Metal roof cost by house size
Estimates from this page's default prices for a 1-story house with a simple gable roof at 6/12 pitch, tearing off one layer of shingles. The last column is the same roof in architectural shingles, from our roof replacement cost defaults. Change the defaults above to match quotes near you.
| House | Exposed fastener | Standing seam | Architectural shingles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $9,050–$13,600 | $19,600–$29,400 | $6,700–$10,100 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $13,000–$19,450 | $28,350–$42,550 | $9,700–$14,550 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $17,200–$25,800 | $37,400–$56,100 | $13,000–$19,500 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $21,050–$31,600 | $46,000–$68,950 | $15,900–$23,900 |
1,500 sq ft metal roof cost
A 1,500 sq ft, 1-story house has about 1,858 sq ft of roof at 6/12 pitch in this model, or 18.6 squares. In exposed-fastener panels that comes to about $13,000–$19,450, or about $873 per square. Standing seam comes to about $28,350–$42,550, or about $1,908 per square.
Standing seam metal roof cost
Standing seam panels hide their fasteners under raised seams, held down with clips. They cost more per foot and cover less width than exposed-fastener panels, and take much longer to install and detail. Our defaults are $6 per linear foot for 16 in wide panels against $4 for 36 in panels, and $1,075 per square of billed install labor against $500. Per sq ft of roof, standing seam comes to about $18.98–$19.35 installed in the table above, and exposed fastener about $8.69–$8.94.
Metal roof cost compared to shingles
On the same roofs, exposed-fastener metal costs about 1.3 times as much as architectural shingles with these defaults, and standing seam about 2.9 times as much. Both use the same pitch, tear-off, markup and dumpster. Metal typically lasts longer than asphalt shingles, which is why many owners choose it anyway. Some exposed-fastener roofs go over one layer of old shingles where local code allows, which skips the tear-off. Ask your roofer.
What changes the price
- Panel type and gauge: heavier gauges, premium paint finishes, copper or zinc cost more per foot.
- Roof area and pitch: a steeper roof has more surface, and labor rises 15–50% above 6/12 here.
- Shape: hips, valleys and dormers mean more cutting, trim and waste.
- Trim: eave, rake and ridge trim is estimated from the house size. Enter your own length if you know it.
- Tear-off: each old layer adds labor and dumpster weight.
- Permits: many towns require a permit for a re-roof. Enter the fee above.
How this estimate works
Roof area uses the same geometry as our roof replacement estimator: floor area ÷ stories as a rectangle 1.5 times as long as wide, a 1 ft overhang, times the pitch factor, with 10–20% waste by roof shape. Panel length is squares × 100 ÷ panel width, as in our roofing calculator's metal mode. Underlayment, fasteners or clips and closures are $30 per square for exposed fastener and $40 for standing seam. Trim is $3 or $5 per foot, on two eaves, four rakes and the ridge.
Contractor markup on materials is 20%. Labor is priced per square at a billed rate that includes the contractor's overhead and profit: $500 per square for exposed fastener, $1,075 for standing seam, plus $90 per square for each layer torn off, adjusted for pitch, stories and roof shape. Tear-off is hauled in 3-ton dumpsters at $450. The range is the result minus 20% to plus 20%. Change any of these above.
Homewyse puts a seam metal roof at $17.74–$23.95 per sq ft installed (Homewyse, May 2026, tear-off listed as an option). This estimate's standing seam default comes to about $19.08 per sq ft of roof, including tear-off of one layer. We found no Homewyse figure for exposed-fastener panels, so that labor is scaled from shingles by install time.
Getting quotes
Ask each roofer for the panel profile, gauge, paint finish and warranty, the underlayment, and whether the old roof comes off. Compare per square. If a quote is far below this estimate, ask what's left out.
Questions
How much does a metal roof cost for a 1,500 sq ft house?
With this page's defaults, a 1-story 1,500 sq ft house comes to about $13,000–$19,450 in exposed-fastener panels and $28,350–$42,550 in standing seam, with one layer of shingles torn off.
Is a metal roof more expensive than shingles?
Yes, with these defaults. On the same roof, exposed-fastener metal costs about 1.3 times as much as architectural shingles, and standing seam about 2.9 times as much.
How much is a metal roof per square foot?
About $8.69–$8.94 per sq ft of roof for exposed-fastener panels and $18.98–$19.35 for standing seam, installed, across the house sizes in the table with these defaults.
Can a metal roof go over shingles?
Some exposed-fastener metal roofs can be installed over one layer of shingles where local code allows. Ask your roofer and check with your building department.