Free · no signup · no contractor calls · Updated July 2026
Ductwork Installation Cost Calculator
New ductwork installation costs $2,400–$8,000 for a typical home in 2026 (about $12–$40 per linear foot). Flexible duct runs $2,400–$5,000; sheet metal $4,000–$8,000; insulated/fiberboard $3,500–$7,000. Tight attic or crawl-space access adds 20–40%. Use the calculator below for a figure matched to your home.
Educational calculators — always consult a licensed professional before making financial decisions.
Mid-size home, 3–4 bedrooms. Typically needs a 3–3.5 ton unit.
All ductwork runs in a single horizontal plane. Simpler and faster to install.
Galvanized steel. Lasts 20–30+ years, resists mold, best airflow. Most expensive option.
Open attic or unfinished basement. Contractors can work freely; minimal drywall work.
Rural Midwest, Southeast, or Southwest. Labor rates $35–$55/hr.
Estimated installation cost
$2,380 – $4,080
~200 linear feet of ductwork
Cost Breakdown
Where Your Money Goes
Your Selections
Estimates based on national averages. Actual costs vary by region and contractor.
Your Saved Scenarios
No saved scenarios yet
What you'll need
- ·Home square footage
- ·Duct material preference — sheet metal, flexible, or fiberglass
- ·Attic, crawl space, or basement accessibility
- ·Number of supply and return vents
What you'll get
- ✓Total installation cost — Materials + labor
- ✓Cost per linear foot — By material type
- ✓Accessibility premium — Attic/crawl space adjustments
- ✓Material comparison — Which duct type fits your budget
How it works
Enter home size
Square footage determines the total linear footage of duct runs needed.
Select material
Choose sheet metal, flexible duct, or fiberglass duct board based on your budget.
Add accessibility factor
Attic installs are cheaper than crawl spaces; basement is easiest.
Ductwork Material Cost Comparison
| Material | Installed Cost (2,000 sq ft home) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible Duct | $2,400–$5,000 | Budget-conscious installs |
| Sheet Metal | $4,000–$8,000 | Long-term durability |
| Fiberglass Duct Board | $3,500–$7,000 | Insulation + airflow |
Whole-home installed cost by material, sourced from HomeGuide and Angi (see Methodology below) — not a per-linear-foot figure. "Rigid fiberglass" is not priced separately; it is the same product class as fiberglass duct board above.
What's included — and what's extra
Usually included
- Supply and return trunk lines
- Branch runs to each register
- Boots, plenums, and takeoffs
- Basic register grilles
- Sealing and basic insulation wrap
Often extra
- Zoning dampers & controls
- Extra returns or a fresh-air intake
- Drywall cutting & patching
- Asbestos removal on old duct
- Permits and a Manual D design
What moves the price
- Home size & runs. More square footage and more registers mean more linear feet of duct, which raises the total.
- Access. An open basement or unfinished attic is cheapest; tight crawl spaces or finished walls add 20–40% in labor.
- Material. Flexible duct is cheapest; rigid sheet metal costs more but lasts 25+ years and moves air better.
- New vs. retrofit. Roughing duct into new construction is far cheaper than snaking it into an existing finished house.
- Zoning & returns. Extra returns and zone dampers improve comfort but add cost.
Repair, seal, or replace?
Deciding whether to repair or replace ductwork usually comes down to leakage: leaky ducts waste 20–30% of conditioned air, but you often don't need a full replacement. Consider the cheaper fix first:
- Seal (mastic/tape): the cheapest fix for mildly leaky, accessible ducts — a fraction of a full replacement.
- Aeroseal: a pricier alternative — pressurized sealant blown through the system, reaches leaks you can't.
- Replace: only when duct is crushed, disconnected, mold-laden, asbestos-wrapped, or 25+ years old.
Duct material types
- Flexible (flex): insulated plastic-and-wire tube — cheapest and fast, but kinks and sags if installed poorly. Lasts 15–20 years.
- Sheet metal: galvanized steel — durable (25+ years), best airflow, resists mold; costs the most and is labor-intensive.
- Fiberboard: insulated on the inside (quiet), good for low-pressure systems, but can shed fibers over time.
