The cost to install a bathroom fan can be as low as $240 or as high as $564. How complicated the installation is, what type of fan you purchase, and other factors impact cost.
Ever step out of the shower to a steam-filled bathroom? While relaxing, this excess moisture can lead to mold and mildew buildup that, over time, can damage your bathroom. Lack of proper ventilation can result in repairs like peeling paint, wood rot, loosened tiles, and structural damage.
That’s where a bathroom exhaust fan comes in. Learn the cost of installing a bathroom fan and what to consider.
If you’re trying to figure out how to choose a bathroom exhaust fan, here are the main cost factors you should know about.
The bigger your bathroom, the more powerful your fan needs to be. First, find out the square footage of your bathroom. You can do this by multiplying the length of the room by the width.
Once you know the square footage of your bathroom, figure out which size of fan you need to buy. Bathroom fans are rated by cubic feet per minute, or CFM. This number tells you how quickly the fan can move the air around per cubic foot.
Use the table below to figure out the CFM rating you should look for. A good rule of thumb is 1 CFM for every square foot.
| CFM Rating | Bathroom Square Footage | Average Bathroom Fan Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 80 or less | 40 – 80 | $20 – $250 |
| 80 – 99 | 80 – 100 | $50 – $325 |
| 100 – 150 | 100 – 150 | $55 – $400 |
| 150+ | 150+ | $100 – $500+ |
Most bathrooms only require one fan. However, if you have a very large bathroom, then you might need multiple fans. In this case, add 50 CFM for each tub, toilet, or shower and another 100 CFM for a jetted tub.
For example, if your bathroom is over 150 square feet and you have a toilet, shower, and a jetted tub, you’d need 350 CFM total. You could opt for a single high-powered fan that can handle up to 390 CFM, or you could go with a couple of smaller fans.
Fans that are rated 390 CFM cost about $340 while 530+ CFM fans cost around $540. On the other hand, getting a couple of 150 CFM fans could run you $200 to $1,000. So it’s best to do some comparison shopping before making a decision.
The type of bathroom fan can significantly affect the final cost of your installation. Generally, fans with features like lights, heaters, and motion sensing will cost more. Here are the most common ones you’ll find.
| Fan Type | Cost Range |
|---|---|
| Basic fan | $20–$50 |
| Wall-mounted | $20–$350 |
| Ceiling-mounted | $20–$400 |
| Inline | $100–$310 |
| Fan with light | $40–$330 |
| Fan with heater | $90–$280 |
| Fan with timer | $100–$300 |
| Fan with light and heater | $50–$370 |
| Adjustable speed | $90–$380 |
| Continuous run | $120–$330 |
| Smart fan | $75–$190 |
| Humidity or motion sensing | $100–$400 |
We all know that bathroom fans make noise, but did you know that certain fans are less noisy? You can check the sones rating of your fan to find out how loud you can expect it to be. The lower the sones rating, the quieter it’ll be and the more the fan will cost.
| Sones Rating | Average Bathroom Fan Cost |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 | $70 – $350+ |
| 1 | $20 – 200 |
| 2 | $20 – $90 |
| 3 | $20 – $60 |
| 4+ | $20 – $50 |
Labor costs range between $200 and $800 for a bathroom fan installation. The labor costs range because you may also need electrical work, ductwork, venting, and sometimes roofing.
Hiring to install a bathroom fan means you’ll likely need to call a handyperson or an electrician and HVAC professionals.
Check with your local offices to find out which permits you need and how much the permits cost. If you’re installing a brand new fan for the first time, you’ll likely need multiple permits.
Generally, HVAC permits run $250 to $400 and roofing permits for bathroom fan projects are $70 to $250. Additionally, electrical permits are anywhere between $10 and $500.
There are lots of different fan types to choose from. The type you choose will have the greatest impact on your costs.
Wall-mounted bathroom fans cost $20 to $350. Note that there are many wall-mounted fans that can also be ceiling-mounted, too. Check the manufacturer’s instructions.
Ceiling-mounted fans are usually the most common option. These will run you $20 to $400. If you have a choice, it’s likely best to install your fan on the ceiling because it will provide the best ventilation.
Compared to wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted fans, inline fans are more effective. This comes at a slightly higher cost as these types range between $100 to $310. These fans are installed right onto your ductwork and pull all of the moist air from your bathroom and push it outside.
