Asphalt Shingles (Basic) – $4.50/sq ft
Architectural Shingles – $6.50/sq ft
Metal Seam – $10.00/sq ft
Clay Tile – $14.00/sq ft
Natural Slate – $18.00/sq ft
Estimated Roof Size: 0 sq ft
Material & Labor: $0
Tear-off Cost: $0
Total Estimate: $0
*Estimates include 10% waste factor.
Understanding Your Roofing Cost Estimate
Replacing a roof is one of the most significant investments a homeowner can make. Our Roofing Cost Calculator helps you budget effectively by accounting for the critical variables that contractors use to determine price: footage, pitch, and materials.
1. Roof Square Footage vs. Base Area
Many homeowners confuse the square footage of their home's floor plan with the square footage of the roof. Because roofs are sloped and often have overhangs, the actual roofing surface is always larger than the home's footprint. This calculator applies a pitch multiplier to your base area to calculate the "true" roof surface area.
2. The Impact of Roof Pitch
The steepness of your roof affects cost in two ways:
Surface Area: A steeper roof has more surface area than a flat roof covering the same house.
Labor Difficulty: Steep roofs (typically anything over a 6:12 pitch) require special safety equipment and slower working conditions, increasing labor costs significantly.
3. Material Choices
Materials vary wildly in price. While Asphalt Shingles are the most common and cost-effective option in North America, upgrading to Metal or Tile can double or triple the cost. However, these premium materials often last 50+ years compared to the 20-year lifespan of asphalt.
4. Tear-Off and Disposal
If you have existing layers of shingles, they usually need to be removed before a new roof can be installed. This process, known as "tear-off," involves labor-intensive stripping and dumpster disposal fees. Skipping this step (layering over old shingles) is cheaper upfront but can void warranties and hide structural damage.
Average Cost Examples (2,000 sq ft Base Area)
For a standard moderate-slope home, expected ranges are:
Asphalt Shingles: $10,000 – $15,000
Metal Roofing: $22,000 – $35,000
Slate/Tile: $30,000 – $50,000+
Note: This calculator provides an estimate based on national averages. Local labor rates and material availability will influence final contractor quotes.
function calculateRoofCost() {
var houseAreaInput = document.getElementById("houseArea").value;
var pitchMult = parseFloat(document.getElementById("roofPitch").value);
var materialCostPerSqFt = parseFloat(document.getElementById("roofMaterial").value);
var includeTearOff = document.getElementById("tearOff").checked;
// Basic Validation
if (houseAreaInput === "" || houseAreaInput <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid house area in square feet.");
return;
}
var baseArea = parseFloat(houseAreaInput);
// Calculate True Roof Area (Base * Pitch Multiplier)
// Adding 10% waste factor standard in roofing (cutting shingles, overhangs)
var wasteFactor = 1.10;
var trueRoofArea = baseArea * pitchMult * wasteFactor;
// Calculate Material & Install Cost
var totalMaterialCost = trueRoofArea * materialCostPerSqFt;
// Calculate Tear Off Cost if checked ($1.50 per sq ft of actual roof area is industry avg)
var tearOffCost = 0;
if (includeTearOff) {
tearOffCost = trueRoofArea * 1.50;
}
var totalCost = totalMaterialCost + tearOffCost;
// Display Results
document.getElementById("resSize").innerText = Math.round(trueRoofArea).toLocaleString();
document.getElementById("resMaterial").innerText = "$" + totalMaterialCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {
minimumFractionDigits: 2,
maximumFractionDigits: 2
});
document.getElementById("resTearOff").innerText = "$" + tearOffCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {
minimumFractionDigits: 2,
maximumFractionDigits: 2
});
document.getElementById("resTotal").innerText = "$" + totalCost.toLocaleString(undefined, {
minimumFractionDigits: 2,
maximumFractionDigits: 2
});
// Show result box
document.getElementById("calc-result").style.display = "block";
}