×72 inches, and the $150 to $300 per square foot rule applies. Small tubular and compact fixed units sit at the low end; oversized units for great rooms push past $2,500 with reinforcement. For how roofing pricing per unit area works generally, see our roofing cost per square breakdown.
Roof material. Asphalt shingle roofs are the easiest and cheapest to cut into. Tile, slate, and metal roofs all demand more careful work, extra labor, and sometimes specialty flashing, and metal roof projects already run higher, as our cost of metal roof guide shows. Putting a skylight in a metal roof is absolutely doable, but it is specialist work, so get a bid from a metal roofing specialist who has done it before rather than a generalist learning on your roof.
Flat versus pitched. Pitched roofs are usually cheaper. Flat roofs need the skylight on a raised curb to shed water, which adds framing and waterproofing, so budget extra for the curb assembly.
Flashing and leak protection. This is where cheap installs fail and good installs earn their price. Skylight leaks are almost always flashing failures, not glass failures. VELUX’s No Leak system, for example, uses three layers of water protection: a pre attached deck seal, adhesive underlayment as a second barrier, and engineered step flashing as the primary defense, backed by a 10 year installation warranty on deck mounted units. When comparing bids, ask exactly what flashing kit is included; the cheapest quote is often the one that skimps here.
Interior finishing. The visible part is the lightwell, the shaft from roof to ceiling, plus drywall, trim, and paint. Clean attic access keeps finishing modest; tight or obstructed attics push it up.
Electrical work. Motorized and electric vented skylights need a power source, and electricians typically bill $50 to $120 per hour. Solar powered models avoid this entirely, which is one reason they have become the default for hard to reach placements.
Permits and inspections. Most skylight projects need a permit, with fees running $50 to $400 depending on the municipality, plus $100 to $250 if inspections are required. A reputable contractor pulls the permit for you, but confirm it is in the bid rather than assumed.
Location. The same fixed skylight can cost 30 to 50 percent more in a high wage coastal market than in a lower cost region. Get three local quotes; national averages are a starting point, not a price.
DIY Skylight Installation vs Hiring a Pro
DIY can shave $500 to $1,500 off the total, but a skylight is one of the worst roofing projects to learn on. The cutting and framing are standard carpentry, but the flashing is unforgiving: a small mistake channels water straight into your ceiling, and the leak often shows up months later as stained drywall and mold. Angi’s guidance is blunt on this point, and it is correct.
Tubular skylights are the exception. They need a much smaller opening, minimal framing, and standard flashing kits, so a confident DIYer with roofing experience can reasonably handle one. For any glass skylight, especially on a steep, tall, or metal roof, hire an experienced residential roofing contractor and check manufacturer certifications. The National Roofing Contractors Association publishes guidance on vetting a roofer’s qualifications, and it applies to skylight work too.
How to Keep Skylight Costs Down Without Cutting Corners
- Pick a standard size. Stock units are mass produced; custom sizes multiply the price.
- Choose fixed unless you need air. If the room does not need ventilation, fixed glass saves $300 to $1,000 over vented for the same light.
- Replace instead of cutting new, when the old opening is sound. Reusing an opening avoids the demolition and framing bill.
- Bundle with roof work. Adding a skylight during a planned reroof or major repair shares labor, disposal, and scaffolding costs.
- Go solar over electric for hard to reach spots. Skipping the electrician’s visit offsets the higher unit price.
- Collect three quotes minimum, and make each one itemize the unit, flashing kit, labor, interior finishing, and permits. A lump sum bid hides the comparison you actually need.
- Schedule in the off season. Contractors in many markets offer better rates in late fall and winter, and skylight work is quick enough to fit into a slow week.
Is a Skylight Worth the Money?
Honestly assessed: a skylight is a comfort and daylight upgrade, not a profit center. Angi notes the resale return is lower than major remodels, but buyers consistently treat skylights as a desirable feature, and energy efficient models trim lighting and cooling bills for as long as you own the home. Most skylights last 15 to 25 years, so you will likely replace the unit once in a long ownership, and manufacturer warranties are worth reading: VELUX covers deck mounted skylights with a 10 year installation warranty and its Sun Tunnel reflective tube with a 20 year warranty.
The value case is strongest in rooms a window cannot fix: interior bathrooms, hallways, closets, and rooms under a roof with no good wall exposure. If that describes your project, the number that matters is the quote for your roof, your skylight, and your room. Run a quick check with our roof cost estimator guide first, then bring itemized bids to compare.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install a skylight in 2026? The national average is about $1,920 per skylight, with most projects between $1,014 and $2,828. Fixed units run $1,200 to $2,400 installed, manual vented $1,500 to $3,500, electric or solar vented $2,300 to $5,250, and tubular $900 to $2,100. Your roof type, the unit size, and new opening versus replacement move the final number most.
Is it cheaper to replace an old skylight than install a new one? Usually yes. A simple replacement in an existing sound opening runs roughly $800 to $2,400, because it skips cutting, framing, and most interior finishing. A new installation includes demolition and prep at $200 to $700 plus full finishing. The exception is an old opening with rotted decking or failed flashing, which adds repair costs.
How long does skylight installation take? A standard tubular skylight can go in within a few hours. A typical fixed or vented glass skylight takes one to two days, including interior finishing. Complex jobs with custom sizes, structural changes, or extensive drywall work can stretch to three days.
Do skylights leak? A correctly installed skylight rarely leaks; leaks are almost always flashing failures from a bad installation, not glass failures. Manufacturer systems like VELUX’s use three layers of water protection, a deck seal, adhesive underlayment, and engineered step flashing, and that is the standard to hold any bid to. This is why the installer’s flashing experience matters more than the brand of the glass.
Can you install a skylight on a flat roof? Yes. Flat roof skylights mount on a raised curb that lifts the unit above the roof surface so water sheds around it. The curb adds framing and waterproofing cost versus a pitched roof install, so budget a few hundred extra. Curb mounted units are standard practice and do not leak when flashed correctly.
Can you put a skylight on a metal roof? Yes, but it is specialist work. The installer needs flashing and sealing techniques specific to metal panels, and the wrong approach voids both roof and skylight warranties. Get a bid from a crew with specific metal roof skylight experience, not just a general roofer.
How long do skylights last? Most skylights last 15 to 25 years. The insulated glass seal is usually what fails first, showing up as fog between the panes. Manufacturer warranties commonly cover the glass seal for 20 years and the unit for 10, so keep your paperwork.
Does a skylight add value to a home? It adds appeal more than dollars. Buyers see skylights as a desirable feature, but the resale return is lower than for major remodels. Efficient models help on the ownership side by cutting daytime lighting use and, with low emissivity glass, managing heat gain.
The national average is $1,920, but your quote depends on the skylight type, your roof, and whether the opening already exists. Next, read our roof cost estimator guide to budget the full project and our roofing cost per square breakdown to decode per unit pricing before the bids arrive.