You may be getting closer to figuring out what you need for your bathroom, but don’t forget these important additional costs to consider when planning a bathroom fan installation.
A new bathroom fan installation costs considerably more than a simple replacement. If you just need an old one replaced, expect to pay for the fan cost and $100 to $400 in labor.
For brand new fans, you’ll need to account for the fan cost and $200 to $800 in labor.
Most fan installers include the cost of the removal and disposal of your old fan. If you’re doing the job yourself, check with your trash company to see if they take old fans or not. In some areas, you’ll need to take your fan to a local recycling center. Usually, it’s free to drop a fan off for recycling.
Electricians charge $50 to $100 per hour on average, so expect to pay this hourly rate for the necessary electrical work for your bathroom fan. The amount of work necessary will depend on the existing wiring and the type of fan you choose. Typically, electrical is included in the usual labor estimate of $200 to $800 for a new fan.
It’s best to install brand-new vents and ductwork for your fan, rather than tap into an existing one. This will help you avoid moisture buildup.
Your bathroom vent costs will depend whether you opt for a wall or roof installation. It costs $250 to $800 for a wall installation while roof installation costs a little more, ranging between $350 and $950.
You can install any fan with a wall or roof installation, and the choice you make will depend on your house layout and preferences. In general, the best option is to vent through the roof since hot air rises (just like it’s usually the best bet to install a ceiling-mounted fan rather than a wall-mounted one).
For roof installations, you’ll need to install the ductwork in your attic. The pro will then cut out a hole in your roof and install a roof vent cap. Once everything is set up properly, all of the moist air from your bathroom will travel from your bathroom to the outside via your fan.
If it’s not possible to install the HVAC through an attic space, then you may choose to install the vent on an external wall.
Generally, new fans cost $200 to $800 to install, and this figure includes duct and vent installation.
Learning how to install a bathroom fan isn’t for beginner DIYers since it requires a wide range of skills and knowledge in electrical and HVAC. Even for experienced DIYers, it’s usually best to stick to replacing existing fans rather than trying to install a new one from scratch.
This is because for a new fan, you’ll need to install ductwork, vents, and new electrical wiring. Both electrical and HVAC work can be dangerous if not done correctly. In particular, you shouldn’t attempt to install a venting system through the roof without proper experience. Rather, it’s typically best to install HVAC through an external wall for a DIY project.
If all of this sounds overwhelming to you, call an exhaust fan installer near you. They’ll help get the job done so you can get back to taking long showers without the worry of mildew or mold growth.
The easiest way to save on bathroom fan installation is by choosing the fan that best fits your budget. Since there are fans that are in the $20 range all the way up to hundreds of dollars, you should consider which features you need.
Just make sure to buy the fan with the right CFM rating for your bathroom. Cutting corners here could mean your bathroom doesn’t ventilate properly. Whether it feels unpleasantly stuffy or leads to mold growth, you’ll want to avoid these potential problems as they can be costly to fix.
Additionally, you get quotes from at least three exhaust fan installers so you can compare different companies’ services. Check all of the details to thoroughly understand all of the fees.
Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We’ve surveyed thousands of real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.
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Not every bathroom needs an exhaust fan. If you have a window in the bathroom, you can get many of the same benefits by opening the window. Moisture in window-less bathrooms can damage your wallpaper, paint, drywall, and wood. It can also result in mold growth, resulting in lung issues, skin irritation, and other health issues. You may need an exhaust fan if your bathroom regularly seems stuffy, traps in smells for a long time, or is prone to mold or mildew growth.
Bathroom fans last around 10 years on average. You can help your fan last as long as possible by doing regular cleaning and taking care of any issues right away.
Common signs that you need a new fan include mold growth or a burning smell. Your fan might also start to sound a lot louder than usual when you use it, or you might notice that bad smells linger longer than they used to in the bathroom.
Every municipality has its own codes. But generally speaking, all bathrooms must have some ventilation, whether it's a fan or a window. Check your local building codes before doing any bathroom fan installation to make sure you are meeting the code requirements. A reputable electrician or bathroom fan installer will be able to answer this question.
If your fan is ceiling-mounted and will vent through the attic to the outside, you will need an electrician to handle the wiring, and if you need to install ductwork for the first time or replace existing ductwork, you will need an HVAC professional as well.
