Guide

Dryer vent cleaning cost

Most reachable wall or first-floor dryer vents cost $80–$150 to clean. Roof vents usually run $150–$250, and a bird nest or a long run pushes the high end up.

Check a number you were quoted against a planning range.

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Typical U.S. prices

These are planning ranges for a standard residential cleaning, not same-day emergency work.

Job	Typical range	Midpoint
Wall, basement, or first floor	$80–$150	$115
Second floor	$110–$185	$148
Roof	$150–$250	$200

What changes the price

Vent length: under 10 ft often trims about 10%. 20 ft or more often adds about 20%.
Bird nest or packed lint: add about $40–$100 for time and disposal.
A crushed hood, missing flap, or replacement cap is usually a separate line.
Multiple dryers on one stack, or a vent buried in a chase, take longer.
Region: California and the Northeast sit above the national range; the Great Plains sit a bit below.

Cost by region

National range used here is a typical wall or first-floor cleaning, $80–$150. Roof work is higher in every region.

Region	Typical range	Note
Northeast	$95–$180	Higher labor rates and a lot of older housing stock.
Mid-Atlantic	$90–$165	A modest premium, especially near D.C., Baltimore, and Philly suburbs.
Southeast	$80–$150	Near the national average; humidity shows up more in crawl spaces and vents.
Florida	$90–$165	Heat, storms, and pests show up in dryer vents and gutters.
Midwest	$85–$160	A small premium over the national average.
Texas	$85–$160	A small premium; large single-story homes are common.
Mountain West	$85–$160	Access, snow season, and travel between towns can nudge prices up.
Pacific Northwest	$90–$175	Wet climate and moss raise demand for gutters and crawl-space work.
California	$100–$190	Highest typical labor rates on this list.
Southwest	$80–$150	Near the national average; dust and monsoon debris affect gutters.
Great Plains	$75–$145	Usually the lowest labor rates of the regions listed.
National average	$80–$150	Baseline used before a regional labor adjustment.

DIY vs pro

A short, straight wall vent with a cleaning kit is a reasonable DIY job if you can pull the dryer out and reach the exterior flap. Roof vents, second-story drops, bird nests, and foil pipe that has already collapsed are usually pro jobs. Lint in a dryer vent is a fire risk; if you cannot see the whole run, hire it.

More on that split: DIY vs hiring a pro.

Fair-quote rules

A fair quote names the exit: wall, second floor, or roof.
It says whether the exterior cap is opened and cleaned, not only the indoor elbow.
Nest removal, hood replacement, and disposal are either included or priced.
A number far below the low range on a roof job is a scope problem until proven otherwise.
Read red flags in home service quotes before you take a cash-only “we’ll know when we get there” offer.

FAQ

What is a fair price for dryer vent cleaning?

For a reachable wall or first-floor vent, $80–$150 is a common planning range. Roof vents are usually $150–$250. Compare the number to the exit, not to a generic “average cleaning” ad.

How often should a dryer vent be cleaned?

Many households need it every 1–3 years. Long runs, pets, and frequent drying push that toward the short end. A vent that still takes forever to dry clothes is a reason to check it sooner.

Can I clean a dryer vent myself?

A short wall vent with a kit can be a reasonable DIY job. Roof vents, bird nests, and crushed pipe are usually pro jobs. See DIY vs hiring a pro.

Why would a $90 roof quote be too low?

Roof access, time on the cap, and insurance cost more than a first-floor wall job. A $90 roof number often means the exterior work is not really in the scope.

What should a written quote include?

The exit location, whether the exterior cap is opened, nest or blockage work, and whether a replacement hood is extra. “Clean the vent” by itself is not a scope.

Check a number you were quoted against a planning range.

Open dryer vent calculator