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INDUSTRY REPORTS · August 11, 2026

US Skylight and Daylighting Market Report (2026): Size, Costs, and Energy Data

The US skylight and daylighting market by the numbers: size, growth, installed costs, and energy data from EIA, ENERGY STAR, ASHRAE, and market research.

By The Roofing Brief Team

The Roofing Brief Industry Reports. The US skylight and daylighting market sits at the intersection of residential remodeling demand, commercial energy codes, and a decades-long push to cut lighting electricity with natural light. This report aggregates verified figures from federal agencies, energy-code bodies, market-research firms, and construction-cost datasets into one citable reference. Market-size estimates from private research firms vary by methodology and are labeled as such. Federal energy data is treated as the primary anchor.

Executive summary

  • The US skylights market was valued at roughly 1.8 to 2.1 billion dollars in 2024 across the two market-research estimates reviewed, with forecasts of 3.0 to 3.2 billion dollars by 2033.
  • The global skylights market was estimated at 4.8 billion dollars in 2025 and projected to reach 7.6 billion dollars by 2035 at a 4.7 percent CAGR (Vantage Market Research).
  • Lighting is the demand driver behind daylighting: US residential lighting used about 81 billion kWh (6 percent of home electricity) in 2020, and US commercial lighting used about 208 billion kWh (17 percent) in 2018 (US EIA).
  • ENERGY STAR certified windows and skylights lower household energy bills by an average of up to 13 percent nationwide versus single-pane products under Version 7.0 (effective October 23, 2023).
  • Commercial energy codes now force skylights into large low-slope buildings: ASHRAE 90.1 and the IECC require a skylight daylight zone of at least half the floor area in qualifying enclosed spaces over 2,500 square feet.
  • Installed skylight prices in the US ranged from about 500 dollars for a tubular unit to 4,700 dollars for a vented model in 2026 cost datasets, with a common national average near 1,800 dollars.
  • The category is consolidating: Kingspan Light + Air USA acquired tubular-daylighting maker Solatube International in a deal that closed December 10, 2021.

Key findings

  1. The US skylights market was valued at approximately 1.8 to 2.1 billion dollars in 2024, United States. Source: Verified Market Research and Vantage Market Research estimates, 2024 to 2025 (Tier 2).
  2. The US skylights market is forecast to reach 3.0 to 3.2 billion dollars by 2033, at a CAGR of 4.8 to 6.2 percent for 2026 to 2033, United States. Source: Verified Market Research and Vantage Market Research (Tier 2).
  3. The global skylights market was estimated at 4.8 billion dollars in 2025, projected to 7.6 billion dollars by 2035 at a 4.7 percent CAGR, global. Source: Vantage Market Research, 2025 (Tier 2).
  4. The global building daylighting system market was valued at 4.2 billion dollars in 2024 and forecast to 8.9 billion dollars by 2033 at an 8.4 percent CAGR, global. Source: MarketIntelo, 2024 (Tier 2).
  5. The global tubular skylights market was valued at about 570 million dollars in 2024, rising to a forecast 1.04 billion dollars by 2033 at a 6.9 percent CAGR, with North America the leading region, global. Source: SkyQuest, 2024 (Tier 2).
  6. US residential lighting accounted for about 81 billion kWh, or 6 percent of home electricity use, in 2020, United States. Source: US Energy Information Administration, 2020 (Tier 1).
  7. US commercial-building lighting accounted for about 208 billion kWh, or 17 percent of commercial electricity use, in 2018, United States. Source: US Energy Information Administration, 2018 (Tier 1).
  8. US manufacturing facility lighting accounted for about 53 billion kWh, or 6 percent of manufacturing electricity use, in 2018, United States. Source: US Energy Information Administration, 2018 (Tier 1).
  9. ENERGY STAR certified windows and skylights lower household energy bills by an average of up to 13 percent nationwide versus single-pane windows, under Version 7.0 effective October 23, 2023, United States. Source: ENERGY STAR (US EPA and DOE), 2023 (Tier 1).
  10. A standard double-pane window admits approximately 75 percent of the sun’s heat, and ENERGY STAR certified glazing can reduce interior fading by up to 75 percent, United States. Source: ENERGY STAR, 2023 (Tier 1).
  11. Under ASHRAE 90.1 and the IECC, qualifying enclosed commercial spaces greater than 2,500 square feet under low-slope roofs must have a daylight zone under skylights of at least half the floor area, with skylight area of at least 3 percent of the daylight zone where visible transmittance is at least 0.40. Source: ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 and International Energy Conservation Code (Tier 1).
  12. Skylight installation in the US averaged about 1,800 dollars, within a 1,000 to 3,000 dollar range, in 2026 cost datasets, United States. Source: Angi and HomeGuide construction-cost data, 2026 (Tier 2).
  13. Tubular skylight installation ran about 500 to 1,000 dollars, versus 1,500 to 4,000 dollars for a fixed skylight and 1,600 to 4,700 dollars for a vented skylight, in 2026, United States. Source: Angi and HomeGuide, 2026 (Tier 2).
  14. VELUX held an estimated 35 percent of the North American skylight market and FAKRO about 15 percent, North America. Source: industry brand comparison, 2024 to 2025 (Tier 3, unverified to primary).
  15. Daylighting used as a lighting-control strategy delivered average savings of about 28 percent in reviewed control studies, United States. Source: ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings proceedings, 2012 (Tier 3, dated).

