How much does a metal roof cost in 2026?

Updated 2026-10-21 | 15 sources

A steel standing seam metal roof costs about $9 to $16 per square foot installed, or roughly $18,000 to $32,000 for a 2,000 sq ft roof ^[4][6]. Exposed-fastener steel panels cost less, about $5 to $12 per sq ft, and Fixr's 2026 national average is $26,500 for a 2,400 sq ft steel roof ^[1][4]. Copper costs the most, at $15 to $30 per sq ft in Fixr and Angi data and more in other sources ^[1][2][5]. Zinc prices vary widely from source to source ^[1][6].

Typical-home figures assume 2,000 sq ft of roof area, which is 20 roofing squares (1 square = 100 sq ft). Your roof is bigger than your floor space: Fixr says a 2,000 sq ft home needs about 2,400 to 2,500 sq ft of roofing ^[1]. The typical-home ranges are each source's installed price per sq ft times 2,000 sq ft. Installed prices include materials and labor. Tear-off of the old roof may be extra. Prices are national, and your local price can be higher or lower.

Cost by material

Material	Per sq ft installed	Typical home	Lasts
Exposed-fastener steel panels (corrugated or ribbed)^[1][4][12]	$5 to $12	$10,000 to $24,000	Not listed
Panels screwed straight through to the roof deck, with the screw heads showing. HomeGuide prices them at $500 to $1,200 per square. A Nashville roofer lists $4.50 to $6.50 per sq ft for screw-down steel, while Fixr's corrugated range runs from $3.50 to $26. Exposed-fastener panels wear faster than standing seam because each screw is a hole through the metal.
Standing seam steel^{[1][2][4][6][9][12]}	$9 to $16	$18,000 to $32,000	30 to 80 years
Long panels joined by raised seams, with the fasteners hidden. HomeGuide lists $900 to $1,600 per square, and Angi lists $10 to $16 per sq ft. Sources split on both ends. This Old House's RSMeans table shows steel at just $4.59 to $8.55, while a Nashville roofer quotes $16 and says a steel standing seam roof from a good installer costs at least $30,000 in 2026. Lifespan estimates also vary: 30 to 50+ years from the Metal Roofing Alliance, up to 60 years for steel from Fixr, and 50 to 80 years for standing seam from This Old House.
Standing seam aluminum^[1][2][6]	$11 to $18	$22,000 to $36,000	40 to 70 years
Angi's standing seam page lists $11 to $18 per sq ft. Fixr's aluminum range is lower, at $4 to $12, but that covers all panel styles. RSMeans data puts it anywhere from $6.12 to $28.50.
Metal shingles (steel or aluminum)^[1][3][4][9]	$6 to $22	$12,000 to $44,000	30 to 50+ years
Stamped metal made to look like shingles, shakes or tile. Fixr's range is $6 to $22, and HomeGuide's is narrower, at $6 to $14. In general, metal shingles cost less than standing seam, according to This Old House. The lifespan shown is the Metal Roofing Alliance figure for metal roofs in general.
Zinc^{[1][2][5][6][12]}	$15 to $21	$30,000 to $42,000	Up to 100 years
This Old House's text range is $14.50 to $21. Fixr and Angi's general metal roof pages list a much lower $6 to $12, while Angi's standing seam page lists $25 to $35. RSMeans data goes up to $28.50, and a Nashville roofer quotes $20.
Copper^{[1][2][5][13]}	$15 to $30	$30,000 to $60,000	100+ years
The most expensive metal. Fixr and Angi both list $15 to $30 per sq ft. Another range is higher, at $20 to $40, and an industry roof guide published by IBHS gives an installed range of $30 to $90. Fixr says copper lasts 100 to 200 years, and the IBHS guide says a well-installed copper roof can last well over 100 years.

