RoofCostRoof Replacement Cost per Square Foot
Short answer: a full roof replacement costs about $4.20–$6.70 per sq ft in asphalt 3-tab shingles, $4.90–$7.80 in architectural shingles, $9.70–$16.10 in metal, and $9.70–$16.60 in tile — installed, with one old layer torn off, at US-average labor rates.
Those are planning ranges, not quotes. Pitch, extra tear-off layers, roof complexity and region move a real price within (and sometimes beyond) them; the factors are explained under the table.
Assumes a standard 4/12–6/12 pitch and tearing off one old layer. Steep or complex roofs run higher — use the full calculator on the homepage for a detailed breakdown.
Quick estimate
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Planning estimate only, not a quote. For a line-by-line breakdown (materials, labor, tear-off, permits), run the full roof replacement cost calculator.
Price table: cost per square foot and per square
A roofing square is 100 sq ft, so the per-square column is simply the per-sq-ft column × 100. Both assume a standard 4/12–6/12 pitch and one tear-off layer — the same assumptions as the mini calculator above.
| Material | Per sq ft (installed) | Per roofing square | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingle (3-tab) | $4.20 – $6.70 | $420 – $670 | Budget standard; shortest lifespan (15–20 yrs) |
| Architectural shingle | $4.90 – $7.80 | $490 – $780 | Most common US replacement choice |
| Cedar shake | $6.50 – $11.00 | $650 – $1,100 | Regional; fire codes restrict some areas |
| Corrugated metal | $7.40 – $12.10 | $740 – $1,210 | Exposed fasteners; lower-cost metal entry |
| Standing seam metal | $12.20 – $19.60 | $1,220 – $1,960 | Concealed fasteners; 40–70 yr lifespan |
| Metal (blended average) | $9.70 – $16.10 | $970 – $1,610 | Across common metal systems |
| Tile (concrete / clay) | $9.70 – $16.60 | $970 – $1,660 | Heavy — deck structure must be rated for it |
| Slate | $15.00 – $30.00 | $1,500 – $3,000 | Specialist installers; century-grade lifespan |
What moves your price inside the range
- Pitch: steeper than 7/12 adds roughly 15–30% to labor and tear-off.
- Tear-off layers: each extra old layer adds about $0.70–$1.20 per sq ft in removal and disposal.
- Region: Northeast and West Coast metro labor can run 25–45% above the national average; rural South and Midwest often 10–15% below.
- Complexity: valleys, dormers, chimneys and skylights add flashing work that flat per-sq-ft math understates.
- Decking condition: rotted sheathing is usually billed per replaced sheet on top of the base quote.
Want the number for your roof rather than a table? The full roof replacement cost calculator applies each of these factors to your inputs and breaks the total into materials, labor, tear-off, accessories and permits. Pricing a metal roof specifically? Use the metal roof cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average roof replacement cost per square foot?
Across materials, most full replacements land between about $4.20 and $16.60 per sq ft installed, including tearing off one old layer at US-average labor rates. Asphalt shingles sit at the low end ($4.20–$7.80 depending on grade), metal and tile at the high end. Where a specific roof falls depends on pitch, layers, roof complexity and region.
How much does a roofer charge per square?
A roofing square is 100 sq ft, so per-square prices are the per-sq-ft price times 100: roughly $420–$670 per square for 3-tab shingles, $490–$780 for architectural shingles, $970–$1,610 for metal and $970–$1,660 for tile, installed with one tear-off layer. Quotes are often written per square, which is why comparing them to per-sq-ft figures confuses homeowners.
Why do quotes for the same roof vary so much per square foot?
Because the per-square-foot number hides the assumptions: how many layers come off, whether decking repairs are included, the underlayment spec, steepness, and local labor rates. Two quotes $2 per sq ft apart are often describing different scopes, not different markups — compare the line items, which is exactly what the full breakdown on our homepage does.