Attic insulation cost in Redding, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,050 – $4,200
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $4.20
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #50
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for attic insulation in the Redding area: $1,050 to $4,200 for 1,000 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 4% higher than the US figure. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 105.2).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Redding, CA, standard level
$2,000 to $3,250
About $2 to $3.25 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $2,150 |
| Labor | $760 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,000 | $3,250 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Redding, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $1,700 | $2,850 | 64% |
| Labor | $520 | $930 | $1,350 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,050 | $2,600 | $4,200 | 100% |
What is behind the Redding number
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, Redding wages are 1.03 times the national level. Labor makes up about 36% of the midpoint estimate (36% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the California statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Redding is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,600 nationally becomes $1,700 here (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 100.7: $0 to $0.
Data note: 80% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Redding. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Redding
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Redding. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small attic (600 sq ft) to large attic (1,800 sq ft).
Basic
$1,050 to $2,300
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$2,000 to $3,250
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,950 to $4,200
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $630 – $1,400 | $1,200 – $1,950 | $1,750 – $2,500 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $2,300 | $2,000 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,200 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,900 – $4,150 | $3,550 – $5,850 | $5,250 – $7,550 |
Is Redding cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Redding. Reno is the lowest at about $2,400 (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft), 135 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CAthis page | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | |
| Chico, CA80 miles | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | level |
| Medford, OR120 miles | $1,200 – $4,650 | $2,900 | +12% |
| Reno, NV135 miles | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −7% |
| Sacramento, CA145 miles | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | level |
| Napa, CA155 miles | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,650 | +1% |
| California (statewide) | $1,050 – $4,250 | $2,650 | +1% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Redding ranks #50 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Redding is 1% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $1,050 – $4,250 | $2,650 | +1% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $1,300 – $4,950 | $3,150 | +20% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $1,000 – $4,050 | $2,550 | −3% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $1,050 – $4,250 | $2,650 | +2% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $1,150 – $4,450 | $2,800 | +7% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Redding against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −6% |
| Bismarck, ND | 71,270 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −8% |
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $970 – $3,900 | $2,400 | −7% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +1% |
Who does the work: Redding trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Redding the blend is 1.03.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Redding metro, so we used the California statewide median: $23.48 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.78 and $35.41 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $26.82 an hour, which is 18% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.06 and $36.59 an hour. BLS counts 500 of them working in the area, 69.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $360 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $50. That is a swing of roughly 2.0% to 13.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Redding has 71,550 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 257th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $21.78 | $23.48 | $35.41 | $23.62 | 0.99 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.06 | $26.82 | $36.59 | $22.66 | 1.18 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.03 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Redding 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).
Planning more than one job in Redding?
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Redding wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+12%) and window replacement lowest (+7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,750 – $13,600 | +9% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,400 – $35,700 | +10% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,400 – $28,200 | +12% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,850 – $16,100 | +7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,450 – $4,600 | +10% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $2,000 to $3,250 for Redding, CA is attached.
Detailed attic insulation report for Redding, CA, $9
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Attic insulation in Redding: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Redding?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,050 to $4,200 in the Redding area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,000 to $3,250. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Redding?
About $1.05 to $4.20 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 Redding or Chico?
Chico is 80 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,600, which is 0% less than Redding ($2,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Redding?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $930 out of $2,600. Materials are 64% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Redding?
$1,050 to $4,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Redding?
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 Redding area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Redding expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of California?
Redding is 1% below the California statewide estimate ($2,650 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Redding?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.48 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.78 to $35.41.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Redding?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,050 to $2,300 and premium work $2,950 to $4,200. 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 Redding
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.