When a homeowner asks "how much for a new roof", the honest answer starts with another question: in what? The same house can be a $13,500 job or a $33,000 job depending on the material. Here is how the common materials compare, using the same house so the numbers line up.
The house in these examples
A one-story home with a 2,000 square foot roof footprint, a walkable pitch around 6/12, one layer of old shingles to remove and solid decking. That is about 22.4 squares of roof surface. The prices below use the sample rates in our roof replacement cost calculator, which reflect typical rates for a licensed, insured US roofer. Your market may be higher or lower.
Asphalt shingles: about $13,500
Architectural asphalt shingles are what most US homes get. At the sample rates, $7,500 for the first 1,000 square feet of footprint plus $6 for each foot after that, this roof comes to about $13,500, or roughly $600 per installed square. The calculator shows it as a range of $12,100 to $15,600.
- Lifespan: architectural shingles are commonly rated for 25 to 30 years; older three-tab shingles often last less
- Why people pick it: lowest upfront cost, every roofer installs it, quick to replace
- Watch for: wind and hail ratings matter in storm country. Impact-rated shingles cost more and may lower insurance premiums in some states
Metal roofing: about $26,000
Standing seam metal at the sample rates, $14,000 for the first 1,000 square feet plus $12 a foot, comes to about $26,000 on the same house. Exposed fastener panels cost less; heavier gauges and custom colors cost more.
- Lifespan: often 40 years or more with little maintenance
- Why people pick it: long life, sheds snow, handles wind well, reflects heat
- Watch for: fewer crews install standing seam well. Details at chimneys and valleys decide whether it leaks
Tile: about $33,000
Concrete or clay tile at the sample rates, $18,000 for the first 1,000 square feet plus $15 a foot, comes to about $33,000. Tile is common in Florida, the Southwest and California.
- Lifespan: the tile itself can last 50 years or more; the underlayment under it usually needs replacing sooner
- Why people pick it: looks, durability, fire resistance
- Watch for: tile is heavy, and older framing may need an engineer's review. Broken tiles from foot traffic are common, so pick a crew that knows how to walk it
Slate, wood shake and flat roofs
These are not in the calculator, because the range is too wide to ballpark from a satellite outline. Slate and real wood shake are specialty work priced on site. Low-slope roofs (TPO, modified bitumen) are priced by different crews and methods.
The extras that move every price
The examples above are the easy version. These change the number on any material:
- Steep pitch (8/12 or steeper): more surface than the footprint suggests, slower work and more safety setup. The sample rates add $2,000 on shingles, $3,000 on metal and $3,500 on tile
- Second story: longer carries and more ladder time. $750 on shingles, $1,000 on metal, $1,200 on tile in the sample
- A second layer to tear off: $1,500 on shingles or metal in the sample
- Rotten decking: found only at tear-off. The sample includes about five sheets for $600
- Chimneys, skylights, valleys and vents: more flashing and more time
A 2,000 square foot shingle roof that is steep, two stories and has two layers comes to about $13,500 + $2,000 + $750 + $1,500 = $17,750 at the sample rates. That is why the footprint alone never decides the price.
Why the satellite number is a ballpark
The map measures the roof from above. It cannot see the pitch, the number of layers or the condition of the decking. A roofer still needs to get on the roof, or at least measure it properly, before writing a contract. Read satellite estimates vs on the roof for where the two agree and where they do not.
For roofers
Homeowners who compare materials on your site at night arrive at the inspection already knowing what metal costs next to shingles. That saves you the visit where you explain it and they say "we will think about it". Put the roofing estimate calculator on your site with your own rates, and read how much to charge per square to set them.
Frequently asked questions
Is a metal roof worth the extra cost?
It depends on how long the owner stays. On the same house, metal often costs about twice what shingles cost upfront but can last well past the life of two shingle roofs.
What is the cheapest roof replacement?
Asphalt shingles. On a 2,000 square foot footprint with a walkable pitch, typical US rates put it around $13,500, against about $26,000 for metal and $33,000 for tile.