Other costs to plan for

Tear-off and disposal of the old roof^[1][5][7][9]$1,000 to $7,400 per roof
Fixr's range. Angi and HomeAdvisor put tear-off at $1,000 to $5,000. Removing asphalt shingles costs the least, and heavy slate and clay cost the most to take off. Metal can often go over the old roof instead.
Installation labor^[1][3]$3 to $12 per sq ft
Already part of the installed prices above. Labor is about 60% of a metal roof job in This Old House's estimate, and 50% to 80% in Fixr's.
Underlayment^[1][4][5]$5 to $130 per square
The layer between the deck and the metal. Fixr's estimate is $0.05 to $0.50 per sq ft, including labor. HomeGuide lists $0.10 to $0.90 per sq ft for synthetic underlayment, and Angi about $1.00 to $1.30 per sq ft depending on the type. Check what type your quote uses.
New gutters^[3]$2,400 to $6,600 per home
For about 200 linear feet of gutter on a 2,000 sq ft home. Only needed if your old gutters are worn out or don't fit the new roof edge.
Later repairs^[15]$500 to $2,000 per repair
Fixr's January 2025 data puts the average metal roof repair at $1,250. Fixing loose fasteners runs $100 to $600, and replacing screws $150 to $1,000.

What changes the price

Panel type: Expect to pay more for standing seam than for exposed-fastener panels. One panel maker says choosing exposed fasteners saves at least 50%, and that standing seam can cost twice as much as corrugated panels or more.^[4][10]
Type of metal: Steel and aluminum are the budget metals. Copper costs about twice as much per sq ft as steel, or more. Zinc can cost about the same as steel or much more, depending on the source.^[1][2][5][6]
Metal thickness (gauge): Home metal roofs range from 22 to 29 gauge, and a lower number means thicker, pricier metal. A metal roofing maker says material cost rises about 20% per gauge step.^[1][11]
Roof size and shape: Roofers price by roof area, not floor area. Valleys, dormers, chimneys and skylights add cutting, trim and labor. Roofers also order about 10% extra metal for waste.^[1][3][12]
Old roof removal: Tear-off adds $1,000 to $7,400, depending on the size and weight of the old roof. Going over existing shingles avoids that cost when your local code and the roof deck allow it.^[1][9]
Where you live: Labor makes up half or more of the price, so local wages move the total a lot.^[1][3]

Standing seam vs. exposed fastener

Exposed-fastener panels are the low-cost option. They are wide sheets screwed through the face into the roof, and you can see the screw heads. HomeGuide lists them at about $5 to $12 per sq ft installed ^[4]. They need a roof pitch of at least 3:12 ^[10], and the screws should be checked and tightened as part of regular inspections ^[10].

Standing seam panels are narrower and lock together at raised seams. Clips under the seams hold them down, so no screws go through the panel face. That design costs more, about $9 to $16 per sq ft for steel ^[4][6]. The higher price comes from thicker metal, slower manufacturing, careful packing and more labor on the roof, according to one panel maker ^[11]. It can also go on lower-slope roofs than exposed-fastener panels ^[10].

On a 2,000 sq ft roof, the gap between the two works out to roughly $8,000 at the low end of each range ^[4].

Steel vs. aluminum vs. copper and zinc

Steel is the budget choice, at about $6 to $16 per sq ft across all panel styles ^[1][5]. Aluminum runs a little higher in standing seam, at $11 to $18 per sq ft versus $10 to $16 for steel ^[6].

Zinc and copper are premium metals that can last a century ^[1][3][13]. Copper starts around $15 per sq ft ^[1][5], and one industry roof guide puts the installed cost as high as $90 ^[13]. That same guide says hail dents on copper are cosmetic in most storms and don't call for a new roof ^[13]. Zinc prices vary widely between sources, from $6 to $35 per sq ft ^[1][6].

Metal roof cost per square and for a typical home

A square is 100 sq ft. Steel standing seam runs about $900 to $1,600 per square, and exposed-fastener panels about $500 to $1,200 per square ^[4]. Galvalume standing seam, a common coated steel, averages $800 to $1,300 per square ^[4].

Whole-roof averages vary widely between sources. Fixr's national average is $26,500 for a 2,400 sq ft steel roof ^[1]. Angi and HomeAdvisor both report a much lower average of $11,766 ^[5][7]. Those numbers come from jobs their users reported, and the sources don't say how big those roofs were.

At the high end, the 2025 Cost vs. Value report puts a metal roof replacement at $51,865 ^[8]. This Old House's 2026 estimate is even higher, $57,661 for a 2,000 sq ft home ^[3], though the same page shows other figures for that size. The Cost vs. Value figure is for 3,000 sq ft of standing seam metal, with tear-off of the old roof ^[8]. Treat these high numbers as a ceiling, not a typical bill. A Nashville roofer says a good steel standing seam roof costs at least $30,000 in 2026 and quotes near $50,000 are not unusual ^[12].

