Three Products, Three Price Lanes
| Skylight type | Installed (2026) | What you're paying for |
|---|---|---|
| Sun Tunnel (tubular) | ~$800–$1,500 | Reflective tube through the attic; no shaft framing, no drywall — daylight for halls, baths, closets |
| Fixed | $1,800–$3,200 | Full-size glass, engineered flashing kit, framed and drywalled light shaft |
| Venting (manual / electric / solar) | $2,500–$4,500+ | Everything above plus an opening sash, rain sensor on powered models, and summer heat exhaust |
Every figure is a complete-project number: unit, flashing system, framing, insulation of the shaft, drywall, and paint-ready finish. When a skylight quote looks suspiciously cheap, one of those pieces is missing — usually the interior finish, which then becomes your problem or a second contractor's invoice.
What Pushes a Skylight Quote Up or Down
- Roof pitch and material. Standard asphalt shingles at common pitches are the baseline. Steep pitches slow the roof work; tile and metal roofs require different flashing systems and more time.
- Tunnel depth. The distance from roof deck to ceiling is the project's hidden dimension. A room with a vaulted ceiling needs almost no shaft; a single-story home with a tall attic needs a framed, insulated tunnel — and flaring that tunnel outward, which spreads daylight dramatically, adds framing and drywall hours worth paying for.
- Glass packages. Laminated Low-E is the sensible standard overhead. Snow-load glass for mountain and exposed sites and impact-rated options add per-unit cost.
- Blinds. Factory-fitted solar or manual blinds — blackout for bedrooms, light-filtering for living space — run a few hundred dollars per unit and are far cleaner than anything retrofitted.
- How many at once. Two or three skylights in one mobilization share setup, staging, and drywall days. Per-unit pricing drops accordingly.
The Tax-Credit Question
Solar-powered venting skylights have historically qualified for the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit — a percentage of the full project cost, installation included, which frequently made the solar model cheaper after-credit than the wired electric one. Federal eligibility rules changed heading into 2026, so before you count the credit in your budget, check the current IRS guidance (linked below) or ask your tax professional. We'll tell you plainly what we're seeing on current projects when we quote.
Why the Flashing System Is the Whole Ballgame
Skylights earned their leaky reputation from installs that treated the flashing as an afterthought. The modern approach engineers the entire roof penetration — skylight, gasketed mount, and a pitch- and roofing-specific flashing kit — as one tested system, and the manufacturer's no-leak warranty applies only when that system goes in to spec. That's precisely how our installers do it, on every roof, which is why we're comfortable being the one company holding your warranty conversation for the next decade.
Wood Windows has been cutting daylight into Idaho roofs for 46 years with employee installers — nobody's subcontractor climbs on your house. Quotes follow a free on-site roof and attic assessment, in writing, at annually set prices. (208) 376-2200 or the form on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a skylight cost installed?
Treasure Valley installed pricing in 2026: fixed skylights $1,800–$3,200, venting models $2,500–$4,500+, and Sun Tunnel tubular skylights roughly $800–$1,500. Every number includes the engineered flashing kit, interior light-shaft framing and drywall, and paint-ready finish — the parts a roofer's quote usually omits.
Is the solar-powered skylight worth the extra money?
Often, yes. The solar venting model needs no wiring — which saves electrician cost on the install — and solar-powered skylights have historically qualified for the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit covering a percentage of product and installation. Credit eligibility rules changed for 2026, so confirm current status on the IRS page or with your tax professional before counting on it.
Why is the light shaft such a big part of the price?
Because the skylight itself is only half the project. Between roof deck and ceiling sits a framed, insulated, drywalled tunnel — and its depth and angle set the labor hours. A vaulted ceiling with a shallow shaft is quick; a deep attic run with a flared shaft to spread the light is a genuine carpentry project. That's the swing between the bottom and top of every range we quote.
Can I just have my roofer add a skylight during a re-roof?
A re-roof is a smart time to do it — but insist on the complete engineered flashing kit installed to the manufacturer's spec, not step flashing improvised from coil stock. The no-leak warranty exists only when the system is installed as designed. We coordinate with roofers on re-roof timing regularly.
Sources & Testing Data
Last reviewed 2026-07-05 by Wood Windows Inc — (208) 376-2200