Attic insulation cost in Bellingham, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,200 – $4,600
- Per sq ft
- $1.20 – $4.60
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +16%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #7
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for attic insulation in the Bellingham area: $1,200 to $4,600 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 16% higher than the US figure. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $32.57 an hour in the Bellingham area, 38% above the US median of $23.62.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Bellingham, WA, 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 Bellingham, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $1,700 | $2,850 | 58% |
| Labor | $680 | $1,200 | $1,750 | 42% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,200 | $2,900 | $4,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Bellingham number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall at 80%, construction laborers at 20%. Weighted together, Bellingham wages are 1.35 times the national level. Labor makes up about 42% of the midpoint estimate (36% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Washington statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bellingham is at 105.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,600 nationally becomes $1,700 here (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 103.3: $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 Bellingham. The wage table below marks each row.
How Bellingham compares
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Olympia is the priciest of the group at $3,000. Spokane is the cheapest at $2,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WAthis page | $1,200 – $4,600 | $2,900 | |
| Bremerton, WA90 miles | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | level |
| Seattle, WA95 miles | $1,250 – $4,650 | $2,950 | +2% |
| Olympia, WA140 miles | $1,250 – $4,750 | $3,000 | +4% |
| Yakima, WA175 miles | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,850 | −1% |
| Spokane, WA200 miles | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | −4% |
| Washington (statewide) | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bellingham ranks #7 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bellingham is 0% above the Washington figure.
Elsewhere in Washington
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $1,250 – $4,650 | $2,950 | +2% |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | −4% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $1,250 – $4,750 | $3,000 | +4% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | −4% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,850 | −1% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bellingham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | level |
| Panama City, FL | 90,610 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −17% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $980 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −16% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $910 – $3,700 | $2,300 | −20% |
What nearby projects cost in Bellingham
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bellingham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+15%) and roof replacement lowest (+8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,650 – $13,500 | +8% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,600 – $36,100 | +12% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,650 – $28,900 | +15% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,900 – $16,200 | +8% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,500 – $4,750 | +14% |
Cost by quality level and size in Bellingham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bellingham. 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
$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
$3,250 to $4,600
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $720 – $1,550 | $1,350 – $2,150 | $1,950 – $2,750 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,200 – $2,550 | $2,200 – $3,550 | $3,250 – $4,600 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $2,150 – $4,600 | $4,000 – $6,450 | $5,800 – $8,250 |
Who does the work: Bellingham 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 Bellingham the blend is 1.35.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bellingham metro, so we used the Washington statewide median: $32.57 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $27.42 and $47.66 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.06 an hour, which is 24% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.41 and $36.85 an hour. BLS counts 1,030 of them working in the area, 112.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than 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 $460 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $160. That is a swing of roughly 5.4% to 15.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bellingham has 91,390 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 217th 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% | $27.42 | $32.57 | $47.66 | $23.62 | 1.38 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.41 | $28.06 | $36.85 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.35 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Bellingham bid
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).
Job size
Small attics start around $500 and large ones go up to $6,000 (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 $2,200 to $3,550 for Bellingham, WA is attached.
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Attic insulation in Bellingham: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Bellingham?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,200 to $4,600 in the Bellingham area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,200 to $3,550. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Bellingham?
About $1.20 to $4.60 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 Bellingham or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 90 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,900, which is 0% less than Bellingham ($2,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bellingham?
About 42% at the midpoint, or $1,200 out of $2,900. Materials are 58% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Bellingham?
$1,200 to $4,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Bellingham?
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 Bellingham area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bellingham expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Washington?
Bellingham is 0% above the Washington statewide estimate ($2,900 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Bellingham?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $32.57 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.42 to $47.66.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Bellingham?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,200 to $2,550 and premium work $3,250 to $4,600. 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 Bellingham
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.