Ductwork Replacement Cost: $452–$2,183 (Average $1,245) in 2026

Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·5 min read·5 sources

Quick answerQuick answer: Ductwork replacement typically costs $452 to $2,183, averaging about $1,245 nationally (Angi, HomeAdvisor). A full whole-house system replacement runs $1,400 to $9,300 or more. Per linear foot installed, expect $7 to $62 depending on material — flexible duct is cheapest, sheet metal the priciest.

The national average cost to replace ductwork is about $1,245, with most homeowners spending between $452 and $2,183 (Angi, HomeAdvisor).
A comprehensive whole-house replacement (roughly 200-500 linear feet) typically runs $1,400 to $9,300, and can exceed $17,000 for large homes with premium materials (Angi, This Old House, Fixr).
Per linear foot installed, flexible fiberglass duct costs about $7 to $34, while galvanized sheet metal runs $21 to $62 (Fixr).
Retrofitting ductwork into a home with none already installed costs more — $30 to $50 per linear foot versus $10 to $40 for standard replacement (HomeAdvisor).

How much does ductwork replacement cost?

National average

$1,245

total project

Typical range

$452–$2,183

Most projects

Whole project

$1,400–$9,300

Cost by material / type

Type	Low	High
flexible fiberglass duct, uninsulated (per linear ft, installed)	$7	$29
flexible fiberglass duct, insulated (per linear ft, installed)	$7	$34
galvanized spiral duct (per linear ft, installed)	$9	$37
galvanized sheet metal duct (per linear ft, installed)	$21	$62

Estimate your costNumber of units (total projects)Material

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Rough estimate only — get local quotes for exact pricing.

What affects the cost?

Duct material — flexible fiberglass duct runs about $7-$34 per linear foot installed, while galvanized sheet metal costs $21-$62 per linear foot (Fixr)
Total linear footage and home size — a 100-foot run costs roughly $1,600-$1,900 installed versus $7,800-$9,300 for 500 feet (This Old House)
Accessibility — cutting into floors or ceilings to reach ducts pushes labor to $30-$50 per linear foot, versus $10-$40 for standard access (Forbes Home)
Retrofitting vs. replacing — installing ductwork where none exists costs $30-$50 per linear foot, more than the $10-$40 typical for replacing ducts already in place (HomeAdvisor)
Insulation — insulated duct adds roughly $2-$4 per linear foot over non-insulated duct (Angi)
Old duct removal, permit fees (typically under $100 up to a few hundred dollars), and any asbestos or mold remediation, which can add upwards of $2,000 (This Old House)
Crawl space work specifically — replacement there runs $2,600-$7,300 total, with labor alone at $30-$60 per linear foot (Angi)

Why does ductwork replacement cost so much?

Ductwork replacement is priced by length and material, so the total climbs fast on a full-size home. Most homeowners report paying $452 to $2,183, averaging about $1,245 nationally, per survey data from Angi and HomeAdvisor — but those figures include a lot of smaller, partial-duct jobs. A comprehensive whole-house system replacement, covering roughly 200 to 500 linear feet, typically runs $1,400 to $9,300 (Angi, This Old House), and can climb past $17,000 for larger homes with higher-end materials (Fixr). Per linear foot installed, pricing generally runs $10 to $40 for standard materials and labor (HomeAdvisor, Forbes Home), narrowing to $16 to $19 per linear foot as a tighter national average (This Old House). Material choice drives a lot of that spread: flexible fiberglass duct costs roughly $7 to $34 per linear foot installed, while galvanized sheet metal runs $21 to $62 (Fixr). Add in old-duct removal, permits, and any hazardous-material remediation, and it’s easy to see why quotes for the same job can vary so much.

What affects the cost?

A few variables explain most of the difference between a $500 patch job and a $9,300+ whole-house replacement:

Duct material. Flexible fiberglass duct runs about $7 to $34 per linear foot installed; galvanized sheet metal costs $21 to $62 per linear foot (Fixr).
Total linear footage. A 100-foot run costs roughly $1,600 to $1,900 installed, while a 500-foot system runs $7,800 to $9,300 (This Old House).
Accessibility. Cutting into floors or ceilings to reach ducts pushes labor to $30 to $50 per linear foot, versus $10 to $40 for standard access (Forbes Home).
Retrofitting vs. replacing. Installing ductwork where none exists costs $30 to $50 per linear foot, more than the $10 to $40 typical for replacing ducts already in place (HomeAdvisor).
Insulation. Insulated duct adds roughly $2 to $4 per linear foot over non-insulated duct (Angi).
Removal, permits, and remediation. Old duct removal and permit fees (usually under $100 up to a few hundred dollars) are common add-ons, and asbestos or mold found in old ductwork can add upwards of $2,000 to remediate (This Old House).

How to lower your ductwork replacement cost

Replace only the sections that need it. Partial replacements of a few runs, rather than the whole system, keep costs closer to the $452-$2,183 range most homeowners report (Angi).
Choose flexible fiberglass duct over sheet metal where code and airflow needs allow it — it runs $7-$34 per linear foot installed versus $21-$62 for sheet metal (Fixr).
Time it with an HVAC replacement. Doing ductwork and a furnace or AC swap together in one visit typically saves on labor compared to two separate service calls.
Weigh insulation against your climate. Insulated duct adds $2-$4 per linear foot (Angi), so it’s worth confirming it’s actually needed in your climate zone before defaulting to it.
Ask about sealing or repairing existing ducts instead of full replacement — sealing and patching are quoted separately and cost a fraction of a full system swap.

