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SEAI Insulation Grant Checker (Ireland, 2026)
Insulation is the most-claimed SEAI grant and the sensible first move in almost any retrofit — it is cheaper than the heating systems that come after it and it makes everything after it work better. This checker shows the grant for your house type, the real cost once the grant is applied, and how quickly it pays back on your heating bill.
Reviewed Jul 23, 2026
The tool
Open the tool full-screen ↗Use it right here — nothing is saved, and there’s no sign-up.
This tool may link to relevant products and services to keep it free. Affiliate links are marked and are placeholders during this early phase — see our affiliate disclosure
What to know
SEAI grants attic insulation, cavity-wall insulation, internal and external wall insulation at different rates that depend on your property type — apartment, mid-terrace, semi-detached or detached. Attic and cavity rates increased in February 2026, which is why they remain the best-value opening move: low cost, fast payback, and immediate comfort in a draughty house.
Because insulation cuts the heat your home needs, it also shrinks every bill that follows and makes a future heat pump viable. Treating it as the foundation of a plan — rather than a one-off — is why it sits at the front of the SEAI funnel. This tool keeps the numbers honest: grants reduce the cost, they rarely cover all of it, and payback is measured in a handful of winters, not months.
How this tool works
No sign-up, nothing saved — here is what it does with your answers.
- Pick your property type and the insulation measures you’re considering.
- The tool applies the current SEAI grant rate for each measure to your property type.
- You see the grant, the net cost after grant, and an estimated payback on your heating bill.
Frequently asked questions
Which insulation grant is the best value?
Attic and cavity-wall insulation usually offer the fastest payback — they are inexpensive, quick to install, and their grant rates rose in February 2026.
Do insulation grants cover the full cost?
No. The grant reduces the cost by a fixed amount for your property type; you pay the balance. Even so, the payback on a heating bill is typically a few years.
Should I insulate before getting a heat pump?
Almost always. A heat pump in a poorly insulated home is expensive to run, and SEAI requires a heat-loss assessment first. Insulation is the foundation the rest of a retrofit is built on.
Related tools
Working through a project? These pair up.
SEAI Heat Pump Grant Checker
Up to €12,500 — check eligibility, heat-pump readiness and running cost.
SEAI Solar Grant Checker
Check your solar PV grant, real install cost and payback for 2026.
These tools give honest indications using current published rates and guidance, not professional advice. Rules, prices and provider terms change — always confirm the current figures with the relevant official body, provider or qualified professional before you commit.