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Skylight Installation Cost Calculator
The Skylight Installation Cost Calculator estimates what it costs to add a new skylight to an existing roof. Choose your roof material, skylight type, size and ceiling, and you get a planning budget split into materials, labor, disposal, setup and a permit allowance, with budget, standard and premium ranges. It is free and takes under a minute. Use the result to plan your project and to compare contractor quotes. It is a planning estimate, not a bid.
Free Planning EstimateDetailed Cost BreakdownBudget / Standard / Premium
Estimate your skylight installation cost
Answer three short sets of questions: your roof, your skylight and the installation details. Only your ZIP code, roof material and skylight type are required. Everything else starts on the most common choice, so you can get a first number quickly and then adjust the details to see how each one changes the budget.
How to read your estimate
The large figure at the top is the estimated project budget for a standard project, shown as a range. Below it you will find three things:
Cost breakdown
Where the standard budget goes: materials, labor, disposal, setup and safety, and any permit, electrical or structural allowances that apply to your choices.
By work item
How materials and labor split between the skylight unit, the roof opening and flashing, the light shaft and any blinds.
Budget, Standard and Premium
Three project levels that reflect different skylight quality, flashing and installer experience. If you chose more than one skylight, each level also shows an approximate cost per skylight.
Every figure is a planning range. Actual contractor pricing may vary based on location, conditions, material choice, labor market and project complexity.
Planning estimate only
The Skylight Installation Cost Calculator provides planning estimates only. Results are not quotes, bids or guaranteed prices. Estimates are based on general US planning assumptions and do not reflect live contractor pricing or pricing specific to your ZIP code. Actual contractor pricing may vary based on location, conditions, material choice, labor market and project complexity. Cutting a new roof opening can reveal framing, wiring or ductwork that adds to the cost. Permit requirements and fees are set by your local building department. Always get written quotes from licensed, insured professionals before starting work.
Get matched with installers
Lead form placeholder – still needed: the universal lead form shortcode is . The form ID has not been supplied, so no live form ID has been entered here.
After a calculation, the calculator is designed to fill the lead form and show it, with a Get Matched With Installers step that scrolls to this form.
What each cost category covers
| Cost category | What it covers | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | The skylight or tubular kit, flashing kit and underlayment, framing lumber, interior trim, and light shaft materials or blinds if selected. | Always |
| Labor | Cutting the roof opening, framing it, setting and flashing the skylight, and building and finishing a light shaft if one is needed. | Always |
| Disposal | Hauling away the roofing, decking and drywall that is cut out. | Always |
| Setup and safety | Trip, setup and roof protection, plus extra fall protection on steep or tall roofs. | Always |
| Permit allowance | A budget figure for a building permit. It is not your actual local fee. | When the permit option is ticked |
| Electrical wiring | An electrician running power and a wall control to the skylight motor. | Electric venting skylights |
| Structural allowance | Engineer review and truss reinforcement. | Large skylights in a truss roof |
| Hidden conditions allowance | A contingency for wiring, ducts or damaged decking found in the way. | When the option is ticked |
How much does skylight installation cost?
Installing one new fixed skylight in an asphalt shingle roof typically budgets at about $1,900 to $2,250. A budget project starts near $1,100 and a premium project can reach about $3,800. These planning figures assume a medium skylight of about 2 × 4 feet, a one-story home, a medium roof pitch, a vaulted ceiling and a permit allowance.
Standard – one medium fixed skylight
$1,900 – $2,250
Asphalt shingle roof, one story, medium pitch, vaulted ceiling, permit allowance.
Budget project
From about $1,100
Builder-grade skylight, basic flashing kit and a straightforward opening.
Premium project
Up to about $3,800
Top-line skylight, upgraded flashing and trim, and a skylight specialist.
The type of skylight changes the budget more than anything else. The table shows the calculator’s ranges for one medium skylight under the same assumptions.
Cost by skylight type – one medium skylight
| Skylight type | Budget | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tubular (sun tunnel), 10 inch | $675 – $800 | $1,150 – $1,400 | $2,000 – $2,350 |
| Fixed | $1,100 – $1,350 | $1,900 – $2,250 | $3,150 – $3,800 |
| Manual venting | $1,350 – $1,650 | $2,250 – $2,700 | $3,650 – $4,400 |
| Solar venting | $2,000 – $2,400 | $3,050 – $3,650 | $4,750 – $5,700 |
| Electric venting | $2,050 – $2,450 | $3,200 – $3,850 | $5,100 – $6,100 |
Planning estimates from the OmniEstimate calculator, including a permit allowance. They are not quotes. Actual contractor pricing may vary.
How this calculator works
01
Unit price first
Prices each skylight as a unit plus a flashing kit and framing materials, then adds labor separately.
02
Roof adjustments
Adjusts flashing materials and roof labor for roof material, pitch and number of stories.
