Attic insulation cost in Davenport, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,050 – $4,050
- Per sq ft
- $1.05 – $4.05
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #84
- 1 = most expensive
Attic insulation in Davenport, IA usually costs $1,050 to $4,050 for 1,000 sq ft. That works out to about $1.05 to $4.05 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $26.84 an hour in the Davenport area, 14% above the US median of $23.62.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Davenport, IA, standard level
$1,950 to $3,150
About $1.95 to $3.15 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 40% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,900 |
| Labor | $840 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,950 | $3,150 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Davenport, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $1,500 | $2,550 | 60% |
| Labor | $570 | $1,050 | $1,500 | 40% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,050 | $2,550 | $4,050 | 100% |
What is behind the Davenport 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, Davenport wages are 1.14 times the national level. Labor makes up about 40% of the midpoint estimate (36% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Davenport is at 94.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,600 nationally becomes $1,500 here (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 89.1: $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 Davenport. The wage table below marks each row.
What local crews earn in Davenport
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 Davenport the blend is 1.14.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Davenport metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $26.84 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.72 and $34.72 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $26.14 an hour, which is 15% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.74 and $33.98 an hour. BLS counts 1,320 of them working in the area, 73.2 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 $240 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $160. That is a swing of roughly 6.2% to 9.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island has 180,450 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 128th 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% | $21.72 | $26.84 | $34.72 | $23.62 | 1.14 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.74 | $26.14 | $33.98 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.14 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Davenport 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).
Davenport against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Davenport is the priciest of the group. Rockford is the cheapest at $2,450.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IAthis page | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | |
| Iowa City, IA60 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −1% |
| Peoria, IL65 miles | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −1% |
| Dubuque, IA75 miles | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA75 miles | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −1% |
| Rockford, IL100 miles | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −3% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −1% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Davenport ranks #84 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Davenport is 1% above the Iowa figure.
Elsewhere in Iowa
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $1,150 – $4,300 | $2,700 | +7% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −1% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −1% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −1% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −5% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Davenport against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $930 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −7% |
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $910 – $3,700 | $2,300 | −9% |
| Lincoln, NE | 182,620 jobs | $1,150 – $4,350 | $2,750 | +9% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −7% |
What nearby projects cost in Davenport
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Davenport wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (level) and roof replacement lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,600 – $11,500 | −8% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,700 – $30,900 | −5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,400 – $25,300 | level |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,350 – $14,400 | −4% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | −1% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: attic insulation pricing in Davenport
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Davenport. 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 $2,250
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 $4,050
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 – $2,400 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $4,050 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,850 – $4,000 | $3,500 – $5,650 | $5,100 – $7,250 |
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Attic insulation in Davenport: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Davenport?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,050 to $4,050 in the Davenport 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 Davenport?
About $1.05 to $4.05 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 Davenport or Iowa City?
Iowa City is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,500, which is 1% less than Davenport ($2,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Davenport?
About 40% at the midpoint, or $1,050 out of $2,550. Materials are 60% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Davenport?
$1,050 to $4,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Davenport?
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 Davenport area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Davenport expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Iowa?
Davenport is 1% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($2,500 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Davenport?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $26.84 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.72 to $34.72.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Davenport?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,050 to $2,250 and premium work $2,850 to $4,050. 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 Davenport
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.