By The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
Roof lights is one search term that points at four different products, and the one you need depends on whether you want daylight, year-round exterior lighting, holiday decoration, or truck visibility. In building terms a roof light (also written rooflight) is a glazed opening that brings daylight through the roof, the same product most Americans call a skylight, and a new one costs $1,600 to $4,200 installed on average per HomeGuide’s skylight cost guide (August 2025). The other three uses are permanent LED trim on the eaves, seasonal Christmas string lights along the roofline, and the cab lights and light bars mounted on a truck. The first two involve your actual roof.
What does “roof lights” mean?
“Roof lights” refers to four separate products that share the phrase but solve different problems. Two of them are part of the house: glazing that admits daylight, and lighting fixtures attached to the fascia or soffit. The other two are seasonal decoration and vehicle equipment, which federal standard FMVSS 108 regulates on wide trucks. Match your intent to the row below before you shop, because the products, installers, and price ranges do not overlap.
| What you mean | Common names | What it does | Typical price | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glazing in the roof | Rooflight, skylight, roof window, sun tunnel, roof lantern | Brings natural daylight into a room from above | $500 to $5,800 installed, by type | HomeGuide; VELUX |
| Permanent roofline lighting | Permanent LED, architectural lighting, eave lighting | Year-round programmable accent and security lighting on the eaves | $20 to $40 per linear foot installed | HomeGuide (September 2024) |
| Seasonal roof lights | Christmas lights, holiday string lights, C9 bulbs | Temporary decoration clipped to the roofline | $2.50 to $5.00 per linear foot to have a pro hang them | HomeGuide |
| Vehicle roof lights | Cab lights, identification lamps, roof light bar | Marker signaling and forward lighting on a truck or off-road rig | $45.95 to $399.95 for a cab light set | RECON listings, October 2026 |
Rooflights and skylights: glazing that brings in daylight
A rooflight is a glazed unit set into the roof to bring daylight into the space below, and in North American usage the words rooflight and skylight mean the same thing. VELUX, the largest manufacturer, labels its products skylights and roof windows, and HomeGuide calls VELUX the biggest supplier with the widest range of options. The distinction some builders draw is that a rooflight sits low and close to the roof plane on a flat or low-slope roof, while a roof window is a taller, often opening unit set into a pitched roof. Function is identical: controlled daylight from above.
Types of roof light (skylight)
Roof lights split into five product types by how they open, mount, and channel light. VELUX sells the first three as named systems: the VELUX FS (fixed, deck-mounted), VS (manual venting), VSE (electric venting) and VSS (solar-powered venting), plus curb-mounted versions (FCM, VCM, VCE, VCS) for site-built curbs. Lanterns and polycarbonate sheets serve flat roofs and outbuildings. Pick by the room, the roof slope, and whether you need ventilation.
- Fixed skylight: a sealed glazed unit that does not open, such as the VELUX FS. It has no moving seals, and VELUX’s new-install estimate for it ($1,900 to $4,200) is the lowest of its glass skylights.
- Vented (opening) skylight: opens by manual crank (VELUX VS), electric motor (VSE) or solar actuator (VSS) to release heat and moisture. Best over kitchens and bathrooms.
- Tubular skylight (sun tunnel): a reflective tube that pipes daylight from a rooftop dome into a hallway, closet, or windowless bath. The VELUX TMR comes in 10 in. and 14 in. sizes with ceiling rough openings of 11-1/4 in. and 15-1/4 in., a 4 ft tube in the kit, and a maximum recommended run of 30 ft.
- Roof lantern: a raised, multi-pane glazed structure, often pyramid-shaped, set on a flat roof or extension to flood a room with light.
- Polycarbonate rooflight sheet: a translucent corrugated panel used on sheds, carports, and agricultural roofs. Palram’s Suntuf panel is sold 26 in. wide by 8 ft long, blocks 99.9% of UV rays, and carries a limited lifetime warranty, per Palram.
What roof lights (skylights) cost
Labor drives most of a skylight’s total because the crew has to cut the deck, flash the curb, and tie the opening into the roof covering. HomeGuide (August 2025) puts the national average at $2,900, with a $1,600 to $4,200 typical range and $800 to $2,400 to replace an existing unit. VELUX publishes its own estimates that include product and installation, shown beside HomeGuide’s in the table below.
| Type | Unit only (HomeGuide) | Installed (HomeGuide) | VELUX new-install estimate | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed skylight | $150 to $800 | $1,500 to $4,000 | FS: $1,900 to $4,200 | Adding light with the lowest leak risk |
| Vented manual skylight | $300 to $2,000 | $1,600 to $4,700 | VS: $2,100 to $4,600 | Kitchens and baths with a reachable ceiling |
| Vented electric or solar skylight | $300 to $2,000 | $1,600 to $4,700 | VSE or VSS: $2,900 to $5,800 | High ceilings, heat and moisture release |
| Tubular skylight | $150 to $500 | $500 to $1,000 | Sun Tunnel TGR, TMR or TCR: $650 to $2,150 | Small rooms with no direct roof access |
| Roof lantern | Custom quote | Custom quote | Not in VELUX’s US range | Flat-roof extensions and open-plan rooms |
| Polycarbonate sheet | Priced per 26 in. x 8 ft sheet | Often DIY | Not applicable | Sheds, carports, agricultural roofs |
Sources: VELUX skylight systems buying guide and VELUX Sun Tunnel buying guide, both read October 2026.
