Restaurant installation cost guide
Restaurant hood installation cost
A restaurant hood bid is rarely just the stainless hood shell. Owners usually need a Type I or Type II hood package, duct route, exhaust fan, roof or wall penetration work, makeup air, fire suppression, electrical interlocks, permit drawings, inspections, and contingency for building conditions. Use the ranges below as a planning worksheet before lease diligence or contractor bid review.
Restaurant hood cost ranges by project condition
| Scenario | Planning range | Scope note |
|---|---|---|
| Second-generation restaurant space | $18,800 - $44,050 | Existing shaft, curb, or fan may be reusable after inspection, but suppression and permit closeout still need pricing. |
| Full-service restaurant default | $48,300 - $121,900 | 14-foot Type I hood, heavy cooking line, makeup air, fire suppression, new buildout labor, and engineered permits. |
| High-cost metro buildout | $58,400 - $152,400 | Same restaurant scope with a dense-market labor multiplier for difficult access, inspection windows, and premium trades. |
Full-service restaurant line-item table
Hood package
Grease-rated hood shell, baffles, lights, controls, and typical install hardware.
$16,500 - $29,750
Welded ductwork
Welded grease duct or code-appropriate exhaust duct with access panels where required.
$9,700 - $25,600
Exhaust fan and curb
Upblast exhaust fan, roof curb, disconnect, and typical setting labor.
$2,000 - $6,500
Makeup air
Makeup-air unit, tempering allowance, controls, and trade coordination.
$4,000 - $14,000
Fire suppression
Wet-chemical suppression system, nozzles, cylinder, pull station, and inspection allowance.
$2,500 - $8,500
Electrical and mechanical labor
Electrical hookup, controls, gas interlock coordination, balancing, and mechanical labor.
$3,250 - $12,950
Permits, design, and inspection
Engineer coordination, stamped drawings, structural review, or complex AHJ comments.
$3,000 - $6,000
Planning contingency
18% planning contingency for new build conditions.
$7,350 - $18,600
Cost drivers that move restaurant hood bids
- Grease-producing equipment usually moves a restaurant into Type I hood, welded duct, and wet-chemical suppression scope.
- Long duct runs and extra roof or wall penetrations add curb, flashing, access-panel, firestopping, and patching coordination.
- Makeup air can become one of the largest separate lines when the hood exhaust volume is high or the dining room is tight.
- Permit drawings, landlord review, structural details, and final balancing often sit outside a low equipment-only hood quote.
Restaurant hood installation FAQ
How much does a restaurant hood installation cost?
A full-service restaurant planning range is $48,300 - $121,900 with the default assumptions on this page. A reusable second-generation space can price lower, while high-cost metro labor and complex access can move higher.
What line items should be in a restaurant hood bid?
Look for the hood package, exhaust fan, curb, welded duct, roof or wall penetrations, makeup air, fire suppression, permit drawings, electrical interlocks, startup, balancing, and final inspection support.
Does every restaurant hood need makeup air?
Not every small project needs a dedicated makeup-air unit, but larger Type I systems, heavy cooking lines, and tight buildings often trigger makeup-air review. Local code, the AHJ, and the mechanical designer control the final requirement.
Is fire suppression included in Type I hood installation?
It should be visible as its own scope for grease-producing equipment. If a Type I quote omits wet-chemical suppression, fuel shutoff, appliance nozzles, testing, or tagging, treat the bid as incomplete until the installer explains the exclusion.