The primary cost factors that sway the price of roof replacement are the type of materials and the design of your roof. For example, the standard roof ranges between 1,000 and 3,000 square feet, and you can opt for anything from asphalt shingles to aluminum, clay or copper roofing.
Your roofing cost estimate will vary based on materials and labor. Roofing materials come either by the square foot, by the bundle or by roofing square—a 10 ft by 10 ft slab of materials. Additionally, up to 60% of your price will account for labor.
Our average roof replacement cost accounts for the most common roof sizes, materials and labor rates across the country.
Roofing Cost Per Square Foot
The cost of installing a new roof costs between $4 and $40 per square foot—or about $7 on average—including both labor and materials. Remember that in roofing terms, this means between $400 to $4,000 per roofing square, or about $700 for the most popular materials.
Estimating the size of your roof can be a headache if you don’t have the original blueprints. The slope and shape of your roof—hipped, gabled or flat, for example—dictate the number of shingles, shakes or tiles you’ll need. In the end, a professional will do the best job of clarifying the exact size of your roof.
Labor
When choosing a roofing contractor, opt for a professional with specific experience in roof replacements. Not only can they help you make the call to replace instead of performing repairs, but they will also help you design the roof that’s best for your home.
The price of the service accounts for between $2 and $7 per square foot on average. The high end of this range accounts for complex jobs with steep roofs, hard-to-access areas and regions with higher costs of living. Your contractor may charge between $40 and $60 per hour for the work, but flat-rate estimates are more common for large projects like these.
Materials
The other 40% to 50% of total roof replacement costs go toward materials. An itemized list breaks down to the roofing material—shingles, shakes, tiles, etc—as well as the underlayment, new flashing, roof ridges and vents. You’ll also contribute to the cost of building supplies such as nails, tools, ladders and other related equipment.
Roof Pitch
The slope of your roof affects both the square footage and the labor rates of roof replacement. For one, the higher the pitch, the larger the area. While most roofs fall between a 3:12 and 6:12 ratio, steeper roofs will require special equipment and take longer to install.