A whole-house fan costs $900 to $2,600 installed, with Angi and Fixr both averaging $1,700 and HomeGuide quoting $600 to $2,300 in 2026.1,2,3 The fan unit alone runs $300 to $1,500; the rest is labor, wiring, vents and drywall.1 Prices below are national averages* for 2026.
*National averages, not local quotes. Your price depends on fan size (CFM), whether new wiring is needed, and attic venting.
$1,700
average, Angi and Fixr
$600 – $2,300
installed, HomeGuide
$300 – $1,500
fan unit alone
$3 – $24
running cost per month
Cost breakdown (HomeGuide)
| Component | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Whole-house fan unit | $300 – $1,500 |
| Labor, existing wiring | $300 – $800 |
| Labor, new circuit and switch | $600 – $1,600 |
| Dedicated circuit and wall switch | $250 – $900 |
| Roof vent | $200 – $700 each |
| Drywall repair (ceiling cut) | $300 – $1,500+ |
| Fan shutters (if not included) | $40 – $200 |
| Insulated winter cover | $20 – $40 |
| Permits / inspection | $50 – $350 |
Electricians charge $50 to $130 per hour and the job takes 4 to 8 hours.1
Unit price by home size
| Home size | HomeGuide CFM | Unit price (HomeGuide) | Angi CFM | Installed (Angi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,500 sq ft | 3,000 – 4,500 | $300 – $1,200 | 6,000 | $800 – $1,800 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 4,000 – 6,000 | $350 – $1,300 | 8,000 | $900 – $2,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 5,000 – 7,500 | $400 – $1,400 | 10,000 | $1,000 – $2,200 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 6,000 – 9,000 | $450 – $1,500 | 12,000 | $1,100 – $2,400 |
The sources size fans differently. HomeGuide recommends roughly 2 to 3 CFM per square foot of home; Angi’s table assumes about 4 CFM per square foot.1,2 That is a real sizing disagreement, not a typo. Also note Angi and Fixr both print a $1,700 national average with near-identical ranges, so treat them as one dataset.2,3
Cost by fan type
| Type | Angi (installed) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Direct mounted | $1,700 | Sits on attic floor between joists |
| Ducted | $2,000 | Quieter; ductwork adds $300 – $1,200 (Fixr) |
| Roof mounted | $2,000 | For flat or low-pitch roofs |
| Wall mounted | $1,600 | When roof mounting is not possible |
Motor type (Angi)
| Motor | Unit cost | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Direct drive | $350 – $900 | Louder, cheaper to run and maintain |
| Belt drive | $500 – $1,000 | Quieter, higher utility and upkeep costs |
HomeGuide notes belt-driven motors cost about 20% more than direct-drive.1
Running cost vs central AC (HomeGuide)
| Cooling method | Per day (8 hrs) | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-house fan | $0.10 – $0.80 | $3 – $24 |
| Central AC | $2.70 – $6.70 | $80 – $200 |
HomeGuide claims 70% to 90% energy savings and $70 to $170 per month saved when running the fan overnight instead of AC; it also notes a whole-house fan does not reduce humidity since it pulls in outside air.1 A whole-house fan cools the living space; an attic fan only cools the attic.1
DIY or hire
New installations involve cutting the ceiling, framing, venting and often a new circuit, so this is mostly pro work; permits run $50 to $350 for the structural and electrical changes.1 Swapping an existing fan unit on existing wiring is the DIY-able version (our view). Home Depot’s whole-house fan section shows current unit prices (plain link, not affiliate).
Related guides
Swamp Cooler Repair Cost: $104 to $299 (2026 Guide)
Attic Fan Repair Cost
Attic Fan Cost
Electrician Cost
Drywall Repair Cost
All cost guides
Sources
1. HomeGuide — Whole-House Fan Installation Cost
2. Angi — Whole-House Fan Cost
3. Fixr — Whole-House Fan Installation