Asphalt Shingle Roof Cost: 3-Tab, Architectural and Luxury

A new asphalt shingle roof on an average home typically costs somewhere between several thousand dollars and the high teens, depending on roof size and shingle grade. Fixr reports $8,000 to $16,000, with an average of $12,000 (page updated January 21, 2026) ¹. This Old House, using Homewyse data, puts a 2,000-square-foot asphalt roof at $10,319, or $5.16 per square foot (updated October 7, 2026) ². Modernize reports $7,000 to $32,000 for a 2,000-square-foot roof, with most homeowners paying around $16,000 (updated October 12, 2026) ³.

The wide spread comes mostly from the shingle grade: basic 3-tab, architectural and luxury shingles are priced very differently. The sections below show each source's figures side by side, explain how roofers count a "square," and list what pushes a quote up or down. For every roofing material, see the roof replacement cost guide.

What a "square" is

Roofers price and order shingles by the square. A roofing square is 100 square feet of roof surface, and three bundles of shingles typically cover one square ³. A quote for "25 squares" is a quote for about 2,500 square feet of roof, which is more than the floor area of most houses because the roof overhangs the walls and slopes. Our article on cost to replace a roof by house size shows how roof area relates to floor area.

Cost by shingle grade

For a 2,000-square-foot roof, Modernize reports $7,000 to $10,000 for 3-tab, $8,000 to $17,000 for architectural and $14,000 to $32,000 for luxury shingles ³.

3-tab shingles are the flat, single-layer product. Fixr lists their lifespan at 15 to 20 years and says they are the least resistant of the three grades to strong winds and impact ¹. Architectural shingles do not lie perfectly flat, which Fixr says gives them depth and curb appeal; Fixr lists 25 to 30 years ¹, and Modernize gives the same ranges for both grades ³. Luxury shingles, which Fixr says are also called designer shingles, usually last 30 years or more by its account ¹. Wind and impact ratings differ by product, so check the label on the specific shingle a roofer quotes rather than relying on the grade name.

Whole-roof cost by home size

Fixr's table translates house size into roof size and covers every shingle grade, so its ranges are wide ¹:

The low end of each row is close to 3-tab pricing and the high end to luxury shingles. A typical architectural-shingle quote falls between them.

A defined full-scope job: Cost vs. Value

The 2025 Cost vs. Value report prices one specific asphalt roof replacement at $31,871 nationally ⁴. That job is larger and more complete than the survey averages: 30 squares (about 3,000 square feet) on a hip roof, tear-off to bare wood sheathing, minimum 235-pound fiberglass asphalt shingles with a minimum 25-year warranty, new 30-pound felt or synthetic underlayment, galvanized drip edge and aluminum flashing, custom flashing at two skylights and a custom cap at the vented ridge ⁵. The job cost is built from a price index using Bureau of Labor Statistics and Bureau of Economic Analysis data, adjusted for local building costs with Verisk's XactRemodel data ⁶.

By our arithmetic, $31,871 divided by 3,000 square feet is about $10.62 per square foot ⁴⁵, well above the survey ranges for basic shingles. Read it as the price of a full-scope job with every component replaced, not as a typical bid.

What moves an asphalt roof's price

• Labor share. Fixr says labor is about 50% to 60% of the total ¹. Modernize puts it at 30% to 40% ³. The sources do not agree, which is one reason to ask for labor and materials on separate lines.
• Tear-off. Fixr says most roofers include removal and hauling, and that it adds $50 to $150 per square when billed separately ¹. Modernize reports $1 to $3 per square foot, more with more layers ³. See tear-off vs roof-over.
• Decking. Rotted sheathing is found only after tear-off. Fixr lists decking repair at $150 to $1,000 ¹. More in roof decking replacement cost.
• Underlayment and extras. Fixr says basic felt is usually included, ice and water shield averages about $1,000, and permits run $100 to $500 ¹.
• Roof shape. Steep pitches, hips, valleys and dormers add labor time. That is why two houses with the same floor area can get very different bids.

Comparing shingle quotes

Ask each roofer to name the shingle line and grade, the number of squares, whether tear-off and disposal are included, the underlayment type, and the price per sheet for any decking replaced. Then compare like with like. Our guide on how to choose a roofing contractor covers the questions about the company itself. When you know roughly what you want, you can compare quotes from roofing companies in your area.

About these figures

• ¹ Reported: Fixr asphalt range ($8,000 to $16,000, average $12,000), per-square-foot ranges by grade, lifespans, home-size table, labor share, tear-off, decking, ice and water shield and permit figures; page updated January 21, 2026, checked November 11, 2026.
• ² Reported: This Old House (Homewyse data) asphalt figure of $10,319 and $5.16 per square foot for a 2,000-square-foot roof; page updated October 7, 2026, checked November 11, 2026.
• ³ Reported: Modernize per-square-foot and per-square ranges by grade, 2,000-square-foot totals, labor share, tear-off cost, the definition of a square and bundles per square, lifespans; page updated October 12, 2026, checked November 11, 2026.
• ⁴ Reported + Estimate: Cost vs. Value 2025 national job cost for asphalt roofing replacement ($31,871); the per-square-foot figure ($10.62) is our division of that cost by the 3,000-square-foot job size; checked November 11, 2026.
• ⁵ Reported: Cost vs. Value description of the asphalt job (30 squares, hip roof, tear-off, shingle and underlayment spec); checked November 11, 2026.
• ⁶ Reported: Cost vs. Value 2025 methodology; checked November 11, 2026.