Market size and growth

Private market-research firms publish diverging figures for the skylight market because they define the category differently. Some count only architectural skylights, others fold in roof windows, tubular daylighting devices, and smoke vents. The estimates below should be read as directional, not precise, and the base years differ by firm.

Segment Base value Forecast value CAGR Source (Tier)
US skylights (estimate A) 1.8B (2024) 3.0B (2033) ~6.2% Verified Market Research (T2)
US skylights (estimate B) 2.1B (2024) 3.2B (2033) 4.8% Vantage Market Research (T2)
Global skylights 4.8B (2025) 7.6B (2035) 4.7% Vantage Market Research (T2)
Global building daylighting systems 4.2B (2024) 8.9B (2033) 8.4% MarketIntelo (T2)
Global tubular skylights 0.57B (2024) 1.04B (2033) 6.9% SkyQuest (T2)

All values in US dollars. Where two firms cover the same segment, both are shown rather than averaged, because averaging estimates built on different definitions would create a false-precision number. The broader daylighting-system market grows faster than the skylight-only market in every forecast reviewed, which reflects the addition of controls, sensors, and tubular devices to the base product.

Manufacturers and consolidation

The US skylight supply base includes VELUX, FAKRO, Solatube International, Wasco Products, Sun-Tek, Bristolite, CrystaLite, Natural Light, and Kingspan Light + Air, among others. Brand-share figures for this category are not published by any federal source, so the VELUX and FAKRO share numbers cited here are industry estimates and are flagged Tier 3.

The clearest verified structural signal is consolidation. Kingspan Light + Air USA acquired Solatube International, a global manufacturer of tubular daylighting devices, in a transaction that closed December 10, 2021. Terms were not disclosed. Source: Metal Construction News, 2021 (Tier 3 trade press).

Energy demand: why daylighting exists

Skylights and tubular daylighting devices compete against electric lighting, so lighting-energy data defines the addressable problem. US residential lighting used about 81 billion kWh in 2020, roughly 6 percent of home electricity. US commercial-building lighting used about 208 billion kWh in 2018, roughly 17 percent of commercial electricity. US manufacturing facility lighting used about 53 billion kWh in 2018, roughly 6 percent of manufacturing electricity. Source: US Energy Information Administration.

Commercial buildings are the larger daylighting opportunity per square foot because lighting is a bigger share of their electricity load. That is also where energy codes concentrate skylight mandates. The 28 percent average savings figure for daylighting controls comes from a 2012 ACEEE proceedings paper and is dated; it is included as context, not as a current guarantee.

Product energy performance and codes

ENERGY STAR certified windows and skylights lower household energy bills by an average of up to 13 percent nationwide versus single-pane windows, under Version 7.0 effective October 23, 2023. A standard double-pane window admits about 75 percent of the sun’s heat, which is why skylight U-factor and solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) requirements vary by climate zone. Source: ENERGY STAR.

On the commercial side, ASHRAE 90.1 and the IECC require skylights in large enclosed spaces. In an enclosed space greater than 2,500 square feet, directly under a roof with at least 75 percent of the ceiling area higher than 15 feet, the daylight zone under skylights must be at least half the floor area. Skylights must provide either a skylight area of at least 3 percent of the daylight zone where visible transmittance is at least 0.40, or a skylight effective aperture of at least 1 percent. Where general lighting in the daylight zone draws 75 watts or more, photocontrols are required. Source: ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 and IECC.

Costs and pricing

Installed skylight prices depend on type, size, roof pitch, and labor market. The 2026 cost datasets reviewed show the following US ranges.

Type Installed cost (US, 2026) Unit only
Tubular / sun tunnel 500 to 1,000 dollars 150 to 500 dollars
Fixed skylight 1,500 to 4,000 dollars 150 to 800 dollars
Vented skylight 1,600 to 4,700 dollars 300 to 2,000 dollars
National average (all types) ~1,800 dollars (1,000 to 3,000) varies

Source: Angi and HomeGuide construction-cost data, 2026 (Tier 2). Labor typically runs 500 to 1,500 dollars depending on complexity. Tubular devices are consistently the lowest-cost daylighting option because they require a smaller roof opening and no structural framing changes.

