Attic insulation cost in Eau Claire, 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
- #139
- 1 = most expensive
Eau Claire homeowners pay roughly $1,000 to $3,900 to insulate an attic at 1,000 sq ft, or $1 to $3.90 per sq ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Eau Claire is almost level. 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 Eau Claire, 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 Eau Claire, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $1,500 | $2,550 | 61% |
| Labor | $530 | $950 | $1,350 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $1,000 | $2,450 | $3,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Eau Claire number
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, Eau Claire wages are 1.05 times the national level. Labor makes up about 39% of the midpoint estimate (36% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Wisconsin statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Eau Claire metro is 93.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 1,000 sq ft comes to $1,500, compared with $1,600 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (92.8) and land at $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 Eau Claire. The wage table below marks each row.
Eau Claire: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Eau Claire 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
$1,000 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 – $7,000 |
How Eau Claire compares
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Minneapolis is the priciest of the group at $2,750. Oshkosh is the cheapest at $2,400.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eau Claire, WIthis page | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | |
| Wausau, WI75 miles | $980 – $3,850 | $2,450 | −1% |
| Rochester, MN85 miles | $1,050 – $4,050 | $2,550 | +4% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Minneapolis, MN100 miles | $1,100 – $4,350 | $2,750 | +12% |
| Oshkosh, WI140 miles | $980 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Eau Claire comes in at #139 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, Eau Claire is 0% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| 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% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $980 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Eau Claire's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Eau Claire against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $960 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $970 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −1% |
| Joplin, MO | 87,190 jobs | $1,050 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +3% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
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 Eau Claire is 1.05 times the national level.
Insulation workers, floor, ceiling and wall (47-2131) carry 80% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Eau Claire 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.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 20% of the weighting: a median of $28.00 an hour, 24% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.33 and $36.35 an hour. About 640 work in the metro. That is 74.4 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 ($27.82 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $120. At the 25th percentile ($22.73) it shrinks by about $35. The total moves by 5.0% or 1.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 86,060 jobs in the Eau Claire area. That makes it the 226th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% 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% | $22.33 | $28.00 | $36.35 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Eau Claire?
Because every project leans on different trades, Eau Claire's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs +1% and roof replacement −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,900 – $12,000 | −4% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,200 – $31,800 | −2% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,450 – $25,400 | +1% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,400 – $14,500 | −3% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,250 | +1% |
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Eau Claire
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).
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Attic insulation in Eau Claire: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Eau Claire?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $1,000 to $3,900 in the Eau Claire 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 Eau Claire?
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 Eau Claire or Wausau?
Wausau is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,450, which is 1% less than Eau Claire ($2,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Eau Claire?
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 Eau Claire?
$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 Eau Claire?
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 Eau Claire area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Eau Claire expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Eau Claire is 0% below 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 Eau Claire?
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 Eau Claire?
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 Eau Claire
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.