Skylight installation cost: fixed, venting and tube skylights, by state
A manual venting skylight, 7 to 9 sq ft: about $1,850 to $2,050, typically $1,950. That's a new skylight set in the opening of the old one, the old one taken out, plus the contractor's overhead, profit and sales tax. Cutting a new opening, framing, roofing around it, the ceiling shaft and drywall are extra.
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
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What it costs
| Job | Cost |
|---|---|
| A fixed skylight, 7 to 9 sq ft | $1,250 to $1,450 |
| A manual venting skylight, 7 to 9 sq ft | $1,850 to $2,050 |
| A 10 inch tube skylight | $850 to $1,050 |
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 skylight of the type shown, 7 to 9 square feet for the fixed and venting ones, set in the opening of the old skylight, which is 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: cutting a new opening in the roof, framing it, the roofing and flashing around a new opening, the shaft down to the ceiling, drywall and paint, blinds, and permits.
Three kinds
| Skylight | What it does |
|---|---|
| Fixed | Lets light in; doesn’t open |
| Venting | Opens to let air out as well as light in |
| Tube | A small dome on the roof and a reflective tube down to a ceiling lens |
What moves the price
- New or replacement. A new skylight means cutting the roof, framing the opening and building the shaft; replacing one in the same opening doesn’t.
- Venting. Skylights that open cost more than fixed ones, and motorized ones more again.
- Size. Bigger skylights cost more.
- The roof. Steep or tile roofs, and a reroof at the same time, change the work around the skylight.
- Where you live. Pick your state in the box above.
Common questions
How much does it cost to replace a skylight?
About $1,250 to $1,450 for a fixed skylight in the old one’s opening, typically $1,350.
How much is a venting skylight?
About $1,850 to $2,050 for a manual venting skylight of the same size, typically $1,950.
How much is a tube skylight?
About $850 to $1,050 for a 10 inch tube skylight.
Should a skylight be replaced with a new roof?
A reroof takes the shingles and flashing around the skylight off anyway, so it’s the time to look at the skylight too. The roof replacement cost guide prices the roof.