Insulation quote that sells on R-value

What an insulation quotation should show

An insulation quote is judged on two things: the R-value the customer gets and the area it covers. This template lists each product with its R-value and area, removal of old insulation, installation and air sealing, with wall insulation as an option the customer can add. Use it online to send a PDF insulation quotation, or download the Word and Excel files. Retitle it as an insulation estimate template when you cannot see inside the roof space yet.

An insulation quotation should let the customer check exactly what goes where: product, R-value, thickness and area for each part of the house, plus removal and air sealing. Say which R-value system you are quoting, because metric and US R-values are not the same number.

1. Area by locationCeiling or attic, underfloor, walls and any garage ceiling, each in m² or ft².
2. Product and R-valueBatts, blown-in loose fill, spray foam or rigid board, with the R-value and thickness for each area.
3. R-value systemMetric R-values (m²K/W) and US R-values differ by a factor of about 5.68, so an R4.0 metric batt is roughly R-23 in US units. Say which one you mean.
4. Removal of old insulationVacuuming or bagging old loose fill or batts, with disposal, especially if it is damp, compacted or fouled by rodents.
5. Air sealingSealing gaps around top plates, pipes, flues and recessed lights before the insulation goes in.
6. Clearances and coversClearances around recessed lights, flues and exhaust fans, with covers or baffles where needed.
7. Ventilation and moistureAttic vent baffles, vapor retarders where specified, and underfloor vents left clear.
8. AccessCeiling height, crawl space clearance and access hatches, which change labor time a lot.
9. Optional areasWall injection, a garage ceiling or extra depth offered as optional lines the customer can tick. If walls are opened for batts instead, the patching belongs on a plastering quote.

Sample insulation quote with example prices

Warmshell Insulation’s sample for Noor Begum insulates the ceiling and underfloor of a 140 m² home. Materials are 140 m² of R4.0 ceiling batts at $11 and 120 m² of underfloor panels at $16. Labor covers removing the old insulation across 140 m² and installing 260 m² of ceiling and underfloor product at $9. Injected wall insulation over 60 m² is optional. Subtotal $6,640 before tax, 20% deposit, example prices.

Edit the Warmshell Insulation quote

5 lines are filled in, from ceiling batts, r4.0 to wall insulation, injected. Put in your own insulation rates, then download the PDF.

Open the insulation sample

How to price an insulation job

Insulation is priced by area for each product and R-value, with removal and air sealing added. Blown-in material is checked by bag count from the manufacturer’s chart, and spray foam by board feet. Access sets the labor rate more than the product does, so look before you price.

1. Per m² or ft² by productA rate for each product and R-value, supplied and installed, or split into material and labor as in the sample.
2. By bag for blown-inUse the manufacturer’s coverage chart for bags per 1,000 ft² at the target R-value, then add labor and machine time.
3. Per board foot for spray foamArea in ft² times thickness in inches gives board feet, priced per board foot for open or closed cell foam.
4. Hourly for air sealing and removalAir sealing and removal vary too much between houses, so price them by the hour or as a separate per m² line.

Product is a large part of an insulation price, so check markup against margin in the markup calculator. The labor cost guide helps set rates for tight crawl spaces where a crew moves slowly.

Worked example: blown-in attic insulation over 1,200 ft²

This prices a US attic topped up with blown-in loose fill. The bag count comes from a manufacturer’s chart, and the figure here is an example, so use the chart for the product you actually buy.

1. BagsThe chart gives 22 bags per 1,000 ft² for the target R-value. 1,200 x 22 / 1,000 = 26.4, so 27 bags. At $42 a bag: $1,134.
2. LaborBlowing at $0.65 per ft²: 1,200 x $0.65 = $780.
3. Baffles18 vent baffles at the eaves at $3 each: $54.
4. Air sealing4 hours sealing top plates, pipe holes and the hatch at $60 per hour: $240.
5. Total$1,134 + $780 + $54 + $240 = $2,208 before tax. A 20% deposit is $441.60.

Existing insulation depth, settled material and attic height change the bag count and the labor. Measure depth in several spots before quoting a top up.

Inclusions and exclusions on an insulation quote

Insulation quote mistakes

• Quoting an R-value without saying whether it is metric or US, which confuses customers comparing products.
• Forgetting removal of old insulation, often the dirtiest and slowest part of the job.
• Covering recessed lights or flues without the clearance the fitting needs.
• Pricing a low crawl space at the same rate as an open attic.
• Leaving air sealing out, so the new insulation underperforms and the customer blames the installer.
• Not checking for damaged wiring before crawling through an older roof space.