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RoofCostLab

Roofing cost calculator

Roof Replacement Cost Calculator

Enter your roof size and pitch to get a 2026 replacement estimate with the full material and labor breakdown. Every number is itemised, so you can check the math before you talk to a contractor.

Most homeowners pay $10,206 to $15,987 to replace an asphalt shingle roof on a 1,700 sq ft house in 2026, or about $6.00 to $9.40 per square foot of floor area, including tear-off. Roof area, pitch and the number of existing layers drive most of the difference.

Estimate your roof

Measure the footprint of the house, not the roof surface. Pitch is handled below.

sq ft

Length × width of the area under the roof.

Not sure? Use our roof pitch calculator.

Estimated total

$10,206 – $15,987

materials + labor + permit

Roof area1,901 sq ft
Roofing squares19.0
Materials
Labor
Permit
Per sq ft

Roof replacement cost by material

Installed cost per square foot on a 1,700 sq ft home at a 6/12 pitch.

Material Low / sq ft High / sq ft 1,700 sq ft home
TPO / flat membrane $4.56 $8.08 $7,748 – $13,740
Asphalt shingles (architectural) $5.58 $8.83 $9,479 – $15,003
Metal panel $6.18 $8.94 $10,506 – $15,206
Cedar shake $10.62 $17.78 $18,056 – $30,218
Clay or concrete tile $12.02 $19.08 $20,433 – $32,429
Natural slate $17.23 $32.98 $29,299 – $56,063

Figures are computed live from our material and labor dataset, not copied from a cost guide. See how we calculate.

How this calculator works

Every roofing estimate is the same two things added together: how much material the roof needs, and how many crew hours it takes to install. This calculator does both explicitly.

1. Footprint becomes true roof area

A sloped roof covers more surface than the ground beneath it. We multiply your footprint by the pitch multiplier, 1.118 at 6/12 and 1.414 at 12/12, to get the area a roofer actually has to cover. That area divided by 100 gives roofing squares, the unit the trade buys and bids in.

2. Squares become a material take-off

Each material carries its own per-square quantities: three bundles of asphalt shingles per square, underlayment rolls, drip edge by the perimeter foot, ridge cap, fasteners and flashing. A waste factor is applied on top: 12% for a straightforward asphalt roof, 18% for slate and cedar where cuts waste more.

3. Crew hours become labor cost

Labor is hours-per-square multiplied by a billed crew rate. A full tear-off and replacement runs about 3 man-hours per square. The billed rate starts at a $78/hour national figure, which reflects a $27.95 median roofer wage plus roofing's unusually heavy burden, since workers' compensation class 5551 is the most expensive classification in the trades, plus overhead and profit. Choosing a state re-prices that labor against BLS wage data for your area.

4. Permits and disposal

Roof replacement is permitted work almost everywhere. We add the national permit band of $150 to $500 when a permit is normally required, and skip it for repairs that usually are not.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a new roof cost in 2026?

A typical asphalt shingle roof replacement runs about $6.00 to $9.40 per square foot of floor area including tear-off, or roughly $10,206 to $15,987 on a 1,700 square foot home. The three inputs that move the number most are roof area, pitch, and whether the old roof has to come off first.

How is roof replacement cost calculated?

Cost is material quantity plus crew hours. We take your footprint, stretch it by the pitch multiplier to get true roof area, convert to roofing squares, apply per-square material quantities and a waste factor, then add labor hours at a regional crew rate. Permit fees are added where a permit is normally required.

Why is my roof area bigger than my house footprint?

A sloped roof is longer than the ground it covers. A 6/12 pitch multiplies footprint by 1.118, and a 12/12 pitch by 1.414. So a 1,700 square foot footprint at 6/12 is about 1,900 square feet of actual roof, roughly 19 roofing squares.

What is a roofing square?

A roofing square is 100 square feet of roof surface. Roofers price and order in squares, and one square takes three bundles of asphalt shingles. Converting to squares early is how estimates stay consistent between the material order and the labor bid.

Does a steeper roof cost more to replace?

Yes, twice over. A steeper pitch increases the actual surface area you are covering, and it slows the crew down because they need staging and fall protection. Most contractors add a steep-slope charge of $0.50 to $2.00 per square foot above an 8/12 pitch.

Do I need a permit to replace a roof?

In most U.S. jurisdictions, yes. Roof replacement is regulated work because it affects the building envelope and structure. Permit fees average about $224 nationally and commonly land between $150 and $500. Repairs below a certain value are usually exempt.

How accurate is this calculator?

It is a planning figure, not a quote. Material prices come from published 2026 retail pricing and labor from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data adjusted for burden and overhead. It cannot see your deck condition, access constraints, or local disposal fees, which is why every result is shown as a range.

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