Cost to Install a Skylight – 2021

| Last Updated: August 23, 2021

National Average Improvement and Repair Cost

Pro

DIY

Hours:

9.8

13.5

Cost:

$ 1061

$ 675

Would you do this project? According to our survey, 19% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.

The average price to Install a Skylight noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.

How much does it cost to install a skylight? A contractor charges $1,061 to install a skylight vs. doing it yourself for $675 and saving 36 percent.

Take advantage of Mother Nature by installing a skylight or roof window, and bring natural daylight into a room. A sky window also helps reduce energy bills by providing illumination during the day without turning on the lights.

When remodeling in a small room where wall space is at a premium, installing a skylight in a roof instead adding a wall window is a popular solution. That’s why a skylight is often preferred in bathrooms and kitchens where wall space is needed for cabinetry and fixtures.

Acrylic skylights are a popular choice for many remodeling projects because they don’t require painting. Moreover, their improved design and sealants will resist water infiltration and prevent moisture from entering the home.

A window installer will charge $1,061 to install a 30-by-38-inch glass skylight, which includes the labor and material. If you have carpentry experience and tools, you can buy the unit for $675 and install it and pocket a 36 percent saving. This is a project beyond the scope of many homeowners because it involves cutting a hole in the roof, not a job for anyone who lacks the confidence and carpentry experience and tools. If there’s any doubt, hire a pro.

There’s an amazing number of accessories to consider when choosing a skylight, everything from optional screening accessories like venetian blinds, pleated or roller shades, and remote control openers. Pay attention to where you site a skylight in a room in relation to its furnishings and avoid over-exposing a room with too much sunlight which will damage the furniture and make it too bright and hot.

See instructions in Popular Mechanics on Installing a Skylight.

Now you know the average cost to install a skylight, which includes the labor and material, and what’s involved, so you can decide to do it yourself or hire a contractor.

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Welcome! We hope you’ll find the job costs of home improvement projects useful when you’re deciding whether to do a job yourself vs. hire a contractor. We’re the authors of 20 home improvement books, most notably Home Improvement for Dummies©, Bathroom Remodeling for Dummies©, Carpentry for Dummies©, Plumbing for Dummies©, and Painting and Wallpapering for Dummies©. Our most recent book Fix It and Flip It is in its second edition. We’ve appeared as home improvement experts on television programs such as CNN, Dateline, the Today Show, HGTV and many others.