03
Only-if-needed items
Then adds items only some projects need: light shaft, roof curb, electrical wiring, structural allowance, blinds and permit allowance.
04
Three real levels
The three project levels are built from different inputs for skylight quality, flashing and installer experience – not one number multiplied up and down.
05
ZIP code
ZIP code identifies the market for contractor matching and does not change the price.
What affects the cost of a skylight installation?
Skylight type
A fixed skylight is the simplest. Manual venting opens with a crank or pole. Electric venting adds a motor and an electrician, and is the most expensive type in the table. Solar venting has a higher unit price but needs no wiring. A tubular skylight uses a reflective tube instead of a glass unit and framed shaft, and is the cheapest option for a hall, closet or bathroom.
Size and glass
A small fixed skylight of about 2 × 2 feet budgets at $1,700 to $2,000; a large skylight of about 4 × 4 feet budgets at $2,400 to $2,900; a medium skylight budgets at $1,900 to $2,250. Laminated Low-E glass raises the unit price by about 20 percent; impact-rated or triple-pane glass raises it by about 50 percent, from standard tempered double-pane.
Roof material and pitch
Asphalt shingles are the easiest roof to work on. Metal, wood shake, tile and slate take more time and specialised flashing. For the same fixed skylight, the standard range is about $2,100 to $2,500 for metal, $2,350 to $2,800 for clay or concrete tile, and $2,900 to $3,450 for natural slate. Steep roofs and homes of three or more stories add labor and fall protection. Flat roofs need a raised curb so water drains around the skylight.
Ceiling type and light shaft
With a vaulted or cathedral ceiling, the skylight opens straight into the room. A flat ceiling with an attic above needs a light shaft – framed, insulated, drywalled, finished and painted – often the largest add-on. A shaft under 4 feet moves a standard fixed skylight to about $2,800 to $3,350; a shaft of 4 to 8 feet moves it to about $3,400 to $4,050.
Roof framing
Rafters can be cut and reinforced with headers as routine work. Trusses are engineered as a unit and cannot be cut without an engineer’s approval. A skylight about 2 feet wide usually fits between trusses spaced 24 inches apart. A wider skylight in a truss roof needs engineering and reinforcement, and the calculator adds a structural allowance. Installing two narrower skylights side by side can avoid that cost.
Number of skylights
Several skylights in one visit share setup, so labor for each additional skylight is lower. Two medium fixed skylights budget at about $3,200 to $3,850, or roughly $1,600 to $1,900 each, compared with $1,900 to $2,250 for one.
Material costs
Material costs cover the skylight itself plus everything needed to make it weathertight and finished: flashing kit and underlayment, framing lumber, interior trim, and shaft materials if needed. A standard fixed skylight uses about $500 to $625 in materials. Electric venting raises that to about $1,350 to $1,700 because of the unit price.
Labor costs
Labor is usually the larger share. It covers cutting the roof opening, framing it, setting the skylight, flashing it into the roofing and trimming inside. A standard fixed skylight with a vaulted ceiling uses about $925 to $1,150 in labor. A deep light shaft roughly doubles that to about $2,000 to $2,500, because the shaft is mostly carpentry, drywall and painting time.
Permits, electrical work and other costs
Many building departments require a permit for a new roof opening. The calculator’s standard permit allowance is about $180 to $220; the local fee may differ. Electric venting skylights include a standard electrical allowance of about $320 to $390 for an electrician; solar venting skylights do not need it. Disposal and setup are small fixed costs on every project, which is why a single skylight costs more per unit than several. Factory-fit blinds add roughly $250 to $350 per skylight at standard pricing.
Budget, standard and premium projects
Budget: builder-grade skylight, basic flashing kit, straightforward opening. Standard: name-brand skylight, matched flashing kit for your roof, experienced installer; the most typical project. Premium: top-line skylight, upgraded flashing and trim, skylight specialist.
Skylight installation or skylight replacement?
This calculator is for a new skylight where there is no opening today. If you already have a skylight and want to swap it, the roof opening and shaft already exist, so the work and price differ. Use the Skylight Replacement Cost Calculator for that project. Link still needed.
Regional pricing differences
Labor rates, permit fees and demand for roofers differ by market and season. The calculator does not adjust for location. Treat the result as a national planning range, then get quotes from local installers.
How to avoid unexpected costs
- Check what is above the ceiling before choosing the spot – wiring, ducts or plumbing vents in the way add cost to move.
- Find out whether the roof has rafters or trusses, and choose a width that fits between them where you can.
- Ask whether a quote includes the light shaft, drywall finishing and painting, or stops at the roof.
- Confirm who pulls the permit and whether the fee is in the price.
- If the roof is near the end of its life, consider adding a skylight when the roof is replaced, so flashing is integrated with new roofing. Roof Replacement Cost Calculator link still needed.
Questions to ask a skylight installer
- Which skylight brand and model are you quoting, and which flashing kit goes with it?
