What Does Blown-In Insulation Cost?
Professional blown-in insulation installation typically costs $1,000 to $3,500, averaging around $2,000 for a standard residential attic. The price reflects the insulation material, the area covered, and the desired final R-value.
Cellulose or Fiberglass Blown-In: $0.50 to $1.50 per Square Foot
Loose-fill cellulose (recycled paper) and fiberglass are the most affordable blown-in insulation materials. At $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot for the material, a 1,000-square-foot attic floor costs $500 to $1,500 for the material alone. That range assumes a moderate R-value — blowing to R-49 uses more material per square foot and pushes the material cost above it. Adding labor for a professional installation brings the fully installed cost to $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot, or $1,500 to $3,000 for a 1,000-square-foot attic. (For more on this, see What Affects the Cost of Blown-In Insulation?.)
Blowing Existing Wall Cavities: $1.70 to $3.70 per Square Foot
Dense-pack blown-in for finished walls costs more per square foot than an open attic floor, because the crew has to drill through siding, sheathing, or drywall and patch every hole afterward. Installed, that work runs $1.70 to $3.70 per square foot of wall area. Loose-fill mineral wool is sometimes raised for its fire resistance, but it is not sold at retail as a blowing wool for this application, so cellulose and fiberglass are the practical choices.
Total Installed Cost by Project Size
A 500-square-foot area (small home or partial installation): $750 to $1,500. A 1,000-square-foot attic: $1,500 to $3,000. A 1,500-square-foot attic (larger home): $2,250 to $4,500. The total depends on the existing insulation level, the target R-value, and whether air sealing is included in the project scope. The Department of Energy publishes recommended R-values by climate zone and where insulation pays back fastest.
Blown-In Insulation Cost at a Glance
| Cost Factor | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cellulose or fiberglass | $0.50 to $1.50 per sq ft | material, $1.50 to $3.00 per sq ft installed |
| Blowing existing wall cavities | $1.70 to $3.70 per sq ft | installed; drilling and patching costs more than an open attic floor |
| Professional installation | $1.50 to $3.00 per sq ft | installed for a complete job |
| Overall range | $1,000 to $3,500, averaging $2,000 |
Cost figures on this page were checked against published pricing on August 23, 2026. How we source cost data.
Planning Your Project Budget
The cost ranges in this article are based on industry data and are intended as planning benchmarks, not fixed prices. The actual cost for your project depends on your specific home, your local labor market, the current price of materials, and the scope the contractor confirms after a site inspection.
Always get at least two written quotes on equivalent defined scope before committing to any home services project. Wide price variation between quotes usually reflects differences in material quality, scope completeness (what is included and what is not), or contractor overhead and experience level rather than simple price competition.
Use the cost data in this article to ask better questions during the quoting process: What material is included? What does that per-square-foot or per-linear-foot rate include and exclude? Are permits, cleanup, and disposal included? What is the warranty on labor? These questions turn a quote into a comparable basis for decision-making. (For more on this, see Questions to Ask a Blown-In Insulation Contractor.)
Working With a Contractor on This Project
Getting the right outcome on any home services project starts before the work begins. A few consistent practices make the difference between a smooth project and a frustrating one.
Get at least two or three quotes. A single quote gives you no basis for comparison. Two or three quotes reveal the market rate for the work, expose scope differences between bidders, and let you assess contractor communication quality before any commitment is made. The lowest bid is not automatically the best value if the scope is thin or the materials are underspecified.
Ask for licenses and insurance before work starts. Verify current general liability insurance and, for any work involving workers on your property, workers compensation coverage. Licensing requirements vary by state and trade; confirm the specific requirements in your jurisdiction. A licensed contractor who carries appropriate insurance protects both parties if something goes wrong during the project.
Get the scope in writing. A written proposal that specifies materials, labor scope, timeline, what is included (permits, cleanup, disposal), and warranty terms is the foundation of a professional engagement. Verbal agreements on any of these points invite misunderstanding. For any project over $500, written scope is non-negotiable.
Clarify the payment schedule upfront. A reasonable payment schedule ties major payments to project milestones: a deposit at signing, a payment at material delivery or project start, and a final payment at completion after a walkthrough confirms satisfaction. A contractor who requires full payment upfront before work begins is a red flag in any trade.
