Attic insulation cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $1,000 – $3,900
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $3.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #134
- 1 = most expensive
Attic insulation in Appleton, WI usually costs $1,000 to $3,900 for 1,000 sq ft. That works out to about $1 to $3.90 per sq ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.8).
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Estimated cost for 1,000 sq ft in Appleton, WI, standard level
$1,850 to $3,050
About $1.85 to $3.05 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,900 |
| Labor | $780 | $1,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $1,850 | $3,050 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $1,500 | $2,550 | 61% |
| Labor | $530 | $950 | $1,400 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,000 | $2,450 | $3,900 | 100% |
Why Appleton prices look the way they do
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 $23.81 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Appleton is 1.06 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 39% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Appleton is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,600 nationally becomes $1,500 here (midpoint, 1,000 sq ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 92.4: $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 Appleton. The wage table below marks each row.
How Appleton compares
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Milwaukee is the priciest of the group at $2,450. Oshkosh is the cheapest at $2,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $980 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −1% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $980 – $3,850 | $2,450 | −1% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Appleton ranks #134 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Appleton is 0% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | −1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $980 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Appleton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +4% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $950 – $3,750 | $2,350 | −4% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −2% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +4% |
What local crews earn in Appleton
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 Appleton the blend is 1.06.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Appleton metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median: $23.81 an hour against $23.62 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.73 and $27.82 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 20%) the local median is $28.49 an hour, which is 26% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.86 and $36.28 an hour. BLS counts 1,030 of them working in the area, 82.9 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 $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $35. That is a swing of roughly 1.3% to 5.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Appleton has 124,230 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 174th 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% | $22.73 | $23.81 | $27.82 | $23.62 | 1.01 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 20% | $21.86 | $28.49 | $36.28 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.06 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Appleton bid
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: attic insulation pricing in Appleton
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Appleton. 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
$1,000 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) | $1,000 – $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 |
What nearby projects cost in Appleton
Jobs that often go together with attic insulation are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Appleton wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, metal roof comes out highest (+7%) and window replacement lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,600 – $13,100 | +6% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,400 – $34,200 | +7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,700 – $26,000 | +3% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,450 – $14,600 | −2% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,400 – $4,350 | +5% |
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 Appleton, WI is attached.
Detailed attic insulation report for Appleton, WI, $9
The report lays out the attic insulation numbers for Appleton, WI 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 Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Appleton?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,000 to $3,900 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,850 to $3,050. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Appleton?
About $1 to $3.90 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 Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,400, which is 1% less than Appleton ($2,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $950 out of $2,450. Materials are 61% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Appleton?
$1,000 to $3,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Appleton?
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 Appleton area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Appleton expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 0% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($2,450 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall earn in Appleton?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.81 an hour, compared with $23.62 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.73 to $27.82.
+What do basic and premium attic insulation work cost in Appleton?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $1,000 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 near Appleton
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.