| National average | $550 per visit |
| Typical range | $250 – $1,050 per visit |
| Low end | $250 — a 1,200 sq ft home ($250) |
| High end | $1,050 — a 3,000 sq ft home ($1,050) |
How much does air duct cleaning cost?
Whole-house air duct cleaning runs $25–$40 per supply vent, $40–$65 per return register, or $0.20–$0.35 per square foot of floor area, with a minimum charge around $250. A 2,000 sq ft house on a single HVAC system lands near $400–$700. Returns cost more than supplies because they are larger, dirtier, and usually connect to a shared trunk.
| Home size | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 1,200 | $250 – $420 |
| 1,500 | $300 – $525 |
| 2,000 | $400 – $700 |
| 3,000 | $600 – $1,050 |
One HVAC system, whole-house cleaning, per visit. Minimum charge about $250; each extra system adds a separate fee.
Price by number of vents
Most homes have between 8 and 20 supply vents. A common rule is one return register per 4 supply vents, though older homes often have a single central return.
| Vents and registers | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 8 supply + 2 return | $280 – $450 |
| 12 supply + 3 return | $420 – $675 |
| 16 supply + 4 return | $560 – $900 |
| 20 supply + 5 return | $700 – $1,125 |
Per visit, one system. Return registers cost more than supply vents because they are larger and usually dirtier.
How much does dryer vent cleaning cost?
Dryer vent cleaning costs $100–$175 on its own, and often less when bundled with a whole-house duct cleaning. It is worth doing: lint buildup in a dryer duct is a leading cause of house fires, and a blocked vent also doubles drying time, which shows up directly on your energy bill. If your clothes take more than one cycle to dry, the vent is the first thing to check.
Ask whether the technician runs a brush the full length of the duct or only vacuums from the dryer end. Short runs can be cleared from outside; long runs behind a wall need a rotating brush, and that is the difference between a real cleaning and a puff of air.
What changes the price
- Number of systems. A second HVAC system adds a separate fee — it has its own trunk lines and air handler.
- Vent and register count. Priced per opening when the company quotes that way.
- Access. Ducts in finished ceilings, behind drywall, or in a crawlspace take longer to reach.
- Contamination level. Heavy dust, pet hair or mold remediation is priced separately and can be many times the basic clean.
- Add-ons. Sanitizing fog, furnace or air handler cleaning, and dryer vent work are line items in the calculator above.
| Add-on | Unit | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Dryer vent cleaning | per vent | $100 – $175 |
| Sanitizing / deodorizing fog | per system | $50 – $150 |
| Furnace or air handler cleaning | per unit | $100 – $200 |
| Second HVAC system | per system | $150 – $300 |
Add-ons priced per system or per unit, on top of the base cleaning price.
Why "$99 whole-house duct cleaning" is not what it sounds like
A very low advertised price usually covers one trunk line and one vent, or a vacuum pass over the registers — not the whole system. The rest is presented as an upsell once the crew is in the house. Before booking any duct cleaning, get the quote in writing with the number of vents, systems and whether the air handler is included.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publishes consumer guidance on air duct cleaning, including when cleaning is actually needed and what to look for in a contractor. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) sets the inspection and cleaning standard many contractors follow. Ask whether the crew follows it, and whether they will show you before-and-after photos of the inside of a trunk line.
One honest caveat worth knowing: the EPA does not recommend routine duct cleaning for every home. Cleaning is most defensible when there is visible mold, vermin, or heavy debris in the ducts, or after a renovation. If a company tells you it is required annually no matter what, that is a sales script, not a maintenance schedule.
Should you have your ducts cleaned?
Good reasons: visible mold or mildew inside the ducts, rodent or insect infestation, a renovation that filled the system with drywall dust, or a persistent musty smell when the heat or AC runs. Weak reasons: "it's been a few years" with no symptoms — a sealed system with a maintained filter does not accumulate debris quickly.
How we estimate these prices
Per-vent and per-square-foot ranges are the starting parameters. The calculator applies an area wage factor (35% plus 65% of the local city coefficient — truck-mounted equipment and hose runs do not scale with local wages), adds a fee per extra HVAC system, then applies the minimum charge. A 2,000 sq ft single-system home gives $400–$700, which is what the tables above show.
Sources we checked: HomeGuide — Air Duct Cleaning Cost and Angi — How Much Does Air Duct Cleaning Cost?, both of which quote supply vents, return registers and a per-square-foot basis. Dryer vent pricing follows the same two sources.
Sources we checked when setting these ranges: Housecall Pro — House Cleaning Prices in 2026, HomeGuide — House Cleaning Prices, and Workiz — House Cleaning Cost Guide 2026.
Hourly wage data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, occupation 37-2012 (Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners). Our model multiplies estimated labor hours by a local hourly rate of $30–$75 depending on the market; see the calculator above for the full inputs.
Every price on this page comes from the same model as the calculator above. Last recalculated October 18, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How much does air duct cleaning cost?
Most homes pay $400–$700 for a 2,000 sq ft house on one system. Per-vent pricing runs $25–$40 for supply vents and $40–$65 for returns; per-square-foot pricing runs $0.20–$0.35.
How much does air duct cleaning cost per vent?
$25–$40 per supply vent and $40–$65 per return register. Most homes have 8 to 20 supply vents, so the per-vent total usually lands near the per-square-foot total.
How much does it cost to clean a 2,000 sq ft house's ducts?
$400–$700 for a single system at $0.20–$0.35 per square foot. A second system, a dryer vent, or sanitizing adds to that.
How much does dryer vent cleaning cost?
$100–$175 on its own, and often less bundled with a duct cleaning. It is the highest-value add-on on this page — lint buildup is a fire risk and a blocked vent roughly doubles drying time.
Is duct cleaning worth it?
When there is visible mold, vermin, heavy renovation dust, or a persistent smell from the vents — yes. As a routine annual service with no symptoms, the evidence does not support it; the EPA does not recommend cleaning on a schedule.
Why is a $99 whole-house duct cleaning so cheap?
Because it usually is not whole-house. Low advertised prices commonly cover one trunk line or a surface pass over the registers, with the rest sold as an upsell. Get the vent count, system count and air handler scope in writing first.
How long does duct cleaning take?
Two to four hours for a typical home with a two-person crew, depending on the number of vents and how accessible the trunk lines are.
How often should air ducts be cleaned?
There is no fixed interval. Clean when there is a reason — mold, pests, renovation dust, or a musty smell — and change the HVAC filter on the manufacturer's schedule in between.