How Much Does Skylight Installation Cost in Washington?
Skylight installation cost starts with one question: is there already an opening in the roof? One national cost guide puts a new skylight in a new opening at $1,500 to $5,000. That guide says most homeowners pay $2,000 to $3,500 for a standard unit on a shingle roof. A skylight replacement in an existing opening runs $800 to $2,400.
A skylight manufacturer’s published guide runs higher. It puts a new 2 by 4 foot fixed unit on a one-story asphalt roof at $3,000 to $5,500. It prices a same-size replacement at $1,200 to $3,000. A published Seattle-area figure lists a typical range of $778 to $3,894.
These are market numbers, not our price list. We price skylight installation after a free look at your roof and the ceiling below it.
What is the average skylight installation cost?
A second national cost guide lists a national average of $1,523, with an average range of $1,080 to $1,966. The manufacturer’s guide says national averages run about $1,800 to $1,900 across all projects. It notes that figure mixes replacements with new openings. New openings skew higher, and replacements skew lower.
Labor is the bigger share when a new opening goes in. On add-a-skylight jobs, the manufacturer’s guide says labor commonly runs 50 to 65 percent of the total. Materials, including the unit and the flashing, make up the rest.
The skylight itself can be the smaller cost. The second national guide lists fixed skylights at $295 to $537 and venting skylights at $574 to $1,044, material only.
How much does skylight replacement cost compared with a new opening?
In the first national guide, a same-opening swap costs roughly half as much as a new hole. The roof framing and flashing layout already exist. A new opening adds the roof cut, framing, a full flashing system and the interior finish.
That guide’s headline ranges leave out the light shaft. When a flat ceiling sits under an attic, the shaft alone adds $1,000 to $2,500. The table below sets the published ranges side by side, with the kind of source for each.
| Skylight job | Published market range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Same-size skylight replacement, existing opening | $800 to $2,400 | National cost guide |
| Same-size skylight replacement, pro installed | $1,200 to $3,000 | Skylight manufacturer’s guide |
| Replacement with a size change | $1,500 to $3,500 | National cost guide |
| New skylight in a new opening | $1,500 to $5,000 and up | National cost guide |
| New 2 by 4 foot fixed unit, one-story asphalt roof | $3,000 to $5,500 | Skylight manufacturer’s guide |
| Fixed skylight, new opening | $1,500 to $3,500 | National cost guide |
| Manual venting skylight, new opening | $2,200 to $4,500 | National cost guide |
| Manual venting skylight, new opening | $3,500 to $7,000 | Skylight manufacturer’s guide |
| Light shaft through an attic | Adds $1,000 to $2,500 | National cost guide |
| Skylight repair: reseal, reflash or parts | $450 to $1,500 | Skylight manufacturer’s guide |
Does the type of skylight change the cost?
Yes. Venting skylights cost more than fixed ones, as the table shows. A venting skylight opens to let hot air and moisture out. A fixed skylight stays shut.
A deck-mounted skylight sits flush with the roof and fastens right to the roof deck. A curb-mounted skylight sits on a raised frame called a curb. The first national guide says curb-mounted units cost $50 to $200 less for the skylight itself. They need more flashing work, though.
On a replacement, the old flashing may be reusable. The same guide says reusing a custom-bent flashing kit in good condition can sometimes save $200 to $400.
What moves the price on an island home?
Roof type comes first. The manufacturer’s guide says steep roofs and metal roofs cost more than asphalt. The first national guide adds that standing-seam metal panels sometimes need factory-matched curb kits and a special sealer. Our own work includes a grey standing-seam metal roof with a skylight set into it.
Pitch and access come next. The second national guide says the steeper the roof, the more safety steps the job needs, and those take time. The manufacturer’s guide also lists travel and access among its price factors.
The ceiling below can double the bill, per the first national guide. It prices a skylight into a vaulted ceiling at $1,500 to $3,500. A flat ceiling with an attic above needs a light shaft, and that runs $2,600 to $5,700.
A splayed shaft widens toward the room. The first national guide says it costs 10 to 20 percent more than a straight one. The manufacturer’s guide puts drywall and paint at $1.50 to $3.50 per square foot of shaft surface.
Old leaks leave rot behind. A skylight that leaked for years can soften the decking and framing around the opening. Cutting out and replacing that wood is wood rot repair, and it gets done before the new unit goes in.
The permit belongs in the budget too. Island County says new and replacement roofing projects require a building permit. Inspections are requested through the county’s online Public Portal. For a skylight on its own, confirm with the office that covers your address.
Should you replace a skylight when you replace the roof?
Often, yes. During a re-roof the old roofing comes off, and the flashing is easy to reach. The first national guide says that labor overlap saves $300 to $600 per skylight.
The same guide says a 15-year-old skylight on a 20-year-old roof will likely need replacement before the new roof does. Swapping it later means patching newer shingles around the opening. That is why it pays to have the skylights checked when you price a roof replacement.
What are the signs a skylight needs attention?
Water stains on the shaft or ceiling around the skylight are the first thing to check. Fog between the panes usually points to a failed seal. The manufacturer’s guide lists $1,800 to $3,000 to replace a foggy 2 by 4 foot fixed skylight. That range assumes an asphalt roof with easy access.
Some drips are condensation. The first national guide says most leaking-skylight complaints trace to condensation from a poorly insulated shaft. When rain does get in, that guide says flashing failure causes most skylight water problems.
Island weather tests that flashing often. Island County sees some measurable precipitation on about 120 days a year. A leak at the flashing is a roof repair job. The manufacturer’s guide puts a reseal, reflash or part replacement at $450 to $1,500.
How do you get a real number for your skylight?
Published ranges help you plan. Your own number depends on your roof and the ceiling below it.
We are based in Langley, on the south end of Whidbey Island. Our island crew works with no ferry wait. One customer’s Google review says “the skylight looks like it was here all along and not an after thought addition.” Read how we install and replace skylights, then call or text (360) 544-9655 for a free estimate.