Insulation labour calculator
Batt insulation friction-fit in stud and joist bays, faced or unfaced.
Insulation
Batt insulation friction-fit in stud and joist bays, faced or unfaced.
Default 120 sq ft an hour, or $0.60 a foot. Blown-in attics run faster than walls. Price excludes sales tax.
$1,388
$0.94 / sq ftPrice excludes sales tax.
How this calculator prices a job
Batt insulation friction-fit in stud and joist bays. Fast, repetitive work where the rate holds up well — until you hit an attic or a crawl.
The formula
hours = quantity ÷ production rate base = hours × labour rate (or quantity × per-unit rate) burden = base × burden % cost = base + burden price = cost ÷ (1 − margin)
Assumptions and defaults
| Production | 120 sq ft/hr |
| Per-unit rate | $0.60 per sq ft |
| Labour rate | $65/hr default |
| Payroll burden | 22% of base labour |
| Crew | 3 people, eight-hour days |
| Target margin | 30% |
Pro tips
Blown attics run faster than walls; crawlspaces run far slower and are worth their own rate.
Batts only hit their rating if they fill the cavity without compression. Rushing the fit is how a job passes inspection and still underperforms.
Burden is not optional. Payroll taxes, workers' comp, liability and paid time run 20 to 35 per cent on top of the wage you quote — a crew at $65 an hour costs you nearer $80 before a single overhead dollar.
Margin divides, it does not multiply. A 30 per cent margin on $1,000 of cost is $1,429, not $1,300 — the second number is a 30 per cent markup and only a 23 per cent margin.
Common questions
What is a typical insulation labour rate?
Around $0.60 a square foot, or 120 sq ft an hour at crew rates. Crawlspaces and tight attics deserve a slower rate.
Should I price batts and blown differently?
Yes. Blown attic work covers far more square feet an hour than hand-fitting batts in a wall. Set the production field to match the actual assembly.
How do I price labour to hit a target margin?
Divide, never multiply: price = cost ÷ (1 − margin). An all-in labour cost of $2,000 at a 30 per cent margin is $2,857. Multiplying by 1.30 gives $2,600, which is only a 23 per cent margin.
What is payroll burden?
Everything you pay on top of the wage: payroll taxes, workers' comp, liability insurance, holiday and any benefits. Twenty-two per cent is a reasonable starting point for a small crew — check yours against last year's numbers and change the field.
Does this include materials?
No. This tool prices labour only, so the number stays honest when material prices move. Work the quantities out in the material calculator and add them as their own line.