Exhaust fan costs in Melbourne vary widely depending on whether you are replacing an existing fan, installing one where there was none, or fitting a ducted kitchen rangehood. This guide sets out realistic 2025 Melbourne pricing for each scenario, explains what drives the difference, and shows how to get an accurate quote. All prices are complete-job prices — the figure includes the technician attending, the unit, and the labour, with no separate parts charge added on top.
Installation Cost Overview 2025
The table below summarises complete-job pricing for the common Melbourne exhaust fan scenarios. Every job is site-specific — these ranges cover typical residential work.
| Job Type | Complete Price (AUD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Like-for-like fan replacement (wiring & duct exist) | $250 – $480 | Minimum call-out applies; price set by fan chosen |
| Replacement + re-duct to roof | $450 – $750 | New fan plus a proper duct run and roof cowl |
| New fan installation (new wiring & ducting) | $550 – $1,200 | New circuit, opening, duct and discharge |
| Add run-on timer or humidity sensor | $250 – $400 | Complete job — licensed electrical work |
| Inline fan installation (large bathroom / long run) | $650 – $1,400 | Roof-mounted inline fan, quieter, higher airflow |
| Ducted kitchen rangehood supply & install | $600 – $1,500 | Depends on duct route and external discharge |
| Professional exhaust fan clean | From $250 | Per visit; multiple fans bundled to save |
FreshDuct provides upfront pricing before any work begins. Call 0431 918 137 or book online for a site-specific quote.
Replacement Fan Cost
Replacing an existing exhaust fan is the most common and most affordable job, because the electrical circuit and the duct are already in place. The work is removing the old fan and fitting the new one into the existing opening and connections. A straightforward like-for-like replacement starts from $250 as a complete job and is typically $280 to $480, with the price mainly determined by the quality of the fan you choose.
Two situations push a replacement toward the higher end or beyond. First, if the existing fan was never ducted to the outside — a very common Melbourne fault — the right fix is to add a proper duct run and roof cowl at the same time, bringing the job to around $450 to $750. Second, if the new fan is a different size to the old one, the ceiling opening may need to be adapted and finished, adding a little labour. We confirm exactly what is involved before quoting.
New Installation Cost
Installing an exhaust fan where there was none — or relocating one — is a bigger job because it combines several trades. A new installation typically involves: running a new 240V circuit from a suitable point to the fan location; cutting and finishing a new opening in the ceiling or wall; installing a duct run across the roof cavity to the discharge point; and fitting a roof cowl or eave vent. As a complete job, a new Melbourne exhaust fan installation generally runs $550 to $1,200.
The largest variables are the electrical run (how far the new circuit has to travel and how accessible the route is) and the ducting (the length of the run and how the roof discharge is formed). A bathroom directly below an accessible section of roof with a nearby power source sits at the lower end; a room with a long cable run and a difficult roof discharge sits higher. An inline fan installation for a large bathroom or a long duct run — where the fan motor is mounted in the roof for quietness and power — runs $650 to $1,400 complete.
Kitchen Rangehood Cost
A ducted kitchen rangehood is a larger exhaust system than a bathroom fan because it has to move more air (a minimum of 40 L/s under AS 1668.2, and usually far more for an effective rangehood) and handle grease as well as moisture. Supply and install of a ducted rangehood in a Melbourne kitchen runs $600 to $1,500 as a complete job, depending on the rangehood selected, the length and route of the duct, and how the discharge is formed through the roof or an external wall.
Recirculating rangehoods — which filter the air and return it to the kitchen rather than ducting it outside — are cheaper to install because they need no ducting, but they do not remove moisture or heat from the kitchen, only odours and some grease. For a Melbourne kitchen where moisture control matters, a ducted rangehood discharging outside is the better system. See our kitchen rangehood guide.
What Affects the Price in Melbourne
Existing wiring and ducting
The single biggest factor is whether usable wiring and ducting already exist. A like-for-like swap that reuses both is the cheapest job; a new install that needs both is the most expensive. Many Melbourne homes have a fan with power but no duct (it vents into the roof) — adding the missing duct and roof cowl is a worthwhile mid-range cost.
Roof access and discharge
A bathroom under an accessible, well-spaced roof cavity is straightforward to duct and discharge. A room under a low-pitch roof, a tiled roof needing a special cowl, or a flat-roof apartment makes the discharge more involved and adds to the cost.
Fan quality and type
A basic axial fan is the cheapest unit but the noisiest and weakest once ducted. A quality centrifugal or inline mixed-flow fan costs more but actually keeps the room dry. The fan choice is the main lever on the price of a simple replacement.
Bundling multiple fans
Doing several fans in one visit spreads the minimum call-out and lowers the per-fan cost — worth considering if more than one fan in the home needs attention.
Getting an Accurate Quote
An accurate exhaust fan quote depends on a few details a technician needs to confirm: the room and fan location, whether power and ducting already exist, where the air can discharge to the outside, and what fan you want fitted. For a simple like-for-like replacement, this can often be confirmed over the phone. For a new install or a rangehood, a quick site assessment gives a fixed price.
When comparing quotes, check that the price is a complete-job price (fan, labour and call-out included), that the fan will be ducted to the outside — not into the roof cavity — and that the work is carried out by a licensed electrician. A cheap quote that leaves the fan venting into the roof is not a saving; it is a future moisture problem. Call FreshDuct on 0431 918 137 for upfront Melbourne pricing.