By The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
A sun roof in a house is called a skylight, a roof window or a sun tunnel (a tubular skylight): a glazed opening cut into the roof that brings daylight, and sometimes fresh air, down through the ceiling. People borrow the car word “sunroof” because the idea is the same, a pane of glass overhead. On a house you are choosing among four products, and HomeGuide’s skylight cost guide puts a new skylight at $1,600 to $4,200 installed on average, against $600 to $1,100 for a solar tube. Every one of them is a hole in the roof, so the flashing and the installer decide whether it stays dry.
What “sun roof in a house” actually means
A sun roof in a house is not a formal product name. Manufacturers and the International Residential Code call the glass-in-the-roof feature a skylight, a roof window or a tubular daylighting device; IRC section R308.6 covers “skylights and sloped glazing.” If you searched “sunroof house,” you are almost certainly picturing one of those three, and the choice changes the price, the flashing kit and whether your roof pitch can take the unit.
Name the real product when you ask for a quote. A request for a “sunroof” can mean a fixed 21 x 46 in deck-mounted skylight, a 15 to 85 degree roof window you can open, or a 10 in light tube, and those three run from $600 to $4,700 installed in HomeGuide’s ranges. The flashing kit also differs by roof covering, so tell the installer whether you have asphalt, metal or tile.
The four types of sun roof for a house
There are four real versions of a residential sun roof: the fixed skylight, the venting skylight or roof window, the sun tunnel and the full glass roof. VELUX rates its deck-mounted fixed skylight for 14 to 85 degree pitches and its roof access window for 15 to 85 degrees, while a flat roof needs a curbed or engineered unit. The table matches each type to the job and the slope.
| Type | Opens for air? | Best for | Roof slope needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed skylight | No | Light only in hallways, stairwells, closets, living rooms | Deck-mounted: 14 to 85 degrees (VELUX FS); below 3:12, a curb at least 4 in high (IRC R308.6.8) |
| Venting skylight / roof window | Yes | Kitchens, bathrooms, and rooms that trap heat or moisture | Roof windows: 15 to 85 degrees (VELUX GXU) |
| Sun tunnel (tubular) | No (some vent kits exist) | Small or interior rooms with no direct roof access | Most slopes; pitch adaptors and flat-roof kits exist |
| Glass roof / walk-on unit | Varies | Extensions, flat-roof rooms, and design-led builds | Flat and low slope, engineered |
Fixed skylight
A fixed skylight is a sealed glass or acrylic unit that never opens. It has no operator, motor or crank to fail, and HomeGuide prices the unit at $150 to $800 and the installed job at $1,500 to $4,000. VELUX, Fakro and Sun-Tek all make fixed models in deck-mounted (low profile, for pitched roofs) and curb-mounted (raised, for low slope) versions; the VELUX FS comes in 14 size codes starting with the 15-1/4 x 46-1/4 in A06, per VELUX’s FS product page. How acrylic compares with glass is covered in our guide to plastic skylights.
Venting skylight and roof window
A venting skylight opens to let hot air and moisture out, which makes it the pick over a bathroom or kitchen; HomeGuide prices ventilating units at $1,600 to $4,700 installed, with manual models at $1,600 to $3,900 and electric ones at $2,500 to $4,600. A roof window is a larger venting unit set lower in the roof so you can reach through it. VELUX’s GXU roof access window is rated for 15 to 85 degree pitches, and its FK06 size swings open 90 degrees to meet egress requirements for emergency escape. Our bathroom skylight guide covers venting a steamy bath in more detail.
Sun tunnel (tubular skylight)
A sun tunnel is a small dome on the roof connected to the ceiling by a reflective tube that channels daylight into rooms with no direct roof access. Solatube sells the 160 DS with a 10 in tube for bathrooms, closets and hallways and the 290 DS with a 14 in tube for kitchens and larger rooms; VELUX makes 10 in and 14 in sun tunnels too. HomeGuide’s solar tube cost guide puts the installed job at $600 to $1,100, because no rafter has to be cut and headered.
Glass roof and walk-on units
A glass roof is a larger glazed panel, sometimes walk-on rated, used on flat-roof extensions and design-led rooms. These are engineered to the opening and belong on flat or low-slope structures where a 14 degree minimum deck-mounted skylight will not sit correctly. HomeGuide’s patio roof cost guide prices a glass patio roof at $20 to $50 per sq ft, or $4,000 to $10,000 for a 10 x 20 ft cover. For framing, glazing and solarium pricing, see our full guide to the glass roof.
