Professional air duct cleaning costs $271 to $509 for most homeowners according to Angi – a $389 national average tied to 21,664 verified Angi Pros projects – while HomeGuide puts whole-house cleaning at $450 to $1,000 and Fixr at $300 to $700, averaging $500 for a 2,000-square-foot home.[1][2][3] Companies price the job per square foot ($0.15 to $0.40, depending on the publisher), per vent ($25 to $50 each), or as a flat rate.[1][2][3]
Before you spend: the EPA does not recommend routine duct cleaning. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency does not recommend air duct cleaning as routine maintenance – only as needed – and notes that duct cleaning has never been shown to prevent health problems. The EPA’s three reasons to consider it: substantial visible mold growth inside ducts or on system components, vermin infestation, or ducts clogged with so much dust and debris that particles are released from supply registers. If one applies, the underlying cause must be corrected first or the problem recurs. Be wary of any cleaner making sweeping health claims or claiming to be “EPA certified” – the EPA certifies no duct cleaning companies.[4]
Air duct cleaning cost by source
| Source | Average (per job) | Typical range (per job) | Scope as published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angi | $389 | $271 – $509 | Whole-house air duct cleaning; tied to 21,664 verified Angi Pros projects |
| HomeGuide | (not listed) | $450 – $1,000 | Whole-house air duct cleaning |
| Fixr | $500 | $300 – $700 | Air duct cleaning for a 2,000 sq ft home |
Angi, HomeGuide and Fixr are separately owned publishers, and their pages state no shared sourcing. Angi adds that a total can reach up to $800 when repairs or a video inspection are needed. HomeGuide attributes its $450 to $1,000 range to the EPA and NADCA; the EPA’s own duct-cleaning page contains no cost figures, so the range is reported here as HomeGuide’s.
Cost by home size
| Home size (sq ft) | HomeGuide (per job) | Angi (per job) | Fixr (per job) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | (not listed) | $140 – $250 | $150 – $350 |
| 1,200 | $240 – $480 | $180 – $360 | $180 – $420 |
| 1,500 | $300 – $600 | $225 – $450 | $225 – $525 |
| 2,000 | $400 – $800 | $300 – $600 | $300 – $700 |
| 2,500 | $500 – $1,000 | (not listed) | $375 – $875 |
| 3,000 | $600 – $1,200 | $450 – $900 | $450 – $1,050 |
Air duct cleaning cost by home size, as published. Per-square-foot rates: HomeGuide $0.20 to $0.40, Angi $0.15 to $0.30 and Fixr $0.15 to $0.35 per square foot of home size.
Cost by number of vents
| Number of vents | Cost (per job) – identical at all three publishers |
|---|---|
| 8 | $200 – $400 |
| 12 | $300 – $600 |
| 16 | $400 – $800 |
| 20 | $500 – $1,000 |
Angi, HomeGuide and Fixr publish the identical vent-count table, and the pages state no shared sourcing. Per-vent rates: all three give $25 to $50 per supply vent; HomeGuide adds $40 to $75 per return vent and Fixr up to $75 per return.
Labor and add-on services
| Cost item | Cost as published |
|---|---|
| Hourly labor | HomeGuide and Angi $90 – $125 per hour (identical range; pages state no shared sourcing); Fixr $90 – $130 per hour |
| Time required | HomeGuide 2 – 4 hours per job with a 2-person crew; Angi 3 – 8 hours per job; Fixr 3 – 6 hours per job |
| Duct or HVAC inspection | HomeGuide $80 – $180 per inspection; Angi about $300 per inspection, as low as $100 for simple systems |
| Video inspection (Angi) | $70 – $130 per inspection |
| Dryer vent cleaning | Angi $100 – $170 standalone, $100 when bundled; HomeGuide $80 – $250 per job |
| Furnace cleaning (Angi) | $60 – $150 per furnace |
| Air duct sealing (HomeGuide) | $1,000 – $6,000 per job |
| Air duct coating (Angi) | $180 – $630 per job |
| Air duct repairs (Angi) | $200 – $800 per job |
Labor and common add-on costs. Sources: Angi, HomeGuide and Fixr. Fixr cautions that some flat-rate offers are used to get in the door and then upcharge add-ons claimed as necessary; HomeGuide similarly advises avoiding very cheap duct cleaning deals.
Mold, pests and asbestos
| Contamination | Cost as published |
|---|---|
| Pest removal | Angi and Fixr $200 – $1,200 per job (identical range; pages state no shared sourcing); HomeGuide rodent removal $150 – $600 per job |
| Mold remediation | Angi $1,100 – $3,400 per job; Fixr $1,000 – $5,000 per job; HomeGuide $2,000 – $10,000 per job |
| Asbestos removal | Angi $5 – $20 per square foot; HomeGuide $5,000 – $30,000 per job |
Contamination adds fees beyond standard cleaning. The asbestos figures use different units (per square foot vs per whole job) and are not directly comparable. Angi notes contractors are generally required to halt work if asbestos is discovered, until removal is complete.
When cleaning is actually warranted
The EPA’s guidance is narrower than most company marketing. Its three conditions that suggest cleaning: substantial visible mold growth inside hard-surface ducts or on other heating and cooling components, ducts infested with vermin such as rodents or insects, or ducts clogged with so much dust and debris that particles are released into the home from the supply registers.[4] The EPA adds useful detail for each: ask the provider to show you any mold they claim exists (a lab can confirm a tape sample for about $50, the agency notes); wet or moldy duct insulation cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced; and the underlying cause must be fixed first or the problem will likely recur.[4] It also notes that dusty return registers are normal and not, by themselves, a sign of contaminated ducts.[4]
Two more EPA points are worth knowing before hiring. No chemical biocides are currently registered by the EPA for use in internally insulated air duct systems, so treat proposed biocide or sealant applications with caution and ask for the pros and cons in writing. And separately from ducts: if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, the EPA recommends inspection and servicing before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.[4]
Hiring a duct cleaner without getting burned
The EPA’s consumer checklist advises against hiring cleaners who make sweeping health claims, who recommend duct cleaning as routine maintenance, or who claim EPA certification – the agency certifies no duct cleaning companies. It also says a provider should agree to clean all components of the system, since leaving a contaminated component can re-contaminate the rest.[4] Fixr and HomeGuide add pricing-side cautions: flat-rate specials can be legitimate but are sometimes used to get in the door and then upcharge “necessary” add-ons, and very cheap deals are a common scam pattern.[3][2] The EPA suggests checking that providers comply with NADCA’s air duct cleaning standards.[4]
Related cost guides
Ductwork Repair Cost
See our guides to HVAC repair cost, furnace repair cost, dryer vent cleaning cost, mold removal cost and pest control cost.
Sources
- Angi – How Much Does Air Duct Cleaning Cost? (updated October 9, 2026)
- HomeGuide – How Much Does Air Duct Cleaning Cost? (October 24, 2025)
- Fixr – How Much Does Air Duct Cleaning Cost? (updated January 29, 2026)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? (EPA 402-K-97-002)