HomeGuide puts blinds at $100 to $500 per window for materials and a permit and inspection at $100 to $500 per new skylight. For the full breakdown see our guide to how much skylights cost, the models and glazing tiers in the VELUX rooflight lineup, and where the glass pays off in energy efficient skylights. For translucent panels on an outbuilding, compare polycarbonate roofing sheets.
Skylight code and warranty rules
| Rule | What it requires | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Curb on low-slope roofs | Unit skylights on a roof flatter than 3:12 sit on a curb at least 4 in. (102 mm) above the roof plane, unless the maker’s instructions say otherwise | IRC R308.6.8 |
| Testing and label | Unit skylights and tubular daylighting devices are tested by an approved independent lab and labeled to AAMA/WDMA/CSA 101/I.S.2/A440 | IRC R308.6.9 |
| Sun tunnel flashing range | VELUX TMR pitched flashing fits asphalt shingles, wood shakes, slate and metal from 14° to 60° roof pitch | VELUX TMR spec page |
| VELUX warranty | 10 years on installation, 20 years on glass, 10 years on product, 5 years on shades and controls | VELUX warranty page |
Permanent roofline lighting: architectural LED on the eaves
Permanent roofline lighting is a track of programmable LED points installed under the eaves and along the roofline, left up year-round and controlled by an app. Brands like JellyFish Lighting, Gemstone Lights, and Trimlight run color-changing diodes inside a channel that reads as trim in daylight. HomeGuide (September 2024) puts installed systems at $20 to $40 per linear foot, or $2,000 to $8,000 for 100 to 200 linear feet, with DIY kits at $8 to $20 per foot. The makers’ own figures sit inside that band: Trimlight cites $18 to $35 per linear foot installed and JellyFish Lighting $25 to $35.
The diodes point down at the wall and yard, so the effect is accent and security lighting rather than roof uplighting.
The channel screws to fascia or soffit and runs off a low-voltage transformer, so repair rotted or loose fascia first.
Christmas and seasonal roof lights
Seasonal roof lights are temporary string lights clipped to the roofline for the holidays and taken down after. C9 LED bulbs are the usual choice for outlining a roof edge because they are large, bright, and draw little power. HomeGuide puts professional hanging and removal at $2.50 to $5.00 per linear foot, or $240 to $650 for a typical home; bulb count and roofline length set the materials total for a DIY job.
Clip the strings to the shingle edge or the gutter lip with dedicated all-in-one clips, never staples or nails through the roof covering, which create leak points. If you run gutter guards, hang the lights without lifting the guard using the method in our guide to hanging Christmas lights with gutter guards. Work from the ground with a pole or from an extension ladder set at the angle OSHA 1926.1053 specifies for work sites (foot out about 1 ft for every 4 ft of working length, rails 3 ft above the gutter line), and keep all connections rated for outdoor use.
Vehicle and cab roof lights
Vehicle roof lights are the light bars and cab marker lights mounted on the top of a truck or off-road rig, and they have nothing to do with a building roof. On trucks, buses and multipurpose vehicles 2032 mm (80 in.) or more wide, FMVSS 108 (49 CFR 571.108) requires three amber identification lamps on the front, as near the top of the cab as practicable, with lamp centers 6 to 12 in. apart. RECON’s cab light range runs from $45.95 for a 5-piece amber LED set to $399.95 for heavy-duty strobe and RGB kits (October 2026). An automotive parts retailer, not a roofer, is the source for these.
How to choose the right roof light
Work through the questions below in order; each answer lands on one product category, and only the first two need a contractor.
- Do you want daylight inside a room? You need a rooflight or skylight. Pick fixed (VELUX FS) for the lowest leak risk, vented (VS, VSE or VSS) for a kitchen or bath, or a 10 or 14 in. sun tunnel for a small windowless space.
- Do you want year-round lighting on the house exterior? You want a permanent roofline LED system installed on sound fascia or soffit.
- Do you only want lights up for the holidays? Buy C9 LED strings and clip-on hangers, no permanent hardware.
- Are you outfitting a truck or off-road vehicle? You want cab marker lights or a roof light bar from an automotive supplier.
