Attic insulation cost in Manchester, NH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,000 – $4,000
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $4
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #114
- 1 = most expensive
Manchester homeowners pay roughly $1,000 to $4,000 to insulate an attic at 1,000 sq ft, or $1 to $4 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Manchester is almost level. Building materials run about 2% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 97.7).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Manchester, NH, standard level
$1,900 to $3,100
About $1.90 to $3.10 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 37% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $2,000 |
| Labor | $770 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,900 | $3,100 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Manchester, NH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $490 | $1,550 | $2,650 | 63% |
| Labor | $520 | $930 | $1,350 | 37% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,000 | $2,500 | $4,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Manchester 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 $24.67 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Manchester is 1.04 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 37% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the New Hampshire statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Manchester metro is 97.7 (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 (105.7) 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 Manchester. The wage table below marks each row.
Manchester against nearby metros and the rest of New Hampshire
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group at $2,550. Portland is the cheapest at $2,450.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester, NHthis page | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | |
| Worcester, MA45 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Boston, MA45 miles | $1,050 – $4,100 | $2,550 | +2% |
| Amherst, MA60 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Springfield, MA70 miles | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −2% |
| New Hampshire (statewide) | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +1% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Manchester comes in at #114 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, Manchester is 1% below the New Hampshire figure.
Manchester is the only New Hampshire metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Manchester's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Manchester against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria, CA | 200,760 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +5% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −7% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | level |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,650 | +5% |
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 Manchester is 1.04 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 Manchester metro, so we used the New Hampshire statewide median: $24.67 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.62 and $28.84 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $22.84 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.68 and $26.49 an hour. About 1,070 work in the metro. That is 53.6 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 ($28.84 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $130. At the 25th percentile ($22.62) it shrinks by about $60. The total moves by 5.1% or 2.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 199,560 jobs in the Manchester-Nashua area. That makes it the 115th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.13% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $22.62 | $24.67 | $28.84 | $23.62 | 1.04 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $19.68 | $22.84 | $26.49 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Manchester
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.
Related projects, priced for Manchester
Because every project leans on different trades, Manchester's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, roof replacement runs +1% and window replacement −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,200 – $12,700 | +1% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,300 – $32,500 | level |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,350 – $25,000 | −1% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,500 – $14,800 | −1% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | −1% |
Cost by quality level and size in Manchester
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Manchester 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
$1,000 to $2,200
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,900 to $3,100
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,800 to $4,000
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $600 – $1,300 | $1,150 – $1,850 | $1,700 – $2,400 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,000 – $2,200 | $1,900 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $4,000 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,800 – $3,950 | $3,400 – $5,550 | $5,050 – $7,150 |
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Attic insulation in Manchester: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Manchester?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,000 to $4,000 in the Manchester area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,900 to $3,100. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Manchester?
About $1 to $4 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 Manchester or Worcester?
Worcester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,500, which is 0% more than Manchester ($2,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Manchester?
About 37% at the midpoint, or $930 out of $2,500. Materials are 63% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Manchester?
$1,000 to $4,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Manchester?
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 Manchester area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Manchester expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of New Hampshire?
Manchester is 1% below the New Hampshire statewide estimate ($2,500 at the midpoint).
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Manchester?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $24.67 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.62 to $28.84.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Manchester?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,000 to $2,200 and premium work $2,800 to $4,000. 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 Manchester
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.