How Much Does Air Duct Replacement Cost in Detroit? [2025 Data]

Normal Range: $382 - $914

Air duct replacement in Detroit, MI, costs $382 to $914, with an average of $638. You’ll pay more for high-end materials or difficult access points. Reach out to a local HVAC pro for an accurate estimate. 

How we get this data
Modern hallway with plants
Photo: cerro_photography / iStock / Getty Images
Modern hallway with plants
Photo: cerro_photography / iStock / Getty Images
Highlights
  • The higher your home’s square footage, the higher the cost of air duct replacement.

  • Exposed ductwork costs the least to replace.

  • Hard-to-reach ducts in crawl spaces are the most expensive to replace.

  • Metal sheet ducts are the most common duct type in Detroit and cost $7 to $13 per linear foot.

  • Permit fees for ductwork in Detroit cost $105 to $200.

Properly functioning ductwork is essential to staying comfortable in Detroit’s hot summers and frigid winters. Air duct replacement costs in Detroit are $638 on average, with rates ranging from $382 to $914 depending on the size of your home, the type of ductwork you have, and where the ducts are located.

Air Duct Replacement Cost Factors 

Duct replacement costs can range widely based on a number of different factors. Consider how these common factors can influence the cost of your duct replacement project.

Size

The size of your home directly affects air duct replacement costs. Larger homes require more materials and labor to replace the entire duct system. On average, the cost ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 for a small- to medium-sized home. However, duct replacement can run as low as $1,400 for smaller homes and as high as $9,000 for larger homes. Here’s how the size of your home affects duct replacement costs:

Home Size (Sq. Ft.)Cost
1,000–2,000$382–$2,300
2,000–3,000$2,300–$5,000
3,000–4,000$5,000–$9,000
4,000+$9,000+

Duct Location

If only specific sections of your ductwork need replacement, such as in a renovation project, costs will depend on the location of the damaged or worn ductwork. Replacing ducts in hard-to-reach or concealed areas—like attics, basements, ceilings, walls, or crawl spaces—can increase labor costs. Here’s how the location of the ducts could affect their cost:

Duct LocationCost
Exposed$638–$3,000
Wall or ceiling$914–$4,000
Basement$1,800–$3,100
Attic$2,200–$5,600
Crawl space$3,000–$7,300

Duct Material

4 ductwork types compared visually, including metal sheet, flex, fiberglass, and fiberboard

The material you choose for your replacement ducts affects both their cost and longevity. The most commonly used duct material in Detroit, MI, is metal sheeting.

Sheet metal ducts are durable but pricey. Flexible ducts, on the other hand, are more affordable but may need to be repaired or replaced sooner. Here’s a breakdown of air duct replacement costs based on duct material

Duct TypeCost per Linear Foot
Flex (non-insulated)$1–$3
Flex (insulated)$2–$4
Fiberglass$4–$6
Fiberboard$4–$6
Metal sheet$7–$13

HVAC Pro Costs

Labor makes up 60% of the final cost of air duct replacement. Rates are $50 to $110 per hour, with most jobs taking five to seven hours

You’ll also need a permit for duct replacement from the Buildings, Safety Engineering, and Environmental Department in Detroit. A mechanical permit for duct replacement is $200, while a permit for alterations to ductwork is $105. Your HVAC pro can handle the permit process for you.

Always leave duct replacement to a local HVAC pro in Detroit, MI, or you could risk failing home inspections or voiding your home insurance policy coverage.

Pro Tip

Quality ductwork will increase the efficiency of your HVAC, sometimes by 20% to 30%. This is because there is reduced air leakage due to better insulation and more optimized airflow. This means your HVAC doesn't have to work as hard to keep the desired temperature, so it uses less energy.

President of Klondike AC

 — Casper, WY

Additional Pros to Consider Hiring

While an HVAC pro is the best person to hire for duct replacement, you may need additional experts to repair drywall, remove mold or asbestos, or follow up with additional insulation. Here’s what you can expect to pay to hire pros for these jobs in Detroit:

Does Air Duct Replacement Increase Home Value?

Air duct replacement can slightly increase the value of your home, especially if you’re replacing old, inefficient, and dirty ductwork. In combination with a new HVAC system, air duct replacement could boost your home’s value by 5% to 7%. Plus, having new ducts with better insulation and no leaks means you’ll save month after month with lower utility bills.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We survey real Angi customers about their project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to [email protected]. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.

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