Original synthesis (Roofing Brief calculations)

The following figures are derived by The Roofing Brief from the cited public estimates. They are calculations, not published statistics, and inherit every limitation of their inputs, including mixed base years and differing firm methodologies.

  1. The US is roughly 40 percent of the global skylight market. Roofing Brief calculation. Inputs: US skylights 1.8 to 2.1 billion dollars (2024) divided by global skylights 4.8 billion dollars (2025). Result: about 38 to 44 percent. Limitation: base years differ by one year and the numerator and denominator come from different firms with different category definitions.
  2. Tubular devices are roughly 12 percent of the global skylight market. Roofing Brief calculation. Inputs: global tubular skylights 570 million dollars (2024, SkyQuest) divided by global skylights 4.8 billion dollars (2025, Vantage). Result: about 11.9 percent. Limitation: some market models count tubular devices inside the skylight total and some count them separately, so this ratio may double-count or under-count depending on the underlying definitions.
  3. A tubular daylighting device costs roughly 70 percent less to install than a fixed skylight. Roofing Brief calculation. Inputs: tubular installed midpoint 750 dollars versus fixed installed midpoint 2,750 dollars (Angi and HomeGuide, 2026). Result: about 73 percent lower. Limitation: midpoints of published ranges, not transaction data.
  4. The building daylighting-system market is on track to double in about 8.6 years. Roofing Brief calculation. Input: 8.4 percent CAGR (MarketIntelo, 2024), applying the rule of 72 (72 divided by 8.4). Result: about 8.6 years to double. Limitation: the rule of 72 is an approximation and assumes the forecast CAGR holds.

Recommended charts

  • US vs global skylight market size, 2024 to 2035. Data: values above. Source: Vantage, Verified Market Research, MarketIntelo. Insight: US share of global demand. Citation-worthy because it frames the US as the dominant single market.
  • Installed cost by skylight type. Data: cost table. Source: Angi, HomeGuide. Insight: tubular price advantage. Citation-worthy for remodeling and homeowner coverage.
  • US lighting electricity by sector. Data: 81, 208, and 53 billion kWh. Source: EIA. Insight: commercial is the largest daylighting target. Citation-worthy because it grounds daylighting demand in federal data.

Methodology

Sources were selected by tier. Federal agencies (EIA, ENERGY STAR) and consensus energy-code bodies (ASHRAE, IECC) were treated as primary and given priority for energy and code claims. Private market-research firms were used for market-size and cost claims because no federal source publishes skylight market value, and each such figure is labeled with its firm and tier. Where two firms covered the same segment, both figures were shown rather than blended. Conflicting numbers were retained and flagged rather than reconciled into a single number. Derived figures are labeled as Roofing Brief calculations with their inputs and limitations. Any figure that could not be traced to a source fetched during research was excluded. Brand-share and dated academic figures are labeled Tier 3. Last updated August 2026.

Source quality ranking

  • Tier 1 (primary): US Energy Information Administration; ENERGY STAR (US EPA and DOE); ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1; International Energy Conservation Code.
  • Tier 2 (credible market research and cost data): Vantage Market Research; Verified Market Research; MarketIntelo; SkyQuest; Angi; HomeGuide.
  • Tier 3 (trade press and dated or estimate-based): Metal Construction News (Solatube acquisition); industry brand-share estimates; ACEEE 2012 proceedings.
  • Excluded: unsourced roundup blogs, AI-generated market pages, and any figure without a traceable source.

Most quotable statistics

  • The US skylights market was valued at roughly 1.8 to 2.1 billion dollars in 2024 (Tier 2 market research).
  • US commercial-building lighting used about 208 billion kWh, or 17 percent of commercial electricity, in 2018 (EIA).
  • ENERGY STAR windows and skylights cut household bills by up to 13 percent versus single-pane, under Version 7.0 (2023).
  • ASHRAE 90.1 and the IECC require a skylight daylight zone of at least half the floor area in qualifying commercial spaces over 2,500 square feet.
  • A tubular daylighting device installs for roughly 70 percent less than a fixed skylight (Roofing Brief calculation from 2026 cost data).

Data limitations

No US federal agency publishes a skylight market-size figure, so all market values here come from private firms whose methodologies and category definitions differ and are not independently auditable. Base years are not uniform across firms. Brand-share numbers are industry estimates, not verified filings. The 28 percent daylighting-control savings figure is from 2012 and predates current LED and controls technology. Cost ranges are national estimates and do not reflect any specific project. Derived figures are approximations and are labeled as such.

