Cost guide · 2026-05-04
How much does ductwork installation cost per linear foot?
Ductwork install runs $25-$55 per linear ft in 2026. Sealing-only $25-$35/ft, partial $35-$45/ft, full R-8 flex $45-$55/ft. Average home 100-200 ft = $2,500-$11,000.
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Quick answer
Ductwork installation typically runs $25 to $55 per linear foot in 2026. Sealing-only $25-$35/ft; partial replacement $35-$45/ft; full replacement with R-8 insulated flex $45-$55/ft. Average home has 100-200 linear ft, so total jobs land $2,500-$11,000. Static pressure measured before and after every job.
Ductwork is the part of your HVAC system you never see and that determines whether your AC and furnace actually work. National pricing per HomeGuide runs $25-$55 per linear foot installed across 2026. Local pricing across our High Desert and Inland Empire service area tracks national averages — a slight premium for R-8 insulated flex (mandatory at High Desert attic temperatures of 140°F+ and Inland Empire valley attics that hit 130-140°F in summer) and a slight discount on labor for crews already onsite during system installs. Multi-zone duct rebalancing is a common Inland Empire job in larger Etiwanda, Alta Loma, and Mission Grove homes. Static pressure measured before and after every job.
What it costs
Real numbers, not estimates.
| Range | Tier | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| $25-$35 per ft | Sealing + insulation only | Existing ducts in good shape, mastic-sealed at joints, R-8 insulation added. |
| $35-$45 per ft | Partial replacement | Bad runs replaced, good runs kept and sealed. |
| $45-$55 per ft | Full replacement | All ducts removed and replaced with R-8 insulated flex. |
| $2,500-$11,000 | Total job range | 100-200 linear ft typical HD home, depending on scope. |
| +$500-$1,500 | Return-air right-sizing | Most HD tract homes have undersized returns that strangle blower. |
Range based on JC Energy Solutions ductwork invoices across the High Desert. Static pressure measured before and after every job to verify airflow improvement.
What drives the price up
Why your quote might be higher.
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Full replacement vs. sealing
Full replacement (remove old ducts, install new R-8 insulated flex) costs ~80% more than sealing-only on the same linear footage. Replacement needed when insulation is degraded, ducts are undersized, or rodent contamination is present.
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Larger HD homes
Custom Apple Valley Hills or Oak Hills homes (2,500-4,000+ sq ft) have 200-300+ linear ft of duct vs. 80-150 ft for tract homes. Larger jobs scale proportionally.
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Attic accessibility
Cramped or low-clearance attics add labor time. HD attics with R-30 insulation are easier to work in than attics with insufficient flooring or low truss clearance.
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Zoning damper system add-on
Adding zoning dampers for multi-level or multi-zone temperature control adds $1,500-$3,500 to ductwork jobs. Typically combined with full replacement.
What drives the price down
How to save money.
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Sealing-only when ducts are healthy
If existing ducts are properly sized, well-insulated, and intact, mastic sealing alone fixes air leaks (typically 20-30% loss on un-sealed ducts) without full replacement cost.
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Combined with system install
Ductwork done as part of a full AC or furnace install saves $500-$1,500 in mobilization and setup labor vs. standalone duct job.
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Easy attic access
Standing-height attics with proper flooring and lighting reduce labor time vs. cramped or insulation-buried installs.
Rebates that apply in 2026
Real rebates.
No direct duct-specific rebates currently offered by SCE or SoCalGas. However, SCE high-efficiency heat pump rebates and SoCalGas 95%+ AFUE furnace rebates often require properly sized and sealed ducts as part of the install spec, so duct work is captured in those system rebates indirectly. Federal IRA tax credits expired December 31, 2025.
Honest take from the owner
Joey's straight answer.
Joey's honest read: most HD homes have one undersized return duct that has been strangling the blower for 15+ years. Return-side restriction drops cooling capacity 15-25% and shortens equipment life. Fixing this single issue often delivers more performance gain than upgrading from a SEER 14 to a SEER 16 system would. We measure return static pressure on every diagnostic and flag undersized returns as part of the repair-vs-replace conversation. For homes considering full duct replacement: the math usually favors doing it as part of a system replacement rather than standalone, because mobilization labor is shared. If your AC or furnace is also nearing end of life, get duct work and equipment replacement quoted together.
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