Metal roof cost.
Metal roofs cost more upfront than asphalt but last 40 to 70 years. Price runs by panel type and roof size.
Metal roof cost by type
| Corrugated / ribbed steel | $10,800 – $21,600 |
| Aluminum | $16,200 – $28,800 |
| Standing seam (premium) | $18,000 – $32,400 |
Typical installed range for a 1,800 sq ft project. Adjust the estimator above for your own size and options.
The fastener system, not the metal, sets the price
Metal roofing splits into two families and the split is most of the price gap. Exposed-fastener panels (corrugated, ribbed, R-panel) drive screws through the face of the metal and run roughly $7–$12 per square foot installed. Concealed-fastener standing seam hides the attachment under interlocking seams and runs roughly $10–$16. It is the same steel. Standing seam costs 40–60% more because it uses heavier gauge, precision-formed panels, and slower skilled labor. Compare bids family to family first, because a corrugated price set beside a standing seam price tells you nothing.
What moves the price on this one
Gauge, stated as a number
24-gauge steel is about 0.025 inches thick; 26-gauge is about 0.0188, roughly 30% thinner, and costs around 30% less. The heavier gauge has the rigidity to span between attachment clips without oil canning, the visible waviness that shows across the flat of a panel. A bid that says 'steel' without a gauge has left out the number that determines how the roof will look in flat light.
Paint system: SMP or PVDF
The two finishes are silicone-modified polyester and PVDF, sold as Kynar 500. PVDF panels typically cost 30–40% more, hold color far longer, and carry longer paint warranties, and they are generally offered only on heavier gauges. SMP fades faster under UV. 'Painted steel' on a quote does not tell you which one you are buying, and the difference shows up as a color mismatch a decade in.
Trim and flashing, a percentage rather than a rounding error
A working rule from panel suppliers: take the panel cost and add about 25% for exposed-fastener trim, 30–40% for standing seam. Eave and gable trim runs roughly $2.50–$4.00 per linear foot on exposed-fastener systems against $5.50–$8.00 on standing seam, and ridge cap $3.50–$5.00 against $7.00–$10.00. Standing seam needs both more trim and more expensive trim.
Which metal, decided by your environment
Painted or Galvalume steel is the default. Aluminum runs about $10–$17 per square foot installed and is the right call within roughly 10 to 15 miles of salt air, where steel corrodes faster. Zinc lands near $14–$25 and copper near $20–$35 installed, three to four times steel, and both are chosen for appearance and patina rather than performance per dollar.
Thermal movement and shedding snow
Standing seam panels are held by floating clips so they can expand and contract with temperature, which is exactly why they cannot simply be screwed down. In snow country the second consequence matters: a metal roof releases accumulated snow as a slab rather than melting it off gradually, so snow guards are added above entries, walkways, and gutters. Both are engineering, not upsells.
What the quote has to spell out
- Panel system named: exposed-fastener or concealed-fastener standing seam, with the profile
- Gauge in writing (24 or 26), not just 'steel'
- Paint system identified as SMP or PVDF, with the paint warranty term
- Trim and flashing package priced, since it commonly adds 25–40% on top of the panels
- Clean deck or an overlay on furring strips, and what the panel manufacturer's warranty requires
- Snow guards and their placement, if you get snow
- On exposed-fastener systems, the fastener spec and who re-torques the screws over time
Where this goes wrong: Two bids compared on price alone when one is standing seam and the other is exposed-fastener. A 26-gauge SMP snap-lock quote and a 24-gauge PVDF standing seam quote a few thousand apart are not quotes for the same roof. Exposed-fastener screws back out and their rubber washers degrade, so every screw hole in the field of the roof eventually becomes a maintenance item. Standing seam has none there at all.
Metal roof cost: FAQ
How much does a metal roof cost?
Most homeowners pay roughly $7 to $18 per square foot installed, so a typical 1,800 sq ft roof runs about $13,000 to $32,000 depending on panel type and complexity. Standing seam sits at the top of that range; corrugated steel at the bottom.
Is a metal roof worth the extra cost?
Over a 50-year horizon a metal roof often costs less per year than asphalt because it lasts two to three times as long, resists storms, and can lower cooling bills. The tradeoff is a higher upfront price.
What makes a metal roof cost more?
Standing-seam profiles, steep or cut-up roofs, tear-off of an old roof, and premium finishes all push the price up. Simple gable roofs with exposed-fastener panels are the most affordable.
What is oil canning, and can I avoid it?
Oil canning is the visible waviness that appears in the flat areas of a metal panel. It is a recognized characteristic of light-gauge flat metal rather than a defect, and most manufacturers exclude it from warranty coverage. Heavier gauge (24 rather than 26), striations or pencil ribs formed into the panel face, and a flat, well-prepared deck all reduce how much of it you see.
Can a metal roof go over existing shingles?
Sometimes. Standing seam systems that transmit load directly to the structure can be installed over an existing covering under some codes, and installers often add furring strips for fastening and an air gap. The tradeoffs are real: an overlay hides decking damage, most standing seam manufacturers require a clean deck for their warranty to apply, and codes cap total layers.
Does a metal roof lower my homeowners insurance?
Often, but not automatically. Carriers that offer impact-resistant roofing credits commonly discount 15–35% of the wind and hail portion of the premium, and metal typically earns a credit similar to Class 4 shingles. Get the product's impact rating in writing and confirm the discount with your carrier before installation rather than after.