Know your roof before the roofer does
Measure your roof, find its pitch and see what a new one costs in your area, using the same squares-and-pitch math contractors use for their takeoffs. Free, no sign-up.
Calculators
Roof cost per square foot by material
Typical US installed prices for 2026, materials and labor. One roofing square is 100 sq ft. The last column is an example 2,000 sq ft roof, before tear-off and permits.
| Material | Per sq ft | Per square | 2,000 sq ft roof | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural asphalt shingles | $4.50–$7.00 | $450–$700 | $9,000–$14,000 | 20–30 yrs |
| 3-tab asphalt shingles | $4.00–$5.50 | $400–$550 | $8,000–$11,000 | 15–20 yrs |
| Metal shingles | $7.00–$14.00 | $700–$1400 | $14,000–$28,000 | 50–75 yrs |
| Standing seam metal | $10.00–$16.00 | $1000–$1600 | $20,000–$32,000 | 50–75 yrs |
| Synthetic slate / shake | $6.00–$12.00 | $600–$1200 | $12,000–$24,000 | 25–50 yrs |
| Wood shakes | $7.00–$15.00 | $700–$1500 | $14,000–$30,000 | 30–50 yrs |
| Concrete tile | $10.00–$18.00 | $1000–$1800 | $20,000–$36,000 | 50–100 yrs |
| Clay tile | $12.00–$20.00 | $1200–$2000 | $24,000–$40,000 | 50–100 yrs |
| Natural slate | $12.00–$30.00 | $1200–$3000 | $24,000–$60,000 | 100+ yrs |
| TPO / EPDM membrane (low slope) | $5.00–$10.00 | $500–$1000 | $10,000–$20,000 | 20–30 yrs |
Want it for your house? Use the roof replacement cost calculator.
How a roof estimate is built
- Measure the footprint. Length × width of the house at the outside walls, plus the eave overhang on every side.
- Apply the pitch. Multiply by the pitch factor to turn flat footprint into sloped roof area.
- Convert to squares. Divide by 100 and add 10–15% for waste from cuts, hips and valleys.
- Price it. Squares × installed cost per square, plus tear-off, steep-roof charges and permits.
Example: a 50 × 32 ft house with 1 ft overhangs has a 1,768 sq ft footprint. At a 6/12 pitch (×1.118) that is about 1,977 sq ft of roof, or 21.7 squares with 10% waste.
Pitch changes the price
Steeper roofs have more surface and are slower and riskier to work on. Roofers usually add a charge from about 8/12 up, and harnesses or staging from about 10/12.
| Pitch | Extra roof area |
|---|---|
| 4/12 | +5% |
| 6/12 | +12% |
| 8/12 | +20% |
| 10/12 | +30% |
| 12/12 | +41% |
Find yours with the roof pitch calculator.
Roof cost basics
What is a roofing square?
A square is 100 square feet of roof surface. Roofers quote, order materials and price labor by the square, so a 2,400 sq ft roof is 24 squares before waste.
How much does a roof cost per square foot?
Installed asphalt shingles usually run about $4 to $7 per square foot in the US, or $400 to $700 per square. Metal is roughly $7 to $16, and tile or slate $10 to $30, before tear-off and permits.
Why is my roof bigger than my house's square footage?
The roof overhangs the walls and slopes upward. A 6/12 pitch adds about 12% to the footprint, and a 12/12 pitch adds about 41%. Our calculators apply both automatically.
Are these prices a quote?
No. They are typical installed ranges from published 2026 US cost guides. Local labor rates, access, permits and the condition of your decking can move a real quote up or down.