Attic Insulation Cost Per Square Foot
At Green Attic in Chicago, we understand that insulation is an investment, our transparent pricing helps you make informed choices that balance cost, comfort, and long-term savings.
$2.00-2.75*
Fiberglass
Fiberglass
$2.25-3.00*
Cellulose
Cellulose
* These prices are per sq. ft which can vary depending on existing insulation, total sq. ft, pitch of the roof, attic access and final R-value.
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How much does it cost to insulate a 1,000 sq ft attic with R-49 insulation?
Planning a home improvement project includes insulation for sound, temperature, and moisture. Insulation budget considerations should include cost/value ratio and measure performance.
R49 is the minimum code for attics in zone 5 which includes parts of the Midwest and Chicago.
R38-R49 loose fill fiberglass for example, does not perform well in extreme heat (summer days in Chicago averaging 85-90 degrees) or extreme cold (-10 30 degrees), while spray foam, mineral wool, or loose fill cellulose are all options for the attic floor. This includes air seal, baffles, and hatch cover.
R49 is the minimum code for attics in zone 5 which includes parts of the Midwest and Chicago.
R38-R49 loose fill fiberglass for example, does not perform well in extreme heat (summer days in Chicago averaging 85-90 degrees) or extreme cold (-10 30 degrees), while spray foam, mineral wool, or loose fill cellulose are all options for the attic floor. This includes air seal, baffles, and hatch cover.
Cellulose $3200
Fiberglass $2700
Spray Foam $8608
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*Prices are based on the current average cost and may vary based on the scope of work.*
Cellulose loose-fill insulation has a major advantage over batt or spray foam powerful truck-mounted blowing machines blown directly into the stud cavity with the drywall already in place.
Advantages: A cost-effective alternative to spray foam when retrofitting buildings or residential homes. Cellulose is a plant-based recycled material.
Disadvantages: Thermal bridging
Advantages: Cost, green materials, non-itch.
Cellulose loose-fill insulation has a major advantage over batt or spray foam powerful truck-mounted blowing machines blown directly into the stud cavity with the drywall already in place.
Advantages: A cost-effective alternative to spray foam when retrofitting buildings or residential homes. Cellulose is a plant-based recycled material.
Disadvantages: Thermal bridging
Advantages: Cost, green materials, non-itch.
Cellulose Attic Insulation Costs Per Sq Foot Calculator
Cost for cellulose insulation include:
• Attic insulation R60 - $2.50 Per Sq Ft
• Cathedral ceiling insulation - $3.50-5.00 Per Sq Ft
• Flat roof insulation - $3.50-5.00 Per Sq Ft
• Basement insulation - $1.50-4.00 Per Sq Ft
• The exterior wall insulation - $1.50-4.50 Per Sq Ft
• Garage ceiling insulation - $3.50 – 5.00 Per Sq Ft
• Transition wall insulation-$2.50-4.00 Per Sq Ft
• Furnace room insulation - $1.50-4.00 Per Sq Ft
• Crawl space insulation - $2.50-4.50 Per Sq Ft
• Kitchen & bathroom wall insulation - $1.50-4.50 Per Sq Ft
• Cathedral ceiling insulation - $3.50-5.00 Per Sq Ft
• Flat roof insulation - $3.50-5.00 Per Sq Ft
• Basement insulation - $1.50-4.00 Per Sq Ft
• The exterior wall insulation - $1.50-4.50 Per Sq Ft
• Garage ceiling insulation - $3.50 – 5.00 Per Sq Ft
• Transition wall insulation-$2.50-4.00 Per Sq Ft
• Furnace room insulation - $1.50-4.00 Per Sq Ft
• Crawl space insulation - $2.50-4.50 Per Sq Ft
• Kitchen & bathroom wall insulation - $1.50-4.50 Per Sq Ft
Home Insulation Cost Per Sq Ft
On average you can insulate for $3 per square foot with cellulose (R-21) or fiberglass (R-15) or for $4 per square foot with mineral wool (R-23) or spray foam (R-21).
✓ Spray Foam 1.65 Per Inch X Sq Ft
✓ Cellulose On Attic Floor 2.50 Per Sq Ft
✓ Cellulose Blown In Walls / Ceiling $2-4 Per Sq Ft
✓ Mineral Wool $4-5 Per Sq Ft
✓ Fiberglass 1.90-2.40 Per Sq Ft
Insulation materials are produced in a variety of ways using several different material combinations.
