Attic insulation cost in Anchorage, AK
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,100 – $4,400
- Per sq ft
- $1.10 – $4.40
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +10%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #23
- 1 = most expensive
Anchorage homeowners pay roughly $1,100 to $4,400 to insulate an attic at 1,000 sq ft, or $1.10 to $4.40 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Anchorage is 10% higher. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $26.83 an hour in the Anchorage area, 14% above the US median of $23.62.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Anchorage, AK, standard level
$2,100 to $3,400
About $2.10 to $3.40 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,250 | $2,200 |
| Labor | $850 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,100 | $3,400 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Anchorage, AK
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $540 | $1,700 | $2,900 | 62% |
| Labor | $570 | $1,050 | $1,500 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,100 | $2,750 | $4,400 | 100% |
Why Anchorage prices look the way they do
Labor is 38% of the midpoint bill here, against 36% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (80%), construction laborers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Anchorage the blended ratio comes out at 1.15.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Anchorage metro is 107.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $1,700, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Why two Anchorage quotes can differ
Air sealing and fixture damming
Sealing gaps and damming around recessed lights are part of what moves the price within a type.
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).
Related projects, priced for Anchorage
Because every project leans on different trades, Anchorage's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, metal roof runs +18% and window replacement +8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $7,050 – $14,200 | +14% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $12,400 – $38,000 | +18% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,700 – $29,100 | +16% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,900 – $16,300 | +8% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,550 – $4,900 | +18% |
Is Anchorage cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Anchorage. Spokane comes closest at about $2,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AKthis page | $1,100 – $4,400 | $2,750 | |
| Bellingham, WA1410 miles | $1,200 – $4,600 | $2,900 | +5% |
| Bremerton, WA1450 miles | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | +5% |
| Seattle, WA1480 miles | $1,250 – $4,650 | $2,950 | +7% |
| Olympia, WA1485 miles | $1,250 – $4,750 | $3,000 | +9% |
| Spokane, WA1570 miles | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | +1% |
| Alaska (statewide) | $1,100 – $4,400 | $2,750 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −9% |
Across 300 US metros, Anchorage comes in at #23 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, Anchorage is 0% below the Alaska figure.
Anchorage is the only Alaska metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Anchorage's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Anchorage against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −14% |
| Reading, PA | 174,670 jobs | $1,000 – $4,050 | $2,550 | −8% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $910 – $3,700 | $2,300 | −17% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −12% |
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 Anchorage is 1.15 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131), 80% of the weighting: a median of $26.83 an hour, 14% above the US median of $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $11.91 and $31.10 an hour. About 110 work in the metro. That is 6.2 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 $27.00 an hour, 19% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.90 and $34.85 an hour. About 1,860 work in the metro. That is 105.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($31.10 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $130. At the 25th percentile ($11.91) it shrinks by about $450. The total moves by 4.7% or 16.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 177,050 jobs in the Anchorage area. That makes it the 131st 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% | $11.91 | $26.83 | $31.10 | $23.62 | 1.14 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.90 | $27.00 | $34.85 | $22.66 | 1.19 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.15 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: attic insulation pricing in Anchorage
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Anchorage 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
$1,100 to $2,400
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$2,100 to $3,400
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$3,100 to $4,400
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $670 – $1,450 | $1,250 – $2,050 | $1,850 – $2,650 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,100 – $2,400 | $2,100 – $3,400 | $3,100 – $4,400 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $2,000 – $4,350 | $3,750 – $6,150 | $5,550 – $7,900 |
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Attic insulation in Anchorage: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Anchorage?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,100 to $4,400 in the Anchorage area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,100 to $3,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Anchorage?
About $1.10 to $4.40 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 Anchorage or Bellingham?
Bellingham is 1410 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,900, which is 5% more than Anchorage ($2,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Anchorage?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,750. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Anchorage?
$1,100 to $4,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Anchorage?
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 Anchorage area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Anchorage expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Alaska?
Anchorage is 0% below the Alaska statewide estimate ($2,750 at the midpoint).
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Anchorage?
The BLS median is $26.83 an hour in the Anchorage area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $11.91 to $31.10.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Anchorage?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,100 to $2,400 and premium work $3,100 to $4,400. 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 Anchorage
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.