Basic
$1.47 – $3.91 per sq ft
1-1/2 in. white EPS foam board (around R-6), adhesive and fasteners, seams taped
Photo: Adrian Tync · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
How Much Does Polystyrene Insulation Cost in Chicago, Illinois?
Supply and install EPS or XPS polystyrene foam board insulation (1-2 in) on walls, foundation or under slab, with adhesive/fasteners and taped seams.
Polystyrene Insulation in Chicago, Illinois typically costs $1.73 to $4.60 per sq ft as of 2026. Prices reflect local labor and material rates. Use our calculator below for a detailed, ZIP-code-adjusted estimate.
Polystyrene Insulation in Chicago, Illinois
$1.73 – $4.60
per sq ftPrices in Chicago are 19.0% higher than the national average for polystyrene insulation.
National average: $1.50 – $4 per sq ft
What you get at each price level
Standard
$1.73 – $4.60 per sq ft
1-1/2 in. graphite EPS foam board (around R-7), adhesive and fasteners, seams taped
Premium
$2.16 – $5.75 per sq ft
1-1/2 in. higher-density graphite EPS (around R-7), adhesive and fasteners, seams taped, edges and penetrations sealed
Cost Breakdown in Chicago
| Component | Category | Price Range | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | material | $0.72 – $1.93 | sq ft |
| Labor | labor | $0.69 – $1.82 | sq ft |
| Supplies & Other | supplies | $0.19 – $0.51 | sq ft |
| Equipment & Disposal | equipment | $0.13 – $0.34 | sq ft |
Prices adjusted for Chicago local market conditions.
Polystyrene Insulation photo examples
Expanded polystyrene insulation boards fixed to an exterior wall with dowels
Photo: Adrian Tync · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
Find a pro to do thisSamples of white and graphite-grey EPS foam insulation board
Photo: Energieeffiziente Dämmstoffe · CC0 · Source
Find a pro to do thisClose-up of the cut edge of graphite EPS foam insulation board
Photo: Cjp24 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
Find a pro to do thisRigid polystyrene foam boards installed on a building exterior wall
Photo: Manforowicz · CC0 · Source
Find a pro to do this
Cost Factors in Chicago, Illinois
What Affects Pricing
- Materials ($0.67-$1.80 per square foot)
- Labor ($0.53-$1.40 per square foot)
- Supplies & Other ($0.18-$0.48 per square foot)
- Equipment & Disposal ($0.12-$0.32 per square foot)
Local Price Adjustments
Material costs7.0% above avg
Labor costs30.0% above avg
Labor costs in Chicago run proportionally higher than materials, which may favor material-heavy solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
References
- Rigid Foam Board Insulation, GoldStar, goldstar-insulation.com, retrieved Nov 2026
- Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Insulation Prices, Rmax, rmax.com, retrieved Nov 2026
- Construction wages by metro and rural area, used for the labor adjustment by ZIP code, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- Regional price parities for goods, used for the materials adjustment by ZIP code, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024
Get Free Estimates in Chicago
Connect with local polystyrene insulation contractors in Chicago for personalized quotes based on your specific project.