Roof replacement cost calculator — 2026 prices by material
A roof is priced per square (100 sq ft of surface). Footprint × pitch multiplier gives the surface; August 2026 installed prices by material give the range. A typical 1,500 sq ft-footprint home at a 6/12 pitch needs ~18 squares — $8,300–$12,900 in architectural shingles.
Your estimate
Complex roofs (many valleys, skylights, steep pitch above 8/12) trend to the top of the range; simple gables in low-cost regions to the bottom. Get 3+ itemized quotes and keep ~10% aside for decking repairs found at tear-off.
Typical replacement costs, worked out
| Roof | Squares (with waste) | Installed cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft footprint · 6/12 pitch | 12.3 | $5,500–$8,600 | Open › |
| 1,500 sq ft footprint · 6/12 pitch | 18.4 | $8,300–$12,900 | Open › |
| 2,000 sq ft footprint · 6/12 pitch | 24.6 | $11,100–$17,200 | Open › |
| 2,400 sq ft footprint · 6/12 pitch | 29.5 | $13,300–$20,700 | Open › |
| 1,500 sq ft footprint · steep 10/12 | 21.5 | $9,700–$15,000 | Open › |
| 2,000 sq ft · standing-seam metal · 6/12 | 24.6 | $22,100–$44,300 | Open › |
How this calculator works
Roof area: footprint × pitch multiplier (√(1 + (pitch/12)²)); squares = area ÷ 100 × 1.10 waste (ridges, valleys, starter courses). Prices per square, installed, August 2026: 3-tab $350–$500 (estimated from architectural spread), architectural $450–$700 (cited: $4.21–$8.84/sq ft installed), premium/designer $650–$900 (est.), exposed-fastener metal $500–$900 (est.), standing seam $900–$1800 (cited: commonly 2–3× architectural; metro projects can exceed $2,000/square). Includes tear-off of one shingle layer. Sources: This Old House, Angi 2026 data. National ranges — your quotes decide.
Common questions
How much does a roof replacement cost in 2026?
Most architectural-shingle replacements land between $8,280 and $12,880 for a typical 1,500 sq ft-footprint home (≈18–19 squares at $450–$700/square installed). Standing-seam metal runs 2–3× that. High-cost metros push past $2,000/square.
What is a "square" in roofing?
100 square feet of roof surface. Contractors price by the square. Your roof area is bigger than your home’s footprint because of pitch — a 1,500 sq ft footprint at a 6/12 pitch is about 1,677 sq ft of actual roof, or ~17 squares before waste.
How many squares is my roof?
Footprint (including overhangs and attached garage) × pitch multiplier ÷ 100, plus ~10% waste. Pitch multipliers: 4/12 = 1.05, 6/12 = 1.12, 8/12 = 1.20, 10/12 = 1.30, 12/12 = 1.41. Find yours with our roof pitch calculator.
Is a metal roof worth the extra cost?
Standing seam costs 2–3× architectural shingles installed but typically lasts 40–70 years versus 20–30, sheds snow, and can lower insurance in hail states. If you plan to stay 15+ years, the per-year math often favors metal; if you may sell soon, shingles usually pencil better.
What drives a roofing quote up?
Steepness (anything above 8/12 adds labor and safety cost), stories and access, tear-off of multiple layers, decking repairs (found after tear-off — keep a 10% contingency), chimneys/skylights/valleys, and your metro’s labor market (coastal metros run 20–40% above national averages).