How Much Does It Cost to Install or Replace a Dryer Vent? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $140 - $600
The cost of installing or replacing a dryer vent is $200 on average, or between $140 and $600, depending on labor and material costs.
If your dryer vent is clogged or broken, or you just moved into a new property without an existing vent, it may be time to have a dryer vent installed. The average dryer vent installation cost, including materials, is about $200. The material used for the vent affects the cost, as does the length and complexity of the vent’s path to reach the exterior of the home. You may pay as little as $80 for outside venting when your dryer is against an exterior wall. If your dryer is in the middle of the house or you need to vent through the roof, you might pay up to $1,000, depending on how much work needs to be done.
- Average
- $200
- Low end
- $80
- high end
- $1,000
Dryer Vent Installation Cost Breakdown
Most of a dryer vent installation cost comes down to materials, labor fees, and permits.
| Cost Categories | Average Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Dryer vent unit | $100–$300 | PVC, plastic, or metal |
| Vent cover | $5–$20 | Prevents pests from entering |
| Vent booster | $150–$400 | Optional, for vents 30+ feet |
| Labor | $20–$35 per hour | Takes two to four hours |
| Permits | $5–$20 | Not always required |
In addition to these costs, you may need to budget for drywall repair costs if your local dryer repair pro has to cut through interior walls for vent installation.
What Factors Impact the Cost to Install a Dryer Vent?
Dryer vent prices will vary depending on several factors.
Vent Location
Vent location refers to the path the vent takes. It typically travels as directly as possible from the dryer to an exterior hole in the home. This solution typically costs between $150 to $300, but some jobs may cost as much as $1,000.
Although you could locate your vent indoors by using an interior vent box, this is an uncommon situation. Pros will recommend an exterior vent unless no other option is available.
Installing an interior vent box will cost $100 to $175, but it requires constant maintenance and can introduce warm, damp air into the home near the dryer.
Hose Material
Pros will install one of three different materials for the dryer vent hose or duct.
| Hose Material | Average Installation Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| PVC | $125 | Not as durable |
| Plastic | $175 | Gets brittle with heat exposure |
| Metal | $250 | Aluminum or steel, very durable |
Hose Type
Picking the right type of dryer vent hose depends on the path the vent must take to reach your home’s exterior.
| Hose Type | Average Installation Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Slim or Skinny | $150 | Good for tight spaces, carries less air |
| Semi-Rigid | $225 | Good for lots of duct bends |
| Rigid | $275 | Carries the greatest volume |
Hose Length
| Hose Length | Average Installation Cost | Typical Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| 8 feet | $110 | $100–$120 |
| 12 feet | $140 | $130–$150 |
| 20 feet | $210 | $200–$220 |
| 35 feet | $290 | $280–$300 |
The length of the duct hose affects the overall cost. You can expect to pay $12.50 to $15 per linear foot for materials and installation.
In a typical installation, where the dryer is located against an exterior wall in the home, an 8-foot dryer duct vent length is appropriate. Because it’s so short, it’s also the least expensive.
If your dryer is in an interior room, you may have to consider an unorthodox location for the exterior vent to stay within local building code length limitations.
In some municipalities, building codes limit the dryer vent hose length to 35 feet. Occasionally, a building code may only allow a 25-foot length. If you need bends in the hose to go around corners, the building code may limit you to a shorter total length.
The length of the vent hose plays a role in how often you should clean your dryer vent as well. Most people can clean the vent once a year, but a longer vent requires cleaning two to four times per year because of the greater difficulty in moving lint through the entire length of duct.
Complexity of Hose Path
The route through which the dryer vent hose must travel also plays a role in the cost. If the installation of the vent duct is straight through an exterior wall to the outside, this design involves the least amount of labor cost.
However, if you must install a vent hose from a dryer in an interior room, the path to the home’s exterior may be quite complicated. The installer may need to move through floors, inside ceilings, and around support beams, which takes quite a bit of time and labor.
Should your dryer be on an upper floor of your home, you may have to route the hose into an attic. A basement dryer’s duct vent may need to go through a crawl space. These compact spaces often are difficult to work in for the installer, increasing the labor costs.
Additionally, the installer may need to cut through the roof or a basement foundation, which can be quite labor intensive.
