Attic insulation cost in Washington
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,200 – $4,550
- Per sq ft
- $1.20 – $4.55
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +15%
- US $2,500
- Metros covered
- 7
Washington prices for attic insulation: $1,200 to $4,550 for 1,000 sq ft, or $1.20 to $4.55 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 15% above the national one. Local wages for insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall are $32.57 an hour.
Inside Washington, the metros we cover range from $2,800 (Spokane) to $3,000 (Olympia) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
Estimate your attic insulation cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Washington (statewide), standard level
$2,200 to $3,550
About $2.20 to $3.55 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 42% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $2,150 |
| Labor | $1,000 | $1,450 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,200 | $3,550 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Washington
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $520 | $1,650 | $2,800 | 58% |
| Labor | $670 | $1,200 | $1,750 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,200 | $2,900 | $4,550 | 100% |
Why two Washington quotes can differ
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.
Removing old insulation
Old, wet or pest-damaged insulation has to come out first, at extra cost.
Basic, standard or premium: Washington prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small attic (600 sq ft) to large attic (1,800 sq ft).
Basic
$1,200 to $2,550
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$2,200 to $3,550
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$3,200 to $4,550
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $720 – $1,550 | $1,300 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,750 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,200 – $2,550 | $2,200 – $3,550 | $3,200 – $4,550 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $2,150 – $4,600 | $3,950 – $6,400 | $5,800 – $8,250 |
What insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall and the other trades earn in Washington
Washington's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.35 times the national level.
For insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131, weighted 80%) the local median is $32.57 an hour, which is 38% above the national $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $27.42 and $47.66 an hour. BLS counts 2,330 of them working in the state, 6.6 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 $27.75 an hour, which is 22% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.56 and $34.69 an hour. BLS counts 25,060 of them working in the state, 70.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall ($47.66 an hour) would add about $460 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($27.42) would take off about $160. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,550,970 jobs across Washington (May 2025), which is 2.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $27.42 | $32.57 | $47.66 | $23.62 | 1.38 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.56 | $27.75 | $34.69 | $22.66 | 1.22 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.35 | |||||
Washington metro-by-metro prices
2 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $2,900, and the top-to-bottom gap is 8%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (1,000 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia, WA | $1,250 – $4,750 | $3,000 | +4% |
| Seattle, WA | $1,250 – $4,650 | $2,950 | +2% |
| Bellingham, WA | $1,200 – $4,600 | $2,900 | level |
| Bremerton, WA | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | level |
| Yakima, WA | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,850 | −1% |
| Kennewick, WA | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | −4% |
| Spokane, WA | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | −4% |
Related projects, priced for Washington
Each project weights the trades differently, so Washington's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, gutters is +15% and window replacement +8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,700 – $13,500 | +9% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,900 – $36,500 | +14% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,700 – $29,000 | +15% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,950 – $16,200 | +8% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,500 – $4,800 | +15% |
How Washington compares with nearby states
Washington ranks 1 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for attic insulation, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Washington at $2,900 and the cheapest West Virginia at $2,250, both for 1,000 sq ft at the midpoint. Washington sits at $2,900. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
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 $2,200 to $3,550 for Washington is attached.
Detailed attic insulation report for Washington, $9
Multi-page report for Washington: 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 Washington: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Washington?
$1,200 to $4,550 for 1,000 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Washington can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Washington is cheapest for attic insulation?
Spokane at about $2,800 (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). The priciest is Olympia at $3,000.
+Is attic insulation cheaper in Washington than the US average?
It is 15% more expensive: $2,900 against $2,500 for 1,000 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Washington?
About 42% ($1,200). Materials are 58%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.35x the national wage level.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Washington?
The BLS statewide median is $32.57 an hour, against $23.62 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.42 to $47.66.
+Where does Washington rank for attic insulation costs?
1st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $2,900 for 1,000 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Washington?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,200 to $2,550 and premium work $3,200 to $4,550. 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 by city in Washington
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.