Attic insulation in South Florida
SFL Attic is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not install anything and we are not booking jobs yet.
In Miami-Dade County, 49.6 percent1 of housing units were built in 1979 or earlier, and in Broward County it is 50 percent2. SFL Attic is a local guide to attic insulation in Miami, Boca Raton and West Palm Beach. Take the Attic Heat Score to see what your attic needs.
SFL Attic is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not install anything and we are not booking jobs yet.
Last reviewed October 18, 2026 against the cited sources. A guide, not legal, tax or engineering advice.
Updated . Sources
What this site gives you now
This guide is built to remove guesswork, so you can decide from a straight answer with no pressure.
- A way to size up your attic
The Attic Heat Score shows how likely new insulation is to help. Then find the type of insulation, how deep it is and what needs fixing first. - Prices you can compare
Price ranges come from named national guides, each with its source. Ask any installer for the scope, the product and the price in writing. Nothing should start until you say yes. - The right product for your house
Blown-in when it is enough. Spray foam only when it fits your roof and your budget. - A photo habit
Take photos of the attic before and after any work, with a ruler for depth, so you can see the result. - The rebate rules
FPL pays a rebate only when your existing attic insulation is thin. The cost guide explains the rules, so you can see whether you may qualify. - What to ask for in writing
Ask any installer to put the workmanship term in your written scope: what it covers and how long it lasts. We will publish an installer's term on this site if one signs.
This site is free to read. It sells no work and takes no payment. If your attic does not need work, the guides and the score will say so. Any work is agreed in writing between you and the installer who does it.
Attic insulation services
Illustration Blown-in attic insulation
Loose fill blown across the attic floor. The usual fix for a thin layer in a dry, open attic.
Illustration Spray foam attic insulation
Foam on the roof deck that seals the attic. It costs more and fits homes with ducts in the attic.
Attic insulation removal
Takes out wet, soiled or old insulation so new insulation starts on a clean floor.
Radiant barrier
Reflective foil that turns roof heat back. It helps most where attic insulation is thin.
How it works
- Take the Attic Heat Score. It asks a few quick questions and gives you a score.
- Read your results. They point to the type and depth of insulation to look at and what to fix first.
- Ask any installer for a written price. You should see the scope and the price before any work starts.
- Decide. If your attic already has enough insulation, you may not need work.
Attic Heat Score
Answer a few quick questions. The score shows how likely your attic is to benefit from more insulation. It is a starting point; a measured depth confirms it.
SFL Attic is a guide run by Terragroupe, LLC. We do not install anything and we are not booking jobs yet.
Cities we cover in South Florida
Hot upstairs? Start with the attic
Your attic sits between a hot roof and the rooms you cool. When the insulation there is thin, more heat reaches your ceiling and your AC runs longer.
South Florida needs cooling far more than heating. Miami International Airport logs 4,656 cooling degree days in a normal year, against 103.6 heating degree days (NOAA normals, 1991 to 2020) 3. So attic insulation here is about keeping heat out.
Check what is in your attic
New homes in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties need at least R-30 in the ceiling 4. Use that as a yardstick, not as a rule for your existing attic.
Home age is a clue, not proof. We have not found a survey of real attic R-values by year built, so we do not guess. Only measuring your attic tells you.
To set your own R-value against that yardstick and see a national cost range and an FPL rebate check, use the attic cost and gap calculator.
How this is different
You have other options. You can do nothing, do it yourself, call a general contractor or call a big national company. Here is what SFL Attic offers instead.
- Only attic work, and only South Florida.
- Local facts with sources and dates, so you can check our numbers.
- One request goes to one installer. We do not sell your number to several companies.
- Foam only when it fits. We tell you when blown-in is enough.
