Skylight Cost Calculator (2026)

Estimate skylight install or replacement — fixed, vented, solar, sun-tunnel. Pick model, light-shaft scope, and electrical. 2026 data; not a contractor bid.

By Martin Lashgari, Ph.D., P.E., PMP · Last reviewed September 2026

Newly installed deck-mounted fixed skylight in a residential gable roof with the flashing kit visible and a clean-cut opening from below in the attic

Enter your skylight project

Pro installed DIY materials only

Includes labor, equipment, permit, and contractor markup.

Common projects

Model & count

Number of skylights

Model

State

ZIP / planning zone (optional)

Uses the first 3 digits as a planning zone (not exact local pricing). Overrides state average when matched.

Scope & add-ons

Replacing existing skylight

Light shaft (attic above; not used for sun tunnels or replacements)

Add electrical (motorized)

Inside shade / blind

Permit

Your skylight estimate

Estimated installed range

Calculating…

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Materials

Labor

Per skylight

Cost breakdown

Skylight cost breakdown: quantity and estimated range for each line item
Item	Quantity	Estimated range

Planning estimate, not a bid. 2026 ranges informed by Velux / Fakro / Sun-Tek manufacturer pricing, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, Homewyse, and BLS regional wage data.

What's not included: roof structural reinforcement (header replacement) for very large units, full roof replacement (separate calc), inside ceiling repaint outside the shaft area, or smart-home integration beyond the manufacturer remote.

Bid check

Got a contractor quote? Compare it to the planning range.

Quote ($)

Quote includes

Quote

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Range check

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Scope risk

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Add a quote amount to compare it against the current estimate.

Methodology & sources

What this is: a planning-range skylight calculator informed by Velux / Fakro / Sun-Tek manufacturer pricing, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, Homewyse, and licensed cost-estimating references.

Labor is modeled from per-unit installed rates with a crew-rate sanity check ($75-$140/crew-hr loaded billing rate), informed by BLS OEWS 47-2031 (Carpenters) and 47-2181 (Roofers).

Section 25D credit: solar-powered venting skylights and motorized solar shades qualified for the federal Section 25D residential clean-energy credit for property placed in service on or before December 31, 2025. Projects placed in service in 2026 generally do not qualify under current IRS guidance — verify on IRS Form 5695 and the IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit page before relying on it.

Last updated: July 2026. Full methodology →

Helpful materials & tools for this project

A skylight install is the unit plus the flashing that keeps it from leaking:

Skylight unit — Fixed, vented, or solar-powered.
Manufacturer flashing kit — Model-specific flashing — the leak-proofing.
Ice-and-water shield — Seals the curb and deck around the opening.

Suggested materials to help you plan — not an endorsement, and never a contractor referral.

Cost simulator Monte Carlo simulation See the full range of likely costs — with the odds

For a typical replace existing skylight, the installed planning band runs $2,801 to $5,380 nationally before regional adjustment.

What this project costs in different metros

Regional labor and material markets move the installed price. These bands come from the same engine as the calculator above, run at each metro's real cost multipliers — enter your ZIP in the calculator for a figure tuned to your exact area. National reference: $2,800–$5,400.

Skylight typical installed cost by metro area, compared with the national reference
Metro	Typical installed range	vs. national
San Francisco, CA	$3,250–$6,400	+18%
New York, NY	$3,300–$6,500	+20%
Boston, MA	$3,050–$5,900	+9%
Chicago, IL	$3,100–$6,100	+12%
Atlanta, GA	$3,100–$6,050	+12%
Houston, TX	$2,950–$5,700	+6%
Miami, FL	$2,800–$5,400	0%
Phoenix, AZ	$2,850–$5,550	+3%

Planning ranges, not contractor quotes. Multipliers are rounded regional planning indices (see methodology), not a reproduction of any proprietary cost table.

What moves this price the most

Vary one input across its full range while holding everything else at the typical scenario, and this is how far each choice can move the installed estimate — measured by running the calculator's own engine. The widest bars are where your decisions matter most; the figures show the cheapest-to-priciest span each input creates on its own.

