Attic insulation cost in Portland, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $980 – $3,900
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $3.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #142
- 1 = most expensive
Portland homeowners pay roughly $980 to $3,900 to insulate an attic at 1,000 sq ft, or $1 to $3.90 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Portland is almost level. 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 Portland, ME, standard level
$1,850 to $3,050
About $1.85 to $3.05 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $2,000 |
| Labor | $730 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,850 | $3,050 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Portland, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 64% |
| Labor | $490 | $890 | $1,300 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $980 | $2,450 | $3,900 | 100% |
Where the Portland price comes from
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, Portland wages are 0.99 times the national level. Labor makes up about 36% of the midpoint estimate (36% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Portland metro is 97.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $1,550, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (101.9) and land at $0 to $0.
Pick a size, pick a tier: attic insulation pricing in Portland
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Portland 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
$980 to $2,150
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,850 to $3,050
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,750 to $3,900
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $590 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,350 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $980 – $2,150 | $1,850 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,900 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,750 – $3,850 | $3,350 – $5,450 | $4,950 – $7,050 |
Portland against nearby metros and the rest of Maine
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 $2,450 to $2,550 across Portland and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, MEthis page | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | |
| Manchester, NH85 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +2% |
| Boston, MA85 miles | $1,050 – $4,100 | $2,550 | +5% |
| Worcester, MA120 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +2% |
| Barnstable, MA135 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +2% |
| Providence, RI140 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +2% |
| Maine (statewide) | $970 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Portland comes in at #142 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, Portland is 0% above the Maine figure.
Other Maine metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $970 – $3,900 | $2,400 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Portland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +7% |
| Lexington, KY | 286,910 jobs | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −4% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +4% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +2% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Portland bid
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.
What nearby projects cost in Portland
Because every project leans on different trades, Portland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs +1% and roof replacement −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,800 – $11,900 | −5% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,800 – $31,500 | −3% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,500 – $25,500 | +1% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,350 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | −1% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Portland is 0.99 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131), 80% of the weighting: a median of $23.08 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $20.50 and $27.20 an hour. About 250 work in the metro. That is 8.7 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 $23.31 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.50 and $27.46 an hour. About 1,470 work in the metro. That is 51.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer 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 ($27.20 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $130. At the 25th percentile ($20.50) it shrinks by about $80. The total moves by 5.1% or 3.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 288,480 jobs in the Portland-South Portland area. That makes it the 89th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.19% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $20.50 | $23.08 | $27.20 | $23.62 | 0.98 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.50 | $23.31 | $27.46 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
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Detailed attic insulation report for Portland, ME, $9
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Attic insulation in Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Portland?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $980 to $3,900 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,850 to $3,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Portland?
About $1 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 Portland or Manchester?
Manchester is 85 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,500, which is 2% more than Portland ($2,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $890 out of $2,450. Materials are 64% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Portland?
$980 to $3,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Portland?
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 Portland area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Maine?
Portland is 0% above 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 Portland?
The BLS median is $23.08 an hour in the Portland area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.50 to $27.20.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Portland?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $980 to $2,150 and premium work $2,750 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 Portland
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.