Attic insulation cost in Montana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (1,000 sq ft)
- $980 – $3,900
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $3.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $2,500
- Metros covered
- 3
Across Montana, attic insulation costs about $980 to $3,900 for 1,000 sq ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 3% below the US figure of $2,500. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median $23.13 an hour in Montana (US: $23.62).
Inside Montana, the metros we cover range from $2,450 (Missoula) to $2,450 (Billings) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Montana (statewide), standard level
$1,850 to $3,000
About $1.85 to $3 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $740 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,850 | $3,000 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Montana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 63% |
| Labor | $500 | $900 | $1,300 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $980 | $2,450 | $3,900 | 100% |
Montana versus the states around it
Montana ranks 31 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for attic insulation, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Washington at $2,900 and the cheapest West Virginia at $2,250, both for 1,000 sq ft at the midpoint. Montana sits at $2,450. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 270 miles away | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −4% |
| Utah | 400 miles away | $910 – $3,700 | $2,300 | −5% |
| Wyoming | 460 miles away | $950 – $3,800 | $2,400 | −2% |
| Washington | 500 miles away | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | +19% |
| Colorado | 550 miles away | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +3% |
If you are planning more than one job in Montana
Each project weights the trades differently, so Montana's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, roof replacement is +2% and window replacement −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,300 – $12,700 | +2% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,500 – $32,600 | +1% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,250 – $24,700 | −2% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,250 – $14,200 | −5% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | −1% |
Basic, standard or premium: Montana prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small attic (600 sq ft) to large attic (1,800 sq ft).
Basic
$980 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) | $590 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,350 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $980 – $2,150 | $1,850 – $3,000 | $2,700 – $3,900 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,750 – $3,850 | $3,350 – $5,400 | $4,900 – $7,000 |
Montana labor market for attic insulation
Montana's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.99 times the national level.
For insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131, weighted 80%) the local median is $23.13 an hour, which is in line with the national $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $20.54 and $27.36 an hour. BLS counts 490 of them working in the state, 9.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.9), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $23.96 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $28.24 an hour. BLS counts 4,590 of them working in the state, 89.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall ($27.36 an hour) would add about $130 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($20.54) would take off about $80. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 511,580 jobs across Montana (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $20.54 | $23.13 | $27.36 | $23.62 | 0.98 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $20.80 | $23.96 | $28.24 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Why two Montana quotes can differ
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.
Removing old insulation
Old, wet or pest-damaged insulation has to come out first, at extra cost.
Montana metro-by-metro prices
2 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $2,450, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (1,000 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | $990 – $3,950 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Bozeman, MT | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Missoula, MT | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
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Attic insulation in Montana: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Montana?
$980 to $3,900 for 1,000 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Montana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Montana is cheapest for attic insulation?
Missoula at about $2,450 (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). The priciest is Billings at $2,450.
+Is attic insulation cheaper in Montana than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $2,450 against $2,500 for 1,000 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Montana?
About 37% ($900). Materials are 63%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.99x the national wage level.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Montana?
The BLS statewide median is $23.13 an hour, against $23.62 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.54 to $27.36.
+Where does Montana rank for attic insulation costs?
31st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $2,450 for 1,000 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Montana?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $980 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 by city in Montana
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.