💰 Total Installed Cost
📏 Cost Per Length Unit
Cost Breakdown
Full Cost Table
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How to Use the Ductwork Cost Calculator
Choose sheet metal, flexible duct, or fiberboard based on the intended application and budget.
Enter the total linear length of ductwork needed and the number of vents it will serve.
Choose open access for new construction, a retrofit in a finished home, or difficult access for tight or obstructed spaces.
Click Calculate Installed Cost to see material cost, labour cost, and total installed cost.
What Drives Ductwork Cost
Ductwork pricing comes down to three main variables: material choice, total run length, and how accessible the installation space is. Material affects both the per-metre cost and the labour rate, since some materials are faster to work with than others. Run length scales cost fairly linearly, while installation complexity can swing the labour portion significantly depending on whether the crew is working in open framing or squeezing through finished walls and ceilings.
Comparing the Three Common Materials
Sheet metal costs the most per metre and takes the longest to install, but it offers durability and generally the lowest airflow resistance, making it the standard choice for main trunk lines carrying the bulk of the system's air. Flexible duct is the cheapest and fastest option, well suited to shorter branch runs feeding individual vents, especially in tight joist bays or attic spaces where rigid metal would be difficult to route. Fiberboard duct sits in between on cost, offering built-in insulation value but requiring careful sealing to avoid air leakage over time.
Why Installation Complexity Matters So Much
New construction with open wall and ceiling framing lets a crew route ductwork quickly with full visual access. A retrofit into an already-finished home often means opening drywall, working around existing framing, and patching afterward, all of which adds labour hours beyond the ductwork itself. Difficult access, such as a cramped crawlspace or an attic with limited headroom, slows the work further and can require additional safety precautions, both reflected in this calculator's complexity factor.
Sizing Comes Before Pricing
This calculator assumes the run length and vent count entered already reflect a properly sized duct system for the connected equipment. Undersized ductwork restricts airflow regardless of how well it's installed, which can undercut the performance of an otherwise well-chosen furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump.
Ductwork as Part of a Larger Project
If ductwork replacement is happening alongside new equipment, compare the combined project cost against the HVAC replacement cost calculator, and check the HVAC installation cost calculator for general labour rate context.
Frequently Asked Questions
A full residential ductwork replacement typically runs from around $4,000 to $8,000 for an average home using sheet metal trunk lines with flexible branch runs, while a smaller partial replacement or addition can run anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on length and vent count. Homes needing extensive rerouting through finished spaces cost more due to added labour.
Sheet metal ductwork is rigid, more durable, and generally delivers slightly better airflow with less resistance, making it common for main trunk lines. Flexible duct, a coiled wire frame wrapped in insulated plastic, is faster and cheaper to install, especially in tight spaces or for shorter branch runs to individual vents, but it develops more airflow resistance if not installed with gentle bends and can degrade faster over time than metal.
Yes. Poorly sealed or uninsulated ductwork of any material loses conditioned air to unconditioned spaces like attics or crawlspaces, which increases energy use regardless of whether the duct is metal or flexible. Properly insulated and sealed ductwork, verified with a duct leakage test, matters more for efficiency than the base material choice alone.
Often yes, if the existing ductwork is properly sized for the new equipment's airflow and is in reasonably good condition without major leaks or damage. Undersized or poorly sealed ductwork can bottleneck even a well-chosen new system, so it's worth having a technician check duct condition and sizing before assuming it can simply be reconnected.