Duct Replacement Cost by Material Guide
The material layer prints apart by frame: Frame A prices four duct materials foot by foot, while Frame B prints no material split and counts material inside one full-scope band.
Orange County, CA · Updated 2026 · Costs shown as ranges — your quote will vary by installer and scope
The material layer, priced apart
| Frame | Line, as published | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Frame A | flexible ductwork, per linear foot | $10-$18 |
| Frame A | sheet metal ductwork, per linear foot | $15-$25 |
| Frame A | fiberglass ductwork, per linear foot | $20-$30 |
| Frame B | per-material split | no priced line printed |
Every figure here is a published line inside its own frame, never averaged into one band. Material is the first attribute Frame A names on this layer; Frame B names no material at all. The project whole prices on the ductwork replacement hub; the breakdown layer on the breakdown guide.
Frame A material lines, as reported
| Material line, as published | Material, as described | 2026 band, per linear foot |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible | plastic and wire coil | $10-$18 |
| Sheet metal | galvanized steel or aluminum | $15-$25 |
| Fiberboard | compressed resin and fiberglass board | $13-$20 |
| Fiberglass | sheet metal lined with fiberglass | $20-$30 |
Frame A's material table prints each material as an average cost per linear foot, inside the same reported-project frame as its $10 to $25 all-material band on the hub. The fiberglass line carries the widest and highest band of the four; the flexible line prints the lowest; sheet metal and fiberboard sit between them. No material band is added into a new total on this page.
Frame B reading of the same project, as reported
| Reading, as published | Frame | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Material counted inside the full-scope band | Frame B | inside $25-$55 per linear foot |
| Whole-home replacement, material counted in | Frame B | $1,500-$7,500 per project |
| Flexible line, split out on its own | Frame B | no priced line printed |
| Sheet metal line, split out on its own | Frame B | no priced line printed |
Frame B answers the material question with a count, not a split: whichever material a project names, it is counted inside one full-scope band per foot, or inside one whole-home total. The four-way material split is Frame A's reading only.
Reading the same material on both frames, as reported
| Reading, as published | Frame | 2026 band |
|---|---|---|
| Sheet metal, per linear foot | Frame A | $15-$25 |
| Sheet metal, counted inside the full-scope band | Frame B | inside $25-$55 per linear foot |
| Flexible, per linear foot | Frame A | $10-$18 |
| Flexible, counted inside the full-scope band | Frame B | inside $25-$55 per linear foot |
The same material word appears on both frames and means a different count on each. On Frame A, the word names one priced material on one foot of ductwork; on Frame B, it names material counted inside a full-scope band. This guide keeps those readings on separate lines, and neither reading is converted into the other.
Reading a by-material quote, by frame
A material line answers the material question: flexible, sheet metal, fiberboard, or fiberglass. A quote names its material in its first line and its frame beside it, and its per-foot reading apart from any whole-project reading.
- Material named beside every band
- Per-foot material lines read apart from project totals
- Each frame's material reading read on its own frame only
Frequently asked questions
How much does flexible ductwork cost per linear foot, as published?
Frame A prints flexible ductwork at $10 to $18 per linear foot, the lowest of its four material lines. Frame B prints no flexible line on its own; the material is counted inside its full-scope band of about $25 to $55 per linear foot.
What does sheet metal ductwork cost per linear foot, as reported?
Frame A prints sheet metal at $15 to $25 per linear foot, for galvanized steel or aluminum as described in its table. Frame B prints no sheet metal line separately; sheet metal is counted inside the full-scope per-foot band and the whole-home totals.
Which material line prints highest on Frame A, as reported?
Fiberglass, at $20 to $30 per linear foot -- sheet metal lined with fiberglass, as its table describes it. Fiberboard prints at $13 to $20, sheet metal at $15 to $25, and flexible at $10 to $18.
Does Frame B split its price by duct material, as reported?
No. Frame B prints counts, not materials: about $25 to $55 per linear foot at full replacement scope, and whole-home totals of $1,500 to $7,500, with material counted inside both. The four-material split -- flexible, sheet metal, fiberboard, fiberglass -- is Frame A's reading only.
Can a Frame A material band be combined with a Frame B total?
No. Frame A counts one material on one foot at a time and Frame B counts the full scope whole. The frames and their material readings are never blended, no material band is summed into a new total here, and neither band is converted into the other.