Heat rises, and in most Irish homes about a quarter of it disappears straight through the roof. Attic insulation is the single cheapest, fastest fix, and with the SEAI grant covering around 80 percent of the cost, it is the best-value upgrade you can make. Here is the grant by home type, what it costs, what you save, and how to claim it.
Why attic insulation is the best place to start
Every energy-upgrade plan should start with the fabric of the building, and the attic is almost always the first and easiest win:
- Heat rises, so an un-insulated or under-insulated roof leaks warmth all winter.
- It is cheap and quick to install, usually in a single day.
- The grant covers around 80 percent of the average cost, so payback is fast.
The SEAI attic insulation grant (2026)
The grant is a fixed amount set by your home type:
| Home type | Attic insulation grant |
|---|---|
| Apartment | €800 |
| Mid-terrace | €1,200 |
| Semi-detached / end-terrace | €1,300 |
| Detached | €2,000 |
First-time buyers and homeowners on qualifying welfare payments can access a higher fixed grant of up to €2,500. Because attic insulation is inexpensive to install, the grant covers roughly 80 percent of the average cost, which is what makes it the highest-return upgrade available. See the full grant guide to compare every measure.
What does it cost, and what will you pay?
Attic insulation is inexpensive compared with wall insulation, and the grant is generous relative to the cost, so your net spend is small. The figure depends on your home type, the attic area and how much existing insulation needs topping up. To meet the current standard, insulation is typically built up to around 300mm of mineral wool.
Use the estimator for an indicative figure, then we confirm the exact numbers at a free assessment.
Book a free assessment for your exact figure.
Who qualifies?
Most owner-occupied and rented homes qualify, provided:
- The home was built and occupied before 2011.
- The works are carried out by an SEAI-registered contractor.
- A BER assessment is completed afterwards.
If your attic already has some insulation, topping it up to the current standard usually still qualifies. Many Irish homes have a thin, compressed or patchy old layer that is well below today’s standard.
How to claim the attic insulation grant
A good moment to think about the roof
If your roof itself is near the end of its life, it is worth insulating as part of reroofing, while access is open. And if you are planning a heat pump later, attic insulation is the first box to tick on the way to the readiness standard.
The bottom line
Attic insulation is the smartest first move in any home energy upgrade: cheap, fast, grant-supported at around 80 percent of cost, and high-return. It also sets up every later upgrade to perform at its best.
If you are in Cork or across Munster, book a free home energy assessment and read our complete guide to SEAI grants to plan the full picture.