Prices vary by region, home layout, and material availability, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Get two or three local quotes, and confirm what scope (partial vs. whole-house) each bid actually covers, before committing to a number.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to replace ductwork in an average home?

Most homeowners pay between $452 and $2,183 for ductwork replacement, averaging about $1,245 nationally (Angi, HomeAdvisor). A full whole-house replacement covering 200 to 500 linear feet typically runs $1,400 to $9,300 (Angi, This Old House).

How much does ductwork cost per linear foot?

Installed ductwork typically runs $10 to $40 per linear foot for materials and labor (HomeAdvisor, Forbes Home), or a tighter $16 to $19 per linear foot as a national average (This Old House). By material, flexible fiberglass duct costs about $7 to $34 per linear foot installed, versus $21 to $62 for galvanized sheet metal (Fixr).

What's the cheapest type of ductwork to install?

Flexible fiberglass duct is generally the least expensive option, costing about $7 to $34 per linear foot installed depending on whether it's insulated, compared to $21 to $62 per linear foot for galvanized sheet metal (Fixr).

Does replacing ductwork cost more if I don't already have ducts?

Yes. Retrofitting a home with no existing ductwork costs $30 to $50 per linear foot, versus $10 to $40 per linear foot when replacing ducts already in place, due to the extra demolition and access work involved (HomeAdvisor).

Does ductwork replacement cost more in a crawl space or attic?

Yes. Crawl space ductwork replacement runs $2,600 to $7,300 total, with labor alone at $30 to $60 per linear foot (Angi). Attic duct replacement typically costs $1,000 to $4,000 depending on length, and cutting into floors or ceilings for access can push labor to $30 to $50 per linear foot (Forbes Home).

Are there extra costs beyond the ductwork itself?

Possibly. Old duct removal, permit fees (typically under $100 up to a few hundred dollars), and insulation (an added $2 to $4 per linear foot) are common line items (This Old House, Angi). If asbestos or mold turns up in old ductwork, remediation can add upwards of $2,000 (This Old House).

Sources

Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-24):

Angi — Duct replacement cost averages $1,251 nationwide, with most homeowners spending between $452 and $2,183. Cost to replace ductwork averages between $1,400 and $5,600 for more comprehensive replacements; repair averages about $2,100. Crawl space ductwork replacement costs $2,600-$7,300, with labor $30-$60 per linear foot. Insulated ducts add $2-$4 per linear foot.
HomeAdvisor — Average cost to replace ductwork is $1,240, or between $455 and $2,097. Installing ductwork costs $10-$40 per linear foot for materials and labor; materials alone cost about $12-$25 per linear foot. Retrofitting a home without existing ductwork costs $30-$50 per linear foot.
This Old House — Per linear foot: $16-$19. By length: 100 feet $1,600-$1,900; 200 feet $3,100-$3,700; 300 feet $4,700-$5,600; 400 feet $6,200-$7,500; 500 feet $7,800-$9,300. Material only (excluding labor) per linear foot: flexible non-insulated $1-$3, flexible insulated $2-$4, fiberboard $4-$7, sheet metal $7-$15. Asbestos removal/mold remediation upwards of $2,000. Permit fees less than $100 to several hundred dollars.
Fixr — National average $9,293 for ductwork installation (2,500 sq ft home baseline); average range $1,436-$17,149 (full range $689-$24,008 across 1,200-3,500 sq ft homes). Per linear foot, replacement pricing: galvanized sheet metal $21.38-$62.36; galvanized spiral $9.06-$37.14; flexible fiberglass uninsulated $6.95-$28.95; flexible fiberglass insulated $6.75-$34.19. Labor $83-$151 per hour.
Forbes Home — Replacing ductwork costs $10-$40 per linear foot including materials and labor. Full ductwork system replacement costs $500-$5,600 depending on home size. Cutting into floor or ceiling to reach ducts raises the price to $30-$50 per linear foot. Attic duct replacement runs $1,000-$4,000.

National average ($1,245) is a synthesized blend of Angi's $1,251 and HomeAdvisor's $1,240 national averages, both homeowner-reported surveys that include a lot of smaller, partial-duct jobs, which is why the typical range ($452-$2,183) looks modest. A comprehensive whole-house replacement (roughly 200-500 linear feet) is a different scope and costs more: Angi puts full replacements at $1,400-$5,600, This Old House's length-based table runs $3,100-$9,300 for 200-500 feet, and Fixr's whole-system installation figures for a 2,500 sq ft home run $1,436-$17,149 (national average $9,293), reflecting higher-end materials and larger homes. Project_low/high here ($1,400-$9,300) is a synthesized range combining Angi's comprehensive-replacement low ($1,400) with This Old House's 500-linear-foot high ($9,300), representing that comprehensive-replacement scope rather than the smaller partial-job average. Per-linear-foot figures in by_type are Fixr's explicit 'replacement' pricing by material; other sources (HomeAdvisor, Forbes Home, Angi) report broader all-material per-linear-foot ranges of roughly $10-$60 that are consistent with these material-specific figures — the $60 high end reflects Angi's crawl-space labor figure specifically, not standard installation. All costs generally include material and standard installation labor; removal of old ductwork, permits, insulation upgrades, and hazardous-material remediation are commonly quoted as add-ons.