Attic insulation cost in Des Moines, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,150 – $4,300
- Per sq ft
- $1.15 – $4.30
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #27
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to insulate an attic in Des Moines, plan on $1,150 to $4,300 for 1,000 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $1.15 to $4.30 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 9% higher than the national one. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $33.85 an hour in the Des Moines area, 43% above the US median of $23.62.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Des Moines, IA, standard level
$2,100 to $3,350
About $2.10 to $3.35 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 45% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,900 |
| Labor | $1,000 | $1,450 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,100 | $3,350 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Des Moines, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $1,500 | $2,550 | 55% |
| Labor | $680 | $1,200 | $1,750 | 45% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,150 | $2,700 | $4,300 | 100% |
Why Des Moines prices look the way they do
Labor is 45% of the midpoint bill here, against 36% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (80%), construction laborers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Des Moines the blended ratio comes out at 1.36.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Des Moines metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $1,500, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.7) and land at $0 to $0.
Des Moines: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Des Moines 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 $2,400
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$2,100 to $3,350
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$3,050 to $4,300
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $690 – $1,450 | $1,250 – $2,000 | $1,800 – $2,600 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,150 – $2,400 | $2,100 – $3,350 | $3,050 – $4,300 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $2,050 – $4,350 | $3,750 – $6,050 | $5,450 – $7,750 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Des Moines bid
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).
Des Moines against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Des Moines. Sioux City is the lowest at about $2,400 (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft), 145 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IAthis page | $1,150 – $4,300 | $2,700 | |
| Waterloo, IA95 miles | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −8% |
| Iowa City, IA110 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −8% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA115 miles | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −8% |
| Omaha, NE120 miles | $1,250 – $4,550 | $2,900 | +6% |
| Sioux City, IA145 miles | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −12% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −8% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −8% |
Across 300 US metros, Des Moines comes in at #27 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, Des Moines is 9% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | −7% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −8% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −8% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −8% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −12% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −8% |
Cities with a workforce like Des Moines's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Des Moines against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −8% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −10% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −12% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $900 – $3,700 | $2,300 | −16% |
What nearby projects cost in Des Moines
Because every project leans on different trades, Des Moines's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs −1% and roof replacement −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,650 – $11,600 | −8% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,550 – $30,600 | −6% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,250 – $24,800 | −1% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,050 | −3% |
Des Moines 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 Des Moines is 1.36 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131), 80% of the weighting: a median of $33.85 an hour, 43% above the US median of $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $22.16 and $35.69 an hour. About 200 work in the metro. That is 4.9 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 $24.03 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.67 and $28.91 an hour. About 3,510 work in the metro. That is 86.9 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 ($35.69 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $55. At the 25th percentile ($22.16) it shrinks by about $360. The total moves by 2.1% or 13.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 404,130 jobs in the Des Moines-West Des Moines area. That makes it the 64th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $22.16 | $33.85 | $35.69 | $23.62 | 1.43 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.67 | $24.03 | $28.91 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.36 | |||||
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Attic insulation in Des Moines: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Des Moines?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,150 to $4,300 in the Des Moines area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,100 to $3,350. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Des Moines?
About $1.15 to $4.30 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 Des Moines or Waterloo?
Waterloo is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,500, which is 8% less than Des Moines ($2,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Des Moines?
About 45% at the midpoint, or $1,200 out of $2,700. Materials are 55% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Des Moines?
$1,150 to $4,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Des Moines?
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 Des Moines area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Des Moines expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Iowa?
Des Moines is 9% 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 Des Moines?
The BLS median is $33.85 an hour in the Des Moines area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.16 to $35.69.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Des Moines?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,150 to $2,400 and premium work $3,050 to $4,300. 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 Des Moines
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.