Attic insulation cost in Missoula, MT
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
- −3%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #149
- 1 = most expensive
Missoula 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, Missoula is almost level. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.0).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Missoula, MT, 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 Missoula, MT
| 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% |
What is behind the Missoula number
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 $23.13 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Missoula is 1.00 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Montana statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Missoula metro is 96.0 (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 (96.4) and land at $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 Missoula. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: attic insulation pricing in Missoula
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Missoula 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 $3,000
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 |
Planning more than one job in Missoula?
Because every project leans on different trades, Missoula's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, roof replacement runs +5% and window replacement −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,550 – $13,100 | +5% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,800 – $33,300 | +3% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,150 – $24,500 | −3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,250 – $14,200 | −5% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | level |
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 Missoula is 1.00 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Missoula metro, so we used the Montana statewide median: $23.13 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $20.54 and $27.36 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $24.00 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.41 and $26.36 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 76.0 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 ($27.36 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $130. At the 25th percentile ($20.54) it shrinks by about $80. The total moves by 5.3% or 3.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 67,070 jobs in the Missoula area. That makes it the 270th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% 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% | $21.41 | $24.00 | $26.36 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Is Missoula cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $2,300 to $2,800 across Missoula and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MTthis page | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID120 miles | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −4% |
| Spokane, WA175 miles | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | +14% |
| Bozeman, MT185 miles | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Kennewick, WA240 miles | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | +14% |
| Idaho Falls, ID255 miles | $920 – $3,750 | $2,300 | −4% |
| Montana (statewide) | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Missoula comes in at #149 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, Missoula is 0% above the Montana figure.
Other Montana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $990 – $3,950 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Missoula's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Missoula against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $910 – $3,700 | $2,300 | −5% |
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $860 – $3,600 | $2,250 | −8% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −4% |
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Missoula
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).
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed attic insulation report for Missoula, MT, $9
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Attic insulation in Missoula: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Missoula?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $980 to $3,900 in the Missoula 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 Missoula?
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 Missoula or Coeur d'Alene?
Coeur d'Alene is 120 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 4% less than Missoula ($2,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Missoula?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $900 out of $2,450. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Missoula?
$980 to $3,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Missoula?
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 Missoula area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Missoula expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Montana?
Missoula is 0% above the Montana statewide estimate ($2,450 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Montana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Missoula?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.13 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.54 to $27.36.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Missoula?
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 near Missoula
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.