Sizing done right
Duct that's too small starves the system (noisy, weak airflow, short equipment life); too big and it can't maintain velocity. A proper job uses a Manual D duct design paired with the Manual J load calc for the equipment. If a contractor just reuses the old layout without measuring static pressure, treat it as a red flag.
Questions to ask — and red flags
Ask:
- Will you do a Manual D design and measure static pressure?
- What material, and is sealing/insulation included?
- Is my old duct wrap tested for asbestos (pre-1980 homes)?
- Is the quote itemized, with permits and patching noted?
Red flags:
- All-flex duct with long, sagging runs.
- No sealing or static-pressure test.
- Reusing the old layout without measuring.
- Disturbing suspect (vermiculite/tape) insulation without testing.
Warranty: get a written workmanship warranty (typically 1–2 years) on the install, and confirm that any duct materials and sealants carry their own manufacturer warranty.
Methodology & sources
The cost figures on this page are generated from a single, sourced cost-data file (New ductwork for a typical 2,000 sq ft home — about 200 linear ft of duct, at 0.10 linear ft per sq ft of conditioned space — at $12–$40 per linear ft installed (material and labor). National average estimate for 2026.). Retrofitting ducts into a home without them is labor-intensive. Flexible duct is cheapest; sheet metal and insulated duct cost more. Zoning and returns add cost. The duct-run length is estimated from floor area; a real layout comes from an ACCA Manual D design, and the multi-storey uplift the calculator applies is our own planning adjustment, not an external figure. Last verified July 2026.
- HomeGuide — Ductwork Install/Replace Cost (2026) — retrieved 2026-07-13
- Angi — Ductwork Installation Cost (2026) — retrieved 2026-07-13
- RemodelingCalculator — Cost to Replace Ductwork (duct-length rule of thumb: 1 linear ft per 10 sq ft of conditioned space) — retrieved 2026-08-06
- Fixr — Cost to Install Ductwork (basis: a 2,500 sq ft home requiring 275 linear ft of duct) — retrieved 2026-08-06
Frequently asked questions
How much does ductwork installation cost?+
Full ductwork installation for a typical home costs $2,400–$8,000. A 2,000 sq ft home needs roughly 200 linear feet of duct — about 0.10 linear feet per square foot of conditioned space — at $12–$40 per linear foot installed, depending on material and accessibility. Tight attic or crawl space access increases cost by 20–40%. Sheet metal ducts cost the most but last 25–30 years. Flexible ducts are less expensive but less durable.
What type of ductwork is best?+
Sheet metal (galvanized steel or aluminum) is the most durable choice — it lasts 25–30 years and provides the best airflow efficiency. Flexible duct is the most common for runs to individual vents due to ease of installation. Rigid fiberglass duct board provides insulation built-in. Avoid excessively long flexible duct runs (over 10 feet) and sharp bends, which restrict airflow significantly.
How do I know if my ductwork needs to be replaced?+
Signs ductwork needs replacement: age over 15–20 years, rooms that don't reach set temperature, high energy bills with no change in usage, excessive dust from vents, musty or stale smells from HVAC, visible damage or disconnected sections in accessible areas, or professional duct testing showing leakage above 10% of system airflow.
Can leaky ducts be sealed instead of replaced?+
Yes — duct sealing with mastic sealant or metal tape is the most cost-effective solution for mildly leaky ducts and can reduce energy loss by 20–30%. Aeroseal (pressurized sealant blown through the system) is a pricier alternative that seals leaks throughout the system without opening walls or ceilings. Only replace ductwork when it is severely damaged, disconnected, improperly installed, or very old (25+ years).
Want to try different numbers?
Back to the calculator ↑Ductwork Installation Cost Calculator is built and maintained by the RealCostIQ editorial team. Cost ranges and rates are checked against published industry data and contractor quotes, and revised when the underlying figures move. Read our data methodology or more about who builds this. Every calculation runs in your browser — no account, and none of your inputs are stored.
Cost ranges and rates here are checked against contractor quotes and published industry data. If a number still looks off, email Support@RealCostIQ.com and we'll review and fix it.