Attic insulation cost in Johnson City, TN
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
- #167
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for attic insulation in the Johnson City area: $960 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 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.2).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Johnson City, TN, 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 | $710 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,850 | $3,000 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Johnson City, TN
| 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% |
What is behind the Johnson City number
Labor is 36% 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 Johnson City the blended ratio comes out at 0.96. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Johnson City is at 96.2 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 87.9: $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 Johnson City. The wage table below marks each row.
Why two Johnson City quotes can differ
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.
Removing old insulation
Old, wet or pest-damaged insulation has to come out first, at extra cost.
How Johnson City compares
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Knoxville is the priciest of the group at $2,450. Hickory is the cheapest at $2,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson City, TNthis page | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | |
| Kingsport, TN25 miles | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | +1% |
| Asheville, NC45 miles | $930 – $3,800 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Hickory, NC60 miles | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −3% |
| Knoxville, TN100 miles | $970 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Spartanburg, SC105 miles | $950 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | +1% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Johnson City ranks #167 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Johnson City is 1% below the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +4% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $970 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | +1% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Johnson City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $920 – $3,750 | $2,300 | −3% |
| Odessa, TX | 80,910 jobs | $950 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −2% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| Greenville, NC | 80,770 jobs | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −3% |
Who does the work: Johnson City 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 Johnson City the blend is 0.96.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Johnson City metro, so we used the Tennessee statewide median: $23.28 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.94 and $27.43 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $19.79 an hour, which is 13% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.74 and $22.37 an hour. BLS counts 580 of them working in the area, 71.0 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 $130 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $130. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 5.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Johnson City has 81,690 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 234th 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% | $18.94 | $23.28 | $27.43 | $23.62 | 0.99 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.74 | $19.79 | $22.37 | $22.66 | 0.87 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Johnson City
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Johnson City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gutters comes out highest (−7%) and roof replacement lowest (−12%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,300 – $11,100 | −12% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,900 – $29,500 | −10% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,550 – $22,600 | −10% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,100 – $13,900 | −7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $3,900 | −7% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: attic insulation pricing in Johnson City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Johnson City. 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
$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 – $6,950 |
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 $1,850 to $3,000 for Johnson City, TN is attached.
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Multi-page report for Johnson City, TN: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Johnson City: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Johnson City?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $960 to $3,850 in the Johnson City 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 Johnson City?
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 Johnson City or Kingsport?
Kingsport is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,400, which is 1% more than Johnson City ($2,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Johnson City?
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 Johnson City?
$960 to $3,850. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Johnson City?
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 Johnson City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Johnson City expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Johnson City is 1% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($2,400 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Johnson City?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.28 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.94 to $27.43.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Johnson City?
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 Johnson City
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.