2026 metal roofing costs
Metal Roof Cost
An exposed-fastener steel panel roof costs about $5.77 to $8.29 per square foot of roof installed in 2026, or $10,965 to $15,749 on a 1,700 sq ft home at a 6/12 pitch. That is the system the calculator below prices. Standing seam, with its fasteners hidden under the seams, is typically quoted at $12 to $18 per square foot, roughly twice as much. Neither figure includes tearing off an old roof.
Enter your roof size and pitch for a 2026 metal roofing estimate with the material and labor split shown separately.
Estimate an exposed-fastener metal roof
Steel panels screwed to a sound deck. Enter the house footprint; pitch is applied to get true roof area.
Estimated total
materials + labor + permit, before tear-off
- Roof area
- 1,901 sq ft
- Roofing squares
- 19.0
- Materials
- $5,612 – $8,211
- Labor
- $5,202 – $7,038
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.77 – $8.29
Pitch reference pages: 3/12 · 4/12 · 6/12 · 12/12
- Materials 52% · $8,211
- Labor 45% · $7,038
- Permit 3% · $500
Material breakdown
Quantities are what gets ordered for the job in the calculator above: whole bundles, sticks and rolls, with the waste allowance on cut materials.
| Material | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Panel 3-Feet x 12-Feet Ribbed Chestnut Brown Steel Roof Panel | 67 EA | $4,668 – $6,590 |
| Metal Roofing Screws | 8 BOX | $280 – $480 |
| Ridge Cap | 11 EA | $198 – $385 |
| ShingleLayment 15-GRE 48-in x 250-ft 1000-sq ft Synthetic Roof Underlayment | 3 EA | $201 – $284 |
| 2-in x 10-ft Black Galvanized steel Drip Edge | 26 EA | $133 – $188 |
| Sealant/Caulk | 12 TUBE | $72 – $144 |
| Pipe Flashing | 4 EA | $60 – $140 |
Links to retailers are affiliate links: if you buy through one we may earn a commission, and it never changes these figures.
What drives metal roofing cost
The system matters more than the metal. Exposed-fastener panels are the cheapest way to get a metal roof: they are screwed through the face into the deck and come to about $5.77 to $8.29 per square foot installed by our numbers. The rubber washers under those exposed screws are a maintenance item every 10 to 20 years. Standing seam hides its fasteners under the raised seams and is typically quoted at $12 to $18 per square foot, with nothing to re-tighten later.
Gauge and coating change the number too. 26-gauge steel is standard residential; 24-gauge is stiffer and costs more. A Kynar 500 (PVDF) finish holds color far longer than a polyester coating and is worth the premium on any roof you intend to keep.
Metal versus asphalt over time
Standing seam costs two to three times what asphalt does up front and lasts two to three times as long, 40 to 70 years against 15 to 25. Exposed-fastener panel lands much closer to asphalt on price, which is why it is the usual choice on outbuildings and budget re-roofs. On cost per year of service both metal systems compare well, and they win outright if you stay in the house long enough to skip a second asphalt roof.
The secondary benefits are real but harder to price: metal reflects solar gain and can cut cooling load in hot climates, it is non-combustible in wildfire zones, and many insurers discount for it. It is also considerably louder in rain unless installed over solid decking with underlayment, which is standard practice on homes.
Checking a metal roof quote
Start by finding out which system the quote is for, because the two are not comparable. A standing seam bid should name the panel profile and width, the gauge (26 is standard on houses, 24 is stiffer), the finish (PVDF, often sold as Kynar 500, holds color far longer than polyester), and whether panels are rolled on site or delivered cut to length. An exposed-fastener bid should name the panel and the screw.
Then look for the lines that separate a complete quote from a cheap one: tear-off and disposal of the old roof, or a written decision to go over it; a high-temperature underlayment; trim and flashing at every eave, rake, ridge, valley and wall; and closures at the ridge and eave. Trim is custom-bent on most standing seam jobs and is a real share of the price, so a quote far below the others often leaves it vague.
Finally, compare per square foot of roof, not of house. The same bid divided by floor area looks cheaper than when it is divided by the roof surface it covers. The calculator above reports roof surface, and roof removal cost prices the tear-off on its own.