Metal roof cost in Alabama
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $8,550 – $28,800
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.20 – $14
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 9
Across Alabama, a metal roof costs about $8,550 to $28,800 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Statewide, that midpoint is 12% below the US figure of $21,300. Roofers earn a median $21.96 an hour in Alabama (US: $26.65).
Inside Alabama, the metros we cover range from $18,500 (Dothan) to $18,900 (Birmingham) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Alabama (statewide), standard level
$14,600 to $22,700
About $7.20 to $11 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $8,400 | $11,000 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $350 |
| Total | $14,600 | $22,700 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Alabama
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,700 | $15,400 | 46% |
| Labor | $6,450 | $9,700 | $12,900 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $440 | 2% |
| Total | $8,550 | $18,700 | $28,800 | 100% |
Alabama seasons and metal roof
Season matters for metal roof. For each Alabama metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Daphne has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Alabama at 12 months; Dothan has the shortest at 9 (September through May). Rainfall runs from 49 inches a year in Decatur to 66 inches in Daphne.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 35 | 91 | 57 | 10: September through June |
| Huntsville | 33 | 92 | 54 | 10: September through June |
| Mobile | 43 | 92 | 61 | 9: September through May |
| Montgomery | 37 | 94 | 51 | 9: September through May |
| Tuscaloosa | 35 | 92 | 57 | 9: September through May |
| Daphne | 39 | 89 | 66 | 12: all year |
| Auburn | 35 | 89 | 56 | 12: all year |
| Decatur | 32 | 90 | 49 | 10: September through June |
| Dothan | 40 | 93 | 54 | 9: September through May |
Related projects, priced for Alabama
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Alabama wages and prices. Against national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (−4%) and roof replacement lowest (−13%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,250 – $11,000 | −13% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,100 – $3,800 | −10% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $960 – $3,850 | −4% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,350 – $22,100 | −12% |
Metal roof: what moves the price in Alabama
Panel type
Corrugated sheet metal is $5-$12 per sq ft installed; standing seam is $9-$16 (HomeGuide).
Metal and gauge
Galvalume and galvanized steel are budget-friendly; copper and zinc are the top of the range.
Labor
Metal roof labor is $4-$8 per sq ft, or $400-$800 per roofing square, and standing seam needs specialist crews.
Other metals
Tin runs $600-$1,800 per roofing square (100 sq ft) installed and aluminum $700-$1,700 per square (HomeGuide).
What roofers and the other trades earn in Alabama
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.81 for Alabama.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $21.96 an hour, which is 18% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $20.36 and $25.64 an hour. BLS counts 1,010 of them working in the state, 4.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $22.85 an hour, which is 23% below the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $20.33 and $28.21 an hour. BLS counts 1,450 of them working in the state, 6.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $17.74 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.41 and $21.75 an hour. About 18,400 work in the state. That is 87.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($25.64 an hour) would add about $1,150 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($20.36) would take off about $500. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,113,660 jobs across Alabama (May 2025), which is 1.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $20.36 | $21.96 | $25.64 | $26.65 | 0.82 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $20.33 | $22.85 | $28.21 | $29.71 | 0.77 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $14.41 | $17.74 | $21.75 | $22.66 | 0.78 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
Which Alabama city is cheapest for metal roof?
4 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $18,700, and the top-to-bottom gap is 2%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (2,000 sq ft of roof) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $8,650 – $29,100 | $18,900 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL | $8,650 – $29,100 | $18,900 | +1% |
| Montgomery, AL | $8,650 – $29,000 | $18,800 | +1% |
| Daphne, AL | $8,600 – $29,000 | $18,800 | +1% |
| Decatur, AL | $8,600 – $28,900 | $18,800 | level |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $8,550 – $28,800 | $18,700 | level |
| Mobile, AL | $8,500 – $28,800 | $18,600 | level |
| Auburn, AL | $8,500 – $28,800 | $18,600 | level |
| Dothan, AL | $8,400 – $28,500 | $18,500 | −1% |
Quality levels and sizes in Alabama
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Alabama wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$8,550 to $16,600
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$14,600 to $22,700
Standing seam steel
Premium
$20,700 to $28,800
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,150 – $10,100 | $8,850 – $13,800 | $12,500 – $17,500 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $8,550 – $16,600 | $14,600 – $22,700 | $20,700 – $28,800 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $11,900 – $23,200 | $20,400 – $31,700 | $28,900 – $40,200 |
Alabama against its neighbors
Alabama ranks 49 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for metal roof, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is New Jersey at $26,800 and the cheapest Mississippi at $18,600, both for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint. Alabama sits at $18,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 170 miles away | $9,000 – $30,100 | $19,500 | +5% |
| Mississippi | 180 miles away | $8,500 – $28,800 | $18,600 | level |
| Tennessee | 190 miles away | $9,000 – $29,700 | $19,300 | +4% |
| Louisiana | 310 miles away | $8,900 – $29,200 | $19,000 | +2% |
| South Carolina | 350 miles away | $8,700 – $29,200 | $18,900 | +1% |
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Metal roof in Alabama: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Alabama?
$8,550 to $28,800 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Alabama can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Alabama is cheapest for metal roof?
Dothan at about $18,500 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Birmingham at $18,900.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Alabama than the US average?
It is 12% cheaper: $18,700 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Alabama?
About 52% ($9,700). Materials are 46%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.81x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Alabama?
The BLS statewide median is $21.96 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.36 to $25.64.
+Where does Alabama rank for metal roof costs?
49th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $18,700 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Alabama?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $8,550 to $16,600 and premium work $20,700 to $28,800. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in Alabama?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Alabama metros we cover, Daphne has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Metal roof by city in Alabama
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed range minus HomeGuide's $4-$8/sq ft labor range for metal roofs.