Guides
National price ranges for attic insulation
| Job | Range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FSEC: in the Southeast a radiant barrier can reasonably take 8-12 percent off annual cooling costs (worked example: 1,500 sq ft Central Florida house); benefit shrinks with more insulation: at R-30 or better there is very little heat flow left for a barrier to block | 8-12 percent of cooling cost | [14] |
| Blown-in fiberglass, full depth, installed | 1.60-2.40 USD per sq ft | [5]National price guide range, Attic Insulation Cost and Guide 2026 - PICKHVAC, May 2026 |
| Blown-in cellulose, full depth, installed | 1.90-2.75 USD per sq ft | [5]National price guide range, Attic Insulation Cost and Guide 2026 - PICKHVAC, May 2026 |
| Open-cell spray foam (envelope), installed | 3.80-4.95 USD per sq ft | [5]National price guide range, Attic Insulation Cost and Guide 2026 - PICKHVAC, May 2026 |
| Closed-cell spray foam (envelope), installed | 5.35-6.75 USD per sq ft | [5]National price guide range, Attic Insulation Cost and Guide 2026 - PICKHVAC, May 2026 |
| Blown-in, typical 1,500 sq ft attic, total | 1875-4125 USD | [5]National price guide range, Attic Insulation Cost and Guide 2026 - PICKHVAC, May 2026 |
| Blown-in fiberglass 1.00-2.50 and cellulose 1.20-3.00 per sq ft installed | 1.00-3.00 USD per sq ft | [15]National price guide range, How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? 2026 Guide, July 2026 |
| Spray foam (open and closed not split) | 1.50-5.00 USD per sq ft | [15]National price guide range, How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? 2026 Guide, July 2026 |
| Typical 1,500 sq ft attic, total | 2000-4500 USD | [15]National price guide range, How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? 2026 Guide, July 2026 |
| Typical 2,000 sq ft attic, total | 3000-7000 USD | [15]National price guide range, How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? 2026 Guide, July 2026 |
| Removing old attic insulation: Angi and HomeAdvisor both list $1 to $1.50 per square foot (Angi also adds air sealing at $250 to $750). | 1.00-1.50 USD per sq ft | [16]National price guide range, How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? [2026 Data] (Angi), October 2026 |
| Contractor blog: open-cell 1.50-3.50 and closed-cell 2.00-4.75 per sq ft in Florida 2026; typical attic retrofit 1,700-7,500 | 1700-7500 USD | [17]National price guide range, Florida Spray Foam Insulation: Costs, Climate & Building Code Guide (2026), June 2026 |
| Spray foam, 1,500 sq ft at 3.80-6.75 per sq ft (PickHVAC envelope prices); 2,000 sq ft shown in note | 5700-10125 USD | [5]National price guide range, Attic Insulation Cost and Guide 2026 - PICKHVAC, May 2026 |
| Angi: blown-in attic insulation costs $1 to $4 per square foot (table 'Average Cost Per Square Foot in 2026'); national average attic $2,100, most homeowners $1,700 to $2,500.National range from a price guide, not a local quote. | 1-4 USD per sq ft | [16]National price guide range, How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? [2026 Data] (Angi), October 2026 |
| Angi: spray foam attic insulation costs $2 to $5 per square foot (no open-cell / closed-cell split).National range from a price guide, not a local quote. | 2-5 USD per sq ft | [16]National price guide range, How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? [2026 Data] (Angi), October 2026 |
| HomeGuide: blown-in insulation costs $0.90 to $2.40 per square foot, or $900 to $3,600 total.National range from a price guide, not a local quote. | 0.90-2.40 USD per sq ft | [18]National price guide range, How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? (HomeGuide), January 2026 |
| HomeGuide: attic spray foam insulation costs $1.50 to $5.00 per square foot.National range from a price guide, not a local quote. | 1.50-5.00 USD per sq ft | [18]National price guide range, How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? (HomeGuide), January 2026 |
| HomeAdvisor: removing old attic insulation costs $1 to $1.50 per square foot.National range from a price guide, not a local quote. | 1.00-1.50 USD per sq ft | [19]National price guide range, How Much Does It Cost to Insulate an Attic? (HomeAdvisor), June 2026 |
| Angi: contractors charge between $0.60 and $1 per square foot to install both foil and spray-on radiant barriers.National range from a price guide, not a local quote. | 0.60-1.00 USD per sq ft installed | [20]National price guide range, How Much Does a Radiant Barrier Cost to Install? [2026 Data] (Angi), October 2026 |
| Angi: professional radiant barrier installation costs between $710 and $2,840 for the project.National range from a price guide, not a local quote. | 710-2840 USD | [20]National price guide range, How Much Does a Radiant Barrier Cost to Install? [2026 Data] (Angi), October 2026 |
Evidence: the facts and sources behind this page
South Florida facts
As of October 18, 2026
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Current Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation is the 8th Edition (2023), effective December 31, 2023 (based on 2021 IECC) | 8th Edition (2023) | [4] December 31, 2023As of October 19, 2026 |
