Attic insulation cost in Kahului, HI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,150 – $4,500
- Per sq ft
- $1.15 – $4.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #14
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to insulate an attic in Kahului, plan on $1,150 to $4,500 for 1,000 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $1.15 to $4.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% higher than the national one. Building materials run about 12% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 111.6).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Kahului, HI, standard level
$2,150 to $3,500
About $2.15 to $3.50 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $2,300 |
| Labor | $840 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,150 | $3,500 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Kahului, HI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $560 | $1,800 | $3,000 | 64% |
| Labor | $570 | $1,000 | $1,500 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,150 | $2,800 | $4,500 | 100% |
Where the Kahului price comes from
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 $23.62 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Kahului is 1.14 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 36% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the area, so we used the national median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Kahului metro is 111.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $1,800, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (109.4) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 80% of the labor weighting for this project uses a national median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Kahului. The wage table below marks each row.
How Kahului 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 $2,600 to $3,150 across Kahului and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahului, HIthis page | $1,150 – $4,500 | $2,800 | |
| Honolulu, HI110 miles | $1,100 – $4,500 | $2,800 | level |
| Santa Rosa, CA2340 miles | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,650 | −6% |
| Santa Cruz, CA2350 miles | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | −7% |
| San Francisco, CA2355 miles | $1,300 – $4,950 | $3,150 | +11% |
| Napa, CA2370 miles | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,650 | −7% |
| Hawaii (statewide) | $1,100 – $4,500 | $2,800 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −11% |
Across 300 US metros, Kahului comes in at #14 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, Kahului is 0% above the Hawaii figure.
Other Hawaii metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu, HI | 446,380 jobs | $1,100 – $4,500 | $2,800 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Kahului's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Kahului against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $950 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −16% |
| Bloomington, IN | 73,240 jobs | $1,000 – $3,950 | $2,500 | −11% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −16% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −17% |
Kahului 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 Kahului is 1.14 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Kahului metro, so we used the national median: $23.62 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.77 and $29.32 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $38.35 an hour, 69% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $28.72 and $47.03 an hour. About 630 work in the metro. That is 85.4 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 ($29.32 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $170. At the 25th percentile ($20.77) it shrinks by about $85. The total moves by 6.2% or 3.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 73,750 jobs in the Kahului-Wailuku area. That makes it the 250th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $20.77 | $23.62 | $29.32 | $23.62 | 1.00 | US |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $28.72 | $38.35 | $47.03 | $22.66 | 1.69 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.14 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Kahului
Because every project leans on different trades, Kahului's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs +30% and roof replacement +16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $7,150 – $14,500 | +16% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $12,400 – $38,500 | +19% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $10,900 – $32,700 | +30% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,450 – $17,700 | +19% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,650 – $5,200 | +25% |
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Kahului
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).
Cost by quality level and size in Kahului
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Kahului 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
$1,150 to $2,450
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$2,150 to $3,500
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$3,150 to $4,500
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $680 – $1,500 | $1,300 – $2,100 | $1,900 – $2,700 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,150 – $2,450 | $2,150 – $3,500 | $3,150 – $4,500 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $2,050 – $4,450 | $3,850 – $6,250 | $5,650 – $8,100 |
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 $2,150 to $3,500 for Kahului, HI is attached.
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Attic insulation in Kahului: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Kahului?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,150 to $4,500 in the Kahului area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,150 to $3,500. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Kahului?
About $1.15 to $4.50 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 Kahului or Honolulu?
Honolulu is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,800, which is 0% less than Kahului ($2,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Kahului?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $1,000 out of $2,800. Materials are 64% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Kahului?
$1,150 to $4,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Kahului?
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 Kahului area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Kahului expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Hawaii?
Kahului is 0% above the Hawaii statewide estimate ($2,800 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Hawaii; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Kahului?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the national median of $23.62 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.77 to $29.32.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Kahului?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,150 to $2,450 and premium work $3,150 to $4,500. 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 Kahului
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.