Attic insulation cost in Racine, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (1,000 sq ft)
- $990 – $3,900
- Per sq ft
- $1 – $3.90
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $2,500
- Rank of 300 metros
- #147
- 1 = most expensive
Racine homeowners pay roughly $990 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, Racine 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 Racine, WI, standard level
$1,850 to $3,000
About $1.85 to $3 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 | $3,000 |
Cost breakdown for 1,000 sq ft in Racine, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $470 | $1,500 | $2,550 | 62% |
| Labor | $520 | $930 | $1,350 | 38% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $990 | $2,450 | $3,900 | 100% |
Why Racine 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, Racine wages are 1.04 times the national level. Labor makes up about 38% 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 Racine 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 (96.0) 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 Racine. The wage table below marks each row.
Attic insulation: what moves the price in Racine
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).
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 Racine is 1.04 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 Racine 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 $26.11 an hour, 15% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.83 and $33.66 an hour. About 540 work in the metro. That is 70.8 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 1.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 76,280 jobs in the Racine-Mount Pleasant area. That makes it the 243rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% 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% | $21.83 | $26.11 | $33.66 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: attic insulation pricing in Racine
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Racine 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
$990 to $2,150
Blown-in fiberglass or cellulose to code R-value
Standard
$1,850 to $3,000
Higher R-value with air sealing around fixtures
Premium
$2,700 to $3,900
Spray foam or heavy air sealing, hard-to-reach attic
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small attic (600 sq ft) | $590 – $1,300 | $1,100 – $1,800 | $1,650 – $2,350 |
| average attic (1,000 sq ft) | $990 – $2,150 | $1,850 – $3,000 | $2,700 – $3,900 |
| large attic (1,800 sq ft) | $1,800 – $3,850 | $3,350 – $5,400 | $4,900 – $7,000 |
What nearby projects cost in Racine
Because every project leans on different trades, Racine's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, metal roof runs +5% and window replacement −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,450 – $12,900 | +4% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,100 – $33,600 | +5% |
| 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 – $4,300 | +3% |
Racine against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Same job, same size (1,000 sq ft), priced for the nearest metros. Chicago is the priciest of the group at $2,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Racine, WIthis page | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | |
| Milwaukee, WI10 miles | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Kenosha, WI15 miles | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +7% |
| Sheboygan, WI65 miles | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Janesville, WI65 miles | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Chicago, IL70 miles | $1,150 – $4,500 | $2,800 | +15% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| United States | $1,000 – $4,000 | $2,500 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Racine comes in at #147 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, Racine is 1% below the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $990 – $3,900 | $2,450 | level |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $980 – $3,850 | $2,400 | level |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $1,000 – $3,900 | $2,450 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Racine's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Racine against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,650 | +8% |
| Warner Robins, GA | 76,050 jobs | $950 – $3,850 | $2,400 | −2% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +7% |
| Kenosha, WI | 75,450 jobs | $1,050 – $4,200 | $2,600 | +7% |
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Detailed attic insulation report for Racine, WI, $9
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Attic insulation in Racine: your questions
+How much does it cost to insulate an attic in Racine?
For 1,000 sq ft, expect $990 to $3,900 in the Racine area. A standard-spec job lands at $1,850 to $3,000. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft for attic insulation in Racine?
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 Racine or Milwaukee?
Milwaukee is 10 miles away. The midpoint for 1,000 sq ft there is $2,450, which is 1% more than Racine ($2,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Racine?
About 38% at the midpoint, or $930 out of $2,450. Materials are 62% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 36%.
+What would average attic (1,000 sq ft) cost in Racine?
$990 to $3,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does attic insulation need a permit in Racine?
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 Racine area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Racine expensive for attic insulation compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Racine is 1% 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 Racine?
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 Racine?
For 1,000 sq ft, basic work runs $990 to $2,150 and premium work $2,700 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 Racine
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.