Attic insulation cost in Montgomery, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $960 – $3,850
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $3.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #163
- 1 = most expensive
Montgomery homeowners pay roughly $960 to $3,850 to insulate an attic at 1,000 sq ft, or $0.95 to $3.85 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Montgomery is 4% lower. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.4).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Montgomery, AL, standard level
$1,850 to $3,000
About $1.85 to $3 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $710 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,850 | $3,000 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Montgomery, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 64% |
| Labor | $480 | $870 | $1,250 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $960 | $2,400 | $3,850 | 100% |
Where the Montgomery price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Montgomery wages are 0.96 times the national level. Labor makes up about 36% of the midpoint estimate (36% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Montgomery metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $1,550, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (89.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Specs and site conditions that change a Montgomery bid
Removing old insulation
Old, wet or pest-damaged insulation has to come out first, at extra cost.
Type of insulation
Blown-in is $0.90-$2.40 per sq ft and loose-fill is $1.00-$2.50 installed; spray foam costs more (HomeGuide).
Job size
Small attics start around $500 and large ones go up to $6,000 (HomeGuide).
Related projects, priced for Montgomery
Because every project leans on different trades, Montgomery's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, window replacement runs −8% and roof replacement −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,250 – $11,000 | −13% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,650 – $29,000 | −12% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,350 – $22,000 | −13% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,050 – $13,800 | −8% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,800 | −10% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Montgomery is 0.96 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131), 80% of the weighting: a median of $23.85 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $20.23 and $25.82 an hour. About 70 work in the metro. That is 4.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.9 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $17.61 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.10 and $21.41 an hour. About 1,040 work in the metro. That is 62.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($25.82 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $60. At the 25th percentile ($20.23) it shrinks by about $110. The total moves by 2.5% or 4.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 165,550 jobs in the Montgomery area. That makes it the 142nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.11% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $20.23 | $23.85 | $25.82 | $23.62 | 1.01 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $14.10 | $17.61 | $21.41 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
How Montgomery compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 1,000 sq ft range from $2,350 to $2,400 across Montgomery and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery, ALthis page | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | |
| Auburn, AL50 miles | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −3% |
| Birmingham, AL80 miles | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| Columbus, GA90 miles | $950 – $3,800 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Dothan, AL95 miles | $950 – $3,800 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL95 miles | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Montgomery comes in at #163 from the top. The priciest is San Francisco, CA at $3,150; the cheapest is Morgantown, WV at $2,250 (midpoints, 1,000 sq ft). Statewide, Montgomery is 0% above the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +5% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $950 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Montgomery's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Montgomery against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $950 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Lubbock, TX | 166,780 jobs | $900 – $3,650 | $2,300 | −5% |
| Beaumont, TX | 163,220 jobs | $950 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −2% |
Cost by quality level and size in Montgomery
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Montgomery wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$960 to $2,100
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,850 to $3,000
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,700 to $3,850
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $580 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,300 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $960 – $2,100 | $1,850 – $3,000 | $2,700 – $3,850 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,750 – $3,800 | $3,300 – $5,400 | $4,850 – $6,950 |
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Detailed attic insulation report for Montgomery, AL, $9
The report lays out the attic insulation numbers for Montgomery, AL line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Attic insulation in Montgomery: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Montgomery?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $960 to $3,850 in the Montgomery area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,850 to $3,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Montgomery?
About $0.95 to $3.85 per sq ft for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $1 to $4.
+Is attic insulation cheaper in Montgomery or Auburn?
Auburn is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 3% less than Montgomery ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Montgomery?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $870 out of $2,400. Materials are 64% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Montgomery?
$960 to $3,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Montgomery?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the Montgomery area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Montgomery expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Alabama?
Montgomery is 0% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($2,400 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Montgomery?
The BLS median is $23.85 an hour in the Montgomery area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.23 to $25.82.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Montgomery?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $960 to $2,100 and premium work $2,700 to $3,850. Basic means: blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value. Premium means: spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic.
Attic insulation near Montgomery
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $0.50-$1.30 per sq ft insulation labor, matched low-to-low and high-to-high.