Home Insulation in Ireland

An independent guide to insulation for homes in Ireland. Insulation can reduce heat loss and improve comfort, but the right measure depends on how your home is built and where it is actually losing heat, not on one default answer.

Independent information, not linked to any installer Grants and eligibility explained in plain English
How it works

Your insulation journey

Four steps to help you make an informed decision, in your own time.

Research your options

Understand suitability, costs, grants and installation.

Understand the cost

Review likely costs and available grants before requesting quotations.

Browse installers

Search the SEAI register and compare local installers.

Contact installers directly

Request and compare quotes from your chosen installers.

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Insulation

What this guide covers

Insulation advice online tends to follow the same script: insulation keeps a home warm, here are the three or four main types, here are the grants, get quotes. That script skips the part that actually matters. This guide works through what a cold room, a draught or a damp patch might actually be telling you, where a typical home can lose heat, how attic, wall and floor insulation differ from each other, why ventilation deserves proper attention rather than a warning line, current SEAI grants explained in plain English, and what to check before you request quotations.

Understand the problem

What insulation problem are you actually trying to solve?

Before choosing an insulation measure, it helps to be clear about what you are actually noticing in the home. The symptoms below can feel similar, but they do not necessarily share the same cause, and insulation is not automatically the answer to every one of them.

  • Rooms that feel cold. Could relate to wall, floor or ceiling insulation, but also to heating distribution, room use or draughts.
  • Cold external walls. Often points toward wall insulation, though the wall construction has to be identified before a method can be chosen.
  • Cold floors. May relate to floor construction and insulation, but ground floors can also simply run cooler than the rest of a home.
  • Cold upstairs ceilings or rooms. A common sign that attic insulation is thin, old or missing in places.
  • Noticeable draughts. Uncontrolled air movement through gaps around windows, doors, floors or fittings. This is a different problem to heat conducting through a wall, and insulation alone does not fix it.
  • Condensation. Moisture in the air meeting a cold surface. Can involve ventilation, how much moisture the household produces, and surface temperatures at thermal bridges.
  • Mould. Usually follows from a persistent condensation or damp issue rather than from insulation levels on their own.
  • A home that loses warmth quickly once the heating goes off. Suggests the building fabric as a whole is worth looking at, rather than any single element in isolation.

Insulation may form part of the solution to several of these, but a symptom on its own does not diagnose the building. The sections below work through where a typical home can lose heat, so you can match what you are noticing to a likely cause before you request quotations.

Building fabric

Where homes lose heat

Heat leaves a home through several routes at once, and how much goes through each one depends on that home's age, construction and upgrade history. We are not going to give you a fixed percentage breakdown for roof, walls, windows and floors, since that split genuinely differs from one home to the next and a single generic graphic would not reflect your own house.

  • Attic or roof. Warm air rises, so an uninsulated or poorly insulated attic is often a significant route for heat loss.
  • External walls. Usually the largest single surface area of a home in contact with the outside, so their insulation level matters a great deal.
  • Floors. Ground floors in contact with an unheated void or the earth beneath can lose heat, though usually less than walls or roof in most homes.
  • Windows and doors. Typically lose heat faster per square metre than an insulated wall, and their condition and glazing type both affect this.
  • Junctions and thermal bridges. Points where the building fabric is interrupted, such as where a wall meets a floor or a window opening, can lose heat locally even in an otherwise well insulated home.
  • Uncontrolled air leakage. Heat carried out directly through gaps and cracks, distinct from heat conducting through a wall or roof, and addressed by draught proofing rather than insulation.

A poorly maintained attic in one home and a leaking window in another can matter far more than any general rule would suggest. That is the reasoning behind the Insulation Priority Check further down this page, which asks about your own home rather than assuming a standard pattern.

An attic space in a home in Ireland showing roof timbers, some existing insulation and services running across the joists
Attic and roof insulation

Attic and roof insulation

SEAI describes attic insulation as often one of the most cost effective home energy upgrades, since materials are inexpensive and an uninsulated attic loses heat directly upward.

