Roof Replacement Cost by Material: Asphalt, Metal, Tile, Flat

Roof replacement costs $4.50 to $18 per square foot installed in 2026, depending almost entirely on material choice. Most homeowners spend $10,000 to $30,000 total for a full roof, with asphalt shingles at the affordable end and tile or premium metal at the top.

Get a quick estimate for your own roof with our Roof Replacement Cost Calculator.

Cost by material, per square foot installed

Asphalt shingle: the default choice

Asphalt is the most common roofing material in the U.S. because it balances cost and performance well. 3-tab shingles run the cheapest ($3.43-$4.65/sq ft), while architectural (dimensional) shingles — now the market standard — run $4.11-$5.57/sq ft, and premium architectural lines reach $4.39-$5.95/sq ft. See our size-specific breakdown in How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Roof on a 1,500 Sq Ft House?

Metal: higher upfront, lower lifetime cost

Metal roofing costs 2-3x more than asphalt upfront but lasts 2-3x longer — 40 to 70 years versus 20-30 for asphalt. Over a 50-year ownership horizon, asphalt would need replacing 2-3 times, while a single metal roof could last the whole period. See the full lifetime cost math in Metal Roof vs Shingles Cost: 30-Year Comparison.

Tile: premium and long-lasting

Concrete tile costs the most per square foot upfront but offers among the longest lifespans (50+ years) and strong resistance to fire, hail, and wind in the right climate. It's also the heaviest option — a structural engineer should confirm your roof framing can support it before installation.

Flat roofing: TPO, EPDM, and modified bitumen

Flat and low-slope roofs use membrane systems rather than shingles or panels — TPO and EPDM run $5-$8.50/sq ft, roughly on par with asphalt. Full comparison, including modified bitumen, in Flat Roof Replacement Cost: TPO vs EPDM vs Modified Bitumen.

Repair vs. full replacement

Not every roof problem needs a full tear-off. If you're dealing with a localized leak, missing shingles, or damaged flashing, see Roof Repair Cost: Leaks, Flashing, and Missing Shingles — most repairs run well under $1,000. And don't forget the gutters — see Gutter Replacement Cost Per Linear Foot if they're due at the same time as the roof.

Prices on this page are researched ranges compiled from multiple public contractor-pricing sources, not quotes from us or a guarantee of what you will pay. Actual costs vary by region, material choice, and job complexity — always get itemized quotes from licensed local contractors before committing to a project. See How We Price for our sourcing methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What roofing material lasts the longest?

Metal and concrete tile both commonly last 40-70 years or more with proper maintenance, well beyond asphalt shingles' 20-30 year lifespan. Standing seam metal in particular is often installed with a 50-year expected service life.

Why does roof pitch affect the price?

Steeper roofs require more safety equipment, take longer to work on, and use more material per square foot of home footprint than a low-slope roof of the same size. Most contractors add a pitch surcharge once a roof exceeds a moderate slope.

Does tear-off of the old roof cost extra?

Yes — removing and disposing of an existing roof typically adds $1 to $2 per square foot on top of the new roof's installed cost, and multiple existing layers (some homes have 2-3 layers of old shingles) can push that higher.

How do I know how many squares my roof is?

Roofing is measured in "squares" (100 sq ft each). A roofing contractor measures this from the actual roof plane area, which is larger than your home's footprint once pitch is factored in — steeper roofs have more surface area than a flat one covering the same footprint.