You'll often see the terms "foil insulation" and "radiant barrier" used interchangeably, but they're actually two separate products. Part of the confusion stems from the fact that radiant barrier is actually a type of foil insulation. So think of foil as a category and radiant barrier as a sub-category.
Radiant barrier comes in rolls that are usually four feet wide or less and up to 1000 feet long, and at least one side has an extremely highly reflective facing. Then, the foil used in radiant barrier is usually either woven with mesh or attached via a laminate process to another material for added strength.
Bubble foil is one type of foil insulation, and it's used for most types of insulation except in attics, where radiant barrier is the preferred means of insulation. You can get reflective bubble foil in rolls as small as 12 feet wide by 25 feet long, and as large as 72 feet wide by 125 feet long. And you can choose either single or double bubble insulation:
Single bubble insulation usually consists of a single layer of polyethylene bubbles bonded to a layer of aluminum foil on one side and a sheet of solid polyethylene on the other side. Double bubble insulation has the same layer of polyethylene bubbles in the middle, but it has reflective aluminum foil on both sides.
If you have existing insulation in your attic and choose to use a standard foil over the insulation that's already there, make sure you use a perforated foil to allow breathing space between the insulation layers. Without breathing space, moisture and mold can build between the layers. You would also use perforated foil if you have a cathedral-type ceiling and want to insulate between the ceiling and drywall.
If you're in an area with low humidity, or if you're insulating an area that's below ground level (like a basement apartment), you can use solid, non-perforated foil insulation.
If you have any doubts about what type of foil insulation you need, consult with a professional.
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