Metal Roof Cost Calculator

Metal roofing costs range from $4.50 to $14 per square foot installed depending on material and complexity. Corrugated steel panels cost $4.50-$8/sq ft installed. Standing seam (the most popular residential choice) runs $8-$14/sq ft. Copper is the premium option at $15-$25/sq ft. Factors include roof pitch, accessibility, underlayment, and local labor rates. A typical 2,000 sq ft roof costs $10,000-$20,000 for corrugated steel or $16,000-$28,000 for standing seam.

Metal roofs last significantly longer: 40-80 years depending on material versus 15-30 years for asphalt shingles. Galvalume steel lasts 50-60 years, aluminum 40-50 years, copper 80+ years, and stone-coated steel 40-50 years. While metal roofs cost 2-3 times more upfront, the lifetime cost is often lower since you avoid 2-3 re-roofing jobs. Most metal roofs carry 30-50 year warranties.

Roof pitch is expressed as rise over run (e.g., 6/12 means 6 inches of rise per 12 inches of run). The pitch multiplier adjusts the flat footprint area to the actual roof surface area. A 6/12 pitch has a multiplier of 1.118, meaning the actual roof area is 11.8% more than the footprint. Higher pitches require more material, safety equipment, and labor. Pitches above 9/12 may require additional safety measures.

The biggest cost factors are: 1) Panel type — standing seam costs 50-100% more than corrugated. 2) Material — copper costs 4x more than galvalume steel. 3) Roof complexity — hips, valleys, dormers, and penetrations increase labor. 4) Pitch — steep roofs require more safety equipment and take longer. 5) Accessibility — multi-story or difficult access increases labor. 6) Tear-off — removing old roofing adds $1-$3/sq ft.