Attic insulation cost in Denver, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,050 – $4,100
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $4.10
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #64
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to insulate an attic in Denver, plan on $1,050 to $4,100 for 1,000 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $1.05 to $4.10 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $24.87 an hour in the Denver area, 5% above the US median of $23.62.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Denver, CO, standard level
$1,950 to $3,150
About $1.95 to $3.15 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $2,050 |
| Labor | $780 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,950 | $3,150 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Denver, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $500 | $1,600 | $2,750 | 63% |
| Labor | $520 | $940 | $1,350 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,050 | $2,550 | $4,100 | 100% |
Why Denver prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall, who do 80% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.87 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Denver is 1.05 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Denver metro is 101.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $1,600, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.8) and land at $0 to $0.
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Denver
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).
Planning more than one job in Denver?
Because every project leans on different trades, Denver's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, window replacement runs +3% and metal roof +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,150 – $12,700 | +1% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,200 – $32,800 | +1% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,650 – $26,000 | +3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,700 – $15,500 | +3% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,250 | +1% |
Denver labor market for attic insulation
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 Denver is 1.05 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131), 80% of the weighting: a median of $24.87 an hour, 5% above the US median of $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $23.42 and $30.47 an hour. About 730 work in the metro. That is 4.5 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 $23.44 an hour, 3% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.48 and $27.44 an hour. About 9,650 work in the metro. That is 60.0 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 ($30.47 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $170. At the 25th percentile ($23.42) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 6.7% or 1.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,609,350 jobs in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial area. That makes it the 17th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.03% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $23.42 | $24.87 | $30.47 | $23.62 | 1.05 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.48 | $23.44 | $27.44 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Denver against nearby metros and the rest of Colorado
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 $2,450 to $2,600 across Denver and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, COthis page | $1,050 – $4,100 | $2,550 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO45 miles | $1,050 – $4,100 | $2,600 | +1% |
| Boulder, CO55 miles | $1,000 – $3,950 | $2,450 | −4% |
| Greeley, CO80 miles | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −4% |
| Fort Collins, CO90 miles | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −5% |
| Pueblo, CO90 miles | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −4% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −2% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Denver comes in at #64 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, Denver is 2% above the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $1,050 – $4,100 | $2,600 | +1% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $1,000 – $3,950 | $2,450 | −4% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −5% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −4% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −4% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Denver's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Denver against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $1,000 – $4,050 | $2,550 | −1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $1,050 – $4,250 | $2,650 | +4% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $990 – $3,950 | $2,500 | −3% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $950 – $3,800 | $2,400 | −7% |
Denver: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Denver 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
$1,050 to $2,250
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,950 to $3,150
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,850 to $4,100
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $620 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,450 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $4,100 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,850 – $4,050 | $3,500 – $5,700 | $5,150 – $7,350 |
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Attic insulation in Denver: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Denver?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,050 to $4,100 in the Denver area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,950 to $3,150. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Denver?
About $1.05 to $4.10 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 Denver or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,600, which is 1% more than Denver ($2,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Denver?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $940 out of $2,550. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Denver?
$1,050 to $4,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Denver?
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 Denver area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Denver expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Colorado?
Denver is 2% above the Colorado statewide estimate ($2,500 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Denver?
The BLS median is $24.87 an hour in the Denver area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.42 to $30.47.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Denver?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,050 to $2,250 and premium work $2,850 to $4,100. 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 Denver
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.