| Florida Building Code 9th Edition (2026) takes effect December 31, 2026; permit applications on/after that date follow it | 2026-12-31 date | [8] 2026As of October 19, 2026 |
| Florida Building Code 9th Edition (2026) applies to permit applications filed on or after December 31, 2026 | 9th Edition (2026)Takes effect December 31, 2026 | [8] 2026As of October 19, 2026 |
| Prescriptive minimum ceiling insulation, Climate Zone 1, FBC Energy Conservation 8th Ed. Table R402.1.2 | 30 R-value (U-0.035) | [4] December 31, 2023As of October 19, 2026 |
| Prescriptive minimum ceiling insulation, Climate Zone 2 (not South Florida), 8th Ed. | 38 R-value (U-0.030) | [9] 2023 |
| Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties are all Climate Zone 1A in the FBC Energy Conservation 8th Edition (Palm Beach moved from Zone 2 to Zone 1) | Zone 1 climate zone | [10] 2023 |
| Existing-building alterations: R503.1 says alterations comply with new-construction rules; R503.1.1 exceptions include existing ceiling/wall/floor cavities that are not exposed (and exposed cavities filled with insulation), provided the building's energy use is not increased | text code text | [11] 2023 |
| F.S. 553.9065: unvented attic assemblies insulated with at least R-20 air-impermeable insulation are deemed to meet the energy code if blower door is below 3 ACH50, mechanical ventilation is present, exposed rafters have R-3 where applicable, and HVAC equipment/ducts are inside the envelope | 20 R-value | [12] 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition) |
| Florida HB 803 (signed May 2026, effective July 1, 2026): single-family owners and their contractors do not need a building permit for work valued under $7,500; structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work still needs one; projects cannot be split; a written request is required | $7,500 USD | [13] May 8, 2026As of October 19, 2026 |
| FPL residential ceiling insulation rebate | 220 USD per installation | [6] 2025-09-01 (program standards effective date) |
| Eligibility: active FPL residential account, whole-house central electric AC and heating, verified existing ceiling R-value below R-8, all attic spaces accessible, hired PIC, once per home every 20 years | below R-8 R-value | [6] September 1, 2025 |
| Not eligible: additions or renovations, inaccessible attics, flat roofs, insulation over unfinished drop ceilings; material may be blown-in, batt or spray foam and must be new | n/a | [6] September 1, 2025 |
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates via Census Reporter: Miami-Dade County, FL, 2020-2024
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates via Census Reporter: Broward County, FL, 2020-2024
- NOAA NCEI climate normals 1991-2020 (annual station file), 1991-2020
- Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation, 8th Edition (2023), Table R402.1.2, December 31, 2023
- Attic Insulation Cost and Guide 2026 - PICKHVAC, May 15, 2026
- FPL residential ceiling insulation program standards, September 1, 2025
- IRS, Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, October 18, 2026
- Important Notice: Florida Building Code 9th Edition Code Change (Miami-Dade Permitting and Inspection Center), 2026
- Appendix RD Forms: Residential Building Thermal Envelope Approach (8th Edition FBC Energy Conservation), 2023
- Chapter 3 [RE] General Requirements: 2023 FBC - Energy Conservation, 8th edition | UpCodes, 2023
- Chapter 5 [RE] Existing Buildings: 2023 FBC - Energy Conservation, 8th edition | UpCodes, 2023
- Online Sunshine, Florida Statutes: s. 553.9065, 2026 (2026 Florida Statutes online edition)
- A new Florida law will drop permits for low-cost home projects | WLRN, May 8, 2026
- Radiant Barriers: A Question and Answer Primer (FSEC-EN-15), 2005 (copyright year; revisions undated)
- How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? 2026 Guide, July 21, 2026
- How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? [2026 Data] (Angi), October 12, 2026
- Florida Spray Foam Insulation: Costs, Climate & Building Code Guide (2026), June 16, 2026
- How Much Does Attic Insulation Cost? (HomeGuide), January 13, 2026
- How Much Does It Cost to Insulate an Attic? (HomeAdvisor), June 20, 2026
- How Much Does a Radiant Barrier Cost to Install? [2026 Data] (Angi), October 14, 2026
Questions people ask
How much does attic insulation cost in South Florida?
National price guides list blown-in fiberglass at 1.60-2.40 USD per sq ft5 installed. They list spray foam higher. These are national numbers, not South Florida quotes. Read the cost guide for the full ranges.
Does FPL pay for attic insulation?
FPL has a ceiling insulation rebate of $220 per installation 6. It applies only if your existing attic insulation is below R-8 6. A home with a decent layer will not qualify. Find your depth first, then read FPL's rules.
Is there a federal tax credit for attic insulation?
As of October 19, 2026
No, not for new work. The federal insulation credit (25C) covered only property placed in service on or before December 31, 2025 7. Some older web pages still list it.