Attic insulation cost in Bismarck, ND
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $960 – $3,850
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $3.85
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #180
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to insulate an attic in Bismarck, plan on $960 to $3,850 for 1,000 sq ft, all in. Per sq ft, that is $0.95 to $3.85 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 4% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.7).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Bismarck, ND, standard level
$1,850 to $3,000
About $1.85 to $3 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $720 | $1,050 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,850 | $3,000 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Bismarck, ND
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 64% |
| Labor | $480 | $870 | $1,250 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $960 | $2,400 | $3,850 | 100% |
Where the Bismarck price comes from
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 $22.33 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Bismarck is 0.97 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 36% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the North Dakota statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bismarck metro is 95.7 (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 (91.0) 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 Bismarck. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Bismarck?
Because every project leans on different trades, Bismarck's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs −2% and roof replacement −6%.
| 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 | $9,650 – $31,000 | −5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,050 – $24,200 | −4% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | −2% |
Bismarck: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bismarck 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
$960 to $2,100
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 $3,850
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $580 – $1,250 | $1,100 – $1,800 | $1,600 – $2,300 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $960 – $2,100 | $1,850 – $3,000 | $2,700 – $3,850 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,750 – $3,800 | $3,300 – $5,350 | $4,850 – $6,900 |
How Bismarck compares
Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Bismarck. Sioux Falls is the lowest at about $2,350 (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft), 305 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, NDthis page | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | |
| Fargo, ND190 miles | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| Rapid City, SD210 miles | $950 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −1% |
| Sioux Falls, SD305 miles | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −1% |
| St. Cloud, MN325 miles | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +6% |
| Sioux City, IA380 miles | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
Across 300 US metros, Bismarck comes in at #180 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, Bismarck is 0% above the North Dakota figure.
Other North Dakota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 148,660 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Bismarck's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bismarck against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +9% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +9% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +2% |
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +2% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Bismarck bid
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).
Bismarck labor market for attic insulation
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 Bismarck is 0.97 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 Bismarck metro, so we used the North Dakota statewide median: $22.33 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.15 and $27.33 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.93 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.87 and $29.41 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 87.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of 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 ($27.33 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $150. At the 25th percentile ($21.15) it shrinks by about $35. The total moves by 6.3% or 1.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 71,270 jobs in the Bismarck area. That makes it the 258th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $21.15 | $22.33 | $27.33 | $23.62 | 0.95 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.87 | $23.93 | $29.41 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
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Detailed attic insulation report for Bismarck, ND, $9
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Attic insulation in Bismarck: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Bismarck?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $960 to $3,850 in the Bismarck 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 Bismarck?
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 Bismarck or Fargo?
Fargo is 190 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,400, which is 0% less than Bismarck ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bismarck?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $870 out of $2,400. Materials are 64% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Bismarck?
$960 to $3,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Bismarck?
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 Bismarck area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bismarck expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Bismarck is 0% above the North Dakota statewide estimate ($2,400 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in North Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Bismarck?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $22.33 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.15 to $27.33.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Bismarck?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $960 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 Bismarck
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.