THE SHORT ANSWER
Price duct cleaning from the actual system layout, register counts, access and included cleaning method. Clarify whether inspection, repairs or contamination treatment are separate services.
The worked project in this guide is one accessible residential duct system. It uses an original fictional job to explain the estimating decisions, with a matching air duct cleaning PDF example. Replace the example inputs with your measurements, supplier quotes and labor costs.
1. Map the system served
Count supply and return openings and identify the equipment connected to them. A register count without a system boundary can lead to a misleading total.
2. Inspect access needs
Record accessible trunks, panels and any confined or difficult areas. The sample assumes ordinary access and includes a stated closure line rather than treating access work as invisible.
3. Define the service result
Describe the areas included and the level of documentation at handoff. Avoid promising health outcomes, energy savings or total contaminant removal from a generic estimate.
4. Separate repair or remediation
Damaged ducts, water intrusion or suspected contamination need their own assessment and qualified scope. Do not fold unknown corrective work into routine cleaning.
A worked air duct cleaning calculation
Eight supply openings × $55 = $440. Three return openings × $75 = $225. The $665 opening subtotal is separate from the trunk and setup allowances.
The complete example contains 6 lines totaling $1,495.00 before any tax or markup. These are deliberately stated example prices, not a survey, regional price recommendation or offer to perform the job.
To set your own selling price, review direct costs and decide how you will cover overhead and profit. For example, adding 20% to a $1,000 cost gives $1,200; it does not produce a 20% gross margin. Use the approach you intend consistently, and avoid adding a second markup to rates that already include it.
Before you send the estimate
- Count supply and return openings.
- Identify the duct system and access points.
- Define closure and cleanup.
- Separate repairs and contamination concerns.
Example scope boundary: No duct replacement, mold or hazardous-material remediation, equipment repair or guaranteed air-quality improvement.
Review the client name, location, validity date and all calculations. Tax is not included in this example; determine the correct treatment for the actual work rather than copying a sample percentage.
Common questions
Should returns be counted separately?
Yes. A separate return count makes the system takeoff and pricing easier to check.
Does duct cleaning include duct repair?
Only when expressly listed. This example covers cleaning and closure of planned access points.
TAKE THE NEXT JOB FROM SCOPE TO PDF
Make your own air duct cleaning estimate.
Use Estimates on iPhone or Android to draft a scope with AI assistance or enter your own items. Review quantities and rates, add your business logo, and export a PDF. Example files are free to view; app features may require an in-app purchase.
