Attic insulation cost in Bangor, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $970 – $3,900
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $3.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #153
- 1 = most expensive
Attic insulation in Bangor, ME usually costs $970 to $3,900 for 1,000 sq ft. That works out to about $0.95 to $3.90 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $75 less. Building materials run about 3% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 97.2).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Bangor, ME, standard level
$1,850 to $3,000
About $1.85 to $3 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $2,000 |
| Labor | $720 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,850 | $3,000 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Bangor, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 64% |
| Labor | $480 | $870 | $1,250 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $970 | $2,400 | $3,900 | 100% |
Why Bangor 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 $22.97 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Bangor is 0.97 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 36% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Maine statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bangor is at 97.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,600 nationally becomes $1,550 here (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.5: $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 Bangor. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Bangor
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bangor. 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
$970 to $2,150
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 $3,900
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $580 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,350 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $970 – $2,150 | $1,850 – $3,000 | $2,700 – $3,900 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,750 – $3,850 | $3,300 – $5,400 | $4,900 – $7,000 |
Related projects, priced for Bangor
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bangor wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (−4%) and roof replacement lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,500 – $11,500 | −9% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,250 – $30,400 | −7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,050 – $24,200 | −4% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,250 – $14,300 | −5% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $4,000 | −4% |
What local crews earn in Bangor
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 Bangor the blend is 0.97.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bangor metro, so we used the Maine statewide median: $22.97 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.38 and $27.65 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $21.35 an hour, which is 6% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.60 and $22.35 an hour. BLS counts 530 of them working in the area, 73.3 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 $140 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $110. That is a swing of roughly 4.5% to 5.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bangor has 72,270 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 255th 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% | $19.38 | $22.97 | $27.65 | $23.62 | 0.97 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.60 | $21.35 | $22.35 | $22.66 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
How Bangor compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Bangor. Portland comes closest at about $2,450.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, MEthis page | $970 – $3,900 | $2,400 | |
| Portland, ME150 miles | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Burlington, VT220 miles | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +4% |
| Manchester, NH230 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +3% |
| Boston, MA230 miles | $1,050 – $4,100 | $2,550 | +5% |
| Barnstable, MA265 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +3% |
| Maine (statewide) | $970 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bangor ranks #153 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bangor is 0% below the Maine figure.
Elsewhere in Maine
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ME | 288,480 jobs | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bangor against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 72,280 jobs | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −3% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −4% |
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +8% |
Why two Bangor quotes can differ
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).
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Attic insulation in Bangor: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Bangor?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $970 to $3,900 in the Bangor 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 Bangor?
About $0.95 to $3.90 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 Bangor or Portland?
Portland is 150 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,450, which is 1% more than Bangor ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bangor?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $870 out of $2,400. Materials are 64% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Bangor?
$970 to $3,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Bangor?
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 Bangor area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bangor expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Maine?
Bangor is 0% below the Maine statewide estimate ($2,450 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Maine; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Bangor?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $22.97 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.38 to $27.65.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Bangor?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $970 to $2,150 and premium work $2,700 to $3,900. 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 Bangor
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.