What would be a good cheap insulation for a basement ceiling or wall?
1 white styrofoam cost less.
put fiber glass insulation between joists and then seal with stapled plastic sheeting before drywalling ceiling. The plastic sheeting itself may do quite a bit.
Insulating the ceiling will not accomplish anything. Insulate the basement wall with a moisture barrier (plastic or house wrap). Without this barrier, you are wasting time and money. Then insulate with fiberglass, same as your above ground walls.
Fiberglass batt insulation is best bang for the buck. For 2x4 walls use R13 paper faced batts and for 2x6 walls use R19. Curious to why you are insulating the ceiling. It is usually not required unless you are talking an unconditioned space like a crawl space. The only reason I like to insulate the ceiling in the basement (or any floor joists area for that matter) is for sound insulation. For that purpose I have found that R13 unfaced insulation is sufficient.
