Attic insulation cost in College Station, TX
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $940 – $3,750
- Per sq ft
- $0.95 – $3.75
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #247
- 1 = most expensive
College Station homeowners pay roughly $940 to $3,750 to insulate an attic at 1,000 sq ft, or $0.95 to $3.75 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, College Station is 6% lower. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in College Station, TX, standard level
$1,800 to $2,900
About $1.80 to $2.90 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 36% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,900 |
| Labor | $700 | $1,000 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,800 | $2,900 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in College Station, TX
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $1,500 | $2,550 | 64% |
| Labor | $480 | $860 | $1,250 | 36% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $940 | $2,350 | $3,750 | 100% |
What is behind the College Station number
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 $23.43 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for College Station is 0.95 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 36% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Texas statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the College Station metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $1,500, 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 College Station. The wage table below marks each row.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 College Station is 0.95 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 College Station metro, so we used the Texas statewide median: $23.43 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $19.55 and $27.06 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $17.88 an hour, 21% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.43 and $20.78 an hour. About 770 work in the metro. That is 57.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer 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 ($27.06 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $110. At the 25th percentile ($19.55) it shrinks by about $120. The total moves by 4.7% or 5.0%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 134,040 jobs in the College Station-Bryan area. That makes it the 164th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.09% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $19.55 | $23.43 | $27.06 | $23.62 | 0.99 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $16.43 | $17.88 | $20.78 | $22.66 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.95 | |||||
How College Station compares
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Houston is the priciest of the group at $2,450.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| College Station, TXthis page | $940 – $3,750 | $2,350 | |
| Waco, TX75 miles | $950 – $3,750 | $2,350 | level |
| Austin, TX75 miles | $960 – $3,800 | $2,400 | +1% |
| Killeen, TX85 miles | $950 – $3,750 | $2,350 | level |
| Houston, TX95 miles | $980 – $3,950 | $2,450 | +5% |
| Tyler, TX135 miles | $950 – $3,750 | $2,350 | level |
| Texas (statewide) | $970 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +3% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +6% |
Across 300 US metros, College Station comes in at #247 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, College Station is 3% below the Texas figure.
Other Texas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $1,000 – $4,100 | $2,550 | +8% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $980 – $3,950 | $2,450 | +5% |
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $960 – $3,800 | $2,400 | +1% |
| San Antonio, TX | 1,126,880 jobs | $940 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −1% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $940 – $3,750 | $2,350 | level |
| McAllen, TX | 296,700 jobs | $940 – $3,750 | $2,350 | level |
Cities with a workforce like College Station's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is College Station against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | +2% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +6% |
| Evansville, IN | 135,250 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +7% |
| Fayetteville, NC | 131,430 jobs | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −1% |
College Station: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for College Station 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
$940 to $2,050
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,800 to $2,900
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,650 to $3,750
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $570 – $1,250 | $1,050 – $1,750 | $1,600 – $2,250 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $940 – $2,050 | $1,800 – $2,900 | $2,650 – $3,750 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,700 – $3,750 | $3,200 – $5,250 | $4,750 – $6,800 |
What nearby projects cost in College Station
Because every project leans on different trades, College Station's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, window replacement runs −10% and vinyl siding −14%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,200 – $10,900 | −13% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,700 – $28,800 | −12% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,250 – $21,800 | −14% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,000 – $13,600 | −10% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,800 | −10% |
Why two College Station 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).
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 $2,900 for College Station, TX is attached.
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Multi-page report for College Station, TX: 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 College Station: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in College Station?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $940 to $3,750 in the College Station area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,800 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 College Station?
About $0.95 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 College Station or Waco?
Waco is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,350, which is 0% more than College Station ($2,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in College Station?
About 36% at the midpoint, or $860 out of $2,350. Materials are 64% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in College Station?
$940 to $3,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in College Station?
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 College Station area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is College Station expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Texas?
College Station is 3% below the Texas statewide estimate ($2,450 at the midpoint). We cover 21 metros in Texas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in College Station?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.43 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.55 to $27.06.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in College Station?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $940 to $2,050 and premium work $2,650 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 College Station
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.