Replacing a skylight typically costs $1,000 to $3,000 per skylight, materials and installation included, according to Modernize. HomeAdvisor's figures for putting in a skylight land in the same place: $1,014 to $2,828, about $1,920 on average. A small tubular skylight sits near the bottom of that range; a large venting unit with a motor, or one on a tile or metal roof, sits near the top. If the roof is being replaced anyway, that is usually the cheapest time to do it.
This guide covers the skylight itself. For the metal that seals it to the roof, and what reflashing alone costs, see our guide to skylight and chimney flashing.
What national sources say a skylight costs
| Source | What it prices | Range | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modernize, updated September 1, 2026 | Replacing one skylight, installed | $1,000 to $3,000 | not given |
| HomeAdvisor, updated June 19, 2026 | Installing a skylight | $1,014 to $2,828 (full range $450 to $5,300) | $1,920 |
| Fixr, skylight repair guide, updated January 31, 2025 | Replacing a skylight | $800 to $2,200 | not given |
The ranges overlap more than they differ. HomeAdvisor's low end of $450 is a small fixed skylight; its high end of $5,300 is a larger unit. HomeAdvisor also says a skylight in a custom size costs at least 25% more than a standard one, which matters when you replace an old unit whose opening is not a size anyone still makes.
Cost by type: fixed, venting and tubular
HomeAdvisor describes the three main kinds this way. A fixed skylight is a pane of glass in the ceiling that does not open, and is among the cheapest to install. A venting (or ventilating) skylight opens for fresh air, by hand, by remote or with a small solar panel; a remote may need an electrician. A tubular skylight is a small tube with a reflective lining that carries light down through a small opening in the roof.
| Type | Replacing one (Modernize) | New installation (Modernize) | The unit alone (HomeAdvisor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed | $800 to $2,000 | $1,500 to $3,000 | $200 to $900 |
| Venting | $1,000 to $2,500 | $2,000 to $4,000 | $400 to $2,000 |
| Tubular | $600 to $1,800 | $1,000 to $2,500 | $200 to $500 |
Modernize prices a replacement below a new installation for every type. Our reading, not Modernize's: the hole in the roof and the shaft through the attic are usually already there. HomeAdvisor's figures are for the skylight itself, before labor, which it puts at $300 to $2,500.
What else moves the price
- Labor. Modernize says labor is about 40% of a typical skylight job and can reach 60% on a complicated one.
- Your roof. Modernize says a skylight in a metal or tile roof can cost up to 30% more.
- Size. HomeAdvisor prices installation from $150 to $500 for a small 25 by 25 inch unit up to $500 to $2,000 for a 33 by 57 inch one.
- Changes inside. Modernize puts a new skylight shaft, the boxed tunnel through the attic, at about $1,500. Replacing a unit in its old opening avoids it.
- Extras. Modernize lists motorized shades at $200 to $400, and a structural engineer, if the framing has to change, at $300 to $500.
- Permits and access. HomeAdvisor's skylight repair guide puts permits at $50 to $250, and adds up to 30% to labor for a skylight that is hard to reach.
Replacing it with a new roof, or on its own
A skylight and a roof are joined by flashing, so each job disturbs the other. Fixr says a standalone replacement means taking up and relaying some of the roofing around the skylight, and that those costs are lower when the roof is being replaced anyway. VELUX, which makes skylights, says a reroof is the best time to replace old skylights because it saves time and money and lets the skylight's warranty start alongside the roof's.
On its own, the job is smaller than it sounds. VELUX says replacing one skylight typically takes a couple of hours, mostly from the roof, and includes new flashing around it; inside, the light shaft may need paint or trim.
A reasonable rule: if the skylight is old, has leaked, or is fogged between the panes, price its replacement as a separate line in the roofing estimate, so you can decide on it once you see the number. Our guide to the best time to replace a roof covers the timing of the roof itself.
Why skylights leak
Water gets past a skylight in a few ways:
- Flashing. Fixr says leaks mainly start where the flashing between the frame and the roof has loosened. An article for the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) lists missing or incomplete flashing first among skylight problems.
- The glazing seal. Fixr names a corroding seal between the glass and the frame as the other common cause, and ASHI tells inspectors to look for cracks or movement of the glass in its frame.
- The wrong skylight for the roof. ASHI lists a unit made for a steep roof installed on a flat one, or the reverse, and skylights poorly fastened to the roof. It says the curb, the raised frame the skylight sits on, should stand at least 4 inches above a sloped roof and 8 inches above a flat one.
- The fit. HomeAdvisor says a unit that does not sit flush with the roof lets water in, and that flashing and weatherstripping wear out.
Not every drip is a leak. ASHI notes that condensation problems often look like leaks, especially in bathrooms and kitchens in cold weather, and HomeAdvisor says water can simply be condensation from inside the house. Water that appears on cold mornings, or when the air conditioning is running hard, with no rain, points to condensation. Water that appears during or after rain points to the roof. Our guide to roof leak repair explains how leaks are traced.
