If you want more natural light in your home, two of the most popular options are VELUX Skylights and VELUX Sun Tunnels. Both bring daylight into dark spaces, but they are designed for different rooms, roof types, budgets and results.
For Melbourne homeowners, the right choice depends on whether you want a large architectural skylight, natural ventilation, a view of the sky, or a simple daylight solution for a hallway, bathroom, wardrobe or internal room.
VELUX offers both pitched roof skylights, flat roof skylights and Sun Tunnels in Australia, giving homeowners flexible options for different roof structures and room designs.
What Is a VELUX Skylight?
A VELUX Skylight is a roof window-style daylight product installed directly into the roof. It brings natural light through a glazed window and can be fixed, manually opening, electric or solar powered.
VELUX skylights are commonly used in:
- Living rooms
- Kitchens
- Dining areas
- Bedrooms
- Bathrooms
- Stairwells
- Open-plan spaces
- Extensions and renovations
VELUX pitched roof skylights are available in fixed, manual and remote-controlled options, while VELUX flat roof skylights are designed for low-slope roof applications.
Main Benefits of VELUX Skylights
VELUX Skylights are best when you want a premium daylight feature. They allow more direct natural light into the room, create a sense of openness, and can become a strong design feature.
Key advantages include:
- Bigger daylight opening
- Modern architectural appearance
- Option for ventilation
- Option for solar or electric opening
- Suitable for large rooms
- Can improve airflow and comfort
- Better visual impact than a small light tube
- Can be combined with blinds for light control
A fixed VELUX skylight is ideal when you only need light. A manual, electric or solar opening VELUX skylight is better when you also want fresh air, heat release or bathroom ventilation.
What Is a Sun Tunnel?
A Sun Tunnel is a compact daylight system that captures sunlight from the roof and transfers it through a reflective tube into the ceiling below. Instead of a large window in the roof, the room receives light through a ceiling diffuser.
VELUX describes Sun Tunnels as a solution for bringing natural light into spaces where traditional skylights may not be possible, such as windowless bathrooms, walk-in wardrobes and hallways.
Sun Tunnels are commonly used in:
- Hallways
- Toilets
- Bathrooms
- Walk-in robes
- Laundries
- Pantries
- Internal corridors
- Small dark rooms
Main Benefits of VELUX Sun Tunnels
VELUX Sun Tunnels are best when you want a cost-effective daylight solution for a smaller or darker space.
Key advantages include:
- More affordable than many full skylight installations
- Smaller roof opening
- Easier installation in many homes
- Great for tight roof spaces
- Ideal for rooms without external windows
- Less structural work required
- Discreet ceiling appearance
- Good solution where a full skylight is not practical
Some VELUX Sun Tunnel options use flexible or rigid reflective tubes. Rigid tunnels generally deliver stronger light when the roof-to-ceiling path is clear, while flexible tunnels are useful where the tube needs to work around roof obstructions.
Main Differences Between VELUX Skylights and Sun Tunnels
1. Light Output
VELUX Skylights usually provide more light because they have a larger glazed area and allow direct daylight into the room.
Sun Tunnels provide softer, diffused light through a ceiling diffuser. They can brighten a dark area very effectively, but they do not create the same open-sky effect as a full skylight.
Best choice for maximum light: VELUX Skylight
Best choice for small dark spaces: VELUX Sun Tunnel
2. Room Suitability
VELUX Skylights are better for rooms where people spend a lot of time, such as kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms. They add both natural light and visual value.
Sun Tunnels are better for smaller utility spaces where the main goal is simply to reduce darkness during the day.
| Area | Best Option |
|---|---|
| Living room | VELUX Skylight |
| Kitchen | VELUX Skylight |
| Bedroom | VELUX Skylight |
| Bathroom | Skylight or Sun Tunnel |
| Hallway | Sun Tunnel |
| Walk-in robe | Sun Tunnel |
| Toilet | Sun Tunnel |
| Laundry | Sun Tunnel |
| Open-plan area | VELUX Skylight |
3. Ventilation
This is one of the biggest differences.
A VELUX opening skylight can provide natural ventilation. This is excellent for bathrooms, kitchens and upper-level rooms where hot air builds up.
A Sun Tunnel does not provide ventilation in the same way. It is designed mainly for daylight, not airflow.
Best choice for light and fresh air: VELUX opening skylight
Best choice for daylight only: VELUX Sun Tunnel
4. Appearance and Design Impact
A VELUX Skylight creates a stronger architectural feature. It can make a room feel larger, brighter and more premium.
A Sun Tunnel is more subtle. From inside the room, it looks like a round ceiling diffuser rather than a roof window.
Best for home design impact: VELUX Skylight
Best for discreet daylight: VELUX Sun Tunnel
5. Installation Complexity
A VELUX Skylight usually requires a larger roof opening, proper flashing, internal plaster shaft work and careful waterproofing. This makes the installation more involved.
