Attic insulation cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,050 – $4,000
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $4
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $2,500
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to insulate an attic in Iowa? Plan on $1,050 to $4,000 for 1,000 sq ft. Wages (1.11x the US blend), materials (price index 93.7) and permit costs (87.8) put the state above the national midpoint by 0%.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $2,400 (Sioux City) to $2,700 (Des Moines) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your attic insulation cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Iowa (statewide), standard level
$1,900 to $3,100
About $1.90 to $3.10 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,900 |
| Labor | $820 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,900 | $3,100 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $1,500 | $2,550 | 60% |
| Labor | $560 | $1,000 | $1,450 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,050 | $2,500 | $4,000 | 100% |
Related projects, priced for Iowa
Each project weights the trades differently, so Iowa's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, vinyl siding is −4% and roof replacement −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,550 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,450 – $30,400 | −7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,100 – $24,300 | −4% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,300 – $14,300 | −5% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,000 | −4% |
Wages behind the Iowa number
Iowa's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.11 times the national level.
For insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131, weighted 80%) the local median is $26.84 an hour, which is 14% above the national $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $21.72 and $34.72 an hour. BLS counts 460 of them working in the state, 3.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.9), so the local bench is about average.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $23.31 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.11 an hour. BLS counts 13,780 of them working in the state, 88.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall ($34.72 an hour) would add about $240 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.72) would take off about $160. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $21.72 | $26.84 | $34.72 | $23.62 | 1.14 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.90 | $23.31 | $28.11 | $22.66 | 1.03 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
Why two Iowa quotes can differ
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).
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.
Basic, standard or premium: Iowa prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small attic (600 sq ft) to large attic (1,800 sq ft).
Basic
$1,050 to $2,200
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,900 to $3,100
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,800 to $4,000
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $620 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,400 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $2,200 | $1,900 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $4,000 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,850 – $3,950 | $3,450 – $5,550 | $5,050 – $7,150 |
Attic insulation cost by metro in Iowa
2 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $2,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 13%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (1,000 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | $1,150 – $4,300 | $2,700 | +9% |
| Davenport, IA | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +1% |
| Waterloo, IA | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Dubuque, IA | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −4% |
Iowa against its neighbors
Iowa ranks 22 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for attic insulation, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Washington at $2,900 and the cheapest West Virginia at $2,250, both for 1,000 sq ft at the midpoint. Iowa sits at $2,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $1,150 – $4,350 | $2,750 | +10% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $1,050 – $4,100 | $2,600 | +3% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −2% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,650 | +5% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $1,100 – $4,250 | $2,650 | +7% |
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 $1,900 to $3,100 for Iowa is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for Iowa: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Iowa?
$1,050 to $4,000 for 1,000 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for attic insulation?
Sioux City at about $2,400 (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). The priciest is Des Moines at $2,700.
+Is attic insulation cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 0% more expensive: $2,500 against $2,500 for 1,000 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 40% ($1,000). Materials are 60%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.11x the national wage level.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $26.84 an hour, against $23.62 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.72 to $34.72.
+Where does Iowa rank for attic insulation costs?
22nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $2,500 for 1,000 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Iowa?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,050 to $2,200 and premium work $2,800 to $4,000. 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 by city in Iowa
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.