Attic insulation cost in Sioux City, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $970 – $3,850
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $3.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #165
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to insulate an attic in Sioux City, plan on $970 to $3,850 for 1,000 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $0.95 to $3.85 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 94.0).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Sioux City, IA, standard level
$1,850 to $3,000
About $1.85 to $3 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,900 |
| Labor | $740 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,850 | $3,000 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Sioux City, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $1,500 | $2,550 | 62% |
| Labor | $500 | $900 | $1,300 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $970 | $2,400 | $3,850 | 100% |
Why Sioux City 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 $23.56 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Sioux City is 1.00 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 38% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Sioux City metro is 94.0 (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 (86.5) and land at $0 to $0.
Sioux City against nearby metros and the rest of Iowa
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 $2,350 to $2,900 across Sioux City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux City, IAthis page | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | |
| Sioux Falls, SD75 miles | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Omaha, NE85 miles | $1,250 – $4,550 | $2,900 | +20% |
| Lincoln, NE120 miles | $1,150 – $4,350 | $2,750 | +14% |
| Des Moines, IA145 miles | $1,150 – $4,300 | $2,700 | +13% |
| Waterloo, IA195 miles | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Sioux City comes in at #165 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, Sioux City is 4% below the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $1,150 – $4,300 | $2,700 | +13% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +5% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
Cities with a workforce like Sioux City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Sioux City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 75,070 jobs | $950 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Blacksburg, VA | 74,070 jobs | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Kenosha, WI | 75,450 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +9% |
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $950 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −1% |
Sioux City 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 Sioux City is 1.00 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131), 80% of the weighting: a median of $23.56 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $22.25 and $28.94 an hour. About 90 work in the metro. That is 12.0 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 $23.38 an hour, 3% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.71 and $28.72 an hour. About 560 work in the metro. That is 74.7 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 ($28.94 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $160. At the 25th percentile ($22.25) it shrinks by about $40. The total moves by 6.8% or 1.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 75,010 jobs in the Sioux City area. That makes it the 247th 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% | $22.25 | $23.56 | $28.94 | $23.62 | 1.00 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.71 | $23.38 | $28.72 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Sioux City
Because every project leans on different trades, Sioux City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs −4% and roof replacement −10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,450 – $11,300 | −10% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,350 – $30,100 | −7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,850 – $23,500 | −7% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,250 – $14,200 | −6% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,000 | −4% |
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Sioux City
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).
Pick a size, pick a tier: attic insulation pricing in Sioux City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Sioux City 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
$970 to $2,100
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,850 to $3,000
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,700 to $3,850
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $580 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,300 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $970 – $2,100 | $1,850 – $3,000 | $2,700 – $3,850 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,750 – $3,800 | $3,300 – $5,350 | $4,850 – $6,900 |
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 $1,850 to $3,000 for Sioux City, IA is attached.
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Multi-page report for Sioux City, IA: 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 Sioux City: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Sioux City?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $970 to $3,850 in the Sioux City area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,850 to $3,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Sioux City?
About $0.95 to $3.85 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 Sioux City or Sioux Falls?
Sioux Falls is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 2% less than Sioux City ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Sioux City?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $900 out of $2,400. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Sioux City?
$970 to $3,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Sioux City?
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 Sioux City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Sioux City expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Iowa?
Sioux City is 4% below 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 Sioux City?
The BLS median is $23.56 an hour in the Sioux City area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.25 to $28.94.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Sioux City?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $970 to $2,100 and premium work $2,700 to $3,850. 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 Sioux City
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.