Number of skylights$4,100–$61,400
Model$2,000–$4,550
Inside shade / blind$4,100–$4,600
Add electrical (motorized)$4,100–$4,500
Replacing existing skylight$3,900–$4,100

A tornado view: each row varies a single input; a real project moves several at once, so totals aren't additive.

How much does a skylight cost in 2026?

Scope	Range	Timeline
Sun tunnel (10-14 in)	$954-$1,810	2-4 hours
Fixed skylight (small)	$2,318-$4,070	1 day
Fixed skylight (large)	$2,837-$4,980	1-2 days
Manual-venting skylight	$2,456-$5,190	1-2 days
Solar-powered venting skylight	$3,464-$6,230	1-2 days
Replace existing skylight (same opening)	$2,801-$5,380	1 day
Add a light shaft through an attic	+$1,353-$2,300	+1 day

One skylight, contractor installed at national average pricing, including the permit and trip charge; no light shaft unless noted. Sun tunnels never need one: the tube is the shaft. These rows come from the calculator above, so enter your ZIP there for local pricing.

Frequently asked questions

How much does skylight installation cost in 2026?

One skylight, contractor installed at national average pricing with the permit and trip charge: fixed $2,318-$4,980 (small to large), manual venting $2,456-$5,190, solar-powered venting $3,464-$6,230 (the federal Section 25D credit applied to property placed in service on or before December 31, 2025; 2026 installs generally do not qualify — verify on IRS Form 5695). Sun tunnels (tubular): $954-$1,810. Add $1,353-$2,300 for a light shaft if there's an attic above; sun tunnels and replacements in the same opening don't need one.

Are solar skylights eligible for the IRA tax credit?

Solar-powered venting skylights and motorized solar shades qualified for the federal Section 25D residential clean-energy credit for property placed in service on or before December 31, 2025; 2026 installs generally do not qualify under current IRS guidance — verify on IRS Form 5695. Standard fixed and manual-vented skylights were not eligible.

Do skylights leak?

Properly flashed skylights from major manufacturers (Velux, Fakro, Sun-Tek) carry 10-yr no-leak warranties. Leaks come from improper flashing, especially around the curb and where the upper apron meets the roof. Use the manufacturer flashing kit, not generic step flashing.

Skylight vs sun tunnel?

Skylights ($2,318-$6,230 installed, before any light shaft) need a 2x4 ft+ opening cut, framed, and flashed; they daylight a room with a view. Sun tunnels ($954-$1,810) use a 10-14 in reflective tube to bring daylight to closets, hallways, or interior bathrooms with no real ceiling cut. Tunnels install in 2-3 hours; skylights take a day or two.

Can I DIY?

No, for the actual roof penetration. Manufacturer warranties typically void if not pro-installed, and a leak inside the roof can cause $5k+ damage. Sun tunnel kits are pro-installed too.

Common mistakes & questions

Generic step flashing instead of the manufacturer kit — biggest leak source.
Skylight too large for the roof rafter spacing — needs a header, which adds $500-$1,500.
South-facing skylight without a shade — solar gain bakes the room in summer.
Skip the inside shaft drywall — exposed framing in attic looks unfinished.
Skip permit — many jurisdictions require it; insurance may deny leak claims if no permit.
DIY tubular sun tunnel install over an attic with insulation — needs an attic-side baffle.
Ask your contractor: manufacturer warranty, flashing kit (in-spec), shaft slope, glazing rating (Energy Star).

When this estimate is wrong

Steep roof (over 8/12 pitch) — labor +20-30%.
Tile / metal / slate roof — flashing complexity adds $300-$1,000.
Engineered truss roof — opening may need engineering, +$500.
Leak repair on an existing skylight — separate scope; can be $200-$1,500.
Hurricane-impact glass required (FL coastal) adds 30-60%.
HOA review of new openings.