Repair or replace
A leak does not always mean a new skylight. Two cost guides price the common repairs:
| Repair | HomeAdvisor | Fixr |
|---|---|---|
| Skylight repair, overall | $454 to $1,514 ($961 average) | $350 to $800 ($500 average) |
| Leak | $50 to $700 | $50 to $600 |
| Flashing replacement | $300 to $500 | not given |
| Cracked glass | $300 to $1,500 | not given |
| Corroded frame | $150 to $600 | $175 to $600 |
| Foggy glass | not given | $50 to $700 |
HomeAdvisor suggests replacing rather than repairing when leaks keep coming back, mold appears between the panes, or the frame is failing, and it warns that a frame giving way will soon damage the rest of the unit. Fixr notes that a heavily damaged skylight may need replacing instead. A repair that costs close to Fixr's replacement range of $800 to $2,200 is worth pricing against a new unit.
How long a skylight lasts
The sources disagree:
| Source | Lifespan |
|---|---|
| InterNACHI life expectancy chart | 10 to 20 years |
| VELUX, for its own skylights | 20 to 30 years |
| HomeAdvisor | 20 to 40 years, up to 55 for some high-end models |
| Fixr | 20 to 40 years |
Fixr adds that a skylight can have problems well before the end of that span. When the roof is due, compare the skylight's age with these ranges: our guide to how long a roof lasts covers the roof side of that sum.
What a clear skylight estimate includes
- The type and size of the new skylight, by make and model, and whether it fits the existing opening.
- New flashing made for your roof material.
- Any work inside: the shaft, drywall, paint and trim.
- Wiring, if the skylight or its shade is powered.
- Who pulls any permit.
- The skylight maker's warranty and the installer's warranty on the work, in writing.
Our guide to roofing warranties explains how product and workmanship warranties differ.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to replace a skylight?
Modernize puts a typical replacement at $1,000 to $3,000 per skylight, installed. By type, it gives $600 to $1,800 for a tubular skylight, $800 to $2,000 for a fixed one and $1,000 to $2,500 for a venting one.
Should I replace my skylight when I replace my roof?
If it is old or has leaked, usually yes. Fixr says replacing it during roofing work costs less than doing it later, and VELUX says doing both together lines up the two warranties.
Can I replace a skylight without replacing the roof?
Yes. VELUX says a single replacement typically takes a couple of hours and is done mostly from the roof, with new flashing around the unit. The roofing next to it has to be lifted and relaid, which Fixr says adds cost.
Is my skylight leaking, or is it condensation?
ASHI notes that condensation often looks like a leak, especially in kitchens and bathrooms in cold weather. Water that shows up with no rain is more likely condensation; water that shows up with rain points to the flashing or the seal.
Is a tubular skylight cheaper?
Yes. HomeAdvisor calls it the most cost-effective way to add daylight, at $200 to $500 for the unit, and Modernize prices a tubular replacement at $600 to $1,800 against $800 to $2,000 for a fixed skylight.
How we got these numbers
HomeAnvil does not yet publish price data of its own. Every figure on this page comes from a published source, read on September 26, 2026:
- Modernize, skylight window replacement cost, updated September 1, 2026: the replacement range, replacement and new installation by type, the labor share, roof material, shaft, shades and engineer costs.
- HomeAdvisor, skylight installation cost, updated June 19, 2026: the installation range and average, the type descriptions and unit prices, labor, installation by size, custom sizes and lifespan. HomeAdvisor says its figures come from a survey of its customers and other published research.
- HomeAdvisor, skylight repair cost, updated June 19, 2026: repair costs by problem, permits, access, its repair-or-replace guidance and leak causes.
- Fixr, skylight repair cost, updated January 31, 2025: repair costs, the replacement range, leak causes, lifespan and replacing during roofing work.
- VELUX, what to know before replacing old skylights and skylight FAQs: replacing during a reroof, how long a replacement takes, and the lifespan of its own skylights. VELUX sells skylights; we cite it for what it says about its own products, not as a recommendation.
- Alan Carson, skylights, ASHI Reporter, March 1, 2016: leak causes, curb heights and condensation.
- InterNACHI, standard estimated life expectancy chart for homes: skylight lifespan.
We will update this page when these sources publish new figures, and the date above will say when.
Related guides
Skylight and chimney flashing repair: what it costsReplacing roof flashing costs $150 to $1,000; reflashing a skylight, $300 to $500. Step, counter, apron and cricket flashing, and signs it's failing.
How to find and fix a roof leak, and what it costsA roof leak repair typically costs $350 to $1,500, about $800 on average. How to trace a leak from the attic, what to do first and what each fix costs.
How much does a roof replacement cost?A roof replacement typically costs $5,900 to $13,400, or $400 to $1,100 per square installed. How to measure your roof, what moves the price and how to compare estimates.
When is the best time to replace a roof?Asphalt shingles seal best in warm, dry weather; below 40°F makers call for hand-sealing. How weather, contractor demand and storm season shape your timing.
How much does a roof repair cost?Most roof repairs cost $395 to $1,967, about $1,173 on average. Prices by problem: shingles, flashing, leaks, decking, vents, fascia and sagging.
What does a roof warranty actually cover?A shingle warranty covers manufacturing defects, a contractor's warranty covers installation. How prorating, wind, algae, transfers and voiding work.