If you own a house in Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Boca Raton you already know that the attic is the part of the house. On a July afternoon the attic can reach over 120 degrees. That heat falls through the ceiling and the AC runs and runs to keep the living space cool.
Blown-in attic insulation is one of the ways to slow that heat. Many South Florida homeowners spend somewhere around $1,500 to $3,500 for the job. Some quotes are outside that range. The reasons are listed below.
Short answer: Blown-in attic insulation in South Florida often costs somewhere around $1.00 to $2.50 per foot installed. For a 1,500 square foot attic that could land around $1,500 to $3,000, though every attic is different.
How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost Per Square Foot?
Most contractors charge by the foot. That price includes both material and labor. Here is a comparison of the options.
| Insulation type | Rough cost per sq ft | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Blown-in fiberglass | Roughly $1.00 to $2.20 | Most attic floors |
| Blown-in cellulose | Roughly $1.10 to $2.50 | Attics with lots of small gaps |
| Batt insulation | Roughly $1.00 to $2.50 | Open evenly framed spaces |
| Spray foam | Roughly $3.00 to $7.00 | Sealing air and moisture too |
Every company sets its own price. Some add a charge for jobs. Treat these numbers as a guide and not a final quote.
Attic Insulation Cost by Size
A bigger attic means a bill. Nothing complicated about that.
| Attic size | Estimated total cost |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 sq ft | About $800 to $1,800 |
| 1,000 to 1,500 sq ft | About $1,200 to $2,500 |
| 1,500 to 2,500 sq ft | About $1,800 to $3,500 |
| 2,500 sq ft and up | About $3,000 to $5,500 |
Your attic is not the same size as the rest of the house. A two-story home often has an attic than a one-story ranch with the living space. If you can reach the attic safely measure the floor area.
What Changes the Price
Two homes with the size can have very different prices. These are the reasons.
- R-value target: A higher R-value means a layer and more material. Many homes here aim for R-38. Some go to R-49.
- Material: Fiberglass is usually cheaper than cellulose.
- Existing insulation: If the old layer is thin but dry the crew can add more on top.
- Access: A hatch low roof pitch or many ductwork slows the work down.
- Air sealing: Closing gaps around lights, pipes and wires takes time.
- Vents: Blocked soffit vents must be cleared before new insulation is installed.
Worth knowing: A low quote that does not include air sealing can leave the house feeling just as hot. Check what the price actually covers.
South Florida Heat and Humidity Change the Job
Attics bake for most of the year and the AC runs every month. Therefore insulation matters more than it would in the north. Many older homes have R-19 or less which’s thin, by todays standards. Adding insulation can reduce the heat coming through the ceiling by an amount.
Humidity is the half. Damp air enters attics through roof leaks and bad vents and wet insulation stops working well. It can grow mold too. That is why a good crew looks at the roof deck and vents before they blow any insulation in. If you would like to see how the process works our blown-in insulation page covers it.
Cellulose: Which Costs Less?
Fiberglass is usually cheaper. It is light it settles quickly. It tolerates heat well. Cellulose is made from paper. Treated with borate. It is denser so it slows air movement a bit more. That is part of why its prices a little higher.
Either one works in South Florida attics. Fiberglass is the choice. Cellulose can make sense if your attic has gaps around framing.. If you are also thinking about foam we wrote a post on blown-in cellulose vs spray foam.
Extra Costs That Show Up on Quotes
- Air sealing: about $300 to $600
- Ventilation fixes: about $300 to $700
- Old insulation removal: about $1 to $2 per foot
- cleaning: about $250 to $750 for a basic cleanout
- Rodent or pest cleanup: varies a lot
Heads up: If two quotes differ look for missing line items. Air sealing and cleanup are the ones that often get omitted.
Do You Have to Remove the Old Insulation?
not. If it is dry and clean new insulation can be installed directly on top. That saves money. Removal can also consume a day of labor.
Some cases are different. Wet or moldy insulation must be removed. So must insulation full of droppings or insulation ruined by a roof leak. If that sounds like your attic read our breakdown of insulation removal cost first.
You can also see how insulation removal works. Piling material over a mess only hides the problem.
Will It Pay for Itself?
It can, but not for every house. The biggest savings appear when an attic is nearly bare or has around R-19. Some contractors say raising to R-38 can cut cooling costs by as much as twenty to thirty percent. That is a figure. Your own results will vary with your AC, your roof and how leaky the house is.
If your attic already has a layer the gain is smaller. In that case the money might do good on air sealing or duct repairs. A free estimate should tell you which one makes sense so ask the installer to measure the depth before quoting anything.
How to Compare Quotes
Do not stop at the total. Look at whats inside each quote.
- Is it a price per foot or one flat number?
- What R-value will the crew reach?
- Is air sealing included?
- Will old insulation stay or go?
- Will they mark the depth so you can check it later?
- What does the warranty cover?
It also helps to talk to someone. If you need insulation in Miami, contact Attic Insulation Plus.
Get a Number for Your Attic
Blown-in insulation is one of the more affordable upgrades for a hot house. Many people spend somewhere around one thousand five hundred to three thousand five hundred dollars. Your final price depends on size, material and the shape of what’s already up there.
Before you call anyone look at your attic if it is safe. Check how deep the insulation is and whether it looks dry. Then get your quotes in writing with every item listed. Comparing them becomes much easier that way.
Want a price for your attic?
Call Attic. At (954) 289-5522. Send a request through our contact page. We offer on-site estimates for homes in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County.