Sun Tunnel Vs. Skylight: What Is The Difference?

Builder-owners and prospect buyers value natural light just as much as a great bedroom or kitchen. Sun tunnels and skylights allow natural light into your home, albeit in different ways. So, what is the difference between a sun tunnel and a skylight?

Sun tunnels are a small tube that magnifies, reflects, and diffuse light that enters the room. Skylights are large glass or plastic panels in your ceiling that let you see the sky. It costs an average of $625 to install a sun tunnel, and skylights cost $1,770 to install on average.

Skylights help make a space feel open, but they aren’t energy efficient. Sun tunnels are the most practical, affordable, and subtle way to add natural light to your home. Follow along as we explore the difference between sun tunnels and skylights.

Sun tunnels consist of a dome that allows natural light into your home. The sunlight is magnified, reflected, and passed through a diffuser that helps make it more appealing. Also known as solar tubes, sun tunnels fill a room with natural light without dramatically affecting the temperature.

The tube that the sunlight travels through is reflective which keeps the light vibrant and strong. Sun tunnels don’t give you a full view of the sky, but that is to their advantage. Too much sunlight can cause your home to become too hot no matter what the season is.

Luckily, that isn’t a problem with sun tunnels, and your energy bills will thank you for it. They aren’t distracting to look at because sun tunnels typically measure 10”-14” in diameter. The light that comes from a sun tunnel is unlikely to fade your carpet or furniture because of the diffuser.

The main appeal of sun tunnels is that they allow natural sunlight into your home. Another major benefit of sun tunnels is that they don’t take up much space. Compared to skylights, sun tunnels take up virtually no space in your ceiling.

Sun tunnels are easy to install and an experienced DIY-er can do it without professional help. The ease of installation also makes sun tunnels cheap to install which is a major benefit. Leaks are incredibly rare for sun tunnels because of how they are shaped.

It would take a serious disaster or poor installation for water to enter your home through a sun tunnel. Sun tunnels are energy-efficient and can make your energy bills less expensive during the summer and winter.

Sun tunnels that feature aluminum reflectors can be loud, particularly if it is windy outside. However, standard sun tunnels don’t come with aluminum reflectors so that isn’t always a downside. Not all homeowners can install a sun tunnel if the roof is too flat or steep.

A roof pitch of 15-60 degrees is ideal for sun tunnels, and that doesn’t apply to every home. Sun tunnels aren’t as diverse or visually appealing as skylights and generally come in one style. This limits your options and won’t make a room look as unique as a skylight would.

Sun tunnels aren’t ideal if you live in a climate with dramatic temperature changes. Thermal shock can easily damage a sun tunnel which can leave your home vulnerable to pests and flooding. Sun tunnels are susceptible to damage unless they are made of anodized aluminum.

Skylights allow direct sunlight into your home and come in a wide range of styles and sizes. Homeowners install skylights because they let you see into the sky above. This is desirable whether you are looking at a blue sky during the day or an array of stars at night.

You can choose between glass or plastic skylights depending on your budget and taste. Glass is less ideal if you live in an area with wild temperature changes because it can crack or shatter. Plastic is much more durable, although it doesn’t always provide as much clarity.

Customization allows you to maximize your view of the sky in your home. You can see as much of the sky as you want whether you choose a 16″ x 48″ or 32″x 36″ skylight. Skylights are a classic way to make a room feel large and tether your home to the natural world around it.

There is no denying that skylights instill character and charm into a home. Skylights can even add value to your home and appeal to potential buyers if your house is on the market. Buyers seek out as much natural light as popular, so anything you can do to brighten your home is worthwhile.

The addition of a skylight can also make the space feel more open. Even the illusion of more space is invaluable, particularly if you want to make the most of a room. Skylights also serve as a natural alternative to a night light when the moon is unobstructed.

You can also improve the airflow in your home with a skylight if it is vented. Not all skylights are vented, but they come in handy when the weather is comfortable. The most important benefit of skylights is that they simply look great and give you a view of the sky.

The main downside to skylights is that they are difficult to install. It can take up to 3 days to install a skylight even if you hire professional help. This adds to the cost of the project and means that you will strain yourself more than if you installed a sun tunnel.

Skylights won’t work with every roof due to structural concerns which is another downside. There is always a risk that water can leak through a skylight due to damage or improper installation. Leaks can cause roof damage and expensive repairs inside of your home as well.

A skylight will change the temperature in your home for better or worse. This is particularly irritating on hot days when it can become uncomfortable inside. Your energy bills may be higher during the summer if you crank your air conditioner to keep up with the extra heat.

Sun tunnels are cheaper than skylights because of the cost of installation. It costs an average of $625 to install a sun tunnel, but costs vary based on labor and materials. Sun tunnel installation rarely costs more than $800 when all is said and done.

Skylight installation is expensive and costs $1,770 on average, but the total can exceed $2,000. Sun tunnels are cheap to install because the process doesn’t involve as much labor as with skylights. You don’t need to cut out a 2’ x 4’ panel or larger when you install a sun tunnel.

Skylights require you to cut out a large chunk of the roof which is unnecessary with sun tunnel installation. A professional can install a sun tunnel in 3 hours or less in most cases which eliminates hundreds of dollars in labor costs. Sun tunnels are much cheaper than skylights, but skylights are worth it if you want a view of the sky.

Skylights aren’t outdated, but they aren’t as popular and come as they once were. Homeowners eventually grew tired of skylights because of how high-maintenance and expensive they are. You have to clean skylights regularly to maintain clarity which is a hassle.

Home trends often come back to a combination of style and convenience. Energy efficiency is more popular than ever amongst homeowners which is another mark against skylights. With that said, skylights are making a comeback in new homes.

Skylights are a double-edged sword because they increase your bills due to added heat, yet they allow natural light. Natural light is in high demand in the housing market, and it is directly tied to the open concept trend. Skylights are still visually in style and their decline in popularity was only due to practicality.

Skylights let you see the sky above your home and consist of a glass or plastic panel. They can add value to your home, but they can also increase your energy bills. The excess sunlight from a skylight can make your home get hot quickly when the sky is clear.

Sun tunnels, or solar tubes, measure 10”-14” in diameter and diffuse sunlight into your home. You will still get natural light like with skylights, but sun tunnels don’t affect the temperature. Skylights cost $1,770 to install whereas sun tunnels only cost an average of $625.

The main difference in cost is due to how difficult it is to install skylights. Skylights require 2 or more days of labor in some cases, and that adds up quickly. Sun tunnels are easy to install and the whole process can take less than 3 hours.