Is a metal roof worth the cost?

A metal roof costs about two to three times as much as asphalt shingles ^[1][9]. In return, it can last two to three times longer, according to the Metal Roofing Alliance ^[9]. The trade group also says metal can cut energy costs by 10% to 40% ^[9]. That is an industry estimate, and your savings depend on your climate and the roof color.

At resale, you get back less of the cost. The 2025 Cost vs. Value report estimates a metal roof recoups about 50% of its cost, compared with about 68% for asphalt shingles ^[3][8]. Metal pays off best if you plan to stay in your home a long time.

For a side-by-side look, see metal roof vs shingles.

Tax credits for a metal roof

Don't count on a federal tax credit. The IRS says the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit applies to improvements made through December 31, 2025, and its current list of qualifying items does not include roofs ^[14]. Light-colored cool roofs may qualify for local rebates, and Fixr suggests checking the DSIRE database for programs in your state ^[1]. This is general information, not tax advice.

How to compare metal roof quotes

Ask each roofer to write down the panel type, the metal and its gauge, the paint or coating, the underlayment, and whether tear-off is included. Those details explain most of the price gap between bids ^[1][11][12].

If your roof has leaks or soft spots now, ask whether a repair can buy you time before you switch.

Matched Pros can connect you with up to 3 local roofers for free quotes, so you can compare prices side by side.

Questions

What does a metal roof cost per square foot?: About $5 to $12 per sq ft for exposed-fastener steel panels and $9 to $16 for steel standing seam, installed ^[4]. Aluminum standing seam runs $11 to $18 ^[6], and copper $15 to $30 or more ^[1][5].
What does a metal roof cost for a 2,000 sq ft house?: Fixr's average for a 2,000 sq ft house is $26,950 ^[1]. That home has about 2,400 to 2,500 sq ft of roof ^[1]. Exposed-fastener panels can cost less, and copper or zinc much more.
How much does a steel roof cost?: Steel runs about $6 to $16 per sq ft installed across all panel styles ^[1][5]. Fixr's average for all metal roofs is $11 per sq ft ^[1].
How long does a metal roof last?: The Metal Roofing Alliance says 30 to 50+ years ^[9]. Fixr says 50 to 70 years for metal roofs in general and up to 60 for steel ^[1]. Copper and zinc can last 100 years or more ^[1][13].
Can a metal roof go over shingles?: Often, yes. The Metal Roofing Alliance says metal can be installed over an existing roof in many cases, which avoids tear-off and disposal ^[9]. Your local code and the condition of the deck decide if it's allowed.
Is a metal roof noisy in the rain?: The Metal Roofing Alliance says there is little difference in rain or hail noise between metal and other roofs ^[9]. Insulation under the metal can also cut noise ^[1].

Sources

[1] Fixr, How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? [2026 Data] (2026-01)
[2] This Old House (cost data from RSMeans by Gordian), How Much Does a Standing Seam Metal Roof Cost? (2026-03)
[3] This Old House (cost data from Homewyse; ROI from the 2025 Cost vs. Value report), Metal Roofing Cost (2026): Prices, Factors, and Savings (2026-09)
[4] HomeGuide, How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? (2026) (2026)
[5] Angi, How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? [2026 Data] (2026-09)
[6] Angi, How Much Does a Standing Seam Metal Roof Cost? [2026 Data] (2026-10)
[7] HomeAdvisor, What Does a Metal Roof Cost to Install? [2025 Data] (2025)
[8] Zonda / Journal of Light Construction (Remodeling), 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (Roofing Replacement: Metal; Roofing Replacement: Asphalt Shingles) (2025)
[9] Metal Roofing Alliance, Frequently Asked Questions (undated)
[10] Western States Metal Roofing (manufacturer), Standing Seam vs. Exposed Fastener Metal Roofing: Pros And Cons (2020-02)
[11] McElroy Metal (manufacturer), Why Is Standing Seam Metal Roofing So Expensive? (2025-06)
[12] Bill Ragan Roofing (Nashville, TN contractor blog), How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? (2026 Update) (2026-05)
[13] Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) and RICOWI, RICOWI Roof Guide: Copper (2019-06)
[14] Internal Revenue Service, Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (2026-04)
[15] Fixr, How Much Does It Cost to Repair a Metal Roof? (2025-01)

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