Metal roof replacement cost
Metal has the widest published price range of any residential roofing material. roofingcalculator.com puts it at $6.00 to $24.50 per square foot; This Old House models a 2,000 square foot metal roof at $37,285. That is not a measurement error. "Metal roof" covers everything from an exposed-fastener corrugated panel to a standing seam copper roof, and those are different products at different prices.
Satellite measurement. No cost, no obligation.
What each source says metal roofing costs
Most cost guides publish one figure. Here is every published figure we could verify against a live page, so you can see the disagreement before you anchor on any one of them.
Swipe the table to compare all columns
| Source | Per sq ft | Total |
|---|---|---|
| roofingcalculator.com | $6.00–$24.50 | $10,245–$41,640 |
| material and install, national | ||
| This Old House dated 2026-06-05 | $18.64 avg | $37,285 avg |
| 2,000 sq ft roof, national average | ||
| Angi dated 2026-03-05 | — | $5,700–$25,000 |
| installed total, all roof sizes | ||
| Modernize | $10.00–$20.00 | $20,000–$40,000 |
| installed, New Jersey | ||
| Fixr dated 2026-03-09 | $9.00–$17.00 | — |
| per sq ft, New Jersey | ||
Every figure retrieved 2026-08-21 from the linked page. We did not average these together, because averaging different methodologies produces a number that describes nothing.
Why the published numbers disagree
The variable that moves the number most is the fastening system, not the metal. Exposed-fastener panel screws through the face of the sheet and sits at the bottom of the range. Standing seam hides the fastener inside a raised vertical seam, takes far more labor and specialised forming, and sits at the top. Then the metal itself, whether steel, aluminum, zinc or copper, moves it again. A quote that says only "metal roof" has not told you which roof you are buying.
How long it lasts
- • 40 to 70 years — This Old House
Where it makes sense
- •Owners planning to keep the house for 20 years or more, where lifespan changes the arithmetic
- •Coastal and high-wind exposure, which is much of the New Jersey shore
- •Simple roof geometry, where standing seam runs long uninterrupted panels efficiently
What to watch for in a quote
- •A quote that does not name the system. Ask for "standing seam" or "exposed fastener" in writing, plus the gauge.
- •Metal installed over existing shingles. It is often allowed and it removes the tear-off cost, but it hides the decking, so nobody inspects what is underneath.
- •Complex roofs. Every valley, dormer and penetration is a hand-formed flashing detail on a metal roof, and that is where the labor hours go.
Metal roofing cost by roof size
These are roof square feet, not house square feet. A 2,000 square foot single-story house commonly carries a 2,400 to 2,600 square foot roof once pitch and overhangs are counted.
Calculated from roofingcalculator.com's published range of $6.00 to $24.50 per square foot. Tear-off is not included.
| Roof size | Squares | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 10 sq | $6,000 to $24,500 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 15 sq | $9,000 to $36,750 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 20 sq | $12,000 to $49,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 25 sq | $15,000 to $61,250 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 30 sq | $18,000 to $73,500 |
Derived by multiplying roof area by roofingcalculator.com's published per-square-foot range, retrieved 2026-08-21. It is arithmetic on a published range, not a quote.
Don't know your roof's square footage?
Almost nobody does, and it is the one number that makes every row above mean something. We measure it from satellite imagery and show you the area in squares, free, with no obligation to speak to anyone.
How it compares to the other materials
All rows from the same source, so the comparison is apples to apples even where the absolute numbers disagree with other publishers.
| Material | Per sq ft | Typical total |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | $3.40–$5.95 | $5,840–$10,100 |
| Metal roofing (this page) | $6.00–$24.50 | $10,245–$41,640 |
| Tile roofing | $6.30–$12.30 | $10,665–$20,900 |
| Slate roofing | $23.49–$31.77 | $39,925–$54,020 |
| Wooden shakes and shingles | $6.00–$9.15 | $10,230–$15,500 |
Source: roofingcalculator.com, retrieved 2026-08-21. Totals assume that source's own reference roof size.
Metal roofing cost questions
How much does a metal roof cost in 2026?
Published national figures run from $6.00 to $24.50 per square foot. This Old House models a 2,000 square foot metal roof at $37,285, or $18.64 per square foot, as of June 2026. Angi reports installed metal roofs from $5,700 to $25,000 across all sizes. The spread is real and it tracks the system: exposed-fastener panel sits at the bottom, standing seam at the top.
Why is metal roofing so much more expensive than shingles?
Material cost is only part of it. Metal panels are cut, formed and flashed on site, and every valley, dormer, vent and chimney becomes a hand-formed detail rather than a shingle cut. That is labor hours. On the same 2,000 square foot roof This Old House models, asphalt shingle comes in at $10,042 and metal at $37,285, roughly a 3.7x difference, and most of that gap is installation rather than the metal itself.
How long does a metal roof last?
This Old House puts metal roof lifespan at 40 to 70 years, against 30 to 35 for asphalt shingle. Over a 60-year horizon that is one metal roof against roughly two asphalt roofs, which is the argument metal contractors make. Whether it pays depends entirely on how long you intend to own the house, not on the roof.
Is standing seam worth it over exposed fastener?
Standing seam hides its fasteners inside a raised vertical seam, so there are no screw penetrations through the face of the panel to back out or leak over time. Exposed-fastener panel is cheaper up front and needs its gaskets checked periodically. If the roof is visible from the street or you are optimising for the longest maintenance-free life, standing seam is the reason metal is expensive. If it is a detached garage, exposed fastener is usually the honest answer.
Can a metal roof go over existing shingles?
Often yes, and it is one reason metal quotes sometimes come in lower than expected. roofingcalculator.com lists no tear-off figure for metal roofing at all. The saving is real, but going over shingles means nobody looks at the decking underneath. If the roof has been leaking, insist on a tear-off so the deck can be inspected.
Start with your own roof, not a national average
Every number on this page is a published range across all US roofs. We will measure your roof from satellite imagery and give you a square count and a price range, free, before you speak to a single contractor.
Sources
- roofingcalculator.com, retrieved 2026-08-21
- This Old House, retrieved 2026-08-21, page dated 2026-06-05
- Angi, retrieved 2026-08-21, page dated 2026-03-05
- Modernize, retrieved 2026-08-21
- Fixr, retrieved 2026-08-21, page dated 2026-03-09
Cost figures on this page are published by the third parties named above and are national estimates, not quotes. Roofer Ron does not perform roofing work and does not set contractor pricing. Your actual price depends on your roof, your material and your local market. Last reviewed 2026-08-21 by The Roofer Ron Team. Next review 2026-11-21.
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