Air duct cleaning cost per square foot
| Service | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-house duct cleaning | $0.15–$0.35 | Supply and return ducts, registers and the main trunk lines |
The three guides we read agree closely. HomeGuide runs $0.05 to $0.10 per square foot above Angi and about $0.05 above Fixr at both ends of its range, so the range here stops at the top of Fixr. Angi puts the average job at $390. Some companies price by the vent instead, at $25 to $50 per supply vent and $40 to $75 per return vent.
What changes the price
- Size of the home. More square feet means more ducts and more vents, and every guide prices the job that way.
- Number of vents. Companies that price by the vent charge for each supply and return register.
- Condition of the ducts. Mold in the ducts is a separate, much larger charge.
- Extras. Dryer vent cleaning and a camera inspection are usually billed as add-ons.
- Duct repair. Sealing or repairing leaky ducts is a different job, and HomeGuide puts it at $1,000 to $6,000.
- Where you live. The calculator adjusts the labor share for your state's HVAC technician wages.
Extras to expect
| Item | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Dryer vent cleaning | $80–$250 | Often discounted when bundled with the duct cleaning |
| Camera inspection | $70–$150 | To see the inside of the ducts before or after |
| Mold treatment | $1,000–$3,400 | Only if mold is found in the ducts |
If mold is found, the cause matters as much as the cleaning. See mold remediation cost. Ducts connect to your heating and cooling equipment, which is priced on furnace repair cost, furnace replacement cost and AC repair cost.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is the price per square foot, per vent or a flat fee, and what does it include?
- Are the return ducts and the main trunk lines cleaned, or only the supply registers?
- Is the dryer vent included or billed separately?
- Will you show me the inside of the ducts before and after?
- What happens if you find mold, and what does that cost?
Methodology and sources
We price whole-house cleaning per square foot from three published guides, take the middle of their lows, midpoints and highs, and adjust the labor share for your state's wages. Forbes Home is used as an independent cross-check. Read how we estimate costs.
- HomeGuide: air duct cleaning cost — price per square foot, per-vent prices, dryer vent, inspection, duct sealing
- Angi: air duct cleaning cost — price per square foot, dryer vent, mold
- Fixr: air duct cleaning cost — price per square foot, dryer vent, video inspection, mold
- Forbes Home: air duct cleaning cost — used as an independent cross-check
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 49-9021, HVAC mechanics and installers) — state labor index
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| HomeGuide |
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| Angi |
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| Fixr |
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Common questions about air duct cleaning costs
How much does air duct cleaning cost?
A typical job (2,000 sq ft home) comes to about $500 nationally, within a range of $300 to $700. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
How much does it cost to clean the air ducts in a 2,000 sq ft house?
About $300–$700 for the whole house. That is the calculator's starting point, at $0.15–$0.35 per square foot.
What is the air duct cleaning cost per square foot?
About $0.15–$0.35 per square foot of home. Angi, Fixr and HomeGuide all price it this way.
How much does it cost to clean the ducts in a small home or apartment?
A 1,000 sq ft home costs about $150–$350.
How much does it cost to clean the ducts in a 3,000 sq ft house?
About $450–$1,050. A larger home has more ducts and more vents, which is why the price scales with square footage.
How much does dryer vent cleaning cost?
About $80–$250 on its own. Some companies discount it when it is bundled with duct cleaning.
How much does a duct camera inspection cost?
About $70–$150. Fixr and Angi both list it as a separate line.
How much does it cost to treat mold in air ducts?
About $1,000–$3,400, on top of the cleaning. See the mold remediation cost page for mold in other parts of the house.
Do some companies charge by the vent instead of by the square foot?
Yes. HomeGuide lists $25 to $50 per supply vent and $40 to $75 per return vent. Compare the full-house total, not the per-vent number.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 3 published cost pages from 3 publishers, last checked Oct 9, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 3 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.