By Glenda Taylor and Evelyn Auer | Updated Dec 12, 2023 2:41 AM
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Insulation is vital for helping keep a home’s interior cool in summer and warm in winter. Still, various insulation products come with different thermal reduction values (R-value), and insulation costs vary. Spray foam insulation is dense, and due to its expanding nature, it seals air gaps more thoroughly than other types of insulation, so it’s among the best options for insulating a home. However, it’s not the cheapest option available.
According to Angi and HomeAdvisor, spray foam insulation costs run between $1,409 and $4,145 to have it professionally installed, with a national average of $2,756. Unlike other types of insulation, such as blown-in cellulose fibers or fiberglass batts, installing spray foam insulation isn’t a DIY project. Instead, homeowners will want to hire one of the best insulation contractors, such as Dr. Energy Saver, for this project. Ahead, determine whether spray foam insulation is suitable for the home, and find out what factors will affect the overall cost.
Spray foam insulation is typically composed of a polyurethane-type liquid that, when combined with air, expands to fit in the interior of stud walls as well as rafter and joist spaces. This makes spray foam an excellent sealant because it fills even tiny gaps to reduce air leakage. Anyone who has ever lived with drafty windows knows how difficult it is to heat and cool a house efficiently. The drafts result in running up the energy bills while reducing comfort.
Several areas of the home can benefit from the use of spray foam insulation. Since it sprays on as a liquid and then expands to fill gaps, it creates an airtight seal that can eliminate most sources of drafts, and it also dampens sound transfer between rooms. Good spots for spray foam insulation include:
Spray foam insulation is applied in 1-inch-thick layers—and an inch of insulation per board foot may cost between $0.44 and $1.50. Calculating the cost of spray foam insulation is relatively simple:
There are quite a few additional factors that can affect what a homeowner pays for spray foam insulation, including whether it is open-cell vs. closed-cell, material, thickness, labor, area size, and installation location.
While the typical range in cost for having spray foam insulation professionally installed is $1,409 to $4,145, prices vary within that range based on the type of spray foam insulation.
While most spray foam insulation is made of polyurethane, material options also include soybean, vegetable oil, and water-based. Polyurethane is typically the least costly at $0.44 to $1.50 per board foot. Soybean and vegetable oil spray foam run between $1.50 and $3, and water-based spray foam costs $0.50 to $2.50. Spray foam insulation cost per square foot can also range depending on how thickly the insulation is installed. In some areas 1 inch of insulation is sufficient, but some homes require up to 4 inches.
The cost of labor to have spray foam insulation installed is a sizable portion of the final tally. Most spray foam insulation pros have to be trained to install the specific brand of insulation, and they use a spray rig designated by the manufacturer. Spray foam insulation contractors charge about $1.50 to $4.90 per square foot for labor, depending on location. Labor doesn’t vary significantly by the type of insulation, so both open-cell and closed-cell applications will have similar labor costs.
The size of the area to be insulated plays a vital role in how much the project will cost. A small project with just 100 square feet of wall that needs insulating will run $44 to $150, on average, to have it insulated with spray foam. However, most projects are more extensive, and homes with 2,000 square feet of wall space would range from $880 to $3,000 to complete the project.
The cost to insulate an attic can differ from the cost to insulate basements, crawl spaces, and other parts of the home. This is because accessibility, square footage, and insulation requirements can vary by room. For example, the cost to insulate a garage is about $930 to $2,100. A larger detached building such as a barn can cost as much as $20,000 to insulate. Alternatively, spray foam attic insulation costs about $1,500 to $3,500.
No two spray foam insulation projects are the same, so there may be costs that are not accounted for by a spray foam insulation cost calculator. For example, putting in insulation during the construction process is typically less costly than installing it retroactively, and there may be an additional cost for removing old insulation. Additionally, basement, crawl space, and attic spray foam insulation costs may need to include mold remediation and vapor barrier installation since these are moisture-prone areas. Choosing the best attic insulation can help ensure the home is kept temperate and free from mold.
The best time to install insulation of any type is during new-home construction when the wall spaces are open and insulation is easier to install. At this point, the labor costs to install spray foam insulation are going to be less because the spaces are easily accessible to the installer.
However, in an existing home, portions of drywall may need to be removed to access the stud spaces, and specific installers may decline to tackle the job if the spaces are not visible. Having to remove drywall to access the stud and rafter spaces will add about $293 to $875 to the cost of insulating.
