Attic insulation cost in Wisconsin
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (1,000 sq ft)
- $990 – $3,900
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $3.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $2,500
- Metros covered
- 12
What does it cost to insulate an attic in Wisconsin? Plan on $990 to $3,900 for 1,000 sq ft. Wages (1.04x the US blend), materials (price index 94.3) and permit costs (94.1) put the state below the national midpoint by 2%.
Inside Wisconsin, the metros we cover range from $2,400 (Oshkosh) to $2,600 (Kenosha) 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 Wisconsin (statewide), standard level
$1,850 to $3,050
About $1.85 to $3.05 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 38% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,900 |
| Labor | $770 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,850 | $3,050 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Wisconsin
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $1,500 | $2,550 | 62% |
| Labor | $520 | $940 | $1,350 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $990 | $2,450 | $3,900 | 100% |
If you are planning more than one job in Wisconsin
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Wisconsin wages and prices. Against national midpoints, metal roof comes out highest (+4%) and window replacement lowest (−2%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,400 – $12,800 | +3% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,000 – $33,500 | +4% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,550 – $25,700 | +2% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,450 – $14,600 | −2% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,300 | +3% |
Wisconsin metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $2,450, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha, WI | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +7% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Appleton, WI | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| La Crosse, WI | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Eau Claire, WI | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Madison, WI | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Sheboygan, WI | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Janesville, WI | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Racine, WI | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −1% |
| Green Bay, WI | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −1% |
| Wausau, WI | $980 – $3,850 | $2,450 | −1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | $980 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Wisconsin
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.
Wages behind the Wisconsin number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.04 for Wisconsin.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131), 80% of the weighting: a median of $23.81 an hour, in line with the US median of $23.62. The middle half of them earn between $22.73 and $27.82 an hour. About 650 work in the state. That is 2.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 2.9 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $26.97 an hour, 19% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $34.68 an hour. About 20,330 work in the state. That is 69.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall ($27.82 an hour) would add about $120 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.73) would take off about $35. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,941,540 jobs across Wisconsin (May 2025), which is 1.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) | 80% | $22.73 | $23.81 | $27.82 | $23.62 | 1.01 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $22.14 | $26.97 | $34.68 | $22.66 | 1.19 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Wisconsin versus the states around it
Wisconsin ranks 26 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. Wisconsin sits at $2,450. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 120 miles away | $1,100 – $4,250 | $2,650 | +9% |
| Iowa | 230 miles away | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +2% |
| Michigan | 230 miles away | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −2% |
| Minnesota | 260 miles away | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,650 | +8% |
| Indiana | 260 miles away | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +3% |
Quality levels and sizes in Wisconsin
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Wisconsin wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$990 to $2,150
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,850 to $3,050
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,750 to $3,900
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $600 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,350 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $990 – $2,150 | $1,850 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,900 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,800 – $3,900 | $3,350 – $5,450 | $4,950 – $7,050 |
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 $1,850 to $3,050 for Wisconsin is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Wisconsin: 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 Wisconsin: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Wisconsin?
$990 to $3,900 for 1,000 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Wisconsin can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Wisconsin is cheapest for attic insulation?
Oshkosh at about $2,400 (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). The priciest is Kenosha at $2,600.
+Is attic insulation cheaper in Wisconsin than the US average?
It is 2% cheaper: $2,450 against $2,500 for 1,000 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Wisconsin?
About 38% ($940). Materials are 62%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.04x the national wage level.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Wisconsin?
The BLS statewide median is $23.81 an hour, against $23.62 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.73 to $27.82.
+Where does Wisconsin rank for attic insulation costs?
26th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $2,450 for 1,000 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Wisconsin?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $990 to $2,150 and premium work $2,750 to $3,900. 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 Wisconsin
- Kenosha, WI$2,600 midpoint
- Milwaukee, WI$2,450 midpoint
- Appleton, WI$2,450 midpoint
- La Crosse, WI$2,450 midpoint
- Eau Claire, WI$2,450 midpoint
- Madison, WI$2,450 midpoint
- Sheboygan, WI$2,450 midpoint
- Janesville, WI$2,450 midpoint
- Racine, WI$2,450 midpoint
- Green Bay, WI$2,450 midpoint
- Wausau, WI$2,450 midpoint
- Oshkosh, WI$2,400 midpoint
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.