Installing a new roof costs between $5,000 and $10,000 on average. Prices vary depending on several factors, as discussed in-depth below. If you're not sure where to start, local roofing contractors can offer quotes to set your budget by.
When calculating the cost of a new roof, you'll have a variety to choose from. Contractors will estimate their rate based on factors, including:
Before you hire a contractor, confirm that they have the proper license and insurance to avoid legal problems.
Installing metal roofs cost $5,000 to $12,000 and asphalt options are $5,000 to $10,000. The majority of homes in the United States have asphalt shingles because they're affordable and easy to install and repair. However, metal styles are gaining popularity for their energy efficiency and cooling ability.
Asphalt shingles range from $70 to $160 per square (or 100 square feet) and metal roofing ranges from $120 up to $900 per square. The price for asphalt is much less than the price of metal roofing. In fact, the total asphalt shingle roof price is less than half of metal.
| Material | Cost |
|---|---|
3-tab | $70 to $100 per square (i.e. 100 square feet) |
Architectural/laminate | $100 to $160 per square |
Felt underlayment | $20 per roll |
Synthetic underlayment | $80 to $100 for 400 square feet |
Material | Cost per Square |
|---|---|
Steel or aluminum shingles | $250 to $375 |
Corrugated steel panels | $100 to $200 |
Stone-coated steel | $200 to $ |
Standing seam | $400 to $700 |
Copper or zinc roofing | $700 to $900 |
Tin | $350 to $1,500 |
So, why choose metal over asphalt? The biggest reason is its longevity. It can last fifty years or more with little maintenance, where you’ll have to replace asphalt every 15 to 30 years.
Other benefits of metal are:
Below is a breakdown of major differences between asphalt shingle and metal. You can explore the pros and cons further in our guide to metal vs. asphalt:
Option | Asphalt Shingles | Metal Roofs |
|---|---|---|
Cost |
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Durability |
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Heating/Cooling |
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Fire Resistance |
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Weight |
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Professional Installation |
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Metal roofs that look like shingles cost $275 to $375 per square in material costs. Metal sheets are typically $100 to $200 per square in material costs. Standing seam panels cost $400 to $700 per square – a much more expensive sheet option.
Metal shake roofing and shingles are:
It costs $450 to $700 per square to install a low- to mid-range metal roof over asphalt or wood shingles. There are a few things to know before pursuing this project:
Painting a metal roof costs $1,000 to $3,500. You can have it painted in any finish, color or style you want. There are special coats available from low to premium quality. Investing in the premium quality will cost a few hundred dollars more, but it often comes with a lifetime warranty and looks better.
If you choose not to install asphalt or metal, there are various other materials to choose from. Any type of shingle roofing will cost anywhere from $4,000 up to $120,000 with installation.
Below, you’ll find the prices, life expectancies and material-specific features of other common roofing products.
Materials | Cost per Square(material only) | Lifespan(in years) |
|---|---|---|
Plastic Polymer | $400 - $1,200 | 35-50 |
Clay Tile | $300-$600 | 50-100+ |
Concrete Tile | $150-$250 | 30-50 |
Slate | $500-$1,700 | 50-100+ |
Wood (cedar) | $250-$600 | 15-30 |
Asphalt | $70-$160 | 15-30 |
Metal | $120-$900 | 40-70 |
Plastic polymer comes styles that imitate wood, tile and slate. These materials are repurposed recycled plastic and are not composites of other materials.
Clay tiles are natural clay and resemble what you'd see on an Italian or Spanish home, though some varieties resemble wood shake or slate tile.
Slate tiles are also natural clay and also appear like Spanish, Italian or wood shake, depending on their design. There are many pros and cons of slate roofing:
Wood shake is a natural material. It’s often made from cedar and redwood, which helps it resist rot during inclement weather. They’ll last longer with proper care, so read our guide to making roofs last.
Concrete or cement tiles mimic the appearance of wood or ceramic tiles without being fragile or burning up during a fire.
Expensive to install due to weight and added structural material
Asphalt shingles are the cheapest roofing material at $70 to $160 per square. Standard styles of metal and concrete are also low-priced options.
Metal roofs are $120 to $900 per square and are not usually cheaper than asphalt shingles, which are $70 to $160 per square. They will also cost more to install, ranging from $70 to $500 per square in labor versus $50 to $175 per square for asphalt (not including overhead expenses). However, metal will last two to even five times as long as asphalt and could be a better value in this way.
There are high-end asphalt products that exceed the price of standard metal roofs and there are also low-cost metal roofs that run close to the price of asphalt. For the most part, however, metal will be more expensive than asphalt.
Asphalt shingles are usually cheaper than both concrete and clay tile roofing. Asphalt is $70 to $160 per square and is easy to install, versus concrete at $150 to $250 per square and clay at $300 to $600 per square. When you add labor, it’s often more expensive to install tile because of the weight and process.
Rolled roofing is a cheap alternative material that you can only use in specific situations. It is not intended for most residential applications. Rolled styles work for some garages and sheds, but can’t offer quality protection for homes. The best option for low-cost roofing is asphalt.
When installing a roof, there are various other factors that play into the price. Some factors you should consider are:
Be sure you speak in-depth with several contractors ahead of the project so you know exactly what you're paying for. Here are some other common factors to keep in mind before you proceed with a replacement or installation.
If you're replacing your roof, your estimate will include removing the old shingles. Disposing of the old materials increases labor and overhead costs.
In some cases, you can install new shingles over the old ones. This is known as re-roofing and is often less expensive. However, this method may be too heavy for the decking structure. International Residential Code (R907.3) states that if you have two or more layers of roofing, you must remove them and start over.
There are two roofing warranties to keep in mindthe manufacturer's warranty for defects in material and another warranty from the contractor to cover installation problems. Read them carefully to know what's covered or not. You don't want to pay for a lot of repairs and maintenance because the warranties don't cover what they should.
You could save money if you replace your gutters and flashing during your roofing project. Your project will be more expensive upfront, but building this work into your total is often less than having them installed separately.
Mobile home roofing costs $1,000 to $3,000 to replace. These calculations are for single-wide size homes, which are 600 to 1,300 square feet. Two of the most popular options for materials are metal and asphalt. Using higher-end materials on larger homes will come at higher rates. Other common options for mobile home roofing include:
Every roof type is a shape: squares, rectangles, trapezoids and triangles. Below are some tips for making the calculations yourself, or you can use our roofing calculator.
To calculate the area of your roof, you need to multiply the length and width of your roof to get a rough estimate.
Length x Width = Area
Use a tape measurer to measure the length and width and then multiply to get the area. You can also get a rough measurement by measuring one floor of your home. If a single floor of your home is roughly 1,200 square feet, your roof should be around that square footage as well.
Then you'll need to calculate pitch and slope.
You don’t have to go on the roof to calculate the pitch or slope. There is a pitch card available from manufacturers that you can use from the ground. Roofs usually have one of three pitches, unless they're designed specifically for a special type of home:
Once you have the pitch or slope and the sum of all of the sides, you can come up with a rough estimate of the actual area using the pitch table.
Pitch | Multiply By |
|---|---|
3 in 12 | 1.04 |
4 in 12 | 1.06 |
5 in 12 | 1.08 |
6 in 12 | 1.12 |
7 in 12 | 1.16 |
8 in 12 | 1.20 |
9 in 12 | 1.25 |
10 in 12 | 1.30 |
11 in 12 | 1.36 |
12 in 12 | 1.42 |
So using the first example, if your roof with a tape measurer is 1,200 square feet with a pitch of 3/12, that means your actual square footage can be calculated as:
1,200 x 1.04 = 1,242 sq. ft. of roofing
There will be extra calculations for eaves and overhangs, but contractors will know how to do those calculations, so be sure to consult with them before buying the materials.
Estimating roof size is crucial in determining your material needs. Precision ensures accurate estimations for materials and accessories. Inaccurate measurements could lead to unnecessary spending. Double-check with the professional on your measurements before moving forward.
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