Mechanical insulation is getting more expensive at the start of 2027. Knauf Insulation and its Manson Insulation brand told customers in a pair of letters dated Oct. 19 that prices on commercial, industrial and air handling products will rise 6% to 10% on shipments made on or after Jan. 22, 2027, according to the Manson letter posted by distributor General Insulation.
Both letters are signed by Hali Bucher, director of sales operations. Manson Insulation is a registered trademark of Knauf Insulation, Inc., and both brands list the same Shelbyville, Indiana, headquarters.
The steepest hike lands on pipe insulation. Manson's Alley-K pipe insulation goes up 10%. An 8% increase covers AK Flex pipe and tank insulation, Performance+ Earthwool pipe and tank, AK Board, Manson's high temperature products, Akousti-Liner, Akousti-Liner R, Performance+ Wall and Ceiling Liner M and Performance+ Black Acoustical Board. Alley Wrap and air duct board rise 6%.
The Knauf-branded letter is narrower. It puts an 8% increase on three board products: Performance+ Insulation Board, Performance+ Black Acoustical Board and Performance+ Wall and Ceiling Liner M. The effective date is the same Jan. 22 shipment date.
Neither letter quotes new list prices. Both say the increase will be applied through changes to discounts and net prices, so the real effect will show up in what your supplier charges you rather than on a published price sheet. Both letters also say the company may limit purchase quantities ahead of the increase date, which suggests a large pre-buy order may not be filled in full.
This is the second January increase in a row on the Knauf board line. A Knauf letter dated Oct. 13, 2025, hosted by ABC Supply Interiors, put a 6% increase on the same three Performance+ board products for shipments starting Jan. 9, 2026. Stack the two and those boards will cost roughly 14.5% more than they did in late 2025, assuming the increases pass through in full.
We found no notice of the 2027 increase on Knauf's North American news page or on the Manson Insulation site as of Oct. 25, so the distributor-posted letters are the main public record for now. Customers with questions are told to call their Manson area sales manager or Knauf territory sales manager.
Why it matters for Contractors
If you're an HVAC or mechanical sub bidding work that will buy pipe insulation, duct liner or duct board after Jan. 22, build the increase into your numbers now. A bid priced on today's material cost can lose a chunk of its margin on a pipe-heavy job if the insulation ships in February.
Ask your supplier what your net price will be after the change and whether they will hold current pricing on orders placed or shipped before the date. If you have jobs scheduled for early 2027, buying ahead may help, but given the warning about limited quantities, don't count on it until the order is confirmed. For longer projects, a material escalation clause in your contract is worth a look.