What insulation work costs: an honest 2026 price guide
Most insulation companies will not put a price on their website. We think that is daft. You would not call a plumber without some idea of what a boiler costs, and you should not have to invite someone into your home to find out whether you can afford the work.
These are guide prices as at October 2026, for a typical Hampshire or South Coast home, supplied and installed. "From" is the realistic floor for an easy job. Your written quote after a free survey is the one that counts, and it can land outside these ranges if your house has something unusual going on, in which case we will explain why.
VAT differs by job, so each table says what is included. In short: installing insulation, solar panels and batteries in a home is 0% VAT until 31 March 2027 and 5% after that. Removing insulation on its own, loft boarding and EV chargers are 20%.
How we price
Almost everything we do is priced by area: square metres of wall or square metres of loft floor. On top of that, four things move the number:
Access
Side passages, conservatories, extensions, shared walls and anything that needs a tower or scaffold.
Material
Wet mineral wool takes longer to extract than bead. Closed-cell spray foam takes far longer than open-cell.
Making good
Bare brick is quick to point. Render and painted walls take more care.
Extras
Eaves trays, pipe and tank insulation, hatch, boarding, ladder and lighting are priced as items so you only pay for what you want.
Where we remove old insulation and put new in, the two are always separate lines on your quote, because they are charged differently for VAT.
Cavity wall insulation removal prices
Extraction only. These prices include VAT at 20%, because removal on its own is standard-rated.
| House type | Guide price (inc. 20% VAT) |
|---|---|
| 2-bed terrace | £1,200 to £1,700 |
| 3-bed semi-detached | £1,300 to £2,000 |
| 3-bed detached bungalow | £1,000 to £1,500 |
| 4-bed detached | £2,200 to £3,000 |
For context, Checkatrade's published figures for cavity wall insulation removal in Hampshire show an average of £1,929 and a range of £1,427 to £2,631 (October 2026). Those are other firms' prices, shown for comparison. Render, cladding, tall gables, foam fill, flood damage and wall-tie work all make a job harder and the price rises with the difficulty.
Cavity wall insulation removalCavity wall insulation installation prices
ThermaBead bonded bead into an empty, suitable cavity, with the 25-year IAA guarantee. VAT is 0% until 31 March 2027, then 5%.
| House type | Guide price (0% VAT until 31 Mar 2027) |
|---|---|
| Flat or maisonette | from £1,000, typically £1,100 to £1,500 |
| Terrace | from £1,300, typically £1,400 to £2,000 |
| 2 to 3-bed semi-detached | from £1,900, typically £2,100 to £2,800 |
| 3-bed detached bungalow | from £2,300, typically £2,400 to £3,100 |
| 3-bed detached | from £3,000, typically £3,200 to £4,200 |
| 4-bed detached | from £3,800, typically £4,000 to £5,200 |
For context, the Energy Saving Trust puts the typical cost of cavity wall insulation in Great Britain at around £2,200, with payback typically within five years. Bonded bead costs more than mineral wool, which is why our semi range runs a little higher.
Bonded bead cavity wall insulationLoft insulation prices
Materials and labour included. VAT is 0% until 31 March 2027, then 5%.
| Job | Guide price (0% VAT until 31 Mar 2027) |
|---|---|
| Top-up to 270mm, 3-bed semi | from £500, typically £550 to £850 |
| Full install to 270mm, terrace | from £600, typically £650 to £900 |
| Full install to 270mm, semi | from £750, typically £800 to £1,100 |
| Full install to 270mm, detached or bungalow | from £1,000, typically £1,100 to £1,500 |
| Eaves vent trays and lap vents | from £5 each fitted; typically £150 to £300 for a semi; included in a full install where the roof needs them |
| Pipe insulation | from £6 per metre |
| Cold water tank jacket | from £60 |
| Draught-strip and insulate an existing hatch | from £60 |
| New insulated hatch fitted | from £180 (20% VAT unless needed for access to the insulation) |
Loft insulation removal prices
Typical three-bed semi, shown as separate lines.
| Job | Guide price | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Removal only | from £500, typically £600 to £950 | 20% |
| Removal plus same-day re-insulation to 270mm | from £1,100, typically £1,300 to £1,900 | Removal 20%, new insulation 0% until 31 March 2027 |
| Contaminated, wet or rodent-damaged loft | Quoted after survey; contamination typically adds £350 to £900 | 20% on the clean-up |
Pest control and repairs are separate. If your loft has loose-fill vermiculite, it must be tested for asbestos before anyone disturbs it, and we will not quote for removal until it has been.
