How much does it cost to install a skylight in Virginia?
No public Virginia price list exists, but VELUX's national estimates, when we checked on October 26, 2026, ran from $2,800 to $5,000 for a new fixed skylight installed and $3,900 to $7,150 for a new solar-powered venting one, with sun tunnels from $880. Roof pitch, ceiling height, the light shaft and local permit fees move the final price.
Free to ask. Local shops send quotes, and you pay only when you book one.
By Kasra Taheri, Founder, LoclisPublished
Researched and drafted with AI, then checked claim by claim against the sources listed below before it was published. Prices and rules change; the dates beside each source say when it was last checked.
This is a job for a licensed pro in Virginia
This page explains what the work involves, the permits, what a licensed pro does and what drives the cost. It does not give step-by-step instructions, because this work needs a licence, a permit or both, and doing it wrong can injure someone. Before you hire, check the licence on Virginia's DPOR record.
No Virginia agency publishes skylight prices, so the most useful benchmark comes from a manufacturer. When we checked on October 26, 2026, VELUX's installed-price estimates put a new fixed skylight at $2,800 to $5,000 and a new solar-powered venting skylight at $3,900 to $7,150, product and labor included. The VELUX calculator's disclaimer says the estimates assume a typical installation, use national averages, and leave out local delivery costs and sales tax,[1] so treat them as a starting range for quotes, not a Virginia price.
Installed price ranges by skylight type
These are VELUX's estimates for its own products, installed, as listed on its cost page when we checked on October 26, 2026:[1]
| Skylight type | New installation | Replacing an existing skylight |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed skylight | $2,800 to $5,000 | $2,000 to $3,600 |
| Manual venting skylight | $3,200 to $5,900 | $2,200 to $3,900 |
| Solar-powered venting skylight | $3,900 to $7,150 | $2,900 to $5,150 |
| Electric venting skylight | $4,000 to $7,250 | $3,000 to $5,250 |
On the same page, new Sun Tunnel tubular skylights were listed at $880 to $2,280.[1] On the same day, VELUX's own FAQ page listed lower ranges for several of the same products,[2] a reminder that these are rough national figures. Whatever brand you choose, make sure every quote you compare names the same unit, flashing kit and interior finish.
What moves the price up or down
VELUX groups the cost drivers into three: the product type, the home's architecture and the complexity of the installation.[1] In practice, these are the questions that change a quote the most.
- Roof and ceiling. The house factors that matter are ceiling type, the steepness of the roof and the ceiling height.[1] Homes with complex roof designs or structural challenges may need extra labor and materials.[1] A steep roof needs more safety gear and time, and a skylight that does not fit between the existing rafters means reframing.
- The light shaft. The VELUX calculator also asks for the distance between the ceiling and the roof,[1] because a deep shaft through an attic is more framing, drywall and insulation than a skylight set into a vaulted ceiling. The interior work, including drywall and painting, takes about half a day per skylight.[3]
- New opening or replacement. Replacing an old skylight in the same opening skips most of the framing and finish work: a single skylight replacement typically takes only a couple of hours.[2]
- Fixed, manual, solar or electric. Electric venting skylights are wired to the home, while solar-powered ones need no wiring.[2] Wiring adds an electrician's time and a permit.
- Rotten decking or framing. Nobody knows the condition of the wood under the shingles until the roof is opened. A good quote names a price for replacing damaged decking so a surprise does not become a dispute.
Permits and fees
Virginia's Uniform Statewide Building Code requires a permit for installations or alterations involving any structural component, and for electric wiring.[5] Cutting a new skylight opening usually touches the roof framing, so budget for a permit. Fees are set locally. In Montgomery County, when we checked on October 26, 2026, residential alterations, renovations and repairs were charged $0.22 per square foot with a $45 minimum, plus a 2% state levy and a technology fee of 2% (minimum $10), and a re-inspection was $50.[4] Ask your county or city building office how it measures a skylight job, and have the contractor put the permit cost in the quote.
