The average cost of installing insulation in the UK is typically between £1,400 and £10,000, but it varies significantly based on the amount of insulation that needs installing and the type of property you live in. So, before getting started on your insulation installation plans, make sure that you’re prepared in advance for the average costs you will come across.
We'll cover the following topics in this pricing guide:
Average insulation costs How can you reduce insulation installation costs? FAQ Your insulation cost checklist
Average insulation costs
Insulation is key to keeping your home warm. But from installing insulation in your loft to filling cavity walls, there are lots of different ways of adding insulation to your home. It’s also a legal requirement for extensions and loft conversions, so it’s important to factor insulation into your plans if you’re embarking on one of those projects.
Not only does insulation keep your home warm, it also makes your property more energy efficient, reduces your property’s carbon emissions and helps you save money on your heating bills.
But as well as the costs of new insulation, it’s also important to factor in as the cost of hiring a skilled and well-qualified insulation company to install the new insulation.
So, what are the average costs of getting insulation fitted? Take a look at the table below to see the average prices of common insulation tasks.
| Insulation job | Average price |
|---|---|
| Loft insulation | £670 |
| Roof insulation | £500 |
| Cavity wall insulation for a semi-detached property | £2,700 |
| Solid wall insulation | £7,500 |
How much does insulation cost?
There are a few different factors that impact the cost of insulation. One of the main influences is the size of your property. While the insulation cost for a 1,000-square foot house may be closer to the average, the costs of insulation for a 1,800-square foot house will be well above this.
Another cost to bear in mind is the materials needed to complete your job. There are different types of insulation, such as quilt insulation, loose-fill insulation and sheet insulation, which can all affect your final quote.
Then there are the costs of hiring the right insulation company for the job. Depending on how much experience you’re looking for and how qualified you want your specialist to be, you should be ready to budget for different amounts. At the same time, the quotes you get from interested tradespeople can also vary depending on things like how far away your property is from the tradesperson’s location.
And while you could cut some of these costs by doing aspects of your insulation installation yourself, it’s important to remember that poorly installed insulation can cause condensation and damp. For this reason, it’s well worth seeking out a skilled and qualified insulation specialist near you.
Cost of insulation preparation
Insulation is a vital part of every home, but that doesn’t mean that preparation and surveying can be overlooked. Depending on the age of your house and its condition, some types of insulation may not be a good fit. So before hiring a tradesperson to install your insulation, make sure you take the time to properly survey and prepare your house so as to make the best use of your money.
Usually, an insulation specialist will include the cost of surveying in their total quote and it usually comes to around £75.
Cost of loft insulation
As heat rises, an obvious place for heat to escape your home is through the roof. Without proper loft insulation, your heating systems will have to work harder to heat your home and you’ll end up spending more on your heating bills. Loft insulation usually involves installing material in the loft to prevent the heat from escaping. However, there are different types of material you could use that will affect your quote.
Blanket insulation is the most common form of loft insulation and can be made from materials such as fibreglass or mineral fibre. It typically costs around £5 per m2. Loose-fill insulation is made from materials like cork granules and mineral wood, and it has an average installation cost of around £7.50 per m2. There is also sheet loft insulation, which is perfect for sloped roofs. It usually comes at an average cost of around £550 depending on the type of property.
Aside from the materials, the typical quote you will receive for a loft insulation job is likely to be around £670.
Cost of roof insulation
Where properties don’t have a loft, it’s still important to get a roof insulated. You can use many of the same materials to insulate a roof as you would to insulate a loft, with the main difference between the two being that roof insulation is held in place by battens of wood.
As with the cost of attic insulation, your roof insulation costs will vary based on the material you use to insulate it. However, these costs are sometimes less than loft insulation and have an average cost of around £500.
Cost of cavity wall insulation
Cavity walls have a hollow centre. While these walls can prevent moisture from building up, without the right insulation they can also let a lot of heat escape. Cavity wall insulation typically involves installing a type of mineral wool in the cavity. However, depending on your property, the costs of this can vary.
At the cheaper end of the scale, cavity wall insulation in flats typically falls between £560 and £1,000, while for detached properties, the costs are higher at £4,600.
Cost of solid wall insulation
If your property doesn’t have cavity walls, it will instead have solid walls. This type of insulation is fitted by fixing rigid insulation to your interior walls. As with cavity wall insulation, the total cost of this work will depend on exactly how big your property is and the number of walls that need new insulation finished. As an average, though, insulating interior solid walls will cost around £7,500.
How long does installing insulation take?
Installing insulation usually only takes a few hours, depending on how much insulation needs to be fitted in your property. With an initial survey of your property having already been completed, your skilled professional will hopefully have been able to identify any potential hitches or issues that could occur during the installation, making the process even smoother and quicker.
How can you reduce insulation installation costs?
While you should always keep in mind the benefits of hiring a skilled tradesperson, lots of people want to pick up parts of their insulation job themselves to minimise costs. As well as some partial DIY options, there are also some common-sense tips you can take advantage of that can help keep your costs down. Here are some easy and simple ways you reduce your insulation costs.
- Search for the right quote: Before hiring someone to install your insulation, make sure you’ve shopped around to find the right quote. Different specialists can offer you different rates based on a wide range of factors, including your location, materials needed and the amount of insulation that needs to be fitted.
- Partial DIY: Depending on the type of installation you are installing, there are some elements to your project that you may be able to do yourself. While you should always leave the final installation to an expert, should your insulation need repair or maintenance, you may be able to do this yourself.
- Decide which material you want: Different types of insulation can affect your quote. Ask yourself whether you need to go for the most expensive material if the most cost-effective can get the job done.
FAQ
What qualifications should I look for in an insulation specialist?
Insulation companies can have a broad range of experience and qualifications that make them a good option for your insulation job. One of the best ways of working out which specialist is the right person for you is to compare their credentials, customer reviews and areas of expertise side by side by using MyBuilder.
What type of insulation material is the best?
The right material for your job can depend on a few different factors, including your budget and how much of it you need. If you aren’t sure, you should ask a qualified professional who will be able to recommend you a type of insulation and offer you a reasonable quote for it.
Is there financial support for insulation fitting?
You may be eligible for government support provided through the Great British Insulation Scheme. This scheme can help you fit new insulation to your walls, roof, loft and other places and can help you save money. To find out if you’re eligible, you can apply online.
Your insulation cost checklist
So, what else do you need to be prepared for when it comes to getting your insulation job done properly? Here are some of our tips to make sure your project is a success.
- Budget with an insulation cost calculator: Working out your budget at the start of your project is one of the best ways of keeping your project focused on what matters, and it can help you keep your job on track.
- Use MyBuilder to find and compare suitable tradespeople: MyBuilder is the best way to compare the skills and experience of different tradespeople before engaging anyone’s services. Take a look at the different options open to you and you can start to get a feel for the costs and quotes open to you.
- Bear in mind additional costs: While the materials used for your insulation will make up the bulk of your budget, you should also make sure to include any additional costs that will come with it, like labour and surveying costs.
Looking for an experienced insulation company near you? Post your job to MyBuilder and you’ll be connected to a network for reliable professionals who can help.