Recommended R Values For Wall Insulation

Fiberglass batts for standard 2 4 walls are now available in low medium and high density products that range from r 11 to r 15.
Recommended r values for wall insulation. You can achieve better thermal performance in your attic by adding an additional layer of insulation. The following 2008 department of energy zone recommendations are based on comparing estimated future energy savings to the current cost of installing insulation. R value is a standard unit of measurement for determining among many things how effective your insulation will be. See the department of energy s doe ranges for recommended levels of insulation below.
While wall insulation is limited by the width of the studs different materials provide higher or lower r values. Thickness density and type of materials are some factors that contribute to. Note from this. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation.
Insulation level are specified by r value. To choose the best insulation for your home from the many types of insulation on the market you ll need to know where you want or need to install the insulation and what r value you want the installation to achieve. The table below shows what levels of insulation are cost effective for different climates and. Recommended home insulation r values.
Higher r value numbers mean that the insulating material resists the cold or heat from the outside better. Typical recommendations for exterior walls are r 13 to r 23 while r 30 r 38 and r 49 are common for ceilings and attic spaces. Achieving greater r values in exterior walls. These r values are a sum meaning this should be the total r value once you add up the entire depth of insulation.
Department of energy r value recommendations for new and existing homes. The higher the r value the better the thermal performance of the insulation. The r refers to absolute thermal resistance.