What a new roof costs in 2026
Roofers price by the square foot of roof, or by the roofing square (100 sq ft). HomeGuide puts the national average at $10,800, Fixr at about $10,000 and Forbes Home at $11,500 for an average-sized home. The material decides most of the price:
| Material | Installed, per sq ft (HomeGuide) | Typical total (HomeGuide) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-tab asphalt shingles | $3 to $5 | $5,700 to $12,000 |
| Architectural shingles | $4 to $6 | $7,500 to $16,000 |
| Premium asphalt | $5 to $7 | $7,500 to $18,000 |
| Metal shingles | $6 to $14 | $9,000 to $35,000 |
| Standing seam metal | $9 to $16 | $13,500 to $40,000 |
| Concrete tile | $7 to $19 | $10,500 to $47,500 |
| Clay tile | $8 to $25 | $20,000 to $55,000 |
Fixr puts the average at $4.75 per sq ft, with most roofs between $3.75 and $11 depending on the material.
How the roof area is worked out
A roof is bigger than the floor under it, because it slopes. The calculator multiplies the area under the roof by the standard pitch factor: 1.054 for a 4 in 12 roof, 1.118 for 6 in 12, 1.202 for 8 in 12, 1.302 for 10 in 12 and 1.414 for 12 in 12. That is geometry, not an estimate. Overhangs add a little more, which a roofer measures on site. Steep roofs also take longer to work on safely, so they move the price up within the range.
Tear-off and decking
The installed prices above include tearing off one layer of old roofing: HomeGuide's own breakdown puts removal at $100 to $300 of a $400 to $900 total per square, and Fixr counts removal in the labor. A second layer, or heavy material like tile, costs more to strip and dump; Fixr puts tear-off and disposal at about $50 a square on average and up to $150 for heavy or multiple layers. Rotten decking only shows once the old roof is off, which is why good estimates include a decking allowance and a price for anything beyond it. HomeGuide puts roof deck repair at $200 to $500 per 100 sq ft.
Pricing a replacement as a roofer
Take a 20-square architectural shingle roof, one story, one layer to tear off:
| Line | How it's figured | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Shingles, underlayment, flashing, vents, nails: 20 squares at $140 | $2,800.00 |
| Tear-off and disposal | Dumpster and fees | $500.00 |
| Labor | 4-person crew for 2 days, 64 hours at $50 an hour, fully burdened | $3,200.00 |
| Permit | Varies by city | $150.00 |
| Cost | $6,650.00 | |
| Price at a 20% margin | $6,650 divided by 0.8 | $8,312.50, about $415 a square |
That is about $4.15 per square foot, inside HomeGuide's $4 to $6 for architectural shingles. Write the decking allowance and the price per extra sheet on the roofing estimate template, and see job costing for roofers for checking the finished job against the price.
Questions about roof replacement cost
How much does a new roof cost per square?+
About $300 to $600 a square for asphalt shingles installed, from HomeGuide's $3 to $6 per square foot. Metal and tile run much higher, up to $2,500 a square for premium tile.
How do I measure my roof in squares?+
Multiply the area under the roof by the pitch factor for your roof's slope, then divide by 100. A 1,800 sq ft footprint with a 6 in 12 pitch is about 2,012 sq ft of roof, or about 20 squares.
Is tear-off included in a roof replacement price?+
Usually, for one layer. HomeGuide's per-square breakdown includes $100 to $300 for removal, and Fixr counts it in the labor. A second layer or heavy tile adds about $50 to $150 a square (Fixr), so check each quote says what it includes.
How this calculator works
The price range for the size of the job comes from the published guides below, from the lowest low to the highest high where they differ. Where your job lands inside that range is our method: each answer that makes the work harder or slower moves it toward the top, and each that makes it easier moves it down. Extras use each guide's published price for that item, and the likely price uses the middle of the extra's range.
- HomeGuide, How Much Does Roof Replacement Cost?
- Fixr, How Much Does a Roof Replacement Cost?
- Forbes Home, Roof Replacement Cost
Prices checked September 28, 2026.