Attic insulation cost in Winston, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $880 – $3,650
- Per sq ft
- $0.90 – $3.65
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #293
- 1 = most expensive
Attic insulation in Winston, NC usually costs $880 to $3,650 for 1,000 sq ft. That works out to about $0.90 to $3.65 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $240 less. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $18.00 an hour in the Winston area, 24% below the US median of $23.62.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Winston, NC, standard level
$1,700 to $2,800
About $1.70 to $2.80 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 31% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $580 | $840 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,700 | $2,800 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Winston, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 69% |
| Labor | $390 | $710 | $1,050 | 31% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $880 | $2,250 | $3,650 | 100% |
Why Winston prices look the way they do
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 $18.00 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Winston is 0.79 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 31% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Winston 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 92.0: $0 to $0.
Winston against nearby metros and the rest of North Carolina
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Greensboro is the priciest of the group at $2,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winston, NCthis page | $880 – $3,650 | $2,250 | |
| Greensboro, NC30 miles | $950 – $3,800 | $2,400 | +6% |
| Burlington, NC55 miles | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Hickory, NC65 miles | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Charlotte, NC70 miles | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +5% |
| Durham, NC70 miles | $930 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +4% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | +4% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Winston ranks #293 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Winston is 4% 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 | +5% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $950 – $3,850 | $2,400 | +6% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $950 – $3,800 | $2,400 | +6% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $930 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +4% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $890 – $3,650 | $2,250 | +1% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $930 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +5% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Winston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $910 – $3,650 | $2,300 | +1% |
| Ogden, UT | 271,370 jobs | $900 – $3,700 | $2,300 | +2% |
| Reno, NV | 275,680 jobs | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | +7% |
| Jackson, MS | 270,730 jobs | $1,050 – $4,150 | $2,600 | +16% |
Why two Winston quotes can differ
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.
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).
Cost by quality level and size in Winston
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Winston. 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
$880 to $2,000
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,700 to $2,800
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,550 to $3,650
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $530 – $1,200 | $1,000 – $1,700 | $1,500 – $2,200 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $880 – $2,000 | $1,700 – $2,800 | $2,550 – $3,650 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,600 – $3,550 | $3,050 – $5,050 | $4,550 – $6,550 |
What local crews earn in Winston
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 Winston the blend is 0.79.
For insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131, weighted 80%) the local median is $18.00 an hour, which is 24% below the national $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $14.00 and $20.00 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $20.29 an hour, which is 10% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.01 and $22.76 an hour. BLS counts 2,000 of them working in the area, 73.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about 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 $60 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $120. That is a swing of roughly 5.4% to 2.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Winston-Salem has 271,980 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 94th 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% | $14.00 | $18.00 | $20.00 | $23.62 | 0.76 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $18.01 | $20.29 | $22.76 | $22.66 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Winston?
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Winston 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 | $9,000 – $29,700 | −9% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,600 – $22,800 | −10% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,850 | −8% |
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 $1,700 to $2,800 for Winston, NC is attached.
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Attic insulation in Winston: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Winston?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $880 to $3,650 in the Winston area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,700 to $2,800. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Winston?
About $0.90 to $3.65 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 Winston or Greensboro?
Greensboro is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,400, which is 6% more than Winston ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Winston?
About 31% at the midpoint, or $710 out of $2,250. Materials are 69% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Winston?
$880 to $3,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Winston?
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 Winston area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Winston expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Winston is 4% 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 Winston?
The BLS median is $18.00 an hour in the Winston area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.00 to $20.00.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Winston?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $880 to $2,000 and premium work $2,550 to $3,650. 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 Winston
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.