  • Attic floor insulation. The usual approach for a standard, unused attic. Thin or settled insulation can often be topped up rather than replaced. See our guide to topping up existing attic insulation for what to check first.
  • Roof or rafter insulation. Needed where the thermal envelope sits at roof level, such as a converted attic room.
  • Storage and boarding. Boarding laid straight over loose insulation compresses it and cuts performance, so plan storage around the insulation.
  • Tanks, pipes and cables. Tanks and pipework need protection from cold once insulation goes in below them, and electrical fittings must be treated correctly, not simply covered over.
  • Ventilation at roof level. The roof space needs to keep breathing correctly once insulation is added, covered further below.
Installed properly, not just piled in

Simply piling insulation over pipework, tanks, ventilation gaps or recessed light fittings can create new problems while adding little benefit. A competent installer works around these features rather than covering them indiscriminately.

Internal wall insulation boards being fitted to an external wall inside a home in Ireland
Wall insulation

Wall insulation

The appropriate wall insulation method depends on how the wall is actually built, not on which option happens to be best known. Two similar looking homes can have different wall constructions and therefore need different approaches. Once you know your wall type, our guide to choosing between internal and external wall insulation works through the practical trade offs in more depth.

  • Cavity wall insulation. Insulation injected into a suitable cavity from outside. Relatively quick and low in disruption where the cavity is in a suitable condition, but not every cavity qualifies.
  • Internal wall insulation. Fitted to the inside face of external walls. Involves work inside the home room by room, some loss of internal floor area, and careful treatment around sockets, skirting, windows and door openings.
  • External wall insulation. An insulation system fixed to the outside of the walls and finished externally. Avoids losing internal space or disturbing the inside of the home, but changes the external appearance and needs careful detailing at windows, doors, eaves and boundaries.
Confirm your wall construction first

A cavity wall, a solid masonry wall and other constructions all need different treatment, so confirm your wall construction before assuming a particular method applies to your home. The individual SEAI wall insulation grant requires all external walls to be fully insulated, not just one or two. Traditional or heritage homes, typically older solid masonry construction, need a different approach and are not covered by the standard individual wall insulation grant. See our guide to insulating a solid wall home for how to tell which category applies to your property.

Insulation being fitted beneath a suspended timber floor in a home in Ireland, with floorboards lifted
Floor insulation

Floor insulation

Floor insulation gets far less attention than attic or wall work, but the right approach, and how disruptive it is, depends entirely on the type of floor involved.

  • Suspended timber floors. Built over a ventilated void. Insulation can sometimes be fitted by lifting floorboards from above, or from below where there is enough access to the void, making this relatively contained work in the right conditions.
  • Solid floors. A concrete slab bearing directly on the ground. Insulating an existing solid floor usually means lifting the floor finish entirely, so it tends to make most sense alongside a larger renovation rather than as a standalone job.
  • Ventilation beneath the floor. Airflow through a suspended floor void needs to be maintained once insulation is fitted, so that moisture does not become trapped around the timber.
Ventilation and moisture

Ventilation and moisture

Insulation changes the surface temperature of whatever it covers, and other retrofit work, particularly draught proofing, changes how much uncontrolled air movement happens through a home. These two effects need to be considered together, not treated as separate topics.

A household naturally produces moisture through cooking, washing, bathing and simply breathing. Condensation forms where that moist air meets a surface cold enough to cool it below its dew point. Reducing draughts without enough ventilation can allow moisture to build up indoors, even where insulation has made some surfaces warmer. Surfaces at thermal bridges, such as junctions and window reveals, can also stay relatively cold even after insulation work elsewhere, and remain a likely spot for condensation.

Insulation does not automatically cure condensation or mould. Where a home already has a persistent damp, condensation or mould problem, it is worth understanding the cause first. It may sit with ventilation, with how much moisture the household produces, with cold surfaces at thermal bridges, or with a combination of these, rather than with insulation levels on their own.

If you already have a damp or mould problem

Get the cause identified before proceeding with insulation work, particularly internal wall insulation or draught proofing that will reduce air movement in the affected area. A contractor or building professional should be able to help establish the cause before you commit to a specific measure.

Insulated heating pipework and a hot water cylinder in a home utility area in Ireland
Insulation and heating

Insulation and heating

A home that loses heat more slowly generally needs less heating output to stay comfortable, and needs the heating on for less of the time to maintain that comfort. This relationship is worth understanding before choosing a heating system, not only before choosing insulation.

It becomes particularly relevant when considering a heat pump. Heat pumps typically work most efficiently at lower flow temperatures than a gas or oil boiler. A home with lower heat loss can generally be kept comfortable at those lower flow temperatures more easily than a home that is still losing a lot of heat through its fabric. See our Heat Pumps guide for more on flow temperatures and radiators.

Grants

Attic and cavity wall grants

SEAI offers individual grants for attic, cavity wall, internal wall and external wall insulation, with floor insulation supported differently. Amounts vary by dwelling type. These figures reflect current SEAI guidance, but scheme details can change, so always confirm the current amount and your own eligibility directly with SEAI.

Attic insulation

Standard individual grant, by dwelling type:

  • Detached house: €2,000
  • Semi detached or end of terrace: €1,500
  • Mid terrace: €1,400
  • Apartment: €1,100

A higher attic grant currently applies for qualifying first time buyers and homeowners receiving qualifying welfare payments: €2,500 for a detached home, €1,900 for semi detached or end of terrace, €1,800 for mid terrace, and €1,400 for an apartment. For the standard individual grant, the home must have an MPRN and have been built and occupied before 2011. The enhanced first time buyer rate currently requires an existing home built and occupied on or before 31 December 2010 and purchased on or after 1 January 2025, alongside the other eligibility requirements.

Cavity wall insulation

Standard individual grant, by dwelling type:

  • Detached: €1,800
  • Semi detached or end of terrace: €1,300
  • Mid terrace: €850
  • Apartment: €700

Higher grants currently apply for homeowners receiving qualifying welfare payments: €2,300 for a detached home, €1,700 for semi detached or end of terrace, €1,100 for mid terrace, and €900 for an apartment.

SEAI's October 2026 changes introduced more generous attic and cavity wall insulation support for certain welfare recipients and for qualifying homes let under HAP, RAS and RASP tenancies, from 6 October 2026. For HAP and RAS homes, attic insulation support ranges from €1,400 to €2,500 and cavity wall insulation from €900 to €2,300, depending on the property type. Confirm the amount for your home with SEAI, and see our guide to new SEAI grants from October 2026.

Grants

Internal, external and floor insulation grants

Internal wall insulation

  • Detached: €4,500
  • Semi detached or end of terrace: €3,500
  • Mid terrace: €2,000
  • Apartment: €1,500

External wall insulation

  • Detached: €8,000
  • Semi detached or end of terrace: €6,000
  • Mid terrace: €3,500
  • Apartment: €3,000

Floor insulation

Floor insulation is not covered by a standalone individual grant. Current SEAI One Stop Shop grant tables list a flat €3,500 for floor insulation, for detached, semi detached or end of terrace, mid terrace and apartment property types, available through the One Stop Shop route rather than the individual measure route used for attic and wall insulation.

All three wall insulation grants require the home to have an MPRN, to have been built and occupied before 31 December 2010, and to have all external walls fully insulated, not just one or two. SEAI also permits a supplementary measure in defined circumstances: a home previously given cavity wall insulation can go on to receive internal or external wall insulation, and a home previously given internal wall insulation can go on to receive external wall insulation. A home that has already received external wall insulation cannot receive a further wall insulation grant.

The grant process

For individual insulation grants, grant approval must be obtained before work begins, and the work must be carried out by an SEAI registered contractor, registered for the relevant type of work. A post works Building Energy Rating assessment is required before the grant is drawn down, and there is currently a €50 grant toward that assessment, separate from the insulation grant amount itself. Always confirm current terms directly with SEAI before proceeding.

See current Grants

Costs

What does insulation cost in Ireland?

Every home and every job is different, so the figures below are indicative planning ranges cross-checked across independent Irish cost research, not a quotation for your own project. Reliable published cost data does not exist for every measure, so ranges are shown only where independent Irish cost research gives a reasonably consistent picture. The only way to know what your own job will cost is to get written quotations from more than one SEAI registered installer.

Attic insulation

Typically in the region of €600 to €2,000, fully installed, before grant support, for topping up or newly insulating a standard attic floor. A straightforward top up on an averagely sized attic tends to sit toward the lower end, with a full new installation, roof or rafter insulation, or a larger or more complex roof space pushing costs higher. The standard SEAI attic insulation grant is worth up to €2,000, so many eligible jobs cost relatively little after grant support. See SEAI insulation grants above.

Cavity wall insulation

Typically in the region of €1,800 to €2,800, fully installed, before grant support, for pumping insulation into a suitable cavity. The main drivers are the wall area being filled and the material used. The standard SEAI cavity wall grant is worth up to €1,800, so many eligible jobs cost relatively little after grant support, though not every cavity qualifies. See Wall insulation above.

Internal wall insulation

Typically in the region of €4,000 to €10,500, fully installed, before grant support, for dry lining external walls with insulated board or a stud and insulation build up. Cost varies mainly with the total wall area being lined and how many rooms are involved, plus work around sockets, skirting and window and door reveals. The SEAI internal wall insulation grant is worth up to €4,500 for a detached home.

External wall insulation

Typically in the region of €13,500 to €24,000, fully installed, before grant support, for wrapping external walls with an insulation and render system. This is the most expensive wall measure, driven by the wall area, scaffolding, and the external render or finish. The SEAI external wall insulation grant is worth up to €8,000 for a detached home.

Floor insulation

A suspended timber floor is typically in the region of €1,500 to €5,000, fully installed, since insulation can often be fitted between joists from above or below without disturbing the floor finish. Insulating an existing solid concrete floor is typically in the region of €3,000 to €8,000, mainly because it usually means lifting the floor finish and relaying a new screed. Floor insulation is not covered by a standalone individual SEAI grant. See Floor insulation and SEAI insulation grants above.

What a typical job may include

Coverage varies between installers and measures, but a typical quotation usually covers materials, labour, making good around fittings and junctions, and a basic clean up on completion. Attic and cavity wall jobs are usually priced as a single visit. Internal wall, external wall and solid floor work usually price in preparation, protection of the work area, and finishing, such as plastering, boarding or render.

What drives cost variation

  • Area and house size. A larger home has more attic floor, wall or floor area to cover, which scales cost roughly with area.
  • Material and specification. Different products and thicknesses cost different amounts per square metre, covered further in Common insulation materials below.
  • Access and preparation. A cluttered attic that needs clearing, furniture that needs moving, or a floor void with poor access all add time and cost.
  • Finishes. Plastering, boarding or external render needed to complete internal wall, external wall or solid floor work.
  • Grant treatment. Whether the price shown is before or after grant support, and whether VAT is included.
Planning information, not a quotation

The figures on this page are indicative ranges for planning purposes, drawn from independent Irish cost research. They are not a quotation, an estimate for your specific home, or a guarantee of what you will be charged. Only a written quotation from an SEAI registered installer, based on your own home, tells you what your job will actually cost.

Materials

Common insulation materials

Several materials are commonly used in Irish homes, and none is universally the best choice. The right material depends on where it is going, the space available, moisture conditions and the installer's recommendation for your specific build up.

  • Mineral wool and glass wool. A widely used fibre insulation, sold as rolls or loose fill. Commonly used to insulate or top up an attic floor, and sometimes used within an internal wall stud or service void.
  • Rock wool (stone wool). A denser mineral fibre insulation with similar uses to mineral or glass wool, sometimes chosen for its fire performance or acoustic properties.
  • PIR and PUR rigid foam board. Rigid insulation boards that achieve a given performance in a thinner section than many other materials, useful where space is limited. Commonly used for internal wall insulation, rafter or roof insulation, and solid floor insulation.
  • EPS and XPS. Expanded and extruded polystyrene boards or bead. EPS bead is a common cavity wall fill material, and EPS or XPS board is also used in external wall insulation systems and some floor applications.
  • Cellulose. A loose fill material made mainly from recycled paper, blown into attics or wall cavities by a trained installer.
  • Sheep's wool. A natural fibre insulation, mainly used in attics, sometimes chosen by homeowners who want a natural, breathable material, generally at a higher material cost.

An installer should recommend a material and specification suited to your building, not simply what they usually stock. See U-values, lambda and thickness below for what a proper specification should state.

Reading a specification

U-values, thermal conductivity and thickness explained

Insulation quotations sometimes reference figures that are not explained. Knowing what they mean helps you compare quotations and confirm you are getting what you are paying for.

U-value measures how much heat passes through a whole building element, such as a wall, roof or floor, including its insulation. The lower the U-value, the better that element is at holding heat in. It is the figure a proper specification should ultimately target.

Thermal conductivity, often written as lambda or the Greek letter λ, measures how readily a specific material conducts heat. A lower lambda value means the material is a better insulator for a given thickness. Different materials have different lambda values, which is one reason a thinner board of one material can achieve a similar result to a thicker layer of another.

Thickness works together with lambda to determine performance. The same material performs better the thicker it is installed, and a target U-value can generally be reached with more than one combination of material and thickness.

What a proper quotation should state

Ask your installer to state, in writing, the target U-value for the work, the manufacturer, product name and lambda value of the material being used, the thickness being installed, and any relevant product certification. A quotation that names a material without a thickness, or a thickness without a target U-value, does not give you enough to compare against another quotation.

DIY or professional

DIY vs professional work

Some insulation work is commonly carried out by confident DIYers, while other work needs a trained, registered installer. Where safety is involved, treat the points below as a starting point, not a complete risk assessment for your own home.

  • Topping up attic insulation. Often within reach of a competent DIYer on a straightforward, accessible attic, working around pipework, tanks and fittings as covered in Attic and roof insulation above. Working at height on joists, and handling mineral wool or similar fibre products, still calls for basic precautions such as secure footing, a mask and gloves.
  • Cavity wall, internal wall, external wall and solid floor work. Normally carried out by trained installers, since pumping a cavity, dry lining a room, fitting an external insulation and render system, or lifting and relaying a solid floor all call for specific skills, tools and, in some cases, scaffolding or structural awareness.
  • Dust and fibre exposure. Mineral wool, glass wool and cellulose can shed dust and fine fibres. Wear a suitable mask, gloves and eye protection, and ventilate the work area.
  • Moisture and condensation risk. Poor detailing, such as insulation fitted without maintaining ventilation at roof or floor level, or internal wall insulation fitted over a damp problem that has not been addressed, can create moisture problems rather than solve them. See Ventilation and moisture above.
  • Grant work must be done by a registered contractor. Where an SEAI grant applies, the work must be carried out by a contractor registered with SEAI for that type of work, which rules out a DIY approach for any grant aided job, whatever the measure.
Next steps

Want to see how this could work for your own home?

Work through the Insulation Priority Check below to see how the practical factors on this page apply to your home, or if you already feel informed enough to take the next step, search for insulation installers in Ireland now.

Upgrader.ie original tool

Insulation Priority Check

Answer a few practical questions about your home to see which areas are worth investigating first, and what to check before you request quotations. This is an educational starting point only. It does not survey your property or determine which insulation measure is right for your home.

Roughly when was your home built?
Has the attic or roof insulation been upgraded?
What is your external wall construction, if known?
Has wall insulation been installed before?
Where does the home feel cold? Select all that apply.
Do you notice condensation or mould?
Do you notice draughts around windows, doors, floors or other openings?
Does the home lose warmth quickly once the heating switches off?
Are you also considering other upgrade work? Select all that apply.

Answer all the questions to see your personalised summary.

This tool gives general pointers based on the answers you enter. It is not a survey of your property. It does not calculate U values or heat loss, does not estimate savings, does not diagnose damp or condensation, does not determine grant eligibility, and does not establish that a particular insulation measure is suitable for your home. A proper assessment from an SEAI registered contractor or Technical Advisor is needed for that.

The work

What happens during the work?

Disruption differs a great deal by measure. Topping up attic insulation is very different from dry lining several rooms or wrapping the exterior of a home, so the sequence below is a general outline rather than a fixed timeline.

1

Property and construction check

An installer confirms your wall, roof and floor construction, existing insulation, and any damp or moisture issues before recommending a measure.

2

Choose the appropriate measure

Based on the construction check, you agree which insulation work is actually suited to your home, rather than defaulting to the most common option.

3

Grant approval where applicable

Where a grant applies, approval is confirmed with SEAI before any work begins.

4

Prepare the area

This can mean clearing an attic, moving furniture for internal wall work, or arranging access to a floor void, depending on the measure.

5

Install the insulation

Duration varies widely. An attic top up can take a day, while external wall insulation or dry lining several rooms takes considerably longer.

6

Check ventilation and finish the work

Ventilation provisions are checked, and finishes, such as plastering, boarding or external render, are completed and made good.

7

BER and grant paperwork

Where a grant was used, a post works Building Energy Rating assessment is completed and grant paperwork is finalised.

Comparing quotations

Comparing insulation quotations

Two insulation quotations that sound similar can involve very different work. Before comparing prices, make sure you can answer the following for each quotation.

Exact area and boundaries. Precisely which surfaces are being insulated, not just a general description of the job.
Existing construction. The wall, roof or floor construction the quotation is based on.
Insulation material and specification. The specific product and its thickness, not just a general material name.
Preparation work. What is included, such as clearing an attic or addressing damp before insulation goes in.
Ventilation provisions. How the work maintains or improves ventilation, not only how it reduces heat loss.
Windows, doors and junctions. How the work is treated around openings and other junctions in the building fabric.
Damp or moisture issues. Whether any were identified before work started, and how they will be addressed.
Finishes and making good. Plastering, boarding, render or decoration required to complete the job properly.
Price and grant treatment. Whether the price shown is before or after any grant, and whether VAT is included.
Contractor registration. That the installer is registered with SEAI for the relevant work, where the job is grant aided.
Warranties. What is covered, and for how long, on both the material and the installer's own workmanship.
Exclusions. Ask directly what is not included, since this is where unexpected costs usually come from.
No rankings or recommendations

Upgrader.ie does not rank, rate or recommend individual installers. This checklist is here to help you ask the right questions and compare answers, not to tell you which company to choose.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How do I know what insulation my home already has?

You will not always know from looking. Attic insulation can usually be checked directly in the attic. Wall insulation and its condition is harder to confirm without a survey. An SEAI registered contractor or a Building Energy Rating assessment can help establish what is already in place before you plan further work.

Should I insulate my attic or walls first?

It depends on which is currently doing less to hold heat in. Attic insulation is often simpler and less disruptive to add or top up, so it is frequently addressed first, but poorly insulated or uninsulated walls can still lose a large amount of heat regardless of attic performance. There is no single correct order that applies to every home. See What insulation problem are you actually trying to solve above.

Can insulation cause condensation?

Insulation on its own does not cause condensation, but retrofit work that reduces uncontrolled air leakage without enough ventilation can allow moisture to build up indoors. Ventilation should be considered alongside any insulation work. See Ventilation and moisture above.

