Blog · Cost and pricing
Metal Roof Cost: Standing Seam, Corrugated and Metal Shingles
What a metal roof costs installed by style and by metal, from four named cost sources side by side, plus labor, tear-off and lifespan as each source states them.
A metal roof typically costs two to three times as much as an asphalt shingle roof, according to Fixr, which puts metal at about $11 per square foot installed against about $4 for asphalt 1. For a whole roof, Fixr reports an average of $26,500 for a 2,400-square-foot steel roof, with most homeowners paying $14,400 to $38,400 (page updated January 23, 2026) 1. This Old House reports an average of $57,661 for a 2,000-square-foot home, with a range of $25,721 to $89,600 (updated September 10, 2026) 2. Modernize reports $7 to $29 per square foot and $14,000 to $58,000 for 2,000 square feet (updated October 27, 2026) 3.
Those figures are far apart because "metal roof" covers very different products: corrugated panels, standing-seam panels and metal shingles, in steel, aluminum, zinc or copper. The sections below break the price down by style and by metal. For every material, see the roof replacement cost guide.
Cost by style
| Style | Fixr, per sq ft (Jan. 23, 2026) | Modernize, per sq ft (Oct. 27, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Corrugated | $3.50 to $26 1 | $4 to $14 3 |
| Metal shingles | $6 to $22 1 | $6 to $21 3 |
| Standing seam | $7 to $30 1 | $10 to $16 3 |
| Stone-coated steel | not listed | $10 to $18 3 |
Standing seam is the style the Cost vs. Value report uses for its metal roof job (below) 5. Corrugated panels start lowest in both sources' style ranges. This Old House quotes a contractor saying metal shingles are generally more affordable than standing seam 2.
Cost by metal
| Metal | Fixr, per sq ft | This Old House, per sq ft | Modernize, per sq ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steel | $6 to $16 1 | $20 2 | $4 to $21 3 |
| Aluminum | $4 to $12 1 | $21 2 | $7 to $17 3 |
| Tin | $3 to $15 1 | $20 2 | $10 to $18 3 |
| Zinc | $6 to $12 1 | $17 2 | $10 to $20 3 |
| Copper | $15 to $30 1 | $35 2 | $20 to $40 3 |
This Old House gives a single figure per metal rather than a range. Its numbers come from Homewyse estimates that assume builder-grade materials, medium labor rates and a low-slope, standard-shaped roof 2. Copper sits at the top of every source's range.
A defined full-scope job: Cost vs. Value
The 2025 Cost vs. Value report prices a metal roof replacement at $51,865 nationally 4. The job is 3,000 square feet (30 squares) on a hip roof: tear-off to bare wood sheathing, an ice-barrier membrane at the perimeter, premium synthetic underlayment over the whole roof, prefinished standing-seam panels with matching drip edge, gable trim and vented ridge, and custom flashing at two skylights 5. By our arithmetic, that is about $17.29 per square foot 45. It is a complete, specified job rather than a survey average, which is why it sits near the top of the survey ranges.
What moves a metal roof's price
- Labor. Fixr reports $3 to $12 per square foot ($300 to $1,200 per square) and says labor makes up 50% to 80% of the total 1. This Old House says labor is about 60% of the total 2.
- Tear-off. Fixr puts removal of the existing roof at $1,000 to $7,400, depending on roof size and how heavy the old material is 1. See tear-off vs roof-over.
- Underlayment. Fixr lists $0.05 to $0.50 per square foot, materials and labor 1.
- Panel gauge and finish. Thicker panels and premium paint finishes cost more. Ask each roofer to name the gauge and the finish.
How long metal lasts, as the sources state it
Fixr says metal roofs last an average of 50 to 70 years, at least twice as long as asphalt shingles 1. This Old House says 40 years or more 2. Modernize gives 50 to 80+ years for metal in general and 40 to 70 years for steel 3. These are the publishers' statements, not measured results for any one roof, and actual life depends on the product, installation and climate. Our article on how long a roof lasts compares materials.
On noise, the sources disagree: Fixr says heavy rain can make metal roofs noisy and that insulation beneath the panels can reduce the sound 1, while This Old House calls the idea that metal is louder a misconception 2. For a side-by-side with shingles, see metal roof vs shingles.
Comparing metal roof quotes
Two metal quotes are only comparable when they name the same style, metal, gauge, finish and underlayment, and say whether tear-off is included. Ask for the panel manufacturer's written warranty terms and the roofer's own workmanship terms, and compare them line by line. Our guide on how to choose a roofing contractor covers what to ask the company. When you are ready, you can compare quotes from roofing companies near you.
About these figures
- 1 Reported: Fixr metal roof figures (average $26,500 for 2,400 square feet, range $14,400 to $38,400, about $11 per square foot against about $4 for asphalt), ranges by style and by metal, labor, tear-off, underlayment, lifespan and noise statements; page updated January 23, 2026, checked November 11, 2026.
- 2 Reported: This Old House (Homewyse estimates) average of $57,661 and range of $25,721 to $89,600 for a 2,000-square-foot home, per-square-foot figures by metal, labor share, lifespan and noise statements, contractor comment on metal shingles; page updated September 10, 2026, checked November 11, 2026.
- 3 Reported: Modernize per-square-foot ranges overall, by style and by metal, the 2,000-square-foot range, lifespan statements; page updated October 27, 2026, checked November 11, 2026.
- 4 Reported + Estimate: Cost vs. Value 2025 national job cost for metal roofing replacement ($51,865); the per-square-foot figure ($17.29) 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 metal job (3,000 square feet, standing seam, tear-off, underlayment and flashing scope); checked November 11, 2026.
Sources
- How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? (2026 Price Guide), Fixr (Other). Checked November 10, 2026.
- Metal Roofing Cost (2026), This Old House (Other). Checked November 10, 2026.
- Metal Roofing Costs Guide, Modernize (Other). Checked November 10, 2026.
- 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, National, Journal of Light Construction (Cost vs. Value) (Other). Checked November 10, 2026.
- Roofing Replacement | Metal, Journal of Light Construction (Cost vs. Value) (Other). Checked November 10, 2026.