Attic insulation cost in Seattle, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,250 – $4,650
- Per sq ft
- $1.25 – $4.65
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +18%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #3
- 1 = most expensive
Seattle homeowners pay roughly $1,250 to $4,650 to insulate an attic at 1,000 sq ft, or $1.25 to $4.65 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Seattle is 18% higher. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $34.61 an hour in the Seattle area, 47% above the US median of $23.62.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Seattle, WA, standard level
$2,250 to $3,650
About $2.25 to $3.65 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 44% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $2,100 |
| Labor | $1,050 | $1,500 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $2,250 | $3,650 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Seattle, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $520 | $1,650 | $2,800 | 56% |
| Labor | $710 | $1,300 | $1,850 | 44% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,250 | $2,950 | $4,650 | 100% |
Where the Seattle price comes from
Labor is 44% 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 Seattle the blended ratio comes out at 1.43.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Seattle metro is 104.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $1,650, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (111.1) and land at $0 to $0.
Related projects, priced for Seattle
Because every project leans on different trades, Seattle's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs +19% and window replacement +11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,950 – $14,000 | +12% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $12,600 – $37,900 | +18% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,900 – $29,700 | +18% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,050 – $16,500 | +11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,600 – $4,950 | +19% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Seattle bid
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).
Seattle against nearby metros and the rest of Washington
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Olympia is the priciest of the group at $3,000. Portland is the cheapest at $2,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WAthis page | $1,250 – $4,650 | $2,950 | |
| Bremerton, WA40 miles | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | −2% |
| Olympia, WA60 miles | $1,250 – $4,750 | $3,000 | +2% |
| Yakima, WA90 miles | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,850 | −3% |
| Bellingham, WA95 miles | $1,200 – $4,600 | $2,900 | −2% |
| Portland, OR135 miles | $1,150 – $4,450 | $2,800 | −6% |
| Washington (statewide) | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | −2% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | −15% |
Across 300 US metros, Seattle comes in at #3 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, Seattle is 2% above the Washington figure.
Other Washington metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | −6% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $1,250 – $4,750 | $3,000 | +2% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $1,150 – $4,400 | $2,800 | −6% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,850 | −3% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $1,200 – $4,550 | $2,900 | −2% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $1,200 – $4,600 | $2,900 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Seattle's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Seattle against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $1,300 – $4,950 | $3,150 | +6% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $1,100 – $4,350 | $2,750 | −7% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $920 – $3,700 | $2,300 | −21% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $990 – $3,950 | $2,500 | −16% |
Seattle: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Seattle 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
$1,250 to $2,600
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$2,250 to $3,650
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$3,300 to $4,650
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $740 – $1,550 | $1,350 – $2,200 | $1,950 – $2,800 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $1,250 – $2,600 | $2,250 – $3,650 | $3,300 – $4,650 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $2,200 – $4,700 | $4,050 – $6,550 | $5,900 – $8,400 |
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 Seattle is 1.43 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131), 80% of the weighting: a median of $34.61 an hour, 47% above the US median of $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $28.24 and $51.76 an hour. About 1,250 work in the metro. That is 6.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.9 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $28.72 an hour, 27% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.67 and $37.03 an hour. About 13,040 work in the metro. That is 62.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($51.76 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $520. At the 25th percentile ($28.24) it shrinks by about $190. The total moves by 17.7% or 6.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,086,210 jobs in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. That makes it the 13th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.34% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $28.24 | $34.61 | $51.76 | $23.62 | 1.47 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $23.67 | $28.72 | $37.03 | $22.66 | 1.27 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.43 | |||||
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Attic insulation in Seattle: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Seattle?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,250 to $4,650 in the Seattle area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,250 to $3,650. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Seattle?
About $1.25 to $4.65 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 Seattle or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,900, which is 2% less than Seattle ($2,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Seattle?
About 44% at the midpoint, or $1,300 out of $2,950. Materials are 56% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Seattle?
$1,250 to $4,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Seattle?
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 Seattle area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Seattle expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Washington?
Seattle is 2% 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 Seattle?
The BLS median is $34.61 an hour in the Seattle area, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.24 to $51.76.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Seattle?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,250 to $2,600 and premium work $3,300 to $4,650. 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 Seattle
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.