Since R-Value is measured in enclosed spaces, any air infiltration into the insulated cavity significantly reduces the intended R-Value.
✓ Cellulose On Attic Floor 2.50 Per Sq Ft
✓ Cellulose Blown In Walls / Ceiling $2-4 Per Sq Ft
✓ Mineral Wool $4-5 Per Sq Ft
✓ Fiberglass 1.90-2.40 Per Sq Ft
Insulation materials are produced in a variety of ways using several different material combinations.
Since R-Value is measured in enclosed spaces, any air infiltration into the insulated cavity significantly reduces the intended R-Value.
Why start with the attic?
Achieving results such as comfortable stable home interior temperatures with the desired amount of humidity/dry air. By reaching the recommended home insulation R-Values through thermal performance or R-value of insulation is dependent on proper installation of that material and its interaction with surrounding materials.
Comparing insulation cost for 2×6 sidewalls, attic insulation, cathedral ceilings, and basement insulation, we find cellulose is preferred with the exception of basement wall insulation.
We install the correct/optimal insulation levels for your attic R60, ceiling R38-60, sidewall R21, basement R13, and crawl space R13-38. Your budget is $3 per sq ft for insulation which includes additional considerations.
Fire stop and air seal cost an extra .35 cents. Cellulose provides R21 insulation, fills voids and gaps left by fiberglass, performs better in summer, and has better fire resistance, mold mildew and moisture resistance, and is pest resistant.
✓ Insulation labor and material
✓ Fire stop
✓ Air seal
✓ R-value to code
✓ Proper ventilation
✓ Cozy comfortable interior
✓ Pass occupancy inspections
Comparing insulation cost for 2×6 sidewalls, attic insulation, cathedral ceilings, and basement insulation, we find cellulose is preferred with the exception of basement wall insulation.
We install the correct/optimal insulation levels for your attic R60, ceiling R38-60, sidewall R21, basement R13, and crawl space R13-38. Your budget is $3 per sq ft for insulation which includes additional considerations.
Fire stop and air seal cost an extra .35 cents. Cellulose provides R21 insulation, fills voids and gaps left by fiberglass, performs better in summer, and has better fire resistance, mold mildew and moisture resistance, and is pest resistant.
✓ Insulation labor and material
✓ Fire stop
✓ Air seal
✓ R-value to code
✓ Proper ventilation
✓ Cozy comfortable interior
✓ Pass occupancy inspections
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Areas to Choose Cellulose Over Spray Foam include:
✓ Cathedral Ceiling
✓ Attic Duct Work
✓ Knee Wall
✓ Vented Attic
✓ Sidewall
✓ New Construction Sound Dampening
✓ Cathedral Ceiling
✓ Attic Duct Work
✓ Knee Wall
✓ Vented Attic
✓ Sidewall
✓ New Construction Sound Dampening
Attic Insulation Cost Advantages / Disadvantages
Insulation cost factors measured by R-Value as a key performance indicator.
Spray foam is superior in R-value per inch, making it ideal to choose a combination of closed cell spray foam as the bottom layer and fiberglass batts to fill in the depth of the framing cavity (called the flash and batt method.)
Flash and Batt Method is a new hybrid combination of closed cell spray foam and fiberglass batts to reduce costs of labor and materials for spray foam insulation.
Flash and Batt Method is a new hybrid combination of closed cell spray foam and fiberglass batts to reduce costs of labor and materials for spray foam insulation.
Spray Foam Insulation Cost
Spray foam insulation cost – spray foam is currently $1.65 per inch. But how many inches are you installing? 3″ of foam vs. 16 inches of cellulose — you will get greater heat retention. R-60 vs. R-21 rating for an enclosed space.
Cost per inch of R-value for an existing cathedral ceiling: four considerations are fiberglass batt, loose fill fiberglass, loose fill cellulose, and closed-cell spray foam. Cost per inch includes labor, material, and installation.
What is the cost of spray foam?
Spray foam in a cathedral ceiling vs. 6″ of cellulose: $4.50 R-35 with spray foam (benefit — more tight). But only if you seal the gaps properly with Tyvek seam tape.
With cellulose, it gives about R-21, $2. If you open the ceiling to spray, consider the cost of drywall removal and drywall replacement after spraying.
