Australia's National Retrofit Insulation Provider

Insulation Cost Guide

Insulation removal typically costs $15–$30 per m² of ceiling in Australia, and new Knauf Earthwool® ceiling batts typically cost $15–$30 per m² installed. Removing old insulation and installing new batts together typically costs $30–$60 per m². Insulation Extract charges the same in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, and confirms every price in writing after a free on-site assessment.

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On-Site

Tile Roof Retrofit

Extraction & Batts

1. Old blown-in removal via vacuum

2. Earthwool® batts install

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Updated 27 October 2026

What the price includes

Our typical prices are quoted per square metre of ceiling and include:

Removal: Vacuum extraction of the old insulation, dust and debris from the roof space through hoses into a sealed truck, and disposal.
New batts: Supply and installation of Knauf Earthwool® glasswool batts fitted between the ceiling joists, with clearances kept around downlights and flues.
Assessment: A free on-site assessment first, and a written quote before any work starts.

What changes the price

Every roof is measured and inspected before we quote. These are the things that move a job up or down the range:

Roof size

Prices are per square metre of ceiling, so the area to be done is the biggest factor.

Roof pitch and access

A low-pitched roof or a small manhole means slower, more careful work in a tight space, which sits at the top of the range. A high roof with good access sits towards the bottom.

What is in the roof

Heavy droppings, nesting material, old loose-fill or several layers of old batts take longer to vacuum out than a single layer of tired batts.

The R-value you choose

Higher R-value batts are thicker and cost more to supply. We recommend an R-value for your home at the assessment.

Asbestos

We don't quote for or work in roofs where asbestos is present or suspected. If suspected asbestos is found during a job, work stops until a licensed assessor clears the roof, and our asbestos policy applies. Our guide to spotting asbestos insulation is linked under Helpful resources below.

Prices by city

Our typical prices are the same in every city we work in. Each city guide, linked below, covers local homes, climate zones and the R-values that suit them:

Perth: double brick and tiled roofs, climate zone 5.
Melbourne: weatherboards and terraces, climate zone 6.
Sydney: federation homes, the loose-fill asbestos register, climate zones 5 and 6.
Brisbane: Queenslanders and metal roofs, climate zone 2.

What R-value do I need?

It depends on your climate zone and your roof. Under the NCC 2022 deemed-to-satisfy provisions for new homes, the minimum ceiling insulation for a pitched roof with a flat ceiling is R2.5 to R4.0 in climate zone 2 (Brisbane), R2.5 to R3.0 in climate zone 5 (Perth and coastal Sydney) and R3.0 to R4.0 in climate zone 6 (Melbourne and western Sydney), according to the ABCB Housing Provisions, Part 13.2.

Existing homes don't have to meet the new-home minimums. We recommend an R-value for your roof at the free assessment.

Two technicians in masks feeding a vacuum hose through a tiled roof space

Installer placing ceiling insulation batts

Before and after comparison of a roof space cleared of old insulation

Typical prices

Old insulation removal: typically $15–$30 per m²Covers vacuum extraction of old insulation, dust and debris from the roof space, and disposal.
New batts installed: typically $15–$30 per m²Covers supply and installation of new Knauf Earthwool® batts, depending on R-value, roof size and pitch.

Indicative only. Your price is confirmed in writing after a free on-site assessment. Prices are the same in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Updated October 2026.

Worked examples

Removal at $15–$30 per m², new batts at $15–$30 per m², or both together at $30–$60 per m². Ceiling areas are examples; we measure your roof at the free assessment.

Typical insulation costs for two example ceiling sizes
Home	Old insulation removed	New batts installed	Removal and new batts
Smaller three-bedroom homeabout 120 m² of ceiling	$1,800–$3,600	$1,800–$3,600	$3,600–$7,200
Larger four-bedroom homeabout 180 m² of ceiling	$2,700–$5,400	$2,700–$5,400	$5,400–$10,800

Indicative only. Your price is confirmed in writing after a free on-site assessment.

Cost guides by city

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does insulation removal cost in Australia?

Insulation Extract typically charges $15–$30 per m² of ceiling to remove old insulation, the same in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. That is roughly $1,800–$3,600 for a 120 m² ceiling, confirmed in writing after a free on-site assessment.

How much do new ceiling batts cost per square metre?

New Knauf Earthwool® ceiling batts typically cost $15–$30 per m² installed. The price depends on the R-value, the roof size and the pitch.

Why is removal and new batts $30–$60 per m²?

It is the two jobs added together: removal at $15–$30 per m² and new batts at $15–$30 per m². For a larger home with about 180 m² of ceiling that is roughly $5,400–$10,800.

Do I have to remove old insulation before installing new batts?

Not always. If the old insulation is clean, dry and in place, new batts can sometimes go over it. If it is contaminated with droppings, damp, mouldy or collapsed, it should come out first. We check at the free assessment.

Is the assessment really free?

Yes. We inspect and measure the roof, explain what we find and give you a written quote. There is no charge and no obligation.