Attic insulation cost in Duluth, MN
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
- +2%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #68
- 1 = most expensive
Attic insulation in Duluth, MN 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 $26.13 an hour in the Duluth area, 11% above the US median of $23.62.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Duluth, MN, 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 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $850 | $1,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,950 | $3,150 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Duluth, MN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $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% |
Where the Duluth 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, Duluth wages are 1.15 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 Minnesota statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Duluth is at 95.3 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 88.8: $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 Duluth. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Duluth 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).
Planning more than one job in Duluth?
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Duluth wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, roof replacement comes out highest (+17%) and window replacement lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $7,400 – $14,400 | +17% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $12,700 – $37,000 | +16% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,750 – $26,200 | +4% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,500 – $14,800 | −1% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,450 – $4,550 | +10% |
What local crews earn in Duluth
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 Duluth the blend is 1.15.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Duluth metro, so we used the Minnesota statewide median: $26.13 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.05 and $35.24 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $29.49 an hour, which is 30% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.29 and $37.00 an hour. BLS counts 1,390 of them working in the area, 111.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than 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 $280 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 3.7% to 10.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Duluth has 124,710 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 173rd 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% | $23.05 | $26.13 | $35.24 | $23.62 | 1.11 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.29 | $29.49 | $37.00 | $22.66 | 1.30 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.15 | |||||
Duluth against nearby metros and the rest of Minnesota
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Minneapolis is the priciest of the group at $2,750. Fargo is the cheapest at $2,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MNthis page | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | |
| St. Cloud, MN155 miles | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | level |
| Minneapolis, MN160 miles | $1,100 – $4,350 | $2,750 | +7% |
| Eau Claire, WI175 miles | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −4% |
| Wausau, WI210 miles | $980 – $3,850 | $2,450 | −5% |
| Fargo, ND215 miles | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −6% |
| Minnesota (statewide) | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,650 | +3% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Duluth ranks #68 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Duluth is 3% below the Minnesota figure.
Elsewhere in Minnesota
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $1,100 – $4,350 | $2,750 | +7% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | level |
| St. Cloud, MN | 103,920 jobs | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Duluth against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −6% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −4% |
| Norwich, CT | 126,450 jobs | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −4% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $950 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −8% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: attic insulation pricing in Duluth
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Duluth. 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) | $630 – $1,350 | $1,150 – $1,900 | $1,700 – $2,450 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,050 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $4,050 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,900 – $4,050 | $3,500 – $5,700 | $5,150 – $7,300 |
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Attic insulation in Duluth: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Duluth?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,050 to $4,050 in the Duluth 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 Duluth?
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 Duluth or St. Cloud?
St. Cloud is 155 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,550, which is 0% less than Duluth ($2,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Duluth?
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 Duluth?
$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 Duluth?
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 Duluth area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Duluth expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Minnesota?
Duluth is 3% below the Minnesota statewide estimate ($2,650 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Minnesota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Duluth?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $26.13 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.05 to $35.24.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Duluth?
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 Duluth
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.