Skylight Leak Repair Cost: $454 to $1,514 + Condensation

How much does skylight leak repair cost

Published national figures. Ceiling or drywall repair inside the light shaft is extra.

The fix decides the price. A failed seal on a skylight that is otherwise sound is the cheapest job. Flashing costs a bit more, because the roofer lifts the shingles around the curb to replace it. Broken glass and full replacement sit at the top. Angi's $961 average covers all of these together, which is why its typical range runs from $454 to $1,514.

Do this now: a skylight leak before the roofer arrives

Stay off the roof, protect what is below, and get a roofer to cover the opening if more rain is coming; Angi puts a professional emergency tarp at about $450 in 2026.

1. Check it is a leak. Water only during or after rain points to a leak; water on cold, dry mornings points to condensation, covered below.
2. Fire, smoke or sparks: get everyone out and call 911. Water near outlets, wiring or light fixtures: Angi calls that a safety hazard; turn off power to that area at the breaker only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot, then call a roofer and an electrician.
3. Catch the water. Move furniture and electronics, set out buckets and towels, and keep people out from under a ceiling that sags.
4. Stay off the roof. OSHA warns that roof surfaces can be steep and slippery and says a damp roof or tarp should dry before anyone walks on it; ice makes it worse. Put up a tarp only from the ground, or have a roofer do it. Never climb onto a wet or icy roof.
5. Photograph it. Angi says to document the damage and keep every invoice. Take outside photos from the ground.
6. Call the roof line with the roof material, its rough age and where the water shows up inside.

Is it urgent? When a skylight leak needs a roofer today

It is urgent when water is reaching the attic or the rooms below, a ceiling stain keeps growing, or a storm or tree opened the roof; Angi says same-day or emergency service adds $100 to $300 or more to the repair.

• Water in the attic or the house, or larger brown spots spreading on the ceiling.
• Daylight through the roof boards in an unfinished attic.
• Tree damage, even if it looks minor, or fire damage.
• Large puddles on the roof, or a leak near electrical wiring.

It can usually wait for a regular weekday visit when the problem is moss or algae, light hail marks or minor flashing damage that is not leaking, Angi says. Booking ahead skips the emergency fee, and Angi says fall or slow-season bookings can save 10% to 15%.

Skylight leak or condensation? How to tell

Not every wet skylight is a leak. Warm, humid indoor air can condense on the cold glass and frame and run down the shaft, which looks a lot like a leak. Some checks you can do from inside:

• When does it happen? Water that appears only during or after rain points to a leak. Water on cold, dry mornings, especially in a bathroom or kitchen, points to condensation.
• Where is the water? Droplets spread across the inside of the glass suggest condensation. Water at one corner, a stain on the drywall around the shaft, or a drip from the top edge suggests a leak.
• Is the roof side dry? If it has not rained in days and the skylight is still wet inside, it is very likely condensation.
• Is there fog between the panes? That is a failed glass seal, not a roof leak, and it needs a glass repair or a new unit.

Condensation is a ventilation and humidity problem, not a roofing one. A leak is a roofing job. If you are not sure, tell the roofer what you see and when; that decides who should come.

Why skylights leak

HomeGuide names four main causes: improper installation, neglected maintenance, aging and poor drainage. In practice that looks like:

• Flashing that was installed poorly or has corroded. See roof flashing repair for how flashing works around curbs and chimneys.
• Old seals and gaskets that have dried and cracked, letting water past the glass or frame. A reseal runs $150 to $400 per Angi.
• Debris on the uphill side of the skylight, where leaves and dirt dam water against the curb.
• Cracked glass or a damaged dome after hail or a falling branch.

Reseal, reflash or replace

Ask the roofer which of these the skylight needs, and why:

1. Reseal when the skylight and its flashing are in good shape and a seal has failed. Angi: $150 to $400.
2. Reflash when the water gets in around the curb. Angi: $200 to $600.
3. Replace the glass when it is cracked or the seal between panes has failed. Angi: $300 to $900.
4. Replace the skylight when the frame is damaged or the unit is old enough that the other repairs are a bad bet. Angi: $1,200 to $3,500; HomeGuide: $800 to $2,400.

If you are also replacing the roof, get the skylight priced at the same time. The flashing has to come off for the reroof anyway, and the roof replacement cost page lists what else should be on that quote.

Skylight replacement and installation cost

Adding a skylight where there was none is a bigger job than swapping one: HomeGuide puts new skylight installation at $1,600 to $4,200, about $2,900 on average, against $800 to $2,400 to replace an existing unit. A tubular skylight runs $500 to $1,000.

HomeGuide's skylight installation guide and roof leak guide both give $800 to $2,400 for replacement.

Skylight repair near me: who to call

A roofer handles flashing, curbs and resealing from the roof side. Ask on the first call whether the company also replaces skylights and repairs glass, since some send glass work to a skylight or glass specialist. If water has stained or softened the drywall in the shaft, that is a separate repair; see ceiling water damage repair. If water is coming in fast during a storm, treat it as an emergency roof repair.

Do not climb onto the roof to clear the skylight yourself. The glass is not made to be stepped on, and a fall from a roof edge is the real risk. For other leak sources nearby, the roof leak repair page has the full list and costs.