| If… | Choose | Threshold or rule |
|---|---|---|
| The roof is flatter than 3:12 and you want a skylight | A curb-mounted unit (VELUX FCM, VCM, VCE or VCS) or a flat-roof lantern | Curb at least 4 in. above the roof plane, IRC R308.6.8 |
| The room is a hall, closet or bath that only needs light | Sun tunnel, 10 in. for a ceiling opening of 11-1/4 in. or 14 in. for 15-1/4 in. | Tube run of 30 ft or less, pitch 14° to 60° for TMR flashing (VELUX) |
| The skylight is over a kitchen or bath and out of reach | Electric (VSE) or solar (VSS) venting skylight | VELUX estimate $2,900 to $5,800 installed, new opening |
| You only need daylight and want the lowest price glass unit | Fixed skylight (VELUX FS) | $1,900 to $4,200 new or $900 to $2,400 as a replacement, per VELUX |
| You pay a pro to hang holiday lights every year on about 100 ft of roofline | Compare permanent LED | Permanent: $2,000 to $4,000 once; seasonal: $250 to $500 a year (HomeGuide per-foot rates x 100 ft), so 4 to 16 years to break even |
| Your truck is 80 in. or wider | Three amber identification lamps on the cab front | Required by FMVSS 108, centers 6 to 12 in. apart |
Cost comparison across roof light types
The four roof light categories span from about $45.95 for a truck cab light set to $5,800 for a solar-venting skylight in a new opening. The table below puts every option side by side, with installed prices from HomeGuide and VELUX and retail prices where DIY is standard.
| Roof light type | Typical total | Who installs it | Permanent? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tubular skylight | $500 to $1,000 (HomeGuide); $650 to $2,150 (VELUX Sun Tunnel) | Roofer or skylight installer | Yes | HomeGuide; VELUX |
| Fixed skylight | $1,500 to $4,000 (HomeGuide); $1,900 to $4,200 (VELUX FS) | Roofer or skylight installer | Yes | HomeGuide; VELUX |
| Vented skylight | $1,600 to $4,700 (HomeGuide); $2,100 to $5,800 (VELUX VS to VSS) | Roofer or skylight installer | Yes | HomeGuide; VELUX |
| Roof lantern | Custom quote | Specialist installer | Yes | No national survey found |
| Permanent roofline LED | $20 to $40 per linear foot; $2,000 to $8,000 for 100 to 200 ft | Lighting contractor | Yes | HomeGuide |
| Seasonal C9 string lights | $240 to $650 to have a pro hang them; DIY is materials only | DIY or holiday lighting installer | No | HomeGuide |
| Vehicle cab lights | $45.95 to $399.95 per set | DIY or auto shop | Fixture only | RECON, October 2026 |
Frequently asked questions
Are roof lights the same as skylights?
In North American usage, roof lights and skylights are the same product: a glazed unit set into the roof to bring in daylight. VELUX and other manufacturers label them skylights or roof windows. Some builders reserve rooflight for a low-profile unit on a flat or low-slope roof and skylight or roof window for an opening unit on a pitched roof, but the function is identical.
What are the lights on top of a roof called?
Lighting fixtures on the roofline have two names depending on permanence. Year-round programmable fixtures under the eaves are called permanent roofline lighting or architectural LED lighting, from brands like JellyFish Lighting and Trimlight. Temporary holiday strings clipped to the edge are seasonal or Christmas roof lights, usually C9 LED bulbs. On a truck, the three amber lamps on the cab front are identification lamps under FMVSS 108.
How much do roof lights cost?
It depends on which type you mean. HomeGuide puts a fixed skylight at $1,500 to $4,000 installed, a vented skylight at $1,600 to $4,700 and a tubular unit at $500 to $1,000, and VELUX estimates $1,900 to $5,800 for its FS to VSS skylights in a new opening. Permanent roofline LED runs $20 to $40 per linear foot installed, a pro hanging seasonal lights $2.50 to $5.00 per foot, and RECON truck cab light sets $45.95 to $399.95.
Do roof lights leak?
Glazed roof lights can leak if they are poorly flashed or the seals fail, but a correctly installed and flashed unit should not. Fixed skylights have no moving seals, and on roofs flatter than 3:12 IRC R308.6.8 requires a curb at least 4 inches high unless the maker says otherwise. VELUX backs installation of its skylights for 10 years. Roofline lighting and holiday lights do not leak on their own, but nails or staples through the roof covering create leak points, so use clips rated for the edge or gutter.
What is the difference between a rooflight and a roof lantern?
A rooflight is a single flat or low-profile glazed panel set into the roof plane, while a roof lantern is a raised, multi-pane structure, often pyramid or ridge shaped, that sits above the roof line. Lanterns admit more light and add architectural height, typically over flat-roof extensions, and are custom-quoted, while a fixed rooflight such as the VELUX FS has a published $1,900 to $4,200 new-install estimate.
Can you install roof lights yourself?
Seasonal string lights and vehicle cab lights are standard DIY projects. Glazed skylights usually are not, because cutting the deck and flashing the curb correctly is what keeps the roof watertight, and on roofs flatter than 3:12 the code adds a 4-inch curb. Tubular units such as the VELUX TMR are the most DIY-friendly glazing option, with a 4 ft tube kit and a 10 or 14 inch size, but any unit that penetrates the roof deck is safer with a roofer who will pull the $100 to $500 permit HomeGuide cites.
Are roof lights legal on a truck?
Some are required. FMVSS 108 requires three amber identification lamps on the front of trucks, buses and multipurpose vehicles 80 inches (2032 mm) or more wide, mounted near the top of the cab with lamp centers 6 to 12 inches apart. On narrower vehicles, cab lights and light bars are accessories, so check your state vehicle code for rules on auxiliary and off-road lamps before using them on public roads.