A Sun Tunnel normally requires a smaller roof penetration and a reflective tube between the roof and ceiling. Some suppliers note that Sun Tunnels are designed for quicker installation with less time spent inside the roof cavity.
However, every home is different. Installation difficulty depends on:
- Roof type: tile, metal, slate or concrete
- Roof pitch
- Ceiling height
- Roof cavity access
- Distance from roof to ceiling
- Electrical requirements
- Need for plastering or painting
- Single-storey or double-storey access
- Structural obstacles in the roof space
Estimated Cost: VELUX Skylights vs Sun Tunnels in Melbourne
The following prices are general Melbourne estimates for supply and installation. Final cost depends on product size, roof type, access, flashing, plastering, electrical work and whether the skylight is fixed, manual, electric or solar.
Industry cost guides suggest professional skylight installation in Australia can commonly range from around $1,000 to over $4,500, depending on the product and complexity. One Melbourne-focused guide estimates skylight installation labour can often fall around $900 to $2,200.
Estimated VELUX Sun Tunnel Cost
For a typical Melbourne home, a VELUX Sun Tunnel may cost approximately:
Supply only: $450 – $900+
Supply and installation: $1,200 – $2,200+
A simple single-storey installation with easy roof access may sit toward the lower end. A longer tunnel, metal roof flashing, double-storey access or difficult roof cavity may increase the cost.
Estimated VELUX Fixed Skylight Cost
A fixed VELUX skylight is usually the most affordable full skylight option.
Supply only: $600 – $1,500+
Supply and installation: $1,800 – $3,500+
The total price can increase if a deep plaster shaft, custom flashing, difficult roof access or internal finishing is required.
Some Australian VELUX price references show fixed skylight product pricing beginning from the mid-hundreds, while larger or more advanced models cost significantly more.
Estimated VELUX Manual Opening Skylight Cost
Manual opening skylights cost more than fixed models because they include an opening mechanism.
Supply only: $900 – $1,700+
Supply and installation: $2,200 – $4,000+
This option suits bathrooms, kitchens and rooms where you want both daylight and natural ventilation.
Estimated VELUX Electric or Solar Skylight Cost
Electric and solar skylights are premium options. They are excellent for hard-to-reach areas and often include remote control operation. Some solar skylights also include smart features such as rain sensors, depending on the model.
Supply only: $1,900 – $3,500+
Supply and installation: $3,200 – $5,500+
Central Skylights lists VELUX electric skylights from around $1,964 and solar skylights from around $2,118, based on current online product category pricing.
Cost Comparison Table
| Product Type | Estimated Supply Only | Estimated Supply & Installation | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| VELUX Sun Tunnel | $450 – $900+ | $1,200 – $2,200+ | Hallways, robes, toilets, small dark rooms |
| VELUX Fixed Skylight | $600 – $1,500+ | $1,800 – $3,500+ | Kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms |
| VELUX Manual Opening Skylight | $900 – $1,700+ | $2,200 – $4,000+ | Bathrooms, kitchens, ventilation |
| VELUX Electric Skylight | $1,900 – $3,000+ | $3,200 – $5,000+ | High ceilings, premium comfort |
| VELUX Solar Skylight | $2,100 – $3,500+ | $3,500 – $5,500+ | Remote operation, premium homes |
Prices are estimates only and may vary depending on roof type, access, flashing, internal shaft work, plastering and electrical requirements.
Which Option Is Better?
Choose a VELUX Skylight if you want:
- Maximum daylight
- A view of the sky
- A premium architectural look
- Better natural ventilation
- A feature for a living room, kitchen or bedroom
- A long-term upgrade that improves comfort and room appeal
Choose a VELUX Sun Tunnel if you want:
- A more affordable daylight solution
- Natural light in a hallway, robe, toilet or small bathroom
- A smaller roof opening
- A simpler installation
- Daylight where a full skylight may not fit
- A discreet ceiling finish
Are Sun Tunnels as Good as Skylights?
Sun Tunnels are excellent, but they are not the same as skylights.
A Sun Tunnel is great for adding daylight to small, dark areas. It can make a hallway or internal room much brighter during the day. But it will not deliver the same design impact, sky view, ventilation or large daylight opening as a VELUX Skylight.
A VELUX Skylight is usually the better option for main living spaces. A Sun Tunnel is usually the smarter option for smaller areas where a full skylight is unnecessary or impractical.
VELUX Skylight vs Sun Tunnel
A VELUX Skylight is the best choice when you want a premium result, more natural light, ventilation and a strong architectural feature.
A VELUX Sun Tunnel is the best choice when you want an affordable and practical way to brighten a small or difficult space.
Both products can improve comfort, reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day and make your home feel brighter and more welcoming. The right choice depends on your room size, roof type, budget and whether you need light only or light plus ventilation.
Talk to us
Looking for VELUX Skylights or Sun Tunnels in Melbourne? Central Skylights can help you choose the right model for your roof type, room size and budget. Contact our team for expert advice, supply options, showroom support, pickup, delivery and professional skylight installation across Melbourne.