Attic insulation cost in Olympia, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,250 – $4,750
- Per sq ft
- $1.25 – $4.75
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +20%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #2
- 1 = most expensive
Attic insulation in Olympia, WA usually costs $1,250 to $4,750 for 1,000 sq ft. That works out to about $1.25 to $4.75 per sq ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $510 more. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $36.83 an hour in the Olympia area, 56% above the US median of $23.62.
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Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Olympia, WA, standard level
$2,300 to $3,700
About $2.30 to $3.70 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $2,150 |
| Labor | $1,100 | $1,550 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,300 | $3,700 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Olympia, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $530 | $1,700 | $2,850 | 56% |
| Labor | $740 | $1,350 | $1,900 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,250 | $3,000 | $4,750 | 100% |
Where the Olympia 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 $36.83 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Olympia is 1.47 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 44% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Olympia 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 103.7: $0 to $0.
What local crews earn in Olympia
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 Olympia the blend is 1.47.
For insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131, weighted 80%) the local median is $36.83 an hour, which is 56% above the national $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $28.81 and $61.54 an hour. BLS counts 40 of them working in the area, 3.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 2.9), so the local bench is about average.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $25.52 an hour, which is 13% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $33.85 an hour. BLS counts 730 of them working in the area, 56.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner 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 $750 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $240. That is a swing of roughly 8.1% to 25.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater has 130,300 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 167th 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% | $28.81 | $36.83 | $61.54 | $23.62 | 1.56 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.90 | $25.52 | $33.85 | $22.66 | 1.13 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.47 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Olympia
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Olympia. 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
$1,250 to $2,650
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$2,300 to $3,700
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$3,350 to $4,750
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $760 – $1,600 | $1,400 – $2,200 | $2,000 – $2,850 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,250 – $2,650 | $2,300 – $3,700 | $3,350 – $4,750 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $2,250 – $4,800 | $4,150 – $6,650 | $6,050 – $8,550 |
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Olympia
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.
Is Olympia cheap or dear? The local comparison
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 1,000 sq ft range from $2,800 to $3,000 across Olympia and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Olympia, WAthis page | $1,250 – $4,750 | $3,000 | |
| Bremerton, WA50 miles | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | −4% |
| Seattle, WA60 miles | $1,250 – $4,650 | $2,950 | −2% |
| Portland, OR95 miles | $1,150 – $4,450 | $2,800 | −7% |
| Yakima, WA105 miles | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,850 | −5% |
| Bellingham, WA140 miles | $1,200 – $4,600 | $2,900 | −4% |
| Washington (statewide) | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | −4% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −17% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Olympia ranks #2 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Olympia is 4% 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 | −8% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | −8% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,850 | −5% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | −4% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $1,200 – $4,600 | $2,900 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Olympia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville, NC | 131,430 jobs | $930 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −22% |
| Waco, TX | 129,860 jobs | $950 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −22% |
| South Bend, IN | 131,670 jobs | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −17% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | −8% |
Related projects, priced for Olympia
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Olympia wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gutters comes out highest (+15%) and roof replacement lowest (+5%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,450 – $13,200 | +5% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,600 – $36,000 | +12% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,150 – $27,400 | +9% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,200 – $16,800 | +13% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,500 – $4,750 | +15% |
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 $2,300 to $3,700 for Olympia, WA is attached.
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The report lays out the attic insulation numbers for Olympia, WA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Olympia: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Olympia?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,250 to $4,750 in the Olympia area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,300 to $3,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Olympia?
About $1.25 to $4.75 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 Olympia or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,900, which is 4% less than Olympia ($3,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Olympia?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $1,350 out of $3,000. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Olympia?
$1,250 to $4,750. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Olympia?
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 Olympia area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Olympia expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Washington?
Olympia is 4% 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 Olympia?
The BLS median is $36.83 an hour in the Olympia area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.81 to $61.54.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Olympia?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,250 to $2,650 and premium work $3,350 to $4,750. 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 Olympia
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.