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| Insulation Type |
R-Value
per Inch | Density (lb per ft3) (for Loose-Fill Only) | Where Applicable | Advantages |
| Loose-fill: | Anywhere that frame is covered on both sides, such as finished walls or cathedral ceilings, unfinished attic floors and hard-to-reach places. | The only insulation that can be used in finished areas. Easy to use for irregularly shaped areas and around obstructions. Dense-pack provides air sealing as well as insulation. | ||
| Cellulose | 3.1-3.7 | 1.5-2.0 | ||
| (dense pack) | 3.4-3.6 | 3.0-4.0 | ||
| Fiberglass | 2.2-2.9 | 0.5-1.0 | ||
| (dense pack) | 3.4-4.2 | 1.6-3.0 | ||
| Rock wool | 2.2-2.9 | 1.7 | ||
| Batts: |
All unfinished walls, falls, and attics
Fitted between frame studs, joists, and beams |
Do-it-yourself
Suited for standard stud and joist spacing, if there are few obstructions | ||
| Fiberglass | 2.9-3.8 | |||
| Cotton | 3.0-3.7 | |||
| Sprayed insulation: | Unfinished walls, attics, and floors |
Provides air sealing as well as insulation
Can provide complete coverage around obstructions | ||
| Polyurethane foam | 5.6-6.2 | |||
| Icynene foam | 3.6-4.3 | |||
| Wet-spray cellulose | 2.9-3.4 | |||
| Spray-in fiberglass | 3.7-3.8 | |||
| Foam board: |
Basement masonry walls and floors
Exterior walls under construction Exterior walls when adding siding |
High insulating value for relatively little thickness
Covers wall framing, insulating studs as well as cavities | ||
| Expanded Polystyrene | 3.9-4.2 | |||
| Extruded Polystyrene | 5.0 | |||
| Polyisocyanurate | 5.6-7.0 | |||
| Polyurethane | 5.6-7.0 | |||
| Phenolic (closed cell) | 8.2 | |||
| Phenolic (open cell) | 4.4 | |||
Sources: DOE Insulation Fact Sheet, 1993 ASHRAE Handbook of Fundamentals, Loose-Fill Insulations