In many cases, a home will need multiple kinds of insulation for different parts of the home. Spray foam insulation is handy for hard-to-reach parts of the house, but it’s typically used sparingly because it is relatively costly. To compare blown-in insulation vs. spray foam insulation, for example, a typical blown-in insulation project costs $1,636, and spray foam insulation costs $2,756 on average. Other types of insulation include fiberglass and Rockwool.
If a home’s existing insulation has been damaged by mold or pests, it will need to be removed and disposed of before the new insulation can be installed. In most cases, this will cost between $1.50 and $3 per square foot. Contractors have machines that can efficiently strip away the old spray foam. However, sometimes contractors must chip away the insulation by hand. If this is the case, costs may be closer to $5 per square foot. If the old insulation contains asbestos, it is especially important for homeowners to have a professional take care of the removal. Those who live in older homes will want to familiarize themselves with what asbestos insulation looks like in order to stay safe.
Moisture can damage some types of insulation, such as fiberglass batts that tend to compress when they get wet and lose their insulating value. Leaks inside wall cavities destroy fiberglass insulation, but they can lead to the growth of mold, which will need to be removed before the wall space is insulated again.
Mold remediation costs an average of $1,125 to $3,345, depending on the size of the area being treated and the going rate of labor in the community.
Some local building codes require installing a vapor barrier in exterior walls to keep moisture from passing through. If so, closed-cell spray foam insulation is suitable for use as a vapor barrier. However, open-cell insulation is not an acceptable vapor barrier, so if the homeowner wants open-cell insulation, but a vapor barrier is required by code, an additional vapor barrier will be necessary and could run an average of $0.65 to $1 per square foot.
While the traditional and most common types of spray foam insulation are polyurethane-based, other types are available, and some are more eco-friendly. Choosing an alternative kind of spray foam is unlikely to affect the cost of installation, however, as most of the price variation when it comes to installing spray foam is dependent on the thickness of the product and the going cost of labor in different communities.
Most spray foam insulation on the market today is made from polyurethane, which offers good insulating value, but tends to off-gas for a few years. Off-gassing is the releasing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that may cause a noticeable chemical odor. Off-gassing is strongest in the first year after installation and should end entirely in 4 to 5 years. Homeowners can expect to pay $0.44 to $1.50 per board foot for professional installation of polyurethane foam insulation.
Soybeans are grown for various food and non-food sources, and one of those uses is as a component of spray foam insulation. Soybean-based foam contains few or no VOCs, so there’s no objectionable chemical smell that some home residents may find troublesome.
Because soybeans can be planted and harvested on an ongoing basis, those looking for an eco-friendly alternative to polyurethane-based insulation may want to request a soybean-based product, as soybeans are considered a sustainable product. In general, soybean spray foam insulation costs about $1.50 to $3 per board foot.
While some types of spray foam insulation are advertised as being made from vegetable oil, virtually all are still made from soybean oil, which has unique components that make it suitable for creating a long-lasting insulating product. The cost will be competitive with other types of foam, but soy- and vegetable-based foams may not be available in all locations. Vegetable oil spray foam insulation costs $1.50 to $3 per board foot.
Water-based spray foam may also be an option for those looking for an alternative to polyurethane-based foam. Having it installed will cost approximately the same, ranging from $0.50 to $2.50 per square board, depending on whether it’s open-cell or closed-cell insulation. The size of the project, as well as the going rate for labor, is also a consideration.
Insulating a home helps conserve energy and helps maintain a comfortable indoor climate for residents. While a variety of insulation types are available, because spray foam also acts as a sealant, it’s up to 50 percent more efficient than some other types, such as fiberglass batts or cellulose fibers. For this reason, many homeowners find that spray foam insulation is worth it despite its relatively high cost.
Drafty windows and other sources of air leaking in and out of a home can account for as much as 40 percent of a home’s energy cost. While all insulation will help increase a home’s thermal resistance, spray foam is the only type that will seal air leaks, resulting in lower utility costs. The initial cost of installing spray foam insulation in a home ranges from $1,409 to $4,145, which is higher than installing batts, but if a homeowner lives in an area where heating and cooling costs are high, it could pay for itself in a few short years.
