Roof Replacement Cost Calculator
Squares, bundles and installed cost, from the footprint and the pitch.
Estimated replacement cost
$15,796.23
- Pitch multiplier (6/12)
- 1.1180
- Roof angle
- 26.6°
- Actual roof area
- 2,236 sq ft
- With 10% waste
- 2,460 sq ft
- Squares
- 24.6 squares
- Shingle bundles
- 74 bundles
- Material
- $3,689.51
- Labor
- $5,657.25
- Tear-off
- $3,074.59
- Underlayment
- $1,106.85
- Drip edge and ridge cap
- $432.00
- Permit and dumpster
- $400.00
- Contingency (10%)
- $1,436.02
- Cost per square
- $642.21/square
- Cost per sq ft of roof
- $7.06/sq ft
- Material-only (DIY)
- $5,228.37
Everything is priced per square, the way roofers quote. A square is 100 sq ft of roof surface.
Not sure of your pitch? Measure it with the roof pitch calculator →
How this is calculated
multiplier = √(rise² + 12²) ÷ 12 roof area = footprint × multiplier order = roof area × (1 + waste%) squares = order ÷ 100 bundles = ceil(squares × 3) material = squares × $/square labor = squares × $/square tear-off = squares × $/square × layers total = (all lines) × (1 + contingency%)
Everything scales off squares rather than footprint, because the footprint is not the roof. Ordering material against the plan area is the single most common way a roof job comes up short, and the error grows with pitch.
Roof area by footprint and pitch
Squares needed at 10 percent waste. Same functions as the calculator above — note how the same house needs a third more material at 12/12 than at 4/12.
| Footprint | 4/12 | 6/12 | 8/12 | 12/12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 11.6 | 12.3 | 13.2 | 15.6 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 17.4 | 18.4 | 19.8 | 23.3 |
| 1,800 sq ft | 20.9 | 22.1 | 23.8 | 28.0 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 23.2 | 24.6 | 26.4 | 31.1 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 29.0 | 30.7 | 33.1 | 38.9 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 34.8 | 36.9 | 39.7 | 46.7 |
Installed cost by material
| Material | Material | Installed | Expected life |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-tab asphalt | $90-$130/square | $3.50-$5.50/sq ft | 15-20 years |
| Architectural asphalt | $120-$200/square | $4.50-$7.50/sq ft | 25-30 years |
| Premium asphalt | $200-$350/square | $6.00-$8.50/sq ft | 30-50 years |
| Standing seam metal | $300-$600/square | $10.00-$18.00/sq ft | 40-70 years |
| Cedar shake | $350-$600/square | $9.00-$16.00/sq ft | 25-40 years |
| Concrete or clay tile | $300-$600/square | $10.00-$20.00/sq ft | 50+ years |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a roof replacement cost?
A 2,000 square foot footprint at a common 6/12 pitch works out to roughly 25 squares of roof, which in architectural asphalt lands near $14,500 to $22,000 installed in 2026. Metal and tile run two to three times that. Tear-off of the old roof adds $1,500 to $3,000 on a house that size.
What is a roofing square?
One hundred square feet of roof surface. Every roofing quote, shingle bundle and labor rate is priced by the square rather than by the square foot, so knowing your square count is the only way to compare bids on the same basis.
How many bundles of shingles do I need?
Three bundles cover one square in every common asphalt shingle, 3-tab and architectural alike. So a 25 square roof takes 75 bundles, plus extra for the ridge cap and starter course if you are not buying those as separate products.
Why does pitch change the price?
Twice. A steeper roof has more surface for the same footprint — a 12/12 is 41 percent larger than the plan area it covers, against 12 percent for a 4/12 — so it needs more material. And steep work needs jacks, staging and harnesses, which raises the labor rate per square on top of that.
Do I need to tear off the old roof?
Most codes allow a second layer over an existing one, but almost every roofer recommends against it. Layering hides rotten decking, adds weight, shortens the new roof's life through trapped heat, and means paying to remove two layers next time. It also voids some manufacturer warranties.
How much waste should I add?
Ten percent on a simple gable, and 15 percent or more on a roof with hips, valleys, dormers or many penetrations, since every valley cut leaves an unusable triangle. Starter course and ridge cap are usually counted separately rather than coming out of that allowance.
Planning estimates only. Roofing prices swing hard with region, season, roof complexity and what the crew finds when the old layer comes off — rotten decking is the usual surprise. These are not quotes. Get at least three, itemized by square.