What a sun roof costs in 2026
A sun roof in a house costs $500 to $5,700 installed at HomeGuide’s minimum and maximum, with most new skylights at $1,600 to $4,200 and a national average of $2,900. Cutting a new opening is the expensive part, because it adds framing, drywall and interior finishing; HomeGuide prices replacing an existing skylight at $800 to $2,400 instead. Roof type, ceiling height and local labor rates move the number within those bands.
| Sun roof type | Unit price | Installed cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun tunnel / solar tube (10 or 14 in) | $200 to $600 | $600 to $1,100 | HomeGuide solar tube cost guide |
| Replace an existing skylight | Not split out | $800 to $2,400 | HomeGuide skylight cost guide |
| Fixed skylight, new opening | $150 to $800 | $1,500 to $4,000 | HomeGuide skylight cost guide |
| Ventilating skylight, manual | $300 to $1,200 | $1,600 to $3,900 | HomeGuide skylight cost guide |
| Ventilating skylight, electric | $1,100 to $1,600 | $2,500 to $4,600 | HomeGuide skylight cost guide |
| Ventilating skylight, solar-powered | $1,100 to $2,000 | $2,400 to $4,700 | HomeGuide skylight cost guide |
| Glass patio roof (10 x 20 ft) | Not split out | $4,000 to $10,000 | HomeGuide patio roof cost guide |
Size moves the price less than type does: HomeGuide’s size table runs from $1,400 to $4,100 installed for a 21 x 38 in skylight to $1,700 to $4,600 for a 46 x 46 in unit. For a full breakdown by unit size, glazing, and brand, see our guide on how much skylights cost, and for the price gap between fixed, vented, and tubular units, the skylight installation cost guide. VELUX pricing and model tiers are covered separately in our VELUX skylights review. For national market and cost data, see our US skylight market report.
Skylight vs roof window vs sun tunnel: which to choose
Choose by what you want the sun roof to do and by the slope above the room. If you want light only, a $600 to $1,100 sun tunnel or a fixed skylight is the answer; if the room traps heat or steam, a venting unit earns its $1,600 to $4,700 price; if there is no roof directly above the room, a tube is often the only option that reaches it.
| If your situation is | Choose | Threshold that decides it |
|---|---|---|
| Light only, room under the roof, pitch 3:12 or steeper | Deck-mounted fixed skylight | VELUX FS rated 14 to 85 degrees (3:12 is about 14 degrees) |
| Roof flatter than 3:12 | Curb-mounted skylight or engineered glass unit | IRC R308.6.8: curb at least 4 in above the roof unless the maker’s instructions say otherwise |
| Bathroom or kitchen that traps steam | Venting skylight or roof window | Opens for air; $1,600 to $4,700 installed (HomeGuide) |
| Need an emergency escape through the roof | Egress-rated roof window | VELUX FK06 roof access window opens 90 degrees |
| Closet, hall or interior bath with attic above | Sun tunnel | 10 in tube for small rooms, 14 in for larger ones (Solatube) |
| No roof above the room at all | Artificial daylight panel | No roof penetration, so no flashing to fail |
- Light only, large room: fixed skylight. Most daylight per dollar, nothing to break.
- Light plus ventilation: venting skylight or roof window over a kitchen or bathroom.
- Small or interior room, no roof access: sun tunnel through the attic to the ceiling.
- Flat-roof room or design feature: curb-mounted skylight or an engineered glass roof.
The part sellers skip: a sun roof is a roof penetration
Every sun roof is a hole cut in your roof, and the skylight sits at the intersection of glass, flashing and roofing, so a bad flashing job or a failed seal shows up as a ceiling stain months later. HomeGuide’s solar tube vs skylight comparison lists “higher leak potential” as a skylight drawback and “fewer leaks” as a solar tube advantage. Our verdict on whether skylights are a bad idea weighs that leak risk against the energy and daylight trade-offs.
Two things control whether a sun roof stays dry. The first is the flashing kit: a step-flashing and head-flashing assembly matched to the roof covering, not a bead of caulk. The second is following the maker’s instructions. VELUX’s pro warranty page says its deck-mounted and curb-mounted skylights carry a 10-year installation warranty covering correct skylight and flashing installations against leaks, product and labor, “no matter who installs the skylight.” If a sun roof does start leaking, our guide on diagnosing and fixing a skylight leak walks through the seven common sources before you tear anything out.