Downloadable dataset: recommended fields

For anyone building a companion dataset: segment name, geography, base-year value, base year, forecast value, forecast year, CAGR, source firm, source tier, category definition notes, and last-verified date. Energy fields: sector, electricity for lighting (billion kWh), share of sector electricity, data year, source. Cost fields: skylight type, installed low, installed high, unit low, unit high, labor low, labor high, data year, source.

Press summary

The US skylight and daylighting market is growing on two engines: residential remodeling demand and commercial energy codes. Private research firms value the US skylights market at roughly 1.8 to 2.1 billion dollars in 2024, with forecasts near 3.0 to 3.2 billion dollars by 2033, though estimates vary by firm and definition. The underlying driver is lighting electricity: US commercial buildings used about 208 billion kWh for lighting in 2018 and homes about 81 billion kWh in 2020, per the Energy Information Administration. Codes are pushing skylights into large buildings, with ASHRAE 90.1 and the IECC requiring daylight zones of at least half the floor area in qualifying spaces over 2,500 square feet. Installed prices in 2026 ranged from about 500 dollars for a tubular device to 4,700 dollars for a vented skylight. The category is consolidating, with Kingspan acquiring tubular maker Solatube in December 2021.

Suggested headlines

  • US Skylight Market Nears 2 Billion Dollars as Energy Codes Push Daylighting Into Big Buildings
  • Skylights by the Numbers: What Federal Energy Data Says About Daylighting Demand
  • Tubular Daylighting Costs 70 Percent Less to Install Than a Fixed Skylight, 2026 Data Shows
  • How ASHRAE 90.1 Quietly Made Skylights Mandatory in Big-Box Buildings
  • The Skylight Market, Sourced: Size, Growth, Costs, and Energy Data for 2026

Frequently asked questions

How big is the US skylight market?

Private market-research firms valued the US skylights market at roughly 1.8 to 2.1 billion dollars in 2024, with forecasts of 3.0 to 3.2 billion dollars by 2033. No federal source publishes this figure, so estimates vary by firm and category definition (Verified Market Research, Vantage Market Research, Tier 2).

How big is the global skylight market?

The global skylights market was estimated at 4.8 billion dollars in 2025 and projected to reach 7.6 billion dollars by 2035 at a 4.7 percent CAGR (Vantage Market Research, 2025).

What share of the skylight market is the United States?

The Roofing Brief estimates the US at roughly 38 to 44 percent of the global skylight market, by dividing US value of 1.8 to 2.1 billion dollars (2024) by global value of 4.8 billion dollars (2025). This is a Roofing Brief calculation from two different firms and different base years, so treat it as directional.

How much does a skylight cost to install?

US skylight installation averaged about 1,800 dollars in 2026, within a 1,000 to 3,000 dollar range. Tubular devices ran 500 to 1,000 dollars, fixed skylights 1,500 to 4,000 dollars, and vented skylights 1,600 to 4,700 dollars (Angi and HomeGuide, 2026).

Are skylights required by building code?

In commercial construction, yes, in defined cases. ASHRAE 90.1 and the IECC require a skylight daylight zone of at least half the floor area in qualifying enclosed spaces greater than 2,500 square feet under low-slope roofs with high ceilings (ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1, IECC).

How much energy does lighting use in the US?

US residential lighting used about 81 billion kWh, or 6 percent of home electricity, in 2020, and US commercial-building lighting used about 208 billion kWh, or 17 percent, in 2018 (US Energy Information Administration).

Do ENERGY STAR skylights save money?

ENERGY STAR certified windows and skylights lower household energy bills by an average of up to 13 percent nationwide versus single-pane windows, under Version 7.0 effective October 23, 2023 (ENERGY STAR).

What is a tubular skylight and how big is that market?

A tubular skylight, or tubular daylighting device, channels sunlight through a reflective tube from the roof to the ceiling. The global tubular skylights market was valued at about 570 million dollars in 2024, forecast to reach 1.04 billion dollars by 2033 at a 6.9 percent CAGR, with North America leading (SkyQuest, 2024).

Who are the main skylight manufacturers?

Major US suppliers include VELUX, FAKRO, Solatube International, Wasco Products, Sun-Tek, Bristolite, CrystaLite, and Kingspan Light + Air. Brand-share estimates put VELUX near 35 percent of the North American market, but that figure is an industry estimate, not a verified filing (Tier 3).

Is the skylight industry consolidating?

Yes. Kingspan Light + Air USA acquired tubular-daylighting manufacturer Solatube International in a deal that closed December 10, 2021; terms were not disclosed (Metal Construction News, 2021).

Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed August 2026.