Does this include air sealing or baffles?

No—material/labor only for insulation fill.

Increase bag count if your material settles over time.

Use appropriate R/in and coverage per bag for your material.

Section larger attics and sum results for better accuracy.

Add blower rental to labor if applicable.

construction calculator

Attic Insulation Cost Calculator

Estimate attic insulation material and labor costs to reach a target R-value, including bags needed based on coverage.

Results

R-value to add: 27.00
Inches to add: 8.44
Bags needed: 253.13
Material cost: $6,328
Labor cost: $960
Total cost: $7,288

How to use this calculator

Enter attic area and current/target R-values.
Enter material R per inch, bag coverage at 1", and bag cost.
Enter labor per sq ft.
See bags needed, material/labor cost, and total.

Inputs explained

Attic area: Square footage of attic to insulate.
Current/Target R: Existing and desired R-value.
R per inch: Insulation performance per inch (e.g., blown cellulose ~3.2–3.5).
Coverage per bag: Bag coverage at 1-inch thickness; from product label.
Bag cost: Cost per bag of insulation.
Labor per sq ft: Install labor per square foot.

How it works

R to add = target − current. Thickness = R to add ÷ R per inch.

Bags = (area × thickness) ÷ coverage per bag @1". Material cost = bags × bag cost. Labor = area × labor rate.

Formula

R to add = Target − Current
Inches = R to add ÷ R per inch
Bags = (Area × Inches) ÷ Coverage per bag @1"
Material = Bags × Bag cost
Labor = Area × Labor $/ft²
Total = Material + Labor

When to use it

Budgeting an attic insulation upgrade to recommended R-values.
Estimating DIY material needs (bags) for blown-in insulation.
Comparing material choices by changing R per inch and bag coverage.

Tips & cautions

Use manufacturer coverage for accurate bag counts.
Increase bag count slightly for uneven coverage or settling.
Adjust labor for accessibility or baffles/air sealing prep.
Simplified; does not include air sealing, ventilation, or complex rooflines.
Assumes uniform coverage; real installs may vary.
R per inch and coverage differ by material and brand—use product data.

Worked examples

1,200 sq ft, R11→R38, R/in 3.2, 40 sq ft/bag@1", $25/bag, $0.80/ft² labor

R to add = 27; Inches ≈ 8.44
Bags ≈ 252.9
Material ≈ $6,323
Labor ≈ $960
Total ≈ $7,283

900 sq ft, R19→R49, R/in 3.5, 45 sq ft/bag@1", $30/bag, $1.00/ft² labor

R to add = 30; Inches ≈ 8.57
Bags ≈ 171.4
Material ≈ $5,142
Labor ≈ $900
Total ≈ $6,042

Deep dive

This attic insulation cost calculator estimates bags needed and total cost by using your attic area, target R-value, material R per inch, bag coverage, and labor rate.

Use it to plan insulation upgrades and budget materials and labor before getting quotes.

FAQs

Does this include air sealing or baffles?: No—material/labor only for insulation fill.
Settling?: Increase bag count if your material settles over time.
Different materials?: Use appropriate R/in and coverage per bag for your material.
Complex attics?: Section larger attics and sum results for better accuracy.
DIY blower rental?: Add blower rental to labor if applicable.

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