Moisture and construction materials don’t mix—water that leaks through siding can damage a home’s wooden structure. Closed-cell spray foam insulation, which runs an average of $1 to $1.50 per board foot, is an effective sealant to keep out air, but it serves an extra purpose that open-cell foam does not. Closed-cell foam acts as a moisture barrier to help keep water away from building materials.
Spray foam insulation forms a dense layer between wall studs, giving it excellent soundproofing ability. Both closed- and open-cell spray foam insulation can be installed in wall cavities to reduce sound transfer. This can be beneficial when installed in exterior walls to help block the sound of a busy street and in common walls between separate living spaces in duplexes and apartment complexes.
The denseness and sealant qualities of spray foam insulation give it more thermal resistance than other types of insulation. R-value is measured by the material’s ability to reduce hot and cold thermal transfer by 1-inch thickness. Closed-cell foam insulation offers the highest R-value, and therefore the best insulating properties.
While homeowners will pay more for spray foam insulation over other standard types, the product not only seals out air better, but it also comes with a longer useful life—up to 80 years, which is up to three times longer than other types. For those comparing spray foam insulation vs. fiberglass insulation costs, spray foam is admittedly costlier. However, considering that fiberglass batts and cellulose fibers will lose their loft when wet, which reduces their R-values, spray foam insulation holds its value longer and may be a better investment.
Spray foam insulation does not absorb moisture, making mold and mildew less likely to grow. Areas that are traditionally damp, such as basements and crawl spaces, can benefit from spray foam insulation. Insulating the interior walls of a typical basement runs about $500 to $3,000, and insulating a standard crawl space could cost about $1,000 to $5,900.
While it’s not possible to construct a wall with spray foam insulation, the densest type of foam, closed-cell, can help give a wall increased racking strength, meaning the wall is less likely to shift out of alignment. By adhering to the inner surfaces of the studs and then curing to a hardened material, it offers added shear strength to a wall. This makes it well suited for bolstering metal buildings while providing thermal resistance at the same time.
Improving a home to increase its energy efficiency may come with a rebate or tax credit. It’s a good idea for homeowners to check with their local building authority to see if any rebate programs might apply. In addition, in some cases, if homeowners update to improve energy efficiency, they may be able to claim an insulation tax credit on their annual income tax return.
DIY spray foam insulation costs less than hiring a pro, but there are many benefits to hiring for this project. Some insulation manufacturers will only sell their product to trained and certified technicians, so there’s no way for a DIYer to purchase it.
Spray foam insulation is available in a kit, but the verdict is still out on whether these types of kits are a good option. Installing spray foam insulation can be a tricky process because it has to be applied in thin layers. If too much is applied at once, it can sag or swell beyond the surface of the wall studs. In this case, the excess must be cut away later.
Correctly installing spray foam insulation requires a skilled touch, and the product’s manufacturer will not likely warranty the installation if it’s not applied by one of their approved technicians. If homeowners are not sure who installs spray foam insulation, they may want to start by researching the best spray foam insulation contractors in their area.
Installing spray foam insulation in new construction will cost less than installing it in an existing home because it can be sprayed in the wall and rafter spaces while they’re open. In a remodeling project, the installer may need to remove some wallboard or drill holes and use an injection method of installing the foam. Homeowners may be able to save a bit using the following tips.
Most homeowners will pay from $1,409 to $4,145 to have a home insulated with spray foam. Much of that cost variation comes from the going cost of labor in a community and the difference in price between open-cell and closed-cell insulation. Those who have never undergone this project before may not be sure how to hire an insulation company; to ensure they hire the right pro for this project, homeowners will want to consider asking the spray foam insulation company a few questions.
With the skyrocketing cost of heating and cooling a house, homeowners are always looking for ways to conserve energy and save money. While the average cost of spray foam insulation is $2,756 nationally—much higher than other insulation materials—the extra expense can often be recouped in energy savings in a few years. For those considering spray foam insulation, a few questions are to be expected.
It’s probably not a good idea. Many manufacturers will sell their products only to trained and certified technicians, and using the product requires a good amount of skill.
The interior of a metal building will benefit from a 1-inch layer of closed-cell spray insulation foam, which will cost between $1,600 to $2,400 to have professionally installed.
Spray foam insulation R-value depends on whether it is open- or closed-cell. Closed-cell spray foam insulation has the highest thermal resistance value, averaging R-6 to R-7 per inch. Open-cell foam averages R-3.5 to R-3.6 per inch.
Sources: HomeAdvisor, Angi, HomeGuide, Fixr
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