If you have an unfinished attic, installing blown – in insulation is a smart investment with numerous benefits.
We have collected updated pricing for blown-in attic insulation, as well as costs for a DIY install vs. hiring a contractor.
To install blown in insulation, get 3-4 free estimates from local pros.
How Much Does Blown-In Insulation Cost?
The most common type of insulation, used in the majority of homes, is blown-in insulation. It is available in a number of materials, each with its own pros and cons.
Typically, homeowners spend between $1,250 – $1,950 to insulate an attic of 2,500 sq. ft. (average size) with 30-49 R-value insulation. Going to 60R will add about $250 – $400, and will require a total of 16-20″ of insulation (depending on whether you use Cellulose or Fiberglass).
This cost depends greatly on whether you chose to DIY the job (you can rent the equipment at a local home improvement store), or hire a contractor. Esitimate cost of your insulation project with our new Blown-In Insulation Calculator.
Labor Cost To Insulate An Attic
It is best to hire a contractor if your attic has irregular joist spacing, obstructions and penetrations, or limited headroom/low clearance.
Most attic insulation projects range between $1.40 to $3.60 per square foot. This assumes that contractors charge $60-75/hr. With this pricing structure the total cost is between $1,700-4,500 for 2,500 ft. space.
It important to realize that prices will vary depending on the size of your house and your geographic location. Labor rates in areas with a high standard of living, such as New York City can be 30-50% higher than in regions with more modest average incomes.
If you have a Cape-Cod style or other knee-wall type of house, you will be charged more for labor, because of more difficult access and amount of time required to finish the job.
Note, that most pros also include air sealing and ventilation in the total estimates quoted above.
DIY Blown In Attic Insulation Cost
If you have a large, open space attic, its likely you can insulate it yourself. Depending on the size and complexity of the job this can result in 20-40% savings as compared to hiring a pro.
For 1,000 sq.ft. of space you can expect to pay the following:
1. $500-1,000 for (blown-in insulation with an R-Value 30)
2. $100 for the machine (often you can rent it for free, when you buy the insulation material.
3. $10-25 for air sealant
TOTAL: $600-1,200
To determine how much insulation you will need, first accurately measure your attic’s square footage. Read the label on the bag of the material you want to purchase: it will list the required depth for a range of R-values, as well as the number of bags needed to cover 1,000 sq.ft. of space.
Before you begin: make sure to seal any air holes. The most common areas are: attic windows, around pipes, exhaust fans, ducts, as well as around chimneys and flues.
If you neglect this step, you will render your insulation efforts basically useless, as air will continue to escape through these small holes.
Determine Insulation R-Value
Before you start researching different types of blown-in insulation, you need to figure out what R-value you need to keep your home at an optimal temperature. Recommended R-values vary greatly depending on the climate you live in, with colder regions requiring a higher R-value.
Here is a chart summarizing the minimum R-value that the US Department of Energy recommends for an unfinished, uninsulated attic:
Types Of Blown-in Insulation
You can choose between 3 types of blown-in insulation. Keep in mind that if you are looking to achieve higher R-value you will need to purchase more bags of material.
Cellulose Insulation
Made from fibers derived from recycled post-consumer paper, and is the most common blow-in material used. If you are looking for a more natural, eco-friendly product, cellulose insulation is a better choice that fiberglass.
Note, that cellulose is specially treated to be fire and insect resistant. It also has a higher R-value per sq. inch than fiberglass, and is resistant to air flow. However, it will develop mold, if exposed to moisture.
The average price of cellulose insulation is $28-30/bag, that weighs about 19 lb. (minimally required R-value)
Fiberglass Insulation
Made of melted glass or sand that is spun into fibers. Because fiberglass insulation is lighter in weight and settles more than both cellulose and mineral wood, more bags are required to achieve the desired R-value.
The main advantages of fiberglass insulation are good sound proofing qualities, resistance to moisture and low price.
On the down side, this type of insulation is susceptible to insect and rodent infestation, and has poor resistance to mold/mildew.
The average price of fiberglass insulation is $33/bag, that weighs about 28.5 lb. (minimally required R-value).
Note, the same amount of fiberglass as cellulose can cover 4 times the sq.ft., making it a much cheaper material.
Mineral Wool Insulation
Manufactured using fibers from rock or recycled slag from blast furnaces, mineral wool insulation is also an environmentally friendly material. Because it is naturally fire resistant, it is the most expensive blown-in insulation.
Its main advantages are exceptional sound-proofing and heat insulation, resistance to pests and moisture.
Mineral wood insulation is only material that can be blown-in without using a machine! Instead, it can just be crumbled by hand, but the process will take a lot longer.
The average price is $55/roll.
Check out my Cathedral Ceilings (Post & Beam) insulation options and Costs guide.
In this post I explain how I did it, and how much it cost me.