Cost per inch of R-value for an existing cathedral ceiling: four considerations are fiberglass batt, loose fill fiberglass, loose fill cellulose, and closed-cell spray foam. Cost per inch includes labor, material, and installation.
What is the cost of spray foam?
Spray foam in a cathedral ceiling vs. 6″ of cellulose: $4.50 R-35 with spray foam (benefit — more tight). But only if you seal the gaps properly with Tyvek seam tape.
With cellulose, it gives about R-21, $2. If you open the ceiling to spray, consider the cost of drywall removal and drywall replacement after spraying.
Fiberglass Is Rarely Used Except In Basement Walls.
Green Attic applies spray foam to cathedral ceiling roof rafters, rim joists, and crawl space and basement walls most commonly.
Cellulose insulation is used for garage ceilings, exterior and interior walls and ceilings for sound and thermal protection, and attic floors for optimal heat resistance.
Fiberglass is rarely used except in basement walls with the paper side facing out towards the living space as a vapor barrier.
Wall insulation 2×6 cellulose stops air 35 % better than fiberglass. It's fire retardant and doesn’t require drywall removal for insulation. Gaps and cracks in older homes lower R-value per inch more than spray foam.
Cellulose is cost-efficient but has a lower R-value on a 2×4. For the wintertime, fiberglass is great because the drywall holds the heat in the room. In the summertime, the fiberglass is letting the heat pass through and making the drywall hot.
Cellulose insulation is used for garage ceilings, exterior and interior walls and ceilings for sound and thermal protection, and attic floors for optimal heat resistance.
Fiberglass is rarely used except in basement walls with the paper side facing out towards the living space as a vapor barrier.
Wall insulation 2×6 cellulose stops air 35 % better than fiberglass. It's fire retardant and doesn’t require drywall removal for insulation. Gaps and cracks in older homes lower R-value per inch more than spray foam.
Cellulose is cost-efficient but has a lower R-value on a 2×4. For the wintertime, fiberglass is great because the drywall holds the heat in the room. In the summertime, the fiberglass is letting the heat pass through and making the drywall hot.
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Green Attic Insulation Customer Reviews
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8 days ago
Romuno and his team came on time and were very cordial and friendly. They discovered
an issue with some electrical work while working on the insulation, which I was surprised and happy about, and were able to rectify the situation easily and at a great value, considering the timing of the project, etc. Romuno made it clear he want to ensure my satisfaction throughout the process. When finished, the job site was cleaned very well.
I highly recommend this company and all its team members and hope to do more projects in the future with them!
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8 days ago
Romulo and his teammate were so fast and clean at insulating and repairing our damaged
ceiling due to a roof leak. Again it was easy to engage green Attic as a return customer because I felt well treated with their work when they first insulated and managed.to transform our cold home. Great job!
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22 days ago
Fantastic work. No nonsense, clean job site, speedy and good communication.
an issue with some electrical work while working on the insulation, which I was surprised and happy about, and were able to rectify the situation easily and at a great value, considering the timing of the project, etc. Romuno made it clear he want to ensure my satisfaction throughout the process. When finished, the job site was cleaned very well.
I highly recommend this company and all its team members and hope to do more projects in the future with them!
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1 month ago
Had our attic insulation beefed up with new blown in cellulose. Was a major improvement
immediatly after it was installed. Cut our heating needs by 3x to maintain temperature in the house.Team working on my house was friendly and professional. Team leads Romulo and Omar did a great job making sure everything was done right and everything was cleaned up after.
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2 months ago
Romulo & Alvaro did a great job installing everything. Cindy, Frank and the Green Attic team
were extremely attentive. I love how easy they made the process, everything is online even the rebates.
BONUS: I originally reached out to them to check for mold free of charge.
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2 months ago
These guys did a great job! Great price, quality service, and they offer several payment
options and plans. I thought we bought a lemon of a house and the insulation and sealing job they did fixed all of our issues and were so thrilled! Highly recommend these guys. Plus they are local so it’s great supporting a chicago based company.
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3 months ago
Highly recommend Green Attic. Scheduled to have my attic re-insulated and Romulo
and his crew did a fabulous job. The attic was in pretty bad shape prior to the work getting done and green attic made it look so good. The crew worked efficiently and got the job done in 2 days. I also asked Romulo to install a couple other things on my roof outside of the scheduled project and he very kindly and willingly did so without hesitation. Very pleased with how everything turned out. Thank you so much for a job well done! Before and after pics below.
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