Bathroom exhaust fan installation cost: fan, fan and light, or with a heater, by state
A fan with a light: about $500 to $675, typically $575. That's a new ceiling exhaust fan swapped for the old one on the existing duct and wiring, plus the contractor's overhead, profit and sales tax. A new duct to the outside, a bigger hole in the ceiling, a new circuit and permits are extra. The code calls for at least 50 cfm, or 20 cfm running all the time, vented outdoors (IRC M1501.1, Table M1505.4.4).
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
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What it costs
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| A fan only | $400 to $575 |
| A fan with a light | $500 to $675 |
| A fan with a light and a heater | $575 to $775 |
Totals include the contractor's overhead and profit (20%) and the state's average sales tax. Prices as of November 2026.
What’s in these numbers
Each total is a typical job, priced the way a contractor’s estimate is priced:
- A new bathroom exhaust fan of the kind shown, in the ceiling, on the existing duct and wiring, with the old one taken out.
- Overhead and profit: 20%, the standard markup on a contractor’s estimate.
- Sales tax on the materials, at the state’s average rate.
Not in them: running a new duct to the outside, cutting a bigger opening or patching the ceiling, a new circuit or switch, a timer or humidity switch, and permits.
What the code asks of a bathroom fan
- How much air: a bathroom or toilet room needs mechanical exhaust of at least 50 cubic feet a minute when it runs on demand, or 20 cubic feet a minute running all the time, rated at 0.25 inch of static pressure (IRC Table M1505.4.4).
- Where it goes: to the outdoors. The code bars exhausting into an attic, a soffit, a ridge vent or a crawl space (IRC M1501.1).
A fan that dumps into the attic puts the bathroom’s moisture there; replacing one is the time to run its duct outside.
What moves the price
- Kind. A fan with a light, or a light and a heater, costs more than a fan alone.
- The duct. A new duct through the roof or a wall, or one rerouted out of the attic, is work of its own.
- Size. A bigger housing than the old one means cutting the ceiling and patching around it.
- Where you live. Pick your state in the box above.
Common questions
How much does it cost to replace a bathroom fan?
About $400 to $575 for a fan alone on the existing duct, typically $475.
How much is a bathroom fan with a light installed?
About $500 to $675, typically $575.
How much is a bathroom fan with a heater installed?
About $575 to $775 for a fan, light and heater, typically $650.
What size bathroom fan do I need?
At least 50 cfm on demand, or 20 cfm continuous, by the code (IRC Table M1505.4.4). The fan’s label gives its rating.