November 13, 2026 · Pocatello Insulation

How Much Attic Insulation Do You Need in Pocatello?

Pocatello winters are long and cold, and the attic is where most homes lose the most heat. Here's how much insulation you actually need and how to tell if you have enough.

The target: R-49 to R-60

For cold climates like ours, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends attic insulation in the R-49 to R-60 range. With blown-in fiberglass or cellulose, that's roughly 14 to 18 inches of depth.

Many older Pocatello homes have far less, often 4 to 8 inches that has settled over the years.

How to check your attic

Look across the attic floor. If you can see the tops of the ceiling joists, you almost certainly need more insulation. If the insulation is level with or below the joists, you're probably under R-30.

Also look for dark or dirty spots in the insulation. Those usually mean air is leaking up from the house through that spot.

Air sealing comes first

Adding insulation on top of air leaks only goes so far. Before we blow in more, we seal around light fixtures, plumbing and wiring holes, top plates and the attic hatch. That's where warm air escapes, and where frost and ice dams start.