Attic insulation cost in Morgantown, WV
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $860 – $3,600
- Per sq ft
- $0.85 – $3.60
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #300
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for attic insulation in the Morgantown area: $860 to $3,600 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 11% lower than the US figure. Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn a median of $17.01 an hour in the Morgantown area, 28% below the US median of $23.62.
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Morgantown, WV, standard level
$1,700 to $2,750
About $1.70 to $2.75 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 31% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,950 |
| Labor | $570 | $810 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,700 | $2,750 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Morgantown, WV
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $480 | $1,550 | $2,600 | 69% |
| Labor | $380 | $690 | $990 | 31% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $860 | $2,250 | $3,600 | 100% |
Why Morgantown prices look the way they do
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, Morgantown wages are 0.76 times the national level. Labor makes up about 31% of the midpoint estimate (36% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the West Virginia statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Morgantown is at 96.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,600 nationally becomes $1,550 here (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 93.3: $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 Morgantown. The wage table below marks each row.
Who does the work: Morgantown 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 Morgantown the blend is 0.76.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Morgantown metro, so we used the West Virginia statewide median: $17.01 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $16.93 and $23.19 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $21.32 an hour, which is 6% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.14 and $24.01 an hour. BLS counts 660 of them working in the area, 98.0 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 $190 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $0. That is a swing of roughly 0.1% to 8.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Morgantown has 67,370 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 268th 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% | $16.93 | $17.01 | $23.19 | $23.62 | 0.72 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $17.14 | $21.32 | $24.01 | $22.66 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.76 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Morgantown 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).
Cost by quality level and size in Morgantown
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Morgantown. 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
$860 to $1,950
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,700 to $2,750
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,500 to $3,600
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $520 – $1,150 | $1,000 – $1,650 | $1,500 – $2,150 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $860 – $1,950 | $1,700 – $2,750 | $2,500 – $3,600 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,550 – $3,500 | $3,050 – $5,000 | $4,500 – $6,450 |
Morgantown against nearby metros and the rest of West Virginia
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Hagerstown is the priciest of the group at $2,550.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgantown, WVthis page | $860 – $3,600 | $2,250 | |
| Wheeling, WV65 miles | $870 – $3,600 | $2,250 | level |
| Pittsburgh, PA65 miles | $990 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +12% |
| Winchester, VA75 miles | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +6% |
| Harrisonburg, VA85 miles | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +6% |
| Hagerstown, MD95 miles | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +14% |
| West Virginia (statewide) | $860 – $3,600 | $2,250 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Morgantown ranks #300 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Morgantown is 0% above the West Virginia figure.
Elsewhere in West Virginia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntington, WV | 140,740 jobs | $870 – $3,600 | $2,250 | level |
| Charleston, WV | 103,450 jobs | $870 – $3,600 | $2,250 | +1% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $870 – $3,600 | $2,250 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Morgantown against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester, VA | 67,740 jobs | $940 – $3,800 | $2,350 | +6% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +10% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $920 – $3,750 | $2,350 | +5% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $980 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +9% |
Planning more than one job in Morgantown?
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Morgantown wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gutters comes out highest (−1%) and vinyl siding lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,700 – $11,800 | −6% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,850 – $31,500 | −3% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,750 – $23,300 | −8% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,150 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | −1% |
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 $1,700 to $2,750 for Morgantown, WV is attached.
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Attic insulation in Morgantown: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Morgantown?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $860 to $3,600 in the Morgantown area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,700 to $2,750. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Morgantown?
About $0.85 to $3.60 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 Morgantown or Wheeling?
Wheeling is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,250, which is 0% more than Morgantown ($2,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Morgantown?
About 31% at the midpoint, or $690 out of $2,250. Materials are 69% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Morgantown?
$860 to $3,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Morgantown?
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 Morgantown area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Morgantown expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of West Virginia?
Morgantown is 0% above the West Virginia statewide estimate ($2,250 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in West Virginia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Morgantown?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $17.01 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.93 to $23.19.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Morgantown?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $860 to $1,950 and premium work $2,500 to $3,600. 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 Morgantown
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.