Attic insulation cost in Burlington, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $920 – $3,750
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $3.75
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #267
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for attic insulation in the Burlington area: $920 to $3,750 for 1,000 sq ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 6% lower than the US figure. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $20.67 an hour in the Burlington area, 12% below the US median of $23.62.
Estimate your attic insulation cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Burlington, NC, standard level
$1,750 to $2,900
About $1.75 to $2.90 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 34% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $650 | $930 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,750 | $2,900 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Burlington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 66% |
| Labor | $440 | $790 | $1,150 | 34% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $920 | $2,350 | $3,750 | 100% |
Why Burlington prices look the way they do
Labor is 34% of the midpoint bill here, against 36% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (80%), construction laborers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Burlington the blended ratio comes out at 0.88. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Burlington is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,600 nationally becomes $1,550 here (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.2: $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 Burlington. The wage table below marks each row.
Burlington against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Raleigh is the priciest of the group at $2,400. Winston is the cheapest at $2,250.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington, NCthis page | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | |
| Durham, NC15 miles | $930 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +1% |
| Greensboro, NC20 miles | $950 – $3,800 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Winston, NC55 miles | $880 – $3,650 | $2,250 | −4% |
| Raleigh, NC55 miles | $950 – $3,850 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | level |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +7% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Burlington ranks #267 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Burlington is 0% below the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +1% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $950 – $3,850 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $950 – $3,800 | $2,400 | +2% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $930 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $880 – $3,650 | $2,250 | −4% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $890 – $3,650 | $2,250 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Burlington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +7% |
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +1% |
| Traverse City, MI | 68,440 jobs | $950 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +1% |
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $860 – $3,600 | $2,250 | −5% |
Who does the work: Burlington trade wages
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 Burlington the blend is 0.88.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Burlington metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $20.67 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $17.49 and $23.07 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $20.35 an hour, which is 10% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.66 and $22.91 an hour. BLS counts 400 of them working in the area, 59.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner 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 $75 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 4.1% to 3.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Burlington has 67,830 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 266th 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% | $17.49 | $20.67 | $23.07 | $23.62 | 0.88 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.66 | $20.35 | $22.91 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Burlington
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Burlington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, window replacement comes out highest (−7%) and vinyl siding lowest (−10%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,550 – $11,500 | −8% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,950 – $29,700 | −9% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,550 – $22,700 | −10% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,100 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,850 | −8% |
Cost by quality level and size in Burlington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Burlington. 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
$920 to $2,050
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,750 to $2,900
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,600 to $3,750
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $550 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,750 | $1,550 – $2,250 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $920 – $2,050 | $1,750 – $2,900 | $2,600 – $3,750 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,650 – $3,700 | $3,200 – $5,250 | $4,700 – $6,750 |
Why two Burlington 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.
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $1,750 to $2,900 for Burlington, NC is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the attic insulation numbers for Burlington, NC line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Attic insulation in Burlington: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Burlington?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $920 to $3,750 in the Burlington area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,750 to $2,900. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Burlington?
About $0.90 to $3.75 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 Burlington or Durham?
Durham is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 1% more than Burlington ($2,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Burlington?
About 34% at the midpoint, or $790 out of $2,350. Materials are 66% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Burlington?
$920 to $3,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Burlington?
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 Burlington area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Burlington expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Burlington is 0% below the North Carolina statewide estimate ($2,350 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Burlington?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $20.67 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.49 to $23.07.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Burlington?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $920 to $2,050 and premium work $2,600 to $3,750. 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 Burlington
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.