How it works
Roofers price by the square. One square is 100 square feet of roof surface. The calculator turns your roof into squares and multiplies by a low and a high price.
- Squares = roof area ÷ 100
- New roof = squares × installed cost per square
- Tear-off = squares × tear-off cost per square
- Estimated cost = new roof + tear-off, worked once with the low prices and once with the high prices
Example: a 1,500 square foot roof is 15 squares. Asphalt shingles at $400 to $1,200 per square come to 15 × $400 = $6,000 at the low end and 15 × $1,200 = $18,000 at the high end. Tear-off at $100 to $500 per square adds $1,500 to $7,500. The estimate is $7,500 to $25,500.
Installed cost by roofing type
These are the starting figures in the calculator. They come from HomeAdvisor cost guides, which give them per square foot with materials and installation together. A square is 100 square feet, so the cost per square is 100 times the cost per square foot.
| Roofing | Per square foot | Per square |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | $4 to $12 | $400 to $1,200 |
| Standing seam metal | $4 to $30 | $400 to $3,000 |
| Wood shingles | $7 to $15 | $700 to $1,500 |
| Clay shingles | $12 to $25 | $1,200 to $2,500 |
| Slate | $12 to $25 | $1,200 to $2,500 |
The starting prices come from the store listings and cost guides under Sources, last checked in October 2026. Prices vary by region and season, so change any price to match your store or your quote.
Roof replacement cost by roof size
Each of these pages works out the low to high cost for one roof area, for every roofing in the table above, with and without tear-off.
1,000 sq ft1,200 sq ft1,500 sq ft1,800 sq ft2,000 sq ft2,200 sq ft2,500 sq ft3,000 sq ft3,500 sq ft4,000 sq ft
Why the range is wide
A low to high range this wide is normal for a cost guide. It covers cheap and costly versions of the same roofing, simple and cut-up roofs, and low and high local labor rates. HomeAdvisor reports that most homeowners spend between $6,138 and $13,994 on a new shingle roof, with an average of $10,066.
The way to narrow the range is to get quotes. Ask each roofer for the price per square, then put the lowest and highest numbers in the calculator.
Tear-off
A replacement usually starts with removing the old roofing and hauling it away. HomeAdvisor puts that at $1 to $5 per square foot, which is $100 to $500 per square, depending on local labor rates and how steep and easy to reach the roof is. Some quotes already include it. If yours does, choose No tear-off so it is not counted twice.
Roof area is not floor area
A roof is bigger than the floor under it, because it slopes and hangs past the walls. A 40 by 30 foot house with 12 inch overhangs and a 6 in 12 roof has 1,503 square feet of roof over 1,200 square feet of floor. Use the House size option above, or the roof area calculator, to get the sloped area. A steeper roof has more surface, so it costs more to cover.
What the estimate leaves out
- Repairs to the wood deck under the roofing, which nobody can price until the old roof is off.
- Permits, new gutters, skylights and chimney work.
- Anything a roofer finds on a visit. An estimate from a calculator is a starting point, not a quote.
If you plan to do the work yourself, the shingle calculator prices the shingles, underlayment and ridge cap.
Common questions
How much does it cost to replace a 1,500 square foot roof?
About $7,500 to $25,500 with asphalt shingles and a tear-off, using the starting figures in this calculator. Without the tear-off it is $6,000 to $18,000. Prices vary by region and season.
How much does a new roof cost per square?
For asphalt shingles, about $400 to $1,200 per square installed, based on the HomeAdvisor figure of $4 to $12 per square foot for materials and installation. Wood shingles run about $700 to $1,500 per square, clay shingles about $1,200 to $2,500 and slate about $1,200 to $2,500.
What is a roofing square?
One square is 100 square feet of roof surface. A 1,500 square foot roof is 15 squares.
Does the estimate include removing the old roof?
Yes, unless you choose No tear-off. The starting figure is $100 to $500 per square for removal and disposal.
How much does a standing seam metal roof cost?
HomeAdvisor gives $4 to $30 per square foot including installation, which is $400 to $3,000 per square. The range is wide because it covers different metals. Steel and aluminum cost less than zinc and copper.
Is my roof area the same as my house square footage?
No. The roof is larger because it slopes and overhangs the walls. Use the House size option above to convert.
Put this calculator on your site
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Sources
- HomeAdvisor: shingle roof replacement cost, with removal of the old roof
- HomeAdvisor: standing seam metal roof cost
Facts on this page were last checked against these sources in October 2026.