
Learn the key factors that influence the cost of renting a blown-in insulation machine.
Crawl space insulation costs $3,550 on average, but it can vary depending on the size of the crawl space and the type of insulation.
The size of your crawl space and the type of insulation are the most important cost factors.
Expect to pay between $0.55 and $7.25 per square foot for professional crawl space installation.
Save money by choosing lower-cost materials like fiberglass or polystyrene boards.
If you need total encapsulation, add between $1,000 and $3,000 to your crawl space insulation cost.
Crawl space insulation costs $3,550 for the average 1,000-square-foot crawl space, but prices can range from $2,600 to $16,900 depending on size and materials. Adding insulation to your crawl space may help lower energy bills and provide comfort no matter the season. Use this cost guide to determine how much crawl space insulation might cost for your home.
When budgeting for crawl space insulation costs, you can break down how much you might spend by looking at the type of insulation, the materials, the size of your crawl space, labor, prep work, your location, and any insulation removal costs.
The average cost to insulate a crawl space is between $0.30 and $6.75 per square foot for materials. This means your insulation cost will largely depend on the size of your crawl space. Most crawl spaces fall between 250 and 2,500 square feet and will cost between $75 and $16,900 for insulation materials.
Refer to the following chart to estimate the cost of your insulation by crawl space size:
Crawl Space Size (Square Feet) | Average Price Range |
---|---|
250 | $75–$1,700 |
500 | $150–$3,400 |
1,000 | $300–$6,800 |
1,500 | $450–$10,100 |
2,000 | $600–$13,500 |
2,500 | $750–$16,900 |
When it comes to crawl space insulation type, fiberglass batts and rolls often have the lowest overall costs, while spray foam comes with the highest price tag. Here's how insulation type affects cost:
Insulation Type | Average Cost Per Square Foot (for Materials) | Average Cost Per Square Foot (with Labor) |
---|---|---|
Batt and Roll | $0.30–$1.50 | $0.55–$2 |
Blown-In and Loose-Fill | $1–$2 | $1.25–$2.50 |
Rigid Foam Board | $0.25–$2 | $0.50–$2.50 |
Spray Foam | $1–$4 (per board foot) | $3–$8 |
Both batt and roll insulation cost between $0.30 and $1.50 per square foot for a total of $300 to $1,500 in materials for a standard crawl space of 1,000 square feet. These materials consist of fiberglass and are very DIY-friendly, thanks to the ease with which they can be installed.
The average cost to install blown-in insulation or loose-fill insulation is between $1 and $2 per square foot or $1,000 to $2,000 per 1,000 square feet of space. These types of crawl space insulation are made from cellulose, and they’re best left to professional insulation installers. That said, if you're up for a task, you can learn how to install cellulose insulation yourself using a blowing machine and safety equipment.
Most rigid foam board insulation costs between $0.25 and $2 per square foot on average, not including labor. This means you'll spend somewhere between $250 and $2,000 to install this type of insulation in a standard crawl space. Rigid foam boards come in panels, making them easy to install but more challenging to customize for uniquely shaped crawl spaces.
Spray foam is priced by the board foot—a unit equal to 1 square foot at 1 inch thick. Spray foam insulation costs between $1 and $4 per board foot on average. The total installed cost, including labor, often ranges from $3 to $8 per square foot for a typical 3-inch application. Spray foam comes in many different types, with polyurethane spray foam costing the least. Open-cell foam insulation is the most budget-friendly, while closed-cell spray foam insulation falls toward the higher end of the price range.
Crawl space insulation materials cost between $0.30 and $6.75 per square foot. Polystyrene insulation and fiberglass are the most cost-friendly materials, while wood fiber is the most expensive. Here’s a breakdown of each insulation material, along with average cost:
Insulation Material | Average Cost Range (per Square Foot) |
---|---|
Fiberglass | $0.30–$1.50 |
Cellulose | $0.60–$2.30 |
Mineral wool | $1.40–$3.10 |
Polystyrene | $0.25–$0.50 |
Wood fiber | $4.25–$6.75 |
When most people think of what insulation is, fiberglass is a popular material that comes to mind. Fiberglass costs anywhere between $0.30 and $1.50 per square foot and is commonly used in attic roof insulation, subflooring, and between joists. While fiberglass isn’t ideal for crawl spaces due to its vulnerability to moisture, it can perform well when paired with proper vapor barriers or full encapsulation. Note that costs vary depending on the insulation’s thickness and R-value.