Age is the other factor. The VELUX consumer warranty runs 10 years on the product and installation, 20 years on the glass and 5 years on shades and controls. If your roof is due for replacement and the skylight is past its 10-year coverage, reflash or replace it during that job, while the deck is open and a roofer is already on site.
Can your roof take a sun roof?
Most pitched asphalt, metal and tile roofs can take a sun roof, but the type depends on the slope. Deck-mounted skylights need about 14 degrees (3:12) or more and roof windows 15 degrees or more, per VELUX. Below 3:12, IRC R308.6.8 requires the unit to sit on a curb at least 4 in above the roof plane, unless the maker’s instructions say otherwise, so water drains around it rather than pooling on it (IRC R308.6.8 text).
Rafter spacing and attic layout decide the size. A 10 in tube fits inside a standard 16 in on-center rafter bay, which leaves about 14-1/2 in clear between 1-1/2 in thick rafters, while a skylight wider than the rafter bay, such as a 30 in or 46 in wide unit, requires cutting and headering off a rafter, which is structural work that may need a permit. Ask the installer for the rough opening, the rafter spacing and whether a header is needed before you commit to a size. Our VELUX skylight size chart lists each code with its rough opening.
Artificial “sun roofs” for rooms that cannot have one
If a room has no roof above it or you cannot cut the ceiling, an artificial sun roof is the fallback. Products like SUNROOOF use optics and tuned LEDs to mimic the color and angle of daylight through what looks like a skylight, with no roof opening and no leak risk. A sun tunnel at $600 to $1,100 is the middle ground: real daylight through a 10 in or 14 in tube and a far simpler install than a full skylight.
These options trade real sky for zero roof risk. They will not replace the view or the ventilation of a true roof window, but for a windowless bathroom, closet or basement-adjacent room they bring usable daylight, or a convincing imitation, without cutting a single rafter or touching the weatherproof layer of your roof.
Frequently asked questions
What is a sun roof in a house called?
In a house, a sun roof is called a skylight, a roof window, or a sun tunnel (also known as a tubular skylight). A skylight is a fixed or venting glass unit in the roof, a roof window is a larger venting unit you can reach through, and a sun tunnel channels daylight through a reflective tube. The car-style word sunroof is not a formal building term; the International Residential Code covers these under section R308.6, skylights and sloped glazing.
How much does it cost to put a sunroof in a house?
Putting a sun roof in a house costs about $500 to $5,700 installed, per HomeGuide, with most new skylights at $1,600 to $4,200. A solar tube runs about $600 to $1,100, replacing an existing skylight $800 to $2,400, a new fixed skylight $1,500 to $4,000 and a ventilating skylight $1,600 to $4,700. Cutting a brand-new opening costs more because it adds framing and interior finishing.
What is the difference between a skylight and a roof window?
A skylight is usually fixed or opens only slightly and is set higher in the roof, while a roof window is larger, opens fully for ventilation, and sits low enough to reach through or use as an escape. VELUX rates its roof access window for 15 to 85 degree pitches and its deck-mounted fixed skylight for 14 to 85 degrees. On roofs flatter than 3:12, a skylight goes on a curb at least 4 inches high.
Can you put a sunroof in any house?
Most houses can take some form of sun roof, but the type depends on the roof slope and framing. Pitched roofs of about 3:12 or steeper handle deck-mounted skylights and roof windows directly. Roofs flatter than 3:12 need a curb-mounted skylight at least 4 inches above the roof under IRC R308.6.8, or an engineered glass unit. Rooms with no roof directly above can often use a sun tunnel routed through the attic, and interior rooms can use an artificial daylight unit.
Do skylights and sun roofs leak?
A sun roof can leak because it is a penetration in the roof. Most leaks trace to failed flashing, a worn seal, or a poor install rather than the glass itself, and HomeGuide lists higher leak potential as a skylight drawback compared with solar tubes. VELUX covers correct skylight and flashing installations against leaks for 10 years, product and labor, no matter who installs the unit, and covers the glass for 20 years.
What is a sun tunnel?
A sun tunnel, or tubular skylight, is a small roof dome connected to the ceiling by a highly reflective tube that carries daylight into rooms without direct roof access. Solatube sells 10-inch and 14-inch residential tubes, and HomeGuide prices an installed solar tube at about $600 to $1,100. It is the least expensive and least invasive sun roof because it does not require framing a large opening.