How much does fan installation cost?
The average national cost to install a fan is $137-$175. Installation costs depend on the fan type, ceiling height (for ceiling fan installation), additional ductwork (for kitchen or bathroom exhausts), and whether or not you're replacing an existing fan. For example, ceiling fan installation costs $125-$200, attic fan installation costs start at $200.
Fan installation cost:
| National average cost | $150 |
| Average cost range | $137-$175 |
| Low-end cost | $80-$90 |
| High-end cost | $377-$500 |
If your home doesn't have many—or any—fans, or your fans aren't energy-efficient models with the latest bells and whistles, it's probably time to install some new ones. Updating your old fans can improve ventilation, especially in bathrooms and kitchens, or give your space an updated look with a new fixture.
While you might be tempted to save on costs by DIY'ing this project, you should always hire a pro to install a fan since it involves electrical work and can be highly dangerous. Installing a fan improperly can cause serious injuries to you and your family.
Whether you need to install a new ceiling fan in your attic, or replace an exhaustingly bad exhaust fan in your bathroom, a professional fan installer can help. Before you hire a contractor to install your new fan, get an estimate on how much it will cost.
The labor costs to install a fan will primarily depend on the type of fan you need installed, whether you're replacing an old one or installing a new one, the price of the fan, and any additional electrical work it might require. For ceiling fan installations, the ceiling height will also impact the total cost.
Some pros charge a flat rate to install a fan. Others charge an hourly rate.
When you obtain an estimate, you should ask whether it includes the fan and installation cost or only installation. You usually can buy the fan yourself or ask your installer to buy it for you.
Below is a breakdown of fan installation costs by type:
| Type of fan | National average installation cost |
| Ceiling fans | $125 - $200 |
| Bathroom exhaust | $100 - $150 (replacement) or $250 - $300 (new) |
| Kitchen hood range | $750 |
| Attic fan | $200+ |
| Whole house fan | $1,200 - $1,800 (includes price of the fan) |
Ceiling fans
Ceiling fan installation costs mostly depend on the height and pitch of your ceiling. Below are the national average costs for ceiling fan installation based on ceiling height:
- 8 feet: $125
- 10 feet: $150
- 12 feet: $175
- 14 feet: $200
Ceiling fan installation in a room over 14 feet will likely cost more. For example, a Thumbtack pro in Santee, CA with experience installing ceiling fans charges $175-$200 to install a ceiling fan in a room with a standard ceiling height (under 15 feet). If customers need a fan installed in a ceiling higher than 15 feet, he charges $250.
This price is on top of the cost to buy a new ceiling fan. A ceiling fan can cost anywhere from $20-$90 for a basic, pull-chain model to $200-$600 for a better designed model with a remote control and additional fixtures. High-end ceiling fans with light fixtures or multiple fans on a rod can cost anywhere from $700-$12,000.
Bathroom exhaust fan
The cost to install an exhaust fan in your bathroom mostly depends on whether you're replacing an old bathroom exhaust or installing a new one. If you're replacing a bathroom fan, the national average cost is $100 to $150. Installing a new bathroom fan cost $250 to $300 on average, since additional electrical supplies and work are needed.
Most professionals will take about an hour to install a new exhaust in your bathroom. However, it can take several hours if your electrician or HVAC professional needs to add a power source or cut a vent into the ceiling to accommodate the bathroom fan.
For example, one Thumbtack pro charges $150 to remove and replace an existing exhaust fan in your bathroom, or $225–$275 to install a new bathroom fan.
Another Thumbtack pro charges $250–$300 to buy and install a bathroom exhaust fan. Their cost is higher because the company only installs fans made by Panasonic, which are more expensive than some basic fans. The pro prefers them, however, because he's found them to be the most quiet and durable. He also guarantees his work for two years.
Attic fan installation costs are generally a minimum of $200. The price to put in an attic fan increases if the electrician has to connect the fan to the fan switch with new electrical wiring. Attic fans are more expensive to install than ceiling fans because the electrician or contractor has to get into the attic to install the fan.
