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A skylight costs $1,200 to $4,200 to install in 2026. Most people pay about $2,500. The type of skylight and your roof set the price. A skylight brings natural light into a dark room, and some types open to let out heat and moisture.
What you pay for
Installing a skylight is two jobs in one. First, the installer cuts an opening in your roof and seals it with flashing (thin metal that sends water away). Then they finish the light shaft, the opening that runs down through the ceiling into the room.
That’s why labor is most of the cost. The skylight itself can cost as little as $150. Flashing and the finish work inside are where quality matters most, because they keep leaks out.
What changes the price
The type of skylight sets the starting price:
- A tubular skylight, also called a sun tunnel, costs $500 to $1,000 installed.
- A fixed skylight costs $1,000 to $2,500.
- A vented skylight that you open by hand costs $1,500 to $3,500.
- A vented skylight with solar or electric power costs $2,000 to $4,500.
Your roof matters too. Tile, metal and steep roofs are harder to cut into and seal than asphalt. A bigger skylight needs more framing and flashing. And replacing a skylight you already have costs less than cutting a new opening.
Fixed, vented or tubular?
A tubular skylight is a small, low-cost way to light a hallway or closet. A fixed skylight is a sealed window to the sky. It lets in light, but no air. A vented skylight opens to let out heat and moisture, so it works well over a kitchen or bathroom. It costs more. Pick the type that fits what the room needs.
How to keep a skylight from leaking
Skylights have a reputation for leaking that they don’t deserve. When one leaks, the cause is almost always bad flashing, not the skylight. Pay for good flashing and an installer with experience, and your skylight should stay dry for decades. Flashing is the cheapest place to cut corners and the most expensive place to fail.
How to spend less
- Pick a tubular skylight for a small space.
- Add it when you replace your roof. The two jobs share labor and flashing.
- Replace a skylight you already have instead of cutting a new opening.
- Don’t skimp on flashing. It’s what stops costly leaks.
If money is tight
- Cheapest safe way
- A tubular skylight costs $500 to $1,000 installed and lights a small space like a hallway or closet. If you already have a skylight, replacing it costs less than cutting a new opening.
- What can wait
- If you plan to replace your roof, the skylight can wait for that job. Doing both at once shares the labor and gives the skylight new flashing.
- Don't skimp on
- Flashing. Most skylight leaks come from bad flashing, and a leak can cause expensive damage.
| Item | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The skylight itself | $150 – $2,000 | – |
| Labor to install it | $1,200 – $3,200 | – |
| Flashing and sealing to keep water out | $150 – $600 | – |
| Drywall to finish the opening inside | $300 – $1,500 | The light shaft through the ceiling |
| Option | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tubular (sun tunnel) | $500 – $1,000 | Costs least; gives a small round light |
| Fixed skylight | $1,000 – $2,500 | – |
| Vented, opened by hand | $1,500 – $3,500 | – |
| Vented, solar or electric | $2,000 – $4,500 | – |
What affects the price
- Skylight type Small, round tubular skylights cost least, fixed ones cost more, and vented ones that open (including solar models) cost the most. Velux and Fakro are the common brands, but the skylight itself is a small part of the bill.
- Size Bigger skylights cost more. They need more framing and more flashing, the thin metal around a skylight that keeps water out.
- Roof type and slope Tile, metal and steep roofs are harder to cut into and seal than asphalt roofs.
- New opening or replacement Cutting a new opening, with a light shaft down through the ceiling, costs more than swapping out a skylight you already have.
- Flashing and finishing Good flashing and drywall work inside the light shaft add cost. They also prevent leaks.
Skylight installation cost by state
Where you live can change the price as much as the options you pick. Labor is a big part of the bill, and construction workers are paid more in some states than others. A typical skylight installation job costs about $1,400 to $4,900 per unit in Hawaii (17% above the U.S. average). In Arkansas, it costs about $1,000 to $3,600 per unit (15% below the U.S. average).
