All services
52 services in 9 categories · all live now
What insulation costs in 2026, how much of the bill is material versus labor, and which type and R-value make sense for an attic, wall or crawl space.
Insulation costs $1.00 to $4.50 per sq ft installed, so a whole house runs $1,600 to $8,000, with $4,400 typical. Attic insulation costs $1,000 to $2,700, and spray foam sits at the top of the range.
Insulation costs $1 to $4.50 per square foot installed, and HomeGuide puts a whole-house job at $1,600 to $8,000, with $4,400 typical. Material runs $0.50 to $2.80 per sq ft and labor $0.50 to $1.70, so the type, R-value and area decide most of the price.
Attic work is usually the first project because it adds R-value with the least disruption. Attic insulation costs $1,000 to $2,700, and Angi puts the average insulation job at $1,860, with most homeowners paying $1,071 to $2,650. Air sealing and old insulation removal are often separate line items.
Installed price at the national range of $1.00 to $4.50 per sq ft, including material and labor. Areas cover a single room up to a whole-house job, and the R-value and insulation type decide where you land.
Calculated from our national per-sq-ft range and compared with HomeGuide and Angi in Oct 2026. A 1,000 sq ft attic lands near $2,750 at the typical rate, while simple blown-in attic jobs often price closer to $1,000 to $2,700.
National ranges, installed. Your city can run 10 to 20 percent either way, so check the local pages before you compare quotes.
HomeGuide insulation and attic insulation cost guides and Angi insulation installation data, compared Oct 2026.
Six things move an insulation quote more than anything else. Ask every contractor to put each one in writing, so the bids you compare describe the same job.
Batts run $0.80 to $2.60 per sq ft, blown-in $1.00 to $2.80, and spray foam $1.00 to $4.50. A higher R-value means more material or thickness, so the specification, not the brand, sets most of the price.
Attics with little headroom, no walkway and lots of ductwork take longer to insulate. Angi notes attics cost more per square foot than garages or open walls because access and prep work are harder.
Removing old insulation runs $2 to $8 per sq ft including disposal, per HomeGuide. Air sealing gaps around pipes, lights and the attic hatch is often bundled, and skipping it lets heat bypass the new insulation.
Attic insulation costs $1,000 to $2,700, basements $600 to $4,600, crawl spaces $500 to $3,700 and exterior walls $1,400 to $8,500, per HomeGuide. Each location has different access and vapor barrier needs.
Angi puts site prep at $150 to $900, covering surface protection, drywall repair and debris removal. Junk removal adds about $50 to $360. Spray foam needs the most masking, while batts need very little.
The R-value your home needs depends on climate zone, so a cold state calls for a thicker attic blanket than a mild one. Check utility rebates and ENERGY STAR guidance before you buy, because incentives change the net cost.
Material and labor split close to evenly on a typical insulation job. HomeGuide puts materials at $0.50 to $2.80 per sq ft and labor at $0.50 to $1.70, which is why spray foam and removal work push a quote toward the high end.
HomeGuide insulation cost guide and Angi insulation installation data, Oct 2026.
Batts in an open attic are a fair DIY job. The material is cheap, a utility knife and stapler handle the cuts, and the main rules are to leave soffit vents open and not compress the insulation. Wear gloves, a mask and eye protection, since fiberglass irritates skin and lungs.
Blown-in and spray foam are not DIY in most cases. Blowing needs a rented machine and a steady hand for even depth, and spray foam requires protective gear and a trained applicator. Angi notes a DIY blown-in job can cost $500 or less, but coverage mistakes are hard to see until the next energy bill.
Installed prices per square foot by material. The cheapest option is not always the best fit, because each type suits a different cavity, R-value and moisture condition.
HomeGuide insulation cost guide, insulation type comparison table, compared Oct 2026.
Three ways to insulate the same space. Each has a different cost per square foot, R-value per inch and level of difficulty, so match the material to the cavity and the budget.
Batts are the cheapest and easiest to handle, blown-in covers awkward attics faster, and spray foam seals air and adds the most R-value per inch. Compare bids on R-value, depth and air sealing, then run the number through our quote checker.
Air sealing and even coverage decide whether the job performs. If a bid skips a step below, that is where the savings come from.
The crew checks the attic or wall cavities, measures the area and notes ducts, lights, chimneys and soffit vents that need clearance before material goes in.
Gaps around pipes, wires, recessed lights and the attic hatch are sealed with foam or caulk. Air sealing stops warm air from bypassing the insulation.
Wet, matted or contaminated insulation is bagged and hauled out. Removal runs $2 to $8 per sq ft including disposal, and the cavity is cleaned before new material goes in.
Soffit baffles keep roof vents clear, and the crew wears masks, gloves and protective suits, especially for fiberglass and spray foam. The attic hatch gets an insulated cover.
Batts are cut and fitted, blown-in material is spread to an even depth, or spray foam is applied in passes. The crew marks the target depth so the R-value matches the plan.
The crew walks the space with a depth marker and fills thin spots around joists, corners and the hatch. Gaps at the edges are where heat escapes and where most jobs fall short.
Loose material is swept up, equipment is removed, and soffit vents are checked so the roof can still breathe. Keep the paperwork for warranties and any rebate application.
Detailed cost guides for each job are being written; the tools above price every one of them today.
Checked against the official source on Oct 28, 2026. General information, not legal advice. Insulation work is regulated by permit, and by state license for some trades.
Insulation costs $1.00 to $4.50 per sq ft installed, and a whole house runs $1,600 to $8,000, with $4,400 typical. Angi puts the average job at $1,860. Attic insulation costs $1,000 to $2,700, and spray foam sits at the top of the range.
Attic insulation costs $1,000 to $2,700, with a national average near $1,800, per HomeGuide. Blown-in runs $0.90 to $2.40 per sq ft installed, while spray foam on the attic floor runs $1,100 to $6,800 depending on the R-value and prep work.
Spray foam costs $1.00 to $4.50 per sq ft installed, versus $0.80 to $2.60 for batts. It seals air and adds more R-value per inch, which matters in crawl spaces and rim joists. In a simple open attic, blown-in is usually the better value.
The R-value depends on your climate zone and the space being insulated. Cold states need a thicker attic blanket than mild ones, and walls and crawl spaces have their own targets. Ask the contractor for the installed depth and R-value in writing.
A typical attic takes about a day, and a whole house with walls and a crawl space takes two to four days. Removing old insulation or repairing drywall adds time. Get a start and finish date in the contract.
Batts in an open attic are DIY friendly, and utilities often publish guides. Blown-in needs a rented machine and even depth, and spray foam needs protective gear and training. A poor install wastes money without showing it, so hire a pro for spray foam.
Better insulation and air sealing reduce heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer, but savings depend on the house, climate and existing gaps. Ask for an energy audit or a Home Energy Score before and after, so you can measure the result.
Removal runs $2 to $8 per sq ft including disposal, per HomeGuide, so a 1,000 sq ft attic might add $2,000 to $8,000. Wet, moldy or pest-contaminated insulation should come out. Dry, sound material can often stay under new insulation.
Usually not for adding insulation in an existing home, but some cities require one when walls are opened or the project is part of a remodel. Check with your local building department, and ask the contractor who pulls the permit if one is needed.