Most homeowners spend about $750 to install a ductless, kitchen exhaust range hood.
Exhaust hoods over kitchen stoves remove cooking smoke and odors. These fans are typically installed by appliance installation contractors. The cost to install a range hood in your kitchen will depend on if it's a ductless fan or uses ducts. If the range requires ducts, your installation costs are also impacted by whether or not you need to install new ducts. In general, a ductless exhaust fan will be cheaper to install—especially if you don't already have ducts to hook a range hood up to.
New ducts are an additional cost. For example, a Thumbtack pro in Lake Elsinore, CA charges between $150 and $250 to put in new ductwork.
Whole house fan
A whole house fan can cost as little as $310, but most models retail for $600 - $1,200 with different sizes and options—like solar powered vs. electric—at every price point along the way. Top-of-the-line models can cost up to $1,500 or more.
A whole house fan pulls air into your home through open windows and vents air out of your home through the attic and roof. This type of fan can improve ventilation and, if used properly, help to cool your home's interior with 30 to 60 air changes per hour, depending on the climate and your home's floor plan. It is generally quieter and more cost effective than air conditioning.
To improve your whole house fan's performance, your installer will usually add more vents to your attic. When you operate your fan, you should open windows throughout your home to prevent any backdraft in your furnace, water heater, or gas-powered clothes dryer. A backdraft could pull carbon monoxide or other hazardous materials into your home. Unlike a traditional HVAC system, a whole house fan does not use a thermostat.
Fan location
The floor it's going on and whether there's an electrical box already installed in the fan location also impact installation costs. For example, a Thumbtack pro who is an electrician in Waldorf, MD typically charges $100 for a straightforward installation job in which the box, wiring, and switch connection already exist. If he has to rough in the box and connect it to a switch, the cost doubles for this additional electrical work.
He also says if a longer downrod is needed (as in the case of a ceiling fan installation in a more dramatically pitched ceiling) he typically charges an additional $25 per fan.
Additional electrical work
While some fan installations, like replacing an existing ceiling fan, are a simple electrical job, others, like putting in a new bathroom fan, require additional electrical work.
Any type of fan installation will cost more if the pro needs to add an electrical box, wiring, and a wall switch to operate the fan. If there's already a light fixture where you want to install your new fan, the necessary wiring is likely in place. If not, a licensed electrician normally should do this work. You may have to get a building permit.
Adding new vents for a bathroom, kitchen, or whole house fan can also be an additional cost.
How to save money on a fan installation
Compared to other home improvement projects, fan installation isn't pricey, but there are ways you may save a few bucks. Here are some money saving tips:
Look for a fan with a high CFM but low power usage
While this won't save you on your initial installation, it can save you on your energy bills later on. A fan with a high CFM, or cubic feet per minute, but a low power usage will be more energy efficient and cost less to run.
Shop around for the fan you want
Ceiling fan costs range from as little as $20-$90 for a basic model, to $700 or more for a high-end fan with additional features and fixtures. Choosing a less expensive model can save you money. If you don't additional features, such as a light, wall switch, remote control or wifi functionality, don't buy a more costly fan just because it includes those extras.
Ask your installer to buy and pick up your fan
If your electrician receives a pro discount at a big-box home improvement store, they may be able to purchase the fan you want for you at a slightly lower price. If they can pick up your fan at the store for you, too, you won't have to pay shipping charges either.
Install multiple fans at once
Many contractors give discounts to customers who install multiple fans at the same time. One Thumbtack pro says he would install five fans for $400 instead of charging $100 each, for example. You may pay less if you hire a pro to do other electrical repairs or improvements as well, such as updating light fixtures or adding light switches, rather than having multiple small jobs done separately.
Whether you want to install a whole house fan as an air conditioning alternative, or you just want to replace a ceiling fan as part of a remodeling project, an experienced electrician can help. Find a fan installation specialist near you on Thumbtack.
