Roofing Cost Calculator
Estimate a roof replacement. Set the footprint, pitch, and material, then add tear-off, stories, and skylights for a realistic low-to-high cost range and a per-square price.
Example: with Building footprint 1500 sq ft · Exact pitch — Use quick pitch selection above — · Existing layers 1 · Skylights / chimneys 1 → Estimated cost: $11,820.
- Low estimate$10,047
- High estimate$14,184
- Roofing squares16.8
Computed by the calculator below using its default values. Change any input to see your own numbers.
3D roof · drag to rotate
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Get quotesAverage roof replacement cost: what goes into a quote
Roofers price in “squares” (100 sq ft of roof surface, which is larger than your footprint because of pitch). The big cost drivers are material, tearing off the old roof (and how many layers), how many stories, and obstacles like skylights and chimneys. Questions worth asking contractors: how many layers they'll remove, whether decking replacement is included, the warranty, and who pulls the permit.
What’s on American roofs
Asphalt shingles cover roughly 75–80% of U.S. homes — they’re the default nearly everywhere. The exceptions are regional: clay and concrete tile dominate the desert Southwest and are a Florida tradition (heat and UV immunity), metal is the fastest-growing choice in the Southeast and hurricane country (standing-seam systems carry 140+ mph wind ratings), and slate remains a Northeast signature where snow load and longevity justify the weight. For scale: roofers price by the “square” (100 sq ft), and with the average new U.S. single-family home at ~2,650 sq ft of floor area, a typical replacement lands in the 20–30-square range once pitch and overhangs are added.
| Region | Besides asphalt, you’ll see | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Southwest & Florida | Clay/concrete tile | Shrugs off UV and heat; thermal mass keeps attics cooler. |
| Southeast & Gulf Coast | Metal | Hurricane wind ratings; new construction trending metal. |
| Northeast | Slate (and asphalt) | Handles snow load; century-class lifespan on period homes. |
Market share: Fixr U.S. roofing statistics (2025); RubyHome roofing statistics (2026). Home size: NAHB Cost of Constructing a Home (2024) via This Old House (2026). Regional patterns: RoofVista climate-zone guide (2026); RoofingCalc Florida guide — industry guides, directional rather than survey data.
How it’s calculated
Roof area = footprint × pitch factor. Cost = area × installed $/sq ft × quality × stories + tear-off + skylights + permit; a low–high range is shown. The quick pitch buttons use bucketed factors (Flat/Low/Medium/Steep); if you know your exact roof pitch, use the “Exact pitch” dropdown to plug in the standard rise/run correction factor for any slope from 1/12 to 24/12 (e.g., a 7/12 roof rises 7 inches per 12 horizontal inches, giving a 1.158 multiplier) — picking a value there overrides the quick selector for a more precise area and cost.
Results update as you type and are estimates, not professional advice — verify important decisions with a qualified professional.
Common mistakes
- Pricing off the footprint instead of the pitched roof area.
- Leaving out tear-off, layers, and permit costs.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the estimate a range?
Local labor, roof complexity, and hidden decking damage all move the price. The low-to-high range reflects that; get firm quotes to narrow it.
What's a roofing square?
100 square feet of roof surface. A 1,680 sq ft roof is about 16.8 squares.
Does tear-off matter much?
Yes — removing and disposing of old shingles adds labor and dump fees, and extra existing layers add more.
What if I know my exact roof pitch?
Use the “Exact pitch” dropdown to pick your precise slope from 1/12 up to 24/12 (or its degree equivalent). Roof pitch is expressed as rise over a 12-inch run — a 7/12 roof rises 7 inches for every 12 horizontal inches. Each pitch has a standard correction factor (how much more surface area a sloped roof has versus its flat footprint), ranging from 1.003 at 1/12 up to 2.236 at 24/12. Selecting an exact pitch overrides the quick Flat/Low/Medium/Steep buttons above for a more precise area and cost; leave it on the default option to keep using the quick selector.