- Is interior finishing, including light shaft and painting, included?
- Will any framing be cut, and does it need an engineer?
- What does your workmanship warranty cover, and for how long?
- How will installation affect my existing roof warranty?
When to hire a professional
Installing a skylight means cutting through roof deck, altering framing and rebuilding waterproofing around the opening. Mistakes lead to leaks and can affect roof structure, and work is done at height. Most homeowners hire a roofer or skylight installer. A tubular skylight is the simplest version, but still involves cutting and flashing the roof.
Worked examples – standard range unless noted
| Scenario | Standard range |
|---|---|
| One medium fixed skylight, asphalt shingle, 1 story, medium pitch, vaulted ceiling, with permit | $1,900 – $2,250 |
| Same, without permit | $1,700 – $2,050 |
| Same, small (about 2 × 2 feet) / large (about 4 × 4 feet) | $1,700 – $2,000 / $2,400 – $2,900 |
| Same, light shaft under 4 feet / 4 to 8 feet | $2,800 – $3,350 / $3,400 – $4,050 |
| Same, metal / clay or concrete tile / natural slate roof | $2,100 – $2,500 / $2,350 – $2,800 / $2,900 – $3,450 |
| Two medium fixed skylights | $3,200 – $3,850 |
| Tubular skylight, 10 inch, with permit / without permit | $1,150 – $1,400 / $975 – $1,150 |
Figures are OmniEstimate planning estimates, not market averages or survey results, and not quotes.
Quick answers
What is the average cost to install a skylight?
A new fixed skylight typically budgets at about $1,900 to $2,250 installed in an asphalt shingle roof, based on OmniEstimate’s standard planning assumptions. Budget projects start near $1,100 and premium projects reach about $3,800. Venting models, light shafts and tile or slate roofs cost more.
What is the cheapest type of skylight to install?
A tubular skylight, or sun tunnel, is the cheapest type to install. It needs a small roof opening and no framed light shaft. OmniEstimate’s calculator budgets a 10-inch tubular skylight at about $1,150 to $1,400 with a permit allowance, or about $975 to $1,150 without one.
What is a skylight light shaft?
A light shaft is the framed, insulated and drywalled tunnel that connects a skylight in the roof to a flat ceiling below, passing through the attic. Homes with vaulted ceilings do not need one. A light shaft typically adds roughly $900 to $1,800 to a standard skylight installation.
What is the difference between a fixed and a venting skylight?
A fixed skylight is sealed and only lets in light. A venting skylight opens to let air out, using a manual crank, an electric motor or a solar-powered motor. Venting skylights cost more, and electric models also need wiring.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install a skylight?
A new fixed skylight in an asphalt shingle roof typically budgets at about $1,900 to $2,250 installed, based on this calculator’s standard assumptions. A budget project starts near $1,100 and a premium project can reach about $3,800. Venting skylights, larger sizes, light shafts and harder roofs cost more.
Is a tubular skylight cheaper than a regular skylight?
Yes. A tubular skylight, also called a sun tunnel, is usually the lowest-cost option because it needs a small roof opening and no framed light shaft. This calculator budgets one at about $975 to $1,150 installed before any permit allowance, compared with about $1,700 to $2,050 for a fixed skylight.
Why does a flat ceiling cost more than a vaulted ceiling?
A flat ceiling with an attic above needs a light shaft that connects the skylight to the room. The shaft has to be framed, insulated, drywalled, finished and painted. In this calculator, a shaft under 4 feet adds roughly $900 to $1,100 to a standard project, and a shaft of 4 to 8 feet adds about $1,500 to $1,800.
Do I need a permit to install a skylight?
Often, yes. Cutting a new opening in a roof changes the structure and the building envelope, so many local building departments require a permit. Rules and fees vary by city and county. The calculator includes an optional permit allowance for budgeting, which is not your actual local fee.
Can a skylight be installed in a roof with trusses?
Yes, if the skylight fits between the trusses. Trusses are commonly spaced 24 inches apart, so a skylight about 2 feet wide usually fits without cutting. A wider skylight means altering trusses, which requires a design from a structural engineer and adds cost.
How long does skylight installation take?
The roof work for one skylight is often finished in a day or less. If the project includes a light shaft, the drywall finishing and painting inside can add a few more days because joint compound and paint need drying time between coats.
Do skylights leak?
A correctly installed skylight should not leak. Most leaks come from flashing that was installed wrong or has worn out, rather than from the glass. Using the manufacturer’s flashing kit for your roof type and hiring an installer with skylight experience are the best protection. Roof Flashing Repair Cost Calculator and Roof Leak Repair Cost Calculator links still needed.
Does my ZIP code change the estimate?
No. The calculator uses your ZIP code to identify your market and match you with local professionals. It does not adjust the price. Local labor rates and permit fees do vary, so use the result as a planning range and compare it with quotes from contractors in your area.
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