Loft insulation removalLoft boarding prices
Raised boarding on legs is standard-rated, so these prices include VAT at 20%.
| Job | Guide price (inc. 20% VAT) |
|---|---|
| Raised platform | about £85 to £115 per m², supplied and fitted |
| Small platform, about 10 m² | from £850, typically £900 to £1,250 |
| Typical loft, about 20 m² | from £1,600, typically £1,700 to £2,300 |
| New hatch | from £180 |
| Loft ladder | from £250 |
| Battery LED light | Included |
| Hard-wired switched light | from £95 |
If you are insulating at the same visit, the insulation is its own line at 0% VAT (5% after 31 March 2027), never blended into the boarding price.
Raised loft boardingSpray foam removal prices
Typical three-bed roof. Removal is standard-rated, so these prices include VAT at 20%.
| Foam type | Guide price (inc. 20% VAT) |
|---|---|
| Open-cell | from £3,000, typically £3,500 to £6,000 |
| Closed-cell | from £5,500, typically £6,500 to £9,500 |
Larger roofs, and foam bonded to the roofing felt, can cost more. Re-insulating the loft floor afterwards is a separate line (a semi is typically £800 to £1,100, with VAT at 0% until 31 March 2027). Timber repairs and pest control are not included.
Spray foam insulation removalSolar, battery and EV charger prices
| Job | Guide price | VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Solar, 3 to 4 kWp panels only | from £5,500, typically £5,800 to £7,500 | 0% until 31 March 2027, then 5% |
| Solar, 4 to 6 kWp panels only | from £6,800, typically £7,200 to £9,500 | 0% / 5% |
| Solar 3 to 4 kWp plus about 6 kWh battery | from £9,500, typically £10,000 to £12,500 | 0% / 5% |
| Sigenergy SigenStor battery, about 6 to 18 kWh | from £3,600 to £9,800 depending on size | 0% / 5% |
| 7 kW smart EV charger, standard install | from £950, typically £1,000 to £1,350 | 20% |
Full tables and the assumptions behind the savings estimates are on the solar panels, battery storage and EV charger pages.
VAT rates at a glance
VAT on energy-saving materials is currently 0% until 31 March 2027, when it reverts to 5%. Removal works, loft boarding and EV charger installation are standard-rated at 20%.
| Work type | VAT now | VAT from 1 Apr 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Cavity wall insulation (installation) | 0% | 5% |
| Loft insulation (installation) | 0% | 5% |
| Solar PV panels (installation) | 0% | 5% |
| Battery storage (installation) | 0% | 5% |
| Cavity wall insulation removal | 20% | 20% |
| Loft insulation removal | 20% | 20% |
| Spray foam removal | 20% | 20% |
| Loft boarding | 20% | 20% |
| EV charger installation | 20% | 20% |
Source: HMRC VAT Notice 708/6. The 0% rate applies to the supply and installation of qualifying energy-saving materials in residential properties. Rates correct as at October 2026.
What changes the price
- A gable end on a three-storey town house needs a scaffold tower.
- A conservatory against a wall we are extracting means working around or through it.
- Rendered walls need the drill holes made good to match texture, not just colour.
- Lofts full of belongings take longer; clearing them before we arrive saves money.
- Very wet mineral wool weighs several times what dry fibre does and fills bags fast.
- Downlights in the ceiling need hoods or clearance before insulation goes over them.
0% VAT and funding
Installed insulation, solar panels and battery storage in a home in Great Britain are zero-rated until 31 March 2027, then 5%. Removal on its own, loft boarding and EV chargers stay at 20%. That is our reading of HMRC's VAT Notice 708/6, and your quote will show the VAT on each line.
Eligible low-income households can have insulation fully funded through the Warm Homes: Local Grant. It is run by councils, it currently has a waiting list in our area, and it does not pay to remove failed insulation. Our guide explains the rules. We do not offer finance at the moment.
Warm Homes: Local Grant guideFrequently asked questions
Is the survey and quote really free?
Yes. No charge, no obligation. We would rather you have the number and think about it than feel pushed.
Will the quote change?
Only if we open the wall or loft and find something the survey could not reveal, and even then we stop and talk to you before doing anything extra. Our quotes are written and itemised.
Do you offer finance?
We do not offer finance at the moment. If that changes, we will say so here.
Are these prices fixed?
They are guide prices as at October 2026. VAT on installed insulation, solar and batteries rises from 0% to 5% on 1 April 2027, and material prices move, so we review these ranges regularly. Your written quote is what you pay.
Get a written quote
Book a free survey. We will measure up, show you what we find and give you an itemised price.