How Much Does Insulation Cost to Install in 2025?

This article was updated using automation technology and thoroughly reviewed for accuracy by HomeAdvisor Editor Ryan Noonan.

On average, U.S. homeowners spend about $1,852 on insulation installation, with costs ranging from $1,066 to $2,639. Total pricing spans from as low as $498 to as high as $4,500. You'll pay between $0.40 and $6.75 per square foot, depending on materials and labor.

Most of your insulation costs come from the type of insulation material you choose, but factors like location, home size, and labor also affect the price. In this guide, we'll break down the costs of insulation installation and the factors that influence them so you can budget effectively.

Insulation Material Cost Per Square Foot

Your choice of insulation material plays a major role in the cost of your installation. You'll pay anywhere from $0.25 to $6.75 per square foot, with fiberglass being one of the most affordable options and wood fiber at the higher end. Here are the average prices for different insulation materials.

Each inch of insulation provides an R-value between 3 and 8—the higher the R-value, the better the insulation. Knowing the costs and benefits of each material helps you choose the best option for your home.

Insulation Installation Cost By Type

Here are the various types of insulation and their corresponding prices.

Spray Foam Insulation (SPF)

Spray foam insulation costs between $1 and $2 per square foot, depending on whether you seal leaks and gaps inside existing walls. There are two types:

• Open-cell spray foam: $0.44–$0.65 per board foot

• Closed-cell spray foam: $1–$1.50 per board foot

While spray foam insulation has a higher upfront cost, it can increase your home's R-value and saves up to $500 per year in energy costs. Since not all insulation professionals offer this specialized service, it's best to hire a qualified local spray foam installer.

Blown-In and Loose-Fill Insulation

Blown-in insulation costs between $975 and $2,200 on average. This insulation is installed in attics, and loose-fill insulation is also sometimes used to backfill wall cavities. Made from white cellulose, reclaimed and recycled varieties are available. You can rent a blower for under $100 a day and purchase bags of insulation at a home improvement store, bringing your total DIY costs to $500 or less. However, we recommend hiring an insulation professional due to the complexity of this project.

Reflective or Radiant Barrier

Radiant barrier insulation costs around $1,700 on average or between $0.10 and $0.95 per square foot. To cover a typical 500-square-foot attic, you'll likely spend $125 to $500, with double-sided barriers being slightly more expensive. To pay for a professional installation, add $30 to $80 per hour to the total cost.

Fiberglass Batt and Roll Insulation

Fiberglass batt and roll insulation costs $0.30 to $1.50 per square foot. You can expect to pay $1,000 to $2,400 for this type of insulation installation. This is a manageable DIY installation, but don't hesitate to hire an insulation professional to ensure high-quality results.

Cavity Wall Insulation

Filling a wall cavity costs $1 to $4 per square foot on average. You’ll typically fill the space with blown-in fiberglass, but in some cases, you can use spray foam. If you're insulating existing walls with drywall, blown-in insulation works best.

Foam Board and Rigid Insulation

Rigid foam board insulation costs $0.25 to $2 per board foot, making it one of the more expensive types of insulation. However, with a rating of up to R-8 per inch of thickness, it's also one of the best insulators on the market.

Spray foam does an exceedingly good job of creating an almost airtight thermal barrier. Rigid installations make up all types of foam boards and structurally insulated panels (SIPs). When installed properly, it’s excellent for all applications, from floors and walls to ceilings and roofs.

*SIPs come as a complete unit of around 4-inch thick insulation between plywood or OSB, so this price covers the whole thing, not just one inch thick of insulation.

Keep in mind that all foam types are sold and rated by the board foot, which is 1 square foot of material 1 inch thick. Rigid materials are available in thicknesses up to 4 inches.

Expanded Polystyrene (EPS)

EPS costs $0.25 to $0.35 per board foot. Its R-value is about a 4, a full point less than XPS. At nearly half the cost of either of the other varieties, it has the highest insulation to cost ratio.

Extruded Polystyrene (XPS)

XPS costs $0.40 to $0.50 per board foot. It averages an R-value of 5 at nearly twice the price of EPS, but it’s a better option for those looking to save space.

Structural Insulated Panel Cost (SIPs)

The closed-cell insulation cost of a SIPs panel runs $7 to $12 per square foot. A SIPs panel is a thick piece of rigid foam board between two sheets of plywood or OSB and designed to carry weight. They’re made in a factory and shipped to the job site. They replace conventional stick framing for the walls and roofs.

Home Insulation Costs

The total cost of your insulation installation also depends on which part of your home you're insulating. Here are the costs of adding insulation to different areas of your home.

Cost to Insulate Garage

Insulating a garage costs $0.50 to $1.25 per square foot. Hiring a professional may double that price, and it doesn't include the garage door. The total price ranges from $1,500 to $8,000, depending on the materials you choose and the size of the space.

If you have an attached garage, you only need to insulate the outside walls, not the walls connected to your home. Insulating a garage door with rigid foam or batts costs about $200 to $300 for a 9-foot-tall door.

Cost to Insulate Basement

Insulating a basement costs $1.50 to $2.50 per square foot or $1,400 to $6,300 on average. Most basements don’t need nearly as much insulation as upper floors since the surrounding earth helps to keep the space warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Attic Insulation

Insulating an attic costs $1 to $7 per square foot or $1,500 to $6,000 total, depending on the materials. Since heat rises, properly insulating your attic is crucial to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout your home and to prevent energy loss. Typically, you apply spray foam first, then cover it with batts or blown-in insulation. Most homes have at least twice as much insulation in the attic as they do in the walls.

Roof Insulation

Insulating your roof costs anywhere from $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot or $1,500 to $4,500 total. This creates a conditioned space that can be converted into a comfortable living area. Most attic conversions cost $40,000, and you can often bundle the price with new roofing.

You can insulate a roof during or after construction. During new construction, your contractor can install layers of rigid foam board on the sheathing but beneath the shingles. You can also have spray foam or batting placed inside the attic along the rafters.

Wall Insulation Cost

Wall insulation costs $1 to $4 per square foot. Most batting—both mineral wool and fiberglass—costs $1 to $1.50 per square foot to install. Some new construction homes use rigid, reflective, spray foam or a combination of all of them, which might run $3 to $4 per square foot.

You can also build a home’s walls using insulated concrete forms, where rigid foam works as the concrete form, which remains in place after construction.

Labor Cost to Install Insulation

Installers typically charge between $40 and $80 per hour to install insulation, depending on the type of insulation you're installing. Keep in mind that your price may increase for additional insulation-related tasks, such as removing the old insulation in order to replace it.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro

Installing insulation yourself can save you between $575 and $750 in labor costs. For straightforward projects like installing fiberglass rolls, batting, or rigid foam boards, doing it yourself can be a viable option. Make sure to fill all gaps without compressing the insulation, as compression reduces its effectiveness. Always wear proper protective gear, including a dust mask, goggles, gloves, and full-coverage clothing.

For spray foam or blown-in insulation, especially in attics or roofs, it's best to hire a local insulation contractor. These projects require specialized skills and equipment to achieve proper coverage and optimal R-value.Consider hiring a local insulation contractor to ensure your project is completed efficiently and safely.

How HomeAdvisor Gets Its Cost Data

No place is more important than your home, which is why HomeAdvisor connects homeowners with local pros to transform their houses into homes they love. To help homeowners prepare for their next project, HomeAdvisor provides readers with accurate cost data and follows strict editorial guidelines. After a project is complete, we survey real customers about the costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We pair this data with research from reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects.