Metal Roof Cost Calculator
Price a metal roof by panel system, gauge, tear-off and complexity. This metal roof cost calculator gives a total range, a cost per square and a 40 year comparison.
By CalcBuilt Editorial TeamUpdated September 9, 2026Formulas checked against manufacturer specs, see how we calculate.
Results
- Total installed range
- $18,200 to $31,500
- 1,342 sq ft of roof surface in 24 ga snap-lock, some roof
- Cost per square
- $1,355 to $2,346 per square
- $13.55 to $23.46 per sq ft over 13.4 squares. A roofing square is 100 sq ft
- Material and labor split
- $7,900 to $13,600 material
- Labor, tear-off and disposal are $10,300 to $17,900. 45% of the panel line is material on this system
- Tear-off and underlayment
- $1,900 to $3,900
- One layer of asphalt shingles plus high-temperature synthetic. Deck repairs are found after the old roof is off and are billed on top
- 40 years of asphalt instead
- $24,300 to $44,100
- Architectural shingles installed three times over 40 years with two extra tear-offs, in today's dollars, against $18,200 to $31,500 once for this metal roof. Service life for snap-lock panels is 40 to 60 years
Metal Roof Cost formula
Roof area = Length x Width x Pitch factor, factor = sqrt(1 + (rise / 12)²)
Panel line = Roof area x installed rate per sq ft x gauge factor x complexity factor
Tear-off + underlayment = Roof area x (tear-off rate + underlayment rate)
Total = Panel line + Tear-off + UnderlaymentWorked example
A 60 x 28 ft ranch at 4/12 getting 29 gauge exposed fastener R-panel over one existing layer of shingles, standard synthetic underlayment, simple gable. Footprint is 1,680 sq ft and the 4/12 factor is 1.054, so the roof surface is 1,771 sq ft, or 17.7 squares.
The panel line is 1,771 x $4.50 to $9.00 x 0.92 for 29 gauge, which is $7,331 to $14,663. Tear-off is zero on a recover. Standard synthetic at $0.30 to $0.60 adds $531 to $1,063. The total lands near $7,900 to $15,700, or $4.44 to $8.88 per square foot. The same roof in 24 gauge snap-lock would run roughly three times that.
Quick reference
| Panel system | Per sq ft | Per square | Typical service life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exposed fastener corrugated or R-panel | $4.50 to $9.00 | $450 to $900 | 25 to 40 years |
| Standing seam, snap-lock | $10 to $17 | $1,000 to $1,700 | 40 to 60 years |
| Standing seam, mechanically seamed | $13 to $22 | $1,300 to $2,200 | 50 years or more |
| Stone-coated steel tile or shake | $11 to $20 | $1,100 to $2,000 | 40 to 50 years |
| Standing seam aluminum | $15 to $26 | $1,500 to $2,600 | 50 years or more |
| Architectural asphalt, for comparison | $4.50 to $8.00 | $450 to $800 | 18 to 25 years |
What actually drives the price of a metal roof
The panel system is the biggest lever, and the gap is wide. Exposed fastener corrugated and R-panel typically run $450 to $900 per square installed in 2026. Snap-lock standing seam runs $1,000 to $1,700, mechanically seamed $1,300 to $2,200, stone-coated steel $1,100 to $2,000, and standing seam aluminum $1,500 to $2,600. Aluminum costs more per pound but does not rust, which is why it dominates within a few miles of salt water.
After the system, the three things that move a bid are area, complexity and what has to come off first. Area is the footprint times the pitch factor, not the footprint: a 6/12 roof is 12 percent larger than the plan view and an 8/12 roof is 20 percent larger. Complexity is hand work, since every valley, dormer and curb is cut and flashed one at a time. Tear-off is $1.00 to $2.00 per square foot for one layer of asphalt and $2.50 to $5.00 for wood shake or tile, plus whatever rotten decking shows up underneath.
Gauge, coating and the 40 year arithmetic
Gauge is thickness, and smaller numbers are thicker. 29 gauge is about 0.014 in and is the agricultural panel; 26 gauge is about 0.018 in; 24 gauge is about 0.024 in and is the residential standing seam standard. Going from 26 to 24 gauge typically adds around 8 percent to the installed price and buys a panel that resists oil canning and hail denting. Ask what the coating is as well: a PVDF finish such as Kynar 500 typically carries a 30 to 40 year chalk and fade warranty, while the SMP finish on a cheap ag panel typically carries 20 to 30 years.
The comparison that matters is not metal against asphalt today, it is metal against asphalt bought three times. Architectural shingles typically last 18 to 25 years in most US climates, so a 40 year window holds three asphalt roofs and two extra tear-offs. The row above runs that arithmetic in today's dollars with no inflation and no discount rate, so read it as an order of magnitude, not a forecast. Two side effects rarely make the bid: many carriers discount premiums for a Class 4 impact rated metal roof, and a standing seam roof takes solar clamps with no roof penetrations at all.
What this calculator leaves out
Trim and flashing packages, which run 15 to 25 percent of a standing seam job on their own: ridge, rake, eave, sidewall, endwall, valley, pipe boots and curbs. Snow guards in snow country, typically $8 to $20 per linear foot of eave. Deck repair found after tear-off, gutter replacement, skylight replacement while the roof is open, permit fees, and a crane or boom for panels over about 20 ft. Solar clamps, ridge vent, and the specialty fastener and closure counts are in the metal roofing calculator instead.
Code limits that apply
- IRC R905.10.2checked
Lapped panels 3:12, or 1/2:12 with lap sealant; standing seam 1/4:12
If you miss it: Corrugated panels on a 2:12 porch siphon water back up the side lap and stain the ceiling below
- IRC R908.3.1.1checked
No recover where two or more layers of roof covering are already on the deck
If you miss it: Panels laid over two shingle layers are red-tagged and the whole assembly comes off again
- IRC R905.10.1
Panels go on a solid deck, or on spaced supports the panel is listed for
If you miss it: Panels screwed to purlins when the listing calls for a solid deck oil can and pull at the fasteners
- IRC R905.10.4
Attachment follows the manufacturer's installation instructions and the panel listing
If you miss it: Clip spacing stretched to save labor shows up as a peeled seam in the first real wind event
- IRC R903.2
Flashing at walls, valleys, chimneys, penetrations and changes of roof slope
If you miss it: Sealant instead of a formed sidewall flashing leaks within a season and rots the sheathing under the panel
Rows marked checked produce a warning in the results when an entry crosses the limit. The others are on the plans or on site and this calculator does not test them. Local amendments can be stricter; the adopted edition and the inspector govern.
Mistakes that cost money
- A quote priced off the footprint instead of the sloped area is short by 12 percent at 6/12 and 20 percent at 8/12.
- Exposed fastener panels need every screw and washer replaced at about year 20; budget it, because the panels outlast the gaskets.
- Standard synthetic underlayment under metal softens and wrinkles at deck temperatures over 200 degrees F; the ripples show through the pan.
- Bare steel fasteners against an aluminum panel, or copper flashing on steel: the dissimilar pair corrodes at every contact point.
- Solar or snow guards added later to exposed fastener panels mean more holes; on standing seam they clamp to the seam with no penetration.
- A bid that omits ridge, rake, eave, sidewall and endwall trim: trim and flashing are commonly 15 to 25 percent of a standing seam job.
Key facts
- Metal roofing is priced by the square of 100 sq ft. Typical 2026 US installed cost is about $450 to $900 per square for exposed fastener panels and $1,000 to $1,700 for snap-lock standing seam.
- IRC R905.10.2 allows lapped metal panels at 3:12 without lap sealant, at 1/2:12 with applied lap sealant, and standing seam systems down to 1/4:12.
- 24 gauge steel roofing is about 0.024 in thick and 29 gauge about 0.014 in, so the heavier panel carries roughly 70 percent more steel.
- PVDF finishes such as Kynar 500 typically carry 30 to 40 year paint warranties, while the SMP finishes used on most 29 gauge panels typically carry 20 to 30 years.
- Architectural asphalt shingles are typically replaced at 18 to 25 years, so a 40 year window holds two or three asphalt roofs against one standing seam roof.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a metal roof cost on a 1,500 square foot house?
A 1,500 sq ft footprint at 6/12 is about 1,680 sq ft of roof surface. In 24 gauge snap-lock standing seam with one layer torn off, that typically runs about $22,000 to $38,000 installed in 2026. The same roof in exposed fastener R-panel runs roughly a third of that.
Is a metal roof cheaper than shingles in the long run?
Usually, over 40 years. Architectural shingles are replaced every 18 to 25 years, so a 40 year window holds three asphalt roofs and two extra tear-offs. Standing seam is typically two to three times the price once and lasts the whole window.
What is the cheapest metal roof?
Exposed fastener corrugated or R-panel in 29 gauge, typically $450 to $900 per square installed. It is screwed through the face, so plan on replacing every screw and neoprene washer at about year 20. IRC R905.10.2 also holds it to a 3:12 minimum slope without lap sealant.
Can metal roofing go over shingles?
Over one layer, yes. IRC R908.3.1.1 blocks a recover once two or more layers are on the deck. Put a slip sheet or high-temperature underlayment between the shingles and the panel, and use screws long enough to reach the deck. Some panel makers require 1x4 purlins instead, so read the installation sheet before you price it as a recover.
Sources and references
- Chapter 9 Roof Assemblies, Section R905.10 Metal Roof Panels, 2021 IRC (ICC)
- Metal roofing styles: exposed fastener, standing seam and stone-coated (Metal Roofing Alliance)
- Metal roofing materials: steel, aluminum, copper and zinc (Metal Roofing Alliance)
- DECRA stone-coated steel metal tile roofing product page (DECRA Roofing Systems)
Next steps for this project
The usual order for a roofing & siding project. See all roofing & siding calculators.
Results are estimates based on standard formulas and typical product specifications. Confirm quantities with your supplier and local code before ordering.