See the typical cost in all 50 states and D.C.
| State | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,000 – $3,700/unit |
| Alaska | $1,400 – $4,800/unit |
| Arizona | $1,100 – $4,000/unit |
| Arkansas | $1,000 – $3,600/unit |
| California | $1,300 – $4,700/unit |
| Colorado | $1,200 – $4,200/unit |
| Connecticut | $1,300 – $4,500/unit |
| Delaware | $1,200 – $4,100/unit |
| District of Columbia | $1,300 – $4,500/unit |
| Florida | $1,100 – $3,800/unit |
| Georgia | $1,100 – $3,900/unit |
| Hawaii | $1,400 – $4,900/unit |
| Idaho | $1,100 – $3,900/unit |
| Illinois | $1,400 – $4,800/unit |
| Indiana | $1,200 – $4,200/unit |
| Iowa | $1,200 – $4,100/unit |
| Kansas | $1,100 – $4,000/unit |
| Kentucky | $1,100 – $3,900/unit |
| Louisiana | $1,100 – $3,800/unit |
| Maine | $1,200 – $4,100/unit |
| Maryland | $1,200 – $4,200/unit |
| Massachusetts | $1,400 – $4,800/unit |
| Michigan | $1,200 – $4,200/unit |
| Minnesota | $1,300 – $4,600/unit |
| Mississippi | $1,000 – $3,700/unit |
| Missouri | $1,200 – $4,300/unit |
| Montana | $1,200 – $4,100/unit |
| Nebraska | $1,100 – $3,900/unit |
| Nevada | $1,200 – $4,300/unit |
| New Hampshire | $1,200 – $4,200/unit |
| New Jersey | $1,400 – $4,800/unit |
| New Mexico | $1,100 – $3,900/unit |
| New York | $1,300 – $4,600/unit |
| North Carolina | $1,100 – $3,800/unit |
| North Dakota | $1,200 – $4,200/unit |
| Ohio | $1,200 – $4,200/unit |
| Oklahoma | $1,100 – $3,800/unit |
| Oregon | $1,300 – $4,600/unit |
| Pennsylvania | $1,200 – $4,200/unit |
| Rhode Island | $1,200 – $4,400/unit |
| South Carolina | $1,100 – $3,800/unit |
| South Dakota | $1,100 – $3,800/unit |
| Tennessee | $1,100 – $3,900/unit |
| Texas | $1,100 – $3,800/unit |
| Utah | $1,100 – $3,900/unit |
| Vermont | $1,200 – $4,100/unit |
| Virginia | $1,100 – $4,000/unit |
| Washington | $1,400 – $4,900/unit |
| West Virginia | $1,100 – $4,000/unit |
| Wisconsin | $1,200 – $4,400/unit |
| Wyoming | $1,200 – $4,200/unit |
These are numbers to plan with, not quotes. Each one is this guide's U.S. range, adjusted for what construction workers earn in that state. See every state cost guide or how we estimate.
Common questions
- How much does a skylight cost to install?
- Most skylights cost $1,200 to $4,200 installed, and about $2,500 is typical. Tubular skylights cost the least, at $500 to $1,000. Vented and solar models cost the most.
- How much does a Velux skylight cost?
- About $1,200 to $4,500 installed. Velux is the most common skylight brand. A fixed, deck-mounted Velux (one fastened directly to the roof) costs about $1,200 to $2,500. A solar-powered 'Fresh Air' model with a blind costs $2,500 to $4,500. The skylight itself is only $150 to $600 of that. The rest pays for labor, flashing and finishing the light shaft.
- Should I get a fixed, vented or tubular skylight?
- Pick the one that fits the room. A tubular skylight lights a small space for little money. A fixed skylight is a window to the sky that doesn't open. A vented skylight opens to let air out, by hand or with solar or electric power, and costs more.
- Do skylights leak?
- Only when they are installed poorly. Good flashing and a professional install prevent leaks. Most skylight leaks come from bad flashing or aging seals, not the skylight itself.
- Does a skylight add home value?
- It can help, but the return varies. Skylights add natural light and appeal, which helps a home show well to buyers, especially in dark rooms. The added comfort is real either way.
- Can I install a skylight myself?
- It's risky. Cutting an opening in your roof and flashing it correctly is hard to do yourself, and a leak can cause expensive damage. Most homeowners hire a roofer or a skylight specialist.
- Should I add a skylight during a roof replacement?
- Yes. Adding or replacing a skylight while the roof is being redone shares the labor, and the skylight gets new flashing that ties in with the new roof.
How we estimate: These are typical U.S. prices for materials and for hiring a pro to install them. We checked them against the 2026 sources listed below (see how we get our numbers). Your price depends on where you live, the size of the job and the materials you pick. Get two or three written bids before you choose a contractor.
Sources
We checked the prices on this page against 2026 numbers from these sources: