Spray foam insulation costs 2024 Written by Beth Howell Updated on 14 April 2023 ✔ On average, spray foam insulation costs between £20–£50 per square metre✔ Spray foam insulation costs around £4,075 for a three-bedroom property.✔ You can save up to 50% on your energy bills with spray foam insulationThe UK housing market has an insulation problem – with roughly two-thirds of homes being rated a D or below in their Energy Performance Certificate (EPC).These low ratings are causing two major issues across the UK: high carbon emissions and expensive energy bills – not ideal during a cost of living crisis. Want to protect your home against the increasing energy bills the UK is facing? You might want to look into spray foam insulation. Read on to find out how much it’ll cost you.Better yet, you can find the best deals on spray foam insulation by simply popping a few details in this quick form. Once we have some key information, we’ll put you in touch with our trusted insulation installers, who will provide you with their best insulation deals. Get free spray foam insulation quotes Answer a few quick questions, and our trusted installers will send you bespoke spray foam insulation quotes – for free. Compare quotes now What's on this page? 01 How much does spray foam insulation cost? 02 Spray foam insulation cost calculator 03 Spray foam insulation cost per square metre 04 Are there any government grants for spray foam insulation? 05 What’s the cheapest type of property insulation? 06 FAQs How much does spray foam insulation cost?Spray foam insulation would cost around £4,075 for a three-bedroom semi-detached property.If you’re thinking this is pretty pricey, you’re right. Spray foam is usually more expensive than other types of home insulation, partly because it’s so effective at locking in heat.According to Which?, spray foam insulation costs £20–£50 per square metre – though this will depend on how thick it is. To give you an idea of how much spray foam insulation will cost for your property, we’ve taken a median price of £35 per square metre, and outlined just how much homeowners would have to pay to insulate different types of properties.Property typeAverage property size (m²)*Average cost of 100mm-thick spray foamHouse97.5£3,412.5Bungalow76.5£2,677.5Flat41.5£1,452.5Maisonette78.5£2,747.5*Figures from the ONS 2023 Remember that you’ll also have to take labour costs into account, which can vary depending on the amount of work required.Most tradespeople will charge a daily rate of around £150–£200 for installing loft insulation. However, the installer might have to carry out additional jobs, such as electrical wire relocation or loft boarding, which will increase the price further.Some people try to reduce these costs by trying DIY spray foam kits, but we wouldn’t recommend doing this. Not only could you damage your property, but you could also risk your health.Want to see how much spray foam insulation will cost you? Pop a few details in this quick form, and our trusted suppliers will be in touch with free quotes for you to compare. SavingsWondering whether spray foam insulation is worth it? Well, installing it in a three-bedroom semi-detached house can save homeowners as much as £540 on their energy bills each year. But remember that this will vary according to the type and size of each property.Although spray foam is the most expensive type of insulation, you certainly get what you pay for. The average R-value (a calculation to give a value to a material’s thermal resistance) of spray foam insulation is between 5.6 and 8 per inch – much higher than other forms of insulation – which means homeowners will quickly make their money back through savings on their monthly energy bills.Some studies have shown that spray foam insulation can save you as much as 50% on energy bills when compared to traditional home insulation products. Get free spray foam insulation quotes Answer a few quick questions, and our trusted installers will send you bespoke spray foam insulation quotes – for free. Compare quotes now Spray foam insulation cost per square metreThe overall cost of spray foam insulation is usually between £20–£50 per m², but will depend on the thickness you go for.To compare, loose-fill insulation costs around £7.50 per m², blanket insulation will set you back roughly £5 per m², and a thermal foil layer will be about £3 per m².What factors affect the cost of spray foam insulation?The cost of spray foam insulation depends on a few things, including the:Size of the property you want to insulateThickness of the foamType of insulating spray foam (open or closed cell)Amount of time it takes to install Are there any government grants for spray foam insulation?The main grant available to Brits looking to insulate their properties is the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). The 2022-2026 scheme, ECO4, began in April 2022. Under the ECO4 scheme, a number of obligated energy suppliers work with local companies to install energy efficiency measures, such as loft or wall insulation, in UK homes. Better yet, these energy suppliers fund the installation, which means eligible homeowners won’t have to pay a penny. Who’s eligible for the ECO scheme?According to Ofgem, you’ll be able to take advantage of the ECO4 scheme if you are a core group customer from scheme year nine onwards under the Warm Home Discount Scheme, or you receive at least one of the following benefits:Armed Forces Independence PaymentAttendance AllowanceCarer’s AllowanceChild BenefitConstant Attendance AllowanceDisability Living AllowancePension Guarantee CreditIncome-Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)Income SupportIndustrial Injuries Disablement BenefitMobility SupplementPersonal Independence PaymentSevere Disablement AllowanceTax Credits (Child Tax Credits and Working Tax Credits)Universal CreditYou might also be eligible for the scheme if you are living in social housing with an EPC rating of E, F, or G.You might also like: A Guide to Government Grants for InsulationWhat’s the return on investment from spray foam insulation?It takes between three and nine years to break even on spray foam insulation – but this will depend on the type and size of the property.We’ve listed the break-even point of spray foam insulation for different properties below:Property typeAverage cost for 100mm-thick spray foamAverage break-even pointHouse£3,412.58.9 yearsBungalow£2,677.57 yearsFlat£1,452.53.8 yearsMaisonette£2,747.57.2 years What’s the cheapest type of property insulation?If you’re looking to insulate your home on a budget, the best option is usually blankets/rolls of fibreglass. Not only is this material affordable, but it is also quite effective – although, you won’t feel the benefits as much as you do with spray foam insulation.Thinking of opting for blanket insulation? It’ll cost you around £5 per m², on average. To give you a better idea of how much this would cost you overall, check out the table below.Property typeAverage cost for 270mm-thick blanket insulationDetached house£600Semi-detached house£500Terrace£400Bungalow£600Data from Checkatrade, 2023Fibreglass is easy to install and comes in rolls or batts (flat panels). Although it’s cheap, bear in mind that there can be some issues with installing it, mainly because it doesn’t neatly fit in small spaces or around obstacles.The cost of spray foam insulation is often one thing that puts people off the idea. Want to learn more? Check out our age on 5 Key Problems With Spray Foam Insulation and How To Solve Them.SummarySpray foam insulation has its pros and cons. Although it’s one of the most effective products on the market for keeping your home warm, it’s also the most expensive option. If you’d like to invest in the most effective type of insulation, pop a few details in this quick form. Once we receive your information, we’ll put you in touch with our trusted insulation installers, who will provide you with spray foam insulation quotes to compare. FAQs What's the downside to spray foam insulation? Spray foam insulation is considerably more expensive than fibreglass — up to three times more expensive sometimes. It’s also a pain to remove from properties as the material will effectively glue itself to your roof. This can be an issue if you’re trying to remove it from older timber structures, and the process of doing so can cause damage. Why is spray foam insulation considered bad for mortages? Spray foam insulation can sometimes increase condensation within a property, which has the unfortunate effect of damaging things like timber structures. This makes the property more difficult to get a mortgage for, and it can even reduce the value of your home because the structural integrity has been affected. Can I install spray foam insulation myself? You can apply spray foam insulation yourself, but it’s rarely worth it because of all the specialist equipment and training you’ll need to have. Applying it too thickly or thinly can reduce its effectiveness, and in some cases cause substantial damage to your home.It’s also possible that poorly applied spray foam insulation can cause a long-lasting smell that is very difficult to get rid of. Additionally, you’ll need to make sure you wear the right protective gear when applying spray foam insulation because it it can damage the lungs and cause painful skin irritation.Your best bet is to hire an experienced professional to apply your spray foam insulation to avoid these potential issues. Written by: Beth Howell Content Manager Beth has been writing about green tech, the environment, and climate change for over three years now – with her work being featured in publications such as The BBC, Forbes, The Express, Greenpeace, and in multiple academic journals. Whether you're after a new set of solar panels, energy-saving tips, or advice on how to reduce your carbon footprint, she's got you covered.