The tax credit has ended
The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, which paid 30% of the cost of qualifying skylights up to $600, covered improvements made through December 31, 2025.[6][7] Even then, skylights had to meet ENERGY STAR Most Efficient criteria to qualify.[7] A skylight installed in 2026 does not qualify, so leave it out of your budget and be wary of any sales pitch that still counts it.
Ways to keep the cost down
Timing is the biggest lever. VELUX's advice is plain: "The best time to replace old skylights is when you reroof your home. Doing so will save time and money"[2] because the roofers are already up there and the flashing is coming off anyway. See should you replace a skylight with a new roof and what a new roof costs in Virginia.
Protect your roof warranty while you are at it. VELUX notes that skylights, solar panels and satellite dishes all need roof penetrations, and if installed improperly may void the roof warranty.[2] If your roof is still under a roofer's warranty, ask that roofer to quote too.
When to call a licensed pro
A skylight is roof and framing work, priced well above the threshold where Virginia requires a licence. Work valued at $1,000 or more needs a valid Virginia contractor's licence in the category the contractor is working in,[8] and the licence class has to fit the price: Class C covers single jobs over $1,000 and under $30,000.[10] See how to check a contractor's licence.
DPOR's checklist says to "Get at least three written bids."[8] Virginia's contractor rules also require a written contract listing, among other things, the specified materials and work, the total cost, the schedule of progress payments with the down payment stated, and a statement that the contractor will comply with local requirements for building permits, inspections and zoning.[9] Ask each bidder to name the skylight model, the flashing kit, the light shaft work and the permit. Keep the deposit to an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less,[8] unless the unit is a special order.
For the job itself, read what installing a skylight involves, or browse more exterior answers. Loclis lists licensed businesses from Virginia's DPOR register with each one's licence number and class: browse skylight installers or skylight repair.
When you are ready, describe your skylight project once and licensed local contractors send quotes or offer an estimate visit.
Common questions
- Is replacing a skylight cheaper than adding a new one?
- Usually, yes. A replacement reuses the existing opening and light shaft, so there is no new framing or drywall shaft to build. In VELUX's national estimates, when we checked on October 26, 2026, a replacement fixed skylight ran $2,000 to $3,600 installed against $2,800 to $5,000 for a new one.
- Why do venting skylights cost more than fixed ones?
- They have more parts: an opening sash, a motor or crank, often a rain sensor and remote, and in electric models wiring that is permit work under the building code. Solar-powered models avoid the wiring but cost more for the unit. Fixed skylights are the least expensive way to get a full skylight.
- Can I still get a federal tax credit for a skylight?
- Not for one installed now. The federal Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit covered qualifying skylights only for improvements made through December 31, 2025. Check with your tax preparer about anything installed before then, and ask your utility whether it runs its own rebate.
- How much is a building permit for a skylight?
- It depends on the locality. In Montgomery County, when we checked on October 26, 2026, residential alterations were charged $0.22 per square foot with a $45 minimum, plus a 2% state levy and a 2% technology fee with a $10 minimum. Ask your contractor to include the permit cost in the written quote.
- Is a sun tunnel a cheaper way to get daylight?
- Usually. VELUX listed a new Sun Tunnel tubular skylight at $880 to $2,280 installed when we checked on October 26, 2026, well below a full skylight, because the roof opening is small and there is no drywall shaft to build. The trade-off is no sky view and no fresh air.
Sources
- [1] Understanding Project Costs, VELUX America LLC. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [2] Skylight FAQs, VELUX America LLC. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [3] Installation Process, VELUX America LLC. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [4] Permit & Inspection Fees, Montgomery County, Virginia, Building Permits & Inspections. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [5] 13VAC5-63-80, Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code, Section 108 Application for permit, Virginia Administrative Code, Legislative Information System. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [6] Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, Internal Revenue Service. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [7] Windows & Skylights Tax Credit, ENERGY STAR, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [8] What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor, Virginia Board for Contractors, DPOR. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [9] 18VAC50-22-260, Filing of charges; prohibited acts, Virginia Administrative Code, Legislative Information System. Checked October 26, 2026.
- [10] § 54.1-1100. Definitions (contractor classes), Code of Virginia, Legislative Information System. Checked October 26, 2026.
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