Ideally, the installer may have a few different routes in mind that are possible for the hose path. You then could select the best one for your budget and for your home aesthetics, should you not want to see the exterior vent cover on certain sides of your home.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Dryer Vent?
Sometimes, an older dryer vent may suffer damage, requiring a replacement. The cost to replace a dryer vent usually is lower than the cost to install a new dryer vent.
Replacements usually cost less because the structural work is already done. Purchase replacement ductwork, a wall sleeve, a transition duct, and clamps for this type of job. Ductwork costs 50 cents to $2.50 per linear foot, while a kit that includes the other items for the replacement work costs $10 to $25.
A typical replacement cost for the dryer vent where the structural work is already done can cost $80 to $200 for materials and installation, although some jobs may cost more.
Replacement vs. New Installation
Installing a new vent costs more because installers need to cut into the home to run the vent. Expect to pay $40 to $140 for two to four hours of labor to cut through the home’s walls.
With materials and labor, the average cost of a new installation is $200, although the price could reach up to $1,000 for a complex new installation. Opening up walls to install new ductwork can cost an additional several hundred dollars beyond the average cost.
How Much Does It Cost to Reroute a Dryer Vent?
If you want to reroute the dryer vent so it exits the home at a new location, this could be a highly complex project.
If you must run an entirely new vent path, you may need to open walls and cut a new hole in the exterior of your home. This would be a similar process to a new vent installation, which carries an average cost of $200. Some highly complex and lengthy rerouting paths could cost up to $1,000, though.
If you’re using a similar path to the current vent but changing the exit hole location for the last few feet, you probably will pay less than $200 for labor and materials.
DIY Dryer Vent Installation vs. Hiring a Professional
Installing a dryer vent yourself can be a great project to tackle on a free Sunday afternoon, but the complexity of your project will determine how much you can handle yourself.
Installing an inside dryer vent is the easiest one to take on, because it doesn’t require putting a hole through your wall, floor, or roof. A kit that contains everything you need costs $10 to $25.
If your home already has ductwork in the walls or through the roof, you can purchase a standard vent kit for $12 to $30 to finish the work of installing the outside vent, wall sleeve, and transition duct. If you don’t already have transitional tubing running out from the dryer, expect to pay an additional $5 to $10 for an 8-foot section.
If your dryer sits against an exterior wall, you may be able to handle the task of cutting a hole through it, depending on your skill level. You’ll use the same standard vent kit and transitional tubing as above (total cost $17 to $40), but you’ll also need a power drill with a hole saw attachment. You can rent this tool for about $25 per day if you don’t already have it in your toolkit.
If you don’t have ductwork in your home, you need to replace the existing ductwork, you’re moving the location of your dryer, or you’re not comfortable with any part of the installation process, it’s best to hire a local contractor to tackle this project.
Installing ductwork can be tricky because of the enclosed space, and it may require making several cuts into your walls, flooring, or roof. Ductwork must also be installed carefully to prevent clogs that can later lead to leaks from condensation or even a fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are several types of professionals who can help with dryer vent installation. An HVAC installer is probably the most qualified for the job, but, depending on the scope of your project, you might also call a handyperson, plumber, or roofer. If your dryer vent installation project requires a straightforward design, almost any installer can do the work. If it requires a complex design to move around obstacles over a great length, though, look for an installer with plenty of experience.
The length of an allowable dryer vent varies based on the local building codes and regulations. Typically, the maximum range is 25 to 35 feet. However, if the vent must have any 90-degree turns, you may see a reduction of five feet from the maximum. Some municipalities may have no specific maximum allowable length as part of the code. Typically, installers will run the vent over the shortest possible distance for safety. The dryer vent cleaning cost is less with a shorter vent length as well.
Operating a clothes dryer without a vent hose attached is extremely dangerous, potentially leading to a fire. If you simply cannot or don’t want to take on a dryer vent installation cost, you do have some other dryer venting options to consider. Think about purchasing an all-in-one machine that washes and dries clothing. It does not require a vent, relying on a fast spin speed to help with drying. Some pros may recommend using an interior vent box with a traditional dryer, rather than a vent hose, but this is not common.