Smoke detector installation costs $70 to $150 per unit on average ($112 to $120 national average), with HomeGuide quoting a higher $110 to $410+ per unit when labor is billed separately in 2026.1,2,3 The detector itself runs $10 to $150; battery models are a DIY job, hardwired units often are not.1,2 Prices below are national averages* for 2026.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on detector type, how many you install, and whether new wiring is needed.
$112
average, Fixr
$120
average, Angi
$70 – $150
per unit, Angi/Fixr
$110 – $410+
per unit, HomeGuide
Cost by detector type (device + install)
| Type | HomeGuide installed | Angi installed |
|---|---|---|
| Ionization | $110 – $290 | n/a |
| Photoelectric | $120 – $330 | n/a |
| Dual sensor | $140 – $360+ | n/a |
| Smart | $150 – $410+ | $100 – $250+ |
| Smoke + CO combo | $140 – $360+ | $60 – $180 |
| Battery-operated | n/a | $20 – $60 |
| Hardwired | n/a | $75 – $150 |
| Interconnected | n/a | $100 – $200 |
HomeGuide prices the same job 2-3x higher than Angi and Fixr. The gap is labor: HomeGuide bills $100 to $260+ per unit with a $100 first-hour minimum, while Angi and Fixr spread labor across multi-detector jobs.1,2,3 Our reading: for a single hardwired install, HomeGuide’s figures are the honest ones; for a whole-house batch, Angi’s per-unit numbers are more realistic.
Whole-home totals by detector count (Angi)
| Detectors | Home type | Total cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Studio / small condo | $100 – $200 |
| 2 – 4 | Apartment / condo | $200 – $600 |
| 5 – 7 | Single-family home | $500 – $1,200 |
| 8 – 10 | Large / multi-story | $800 – $1,800 |
| 10+ | Estate / new build | $1,200 – $3,000+ |
Device prices alone
| Type | HomeGuide | Angi | Fixr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ionization | $10 – $40 | n/a | $10 – $25 |
| Photoelectric | $20 – $70 | n/a | $30 – $80 |
| Dual / combo | $40 – $100+ | $30 – $80 | $20 – $40 |
| Smart | $50 – $150 | $50 – $150 | n/a |
| Voice / light / weather alert | n/a | n/a | $50 – $125 |
Labor, wiring and permits
HomeGuide puts electricians at $50 to $130 per hour and handymen at $50 to $80; Angi quotes electricians at $50 to $100 and handymen at $50 to $150.1,2 New wiring runs $0.10 to $4.00 per linear foot before labor, and a new circuit breaker costs $150 to $300 where codes require detectors on their own circuit.1 Permits for hardwired or interconnected installs run $25 to $150, with inspections adding $50 to $100 per visit.2
DIY or hire
Battery detectors are a five-minute DIY; hardwired replacements onto existing wiring are manageable; new hardwired runs and interconnected systems belong to an electrician (our view, consistent with both sources).1,2 Home Depot’s smoke and CO detector section covers all types (plain link, not affiliate).
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All cost guides
Sources
1. HomeGuide — Smoke Detector Installation Cost
2. Angi — Smoke Detector Installation Cost
3. Fixr — Smoke Detector Installation