The average cost of cellulose insulation is between $0.60 and $2.30 per square foot. For small crawl spaces, cellulose can make for an easy installation because it’s blown into the crawl space to fill the area. The higher cost is largely due to the equipment needed to install cellulose.
Mineral wool insulation costs range from $1.40 to $3.10 per square foot, depending on the quality of the material. You'll pay more for mineral wool insulation because of the higher manufacturing costs, but it’s environmentally friendly because it’s made from up to 40% recycled materials.
Polystyrene rigid foam boards cost between $0.25 and $0.50 per square foot. As the cheapest crawl space insulation material, polystyrene is great for those looking for an effective, water-resistant option.
Another water-resistant insulation for crawl spaces is wood fiber, which costs between $4.25 and $6.75 per square foot. Wood fiber insulation boards are eco-friendly, but they come at a higher cost than all other insulation materials because of their limited availability.
If you work with a local insulation company, you’ll need to add anywhere from $0.25 to $0.50 per square foot to the cost of your installation. This makes for a total crawl space insulation cost of $0.55 to $7.25 per square foot with labor. Spray foam insulation will cost the most to install, while batts or rolls tend to cost the least.
Keep in mind that some installers charge by the hour. Anticipate paying between $60 and $100 per hour for companies that charge hourly.
Your crawl space may need prep work before you can begin installing insulation. The cost to prep a crawl space depends on its condition. For instance, cleaning a crawl space costs between $0.55 and $2.70 per square foot on average, or $550 to $2,700 for a typical 1,000-square-foot crawl space.
Where you live can also affect the overall cost of installing crawl space insulation. Areas with a higher cost of living may be at the upper end of the price range, while regions with a lower cost of living may be at the bottom end of the price range.
Similarly, since some insulation installers charge an hourly rate, crawl spaces that are hard to access can take longer to insulate—leading to an increase in cost.
If you already have insulation in your crawl space, the cost to remove it falls between $1 and $1.50 per square foot. Batts and rolls are the easiest and therefore less expensive materials to remove, while spray foam is more time-consuming and costly.
Most crawl space insulation does not require any ongoing expenses or maintenance, though all crawl spaces benefit from routine inspections to ensure there’s no water damage, pests, moisture buildup, or other compromises to the area. With this in mind, you may need to repair your crawl space on occasion. Here’s a quick look at how much this may cost, especially if you need to invest in repairs before installing new insulation.
The average cost to repair a crawl space falls between $0.55 and $2.70 per square foot. In most cases, repairing insulation is not a feasible way to get the most out of your insulation. If your boards are damaged—or if water damage has struck your fiberglass—there’s a good chance you’ll need to remove the old insulation and install new insulation.
If you decide to DIY your crawl space insulation, then you could save roughly between $0.25 and $0.50 per square foot—or $60 to $1,250 total—in labor, depending on the square footage of the crawl space.
While you might be tempted to install crawl space insulation yourself to save on the cost of your project, you should consider working with an insulation company near you. This is especially important if you don’t have experience installing insulation or you plan on using spray foam insulation, which benefits from the expertise and precision of a trained professional.
When insulating your crawl space, you might be tempted to add on several other services, including crawl space encapsulation, a sump pump installation, pest removal, and mold remediation. Let's break down how much each of these add-ons can cost.
Crawl space encapsulation cost: $5,000–$15,000
Sump pump installation cost: $3,900
Pest removal cost: $110–$260
Mold remediation cost: $500–$2,000
There's no way to get around this—insulating a crawl space can add up big time. But with a few tips and tricks, you can save on the cost of insulating your crawl space. Consider the following money-saving solutions to cut back on costs.
DIY the installation if you feel confident doing so.
Opt for low-cost materials like fiberglass or polystyrene boards.
Choose batts, rolls, or rigid foam board insulation.
If you choose spray foam insulation, open-cell insulation is cheaper up front.
Prepare the space yourself to save on hourly labor costs.
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