Is cavity wall insulation suitable for every cavity wall?

No. Suitability depends on the condition and width of the cavity, exposure to wind driven rain, and whether the cavity is clear of debris that could bridge it. A registered installer should assess the specific wall before quoting, rather than assuming every cavity wall qualifies.

Is floor insulation worth considering?

It depends on your floor type and your plans. A suspended timber floor can sometimes be insulated with relatively contained work. An existing solid floor usually means lifting the floor finish, so it tends to make most sense alongside a larger renovation rather than as a standalone job. See Floor insulation above.

Should I improve insulation before installing a heat pump?

A home that loses heat more slowly generally stays comfortable more easily at the lower flow temperatures a heat pump typically runs at. Whether to address insulation before, alongside or after a heat pump project depends on your home's current heat loss, which an SEAI registered Technical Advisor can help establish. See Insulation and heating above.

Can I get an SEAI grant for insulation?

Grants are available for attic, cavity wall, internal wall and external wall insulation, with floor insulation supported through the One Stop Shop route rather than as a standalone individual grant. Amounts vary by dwelling type and measure. See SEAI insulation grants above, and always confirm your own eligibility directly with SEAI.

Can I receive another wall insulation grant if my home was already insulated?

In some cases. Current SEAI guidance allows a home that previously received cavity wall insulation to go on to receive internal or external wall insulation, and a home that previously received internal wall insulation to go on to receive external wall insulation. A home that has already received external wall insulation cannot receive a further wall insulation grant.

What happens if I own a traditional home?

Homes built before 1940 with solid masonry, breathable construction are generally treated differently. SEAI guidance describes these as traditional or heritage buildings, which are not eligible for the individual wall insulation grant. Wall insulation for these homes is instead addressed through the Traditional Homes Pilot. See Wall insulation above.

How much does insulation cost in Ireland?

Based on independent Irish cost research, attic insulation is typically €600 to €2,000, cavity wall insulation is typically €1,800 to €2,800, internal wall insulation is typically €4,000 to €10,500, and external wall insulation is typically €13,500 to €24,000, all fully installed before grant support. Floor insulation is typically €1,500 to €5,000 for a suspended timber floor, or €3,000 to €8,000 for an existing solid floor. These are indicative planning ranges, not quotations. See What does insulation cost in Ireland above.

Which insulation material is best?

No single material is universally best. Mineral wool, rock wool, PIR and PUR board, EPS and XPS, cellulose and sheep's wool are all used in Irish homes, and the right choice depends on where it is going, the space available and the installer's recommendation for your building. See Common insulation materials above.

What should an insulation quotation state?

Ask for the target U-value for the work, the manufacturer, product name and thermal conductivity, or lambda, value of the material, the thickness being installed, and any relevant product certification. A quotation without these details does not give you enough to compare against another quotation. See U-values, thermal conductivity and thickness explained above.

Can I install insulation myself?

Sometimes. Topping up attic insulation is often within reach of a confident DIYer on a straightforward, accessible attic. Cavity wall, internal wall, external wall and solid floor work are normally carried out by trained installers, and any SEAI grant aided job must be carried out by a contractor registered with SEAI. See DIY vs professional work above.

Related Guides

Related guides

Go deeper on some of the questions covered above.

Sources

Sources and information date

Grants, eligibility and technical requirements are checked against official SEAI material. Indicative installation costs are cross-checked across independent Irish market sources, since no official published cost data exists for typical installation prices.

Information checked: 21 September 2026

Grant amounts, eligibility conditions and market pricing can change. This guide is reviewed periodically, but always confirm current grant amounts and your own eligibility directly with SEAI, and confirm actual costs with your own written installer quotations, before making a decision.

Next steps

Ready to talk to installers?

Work through the Insulation Priority Check for a sense of where to focus first, or if you already feel informed enough to take the next step, search for insulation installers in Ireland and contact the ones that interest you directly.

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