Attic insulation cost in Raleigh, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $950 – $3,850
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $3.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #193
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for attic insulation in the Raleigh area: $950 to $3,850 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 4% lower than the US figure. Building materials run about 3% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.6).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Raleigh, NC, standard level
$1,800 to $2,950
About $1.80 to $2.95 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 35% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $700 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,800 | $2,950 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Raleigh, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 65% |
| Labor | $470 | $850 | $1,250 | 35% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $950 | $2,400 | $3,850 | 100% |
Why Raleigh prices look the way they do
Labor is 35% 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 Raleigh the blended ratio comes out at 0.94.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Raleigh 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 98.2: $0 to $0.
How Raleigh compares
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 $2,350 to $2,400 across Raleigh and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NCthis page | $950 – $3,850 | $2,400 | |
| Durham, NC40 miles | $930 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Burlington, NC55 miles | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Fayetteville, NC60 miles | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Greenville, NC60 miles | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Greensboro, NC75 miles | $950 – $3,800 | $2,400 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −2% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Raleigh ranks #193 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Raleigh is 2% above 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% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $950 – $3,800 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $930 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $880 – $3,650 | $2,250 | −6% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $890 – $3,650 | $2,250 | −5% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $930 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Raleigh against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Providence, RI | 714,120 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $950 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +6% |
Related projects, priced for Raleigh
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Raleigh wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, roof replacement comes out highest (−6%) and vinyl siding lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,700 – $11,800 | −6% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,300 – $30,400 | −7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,750 – $23,200 | −8% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,100 | −7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $3,950 | −6% |
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Raleigh
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.
Who does the work: Raleigh 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 Raleigh the blend is 0.94.
For insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131, weighted 80%) the local median is $22.13 an hour, which is 6% below the national $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $19.43 and $25.05 an hour. BLS counts 480 of them working in the area, 6.5 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 $21.95 an hour, which is 3% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.31 and $23.77 an hour. BLS counts 6,360 of them working in the area, 85.6 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 $90 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $80. That is a swing of roughly 3.4% to 3.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Raleigh-Cary has 743,120 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 41st 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% | $19.43 | $22.13 | $25.05 | $23.62 | 0.94 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.31 | $21.95 | $23.77 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Raleigh: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Raleigh. 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
$950 to $2,100
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,800 to $2,950
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,700 to $3,850
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $570 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,300 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $950 – $2,100 | $1,800 – $2,950 | $2,700 – $3,850 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,700 – $3,800 | $3,250 – $5,350 | $4,850 – $6,900 |
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 $1,800 to $2,950 for Raleigh, NC is attached.
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Attic insulation in Raleigh: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Raleigh?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $950 to $3,850 in the Raleigh area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,800 to $2,950. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Raleigh?
About $0.95 to $3.85 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 Raleigh or Durham?
Durham is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 2% less than Raleigh ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Raleigh?
About 35% at the midpoint, or $850 out of $2,400. Materials are 65% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Raleigh?
$950 to $3,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Raleigh?
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 Raleigh area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Raleigh expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Raleigh is 2% above 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 Raleigh?
The BLS median is $22.13 an hour in the Raleigh area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.43 to $25.05.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Raleigh?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $950 to $2,100 and premium work $2,700 to $3,850. 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 Raleigh
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.