How Much Is a Skylight? Complete Cost Guide for Homeowners in NJ & PA

For a home in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, a standard fixed skylight costs about $1,500 to $4,000 installed, and a tubular skylight costs $500 to $1,100. Vented models that open with a motor or a solar panel run $2,400 to $4,700. Where your project lands depends on the unit, the roof, and how much interior work the opening needs. Below are prices by type, the factors that move a quote, and how a replacement compares with a new opening.

Skylight Cost by Type

The table shows the price of the unit alone and the typical installed price for one skylight. The installed figure covers the unit, flashing and installation labor.

Ranges reflect national 2026 cost data from HomeGuide and Angi, with manufacturer figures from Sunsquare and VELUX, checked in October 2026. Treat them as a starting point, because a site visit sets the actual price for a specific roof.

A fixed skylight does not open, which makes it the cheapest way to bring daylight into a hallway, stairwell or vaulted living room. Manual vented units open with a crank or a pole and suit bathrooms and kitchens that need airflow. Electric and solar models open from a remote, and many close on their own when a rain sensor gets wet.

A tubular skylight works differently. A small dome on the roof feeds light through a reflective tube to a round diffuser in the ceiling. It fits closets, laundry rooms and short hallways where a full skylight would be too large.

What Raises or Lowers the Price

Two homes can get quotes more than $2,000 apart for the same skylight model. The gap comes from five parts of the job. Most of them only show up once a contractor sees the roof and the ceiling below it.

Size and Glazing

A larger unit costs more to buy and takes more framing to fit. Glazing upgrades such as laminated glass or a low-emissivity coating add to the unit price as well. The span in fixed unit prices, from $150 to $800, mostly reflects these two choices.

Roof Pitch and Roofing Material

HomeGuide puts a skylight on a pitched roof at $1,600 to $4,200 installed and on a flat roof at $2,100 to $4,800. A flat roof needs a raised curb so water drains around the unit. Steep slopes and second-story roofs add setup and safety time, and tile or metal roofing calls for flashing made for that material.

Light Shaft and Interior Finishing

A vaulted ceiling sits right under the roof deck, so the skylight opens straight into the room. A house with an attic needs a shaft framed through the attic and finished with drywall, insulation and paint. HomeGuide lists a skylight in a roof with an attic at $2,600 to $5,700, shaft included.

Framing Changes

Most skylights fit between two rafters. A wider unit means cutting a rafter and adding headers to carry the load around the opening. Roof trusses cannot be cut without an engineered fix, and HomeGuide notes that a structural engineer charges $100 to $500 per hour for that review.

Wiring for Powered Units

An electric vented skylight needs a power connection, which an electrician typically wires for $100 to $350. Solar-powered units charge from their own panel, so they skip the wiring and cost a little more upfront instead.

New Opening vs. Replacing an Existing Skylight

Replacing a skylight in an existing opening costs $800 to $2,400, well below a new install, because the roof cut, framing and shaft are already in place. The crew removes the old unit, checks the curb and deck for rot, and installs the new skylight with fresh flashing.

Fog between the panes, cracked glazing and repeated leaks around the frame are the usual reasons to replace. Many homeowners also time skylight replacement with a new roof, since the flashing ties into the shingles and reopening a new roof later costs more.

If the unit is in good shape and only the flashing leaks, a repair may be enough. VELUX lists flashing and sealing work at $300 to $800, and our page on skylight repair explains what that job covers.

What a Written Estimate Should Include

Comparing quotes works only when each one lists the same items. Ask for a written estimate that breaks out the following:

• skylight model, size and glazing type
• flashing kit matched to your roofing material
• roof cut, framing and any rafter or truss work
• light shaft, drywall, insulation and paint
• electrical connection for a powered unit
• removal and disposal of an old skylight
• permit fees where your town requires a permit

A low quote that leaves out the shaft or the flashing usually grows once work starts. For homes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, our team handles skylight installation and measures the roof and ceiling before giving a written estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do skylights add value to a home?

They can make a home more appealing to buyers who want daylight, especially in kitchens, bathrooms and upper-floor rooms. The resale return varies by market. A skylight that leaks or has fogged glass counts against the house at inspection, so its condition matters as much as the feature itself.

How long does skylight installation take?

A tubular skylight or a replacement in an existing opening usually takes half a day to a full day. A new skylight that needs framing and a drywall shaft typically takes one to two days, plus drying time before the shaft is painted.

How long do skylights last?

Most quality skylights last around 15 to 20 years before the seals or glazing start to fail. Flashing ages with the roof, so many homeowners replace their skylights during a roof replacement to avoid opening new shingles a few years later.

Can you put a skylight on a flat roof?

Yes. A flat roof uses a curb-mounted or domed unit that sits above the roof surface so water drains around it. HomeGuide puts the installed cost at $2,100 to $4,800, slightly higher than on a pitched roof because of the curb.