Metal roof cost in Tucson, AZ
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical 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
- Rank of 300 metros
- #273
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a metal roof in the Tucson area: $8,550 to $28,800 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 12% lower than the US figure. Roofers earn a median of $21.17 an hour in the Tucson area, 21% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Tucson, AZ, 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 | $5,950 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $8,400 | $11,000 |
| Permits and fees | $250 | $380 |
| Total | $14,600 | $22,700 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Tucson, AZ
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,650 | $15,400 | 46% |
| Labor | $6,450 | $9,700 | $12,900 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $310 | $480 | 2% |
| Total | $8,550 | $18,700 | $28,800 | 100% |
Where the Tucson price comes from
Labor is 52% of the midpoint bill here, against 56% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is roofers (70%), sheet metal workers (20%), construction laborers (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Tucson the blended ratio comes out at 0.81.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Tucson is at 96.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $9,000 nationally becomes $8,650 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 96.9: $150 to $480.
Related projects, priced for Tucson
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Tucson wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (−7%) and roof replacement lowest (−13%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,250 – $11,000 | −13% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,850 | −8% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $920 – $3,750 | −7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,600 – $22,900 | −9% |
How Tucson compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 2,000 sq ft of roof range from $18,700 to $23,800 across Tucson and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZthis page | $8,550 – $28,800 | $18,700 | |
| Phoenix, AZ75 miles | $9,000 – $29,600 | $19,300 | +3% |
| Yuma, AZ130 miles | $8,900 – $29,500 | $19,200 | +3% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ180 miles | $8,650 – $29,100 | $18,900 | +1% |
| El Centro, CA215 miles | $11,600 – $35,900 | $23,800 | +27% |
| Flagstaff, AZ255 miles | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | +3% |
| Arizona (statewide) | $8,950 – $29,500 | $19,200 | +3% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +14% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Tucson ranks #273 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Tucson is 3% below the Arizona figure.
Elsewhere in Arizona
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $9,000 – $29,600 | $19,300 | +3% |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | 72,300 jobs | $8,650 – $29,100 | $18,900 | +1% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $8,900 – $29,500 | $19,200 | +3% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | +3% |
| Lake Havasu City, AZ | 56,490 jobs | $8,900 – $29,500 | $19,200 | +3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Tucson against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $10,400 – $32,500 | $21,500 | +15% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $10,600 – $33,400 | $22,000 | +18% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $9,200 – $30,200 | $19,700 | +5% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $10,000 – $31,400 | $20,700 | +11% |
Who does the work: Tucson trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Tucson the blend is 0.81.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $21.17 an hour, 21% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.07 and $21.57 an hour. About 340 work in the metro. That is 8.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.29 an hour, 22% below the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $18.33 and $33.08 an hour. About 330 work in the metro. That is 8.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 10%) the local median is $21.66 an hour, which is 4% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.18 and $23.05 an hour. BLS counts 3,410 of them working in the area, 87.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $130 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $980. That is a swing of roughly 5.2% to 0.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Tucson has 389,630 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 68th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $18.07 | $21.17 | $21.57 | $26.65 | 0.79 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $18.33 | $23.29 | $33.08 | $29.71 | 0.78 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $18.18 | $21.66 | $23.05 | $22.66 | 0.96 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.81 | |||||
The best months for metal roof in Tucson
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Tucson Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Tucson are October through April: 7 of 12. Outside them, May, June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Tucson gets about 11 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (2.2 inches in July). Inside the workable window, April and November are the driest, at 0.2 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 158 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67 | 41 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 69 | 43 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 76 | 48 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 83 | 53 | 0.2 | Workable |
| May | 92 | 62 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Jun | 101 | 71 | 0.2 | Hot |
| Jul | 100 | 76 | 2.2 | Hot |
| Aug | 99 | 75 | 2.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 95 | 70 | 1.3 | Hot |
| Oct | 86 | 59 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 75 | 48 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: metal roof pricing in Tucson
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Tucson. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small (1,200 sq ft of roof) to large (2,800 sq ft of roof).
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) | $5,200 – $10,100 | $8,850 – $13,800 | $12,600 – $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 | $28,800 – $40,200 |
Why two Tucson quotes can differ
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.
Get 3 local quotes
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Detailed metal roof report for Tucson, AZ, $9
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Metal roof in Tucson: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Tucson?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $8,550 to $28,800 in the Tucson area. A standard-spec job lands at $14,600 to $22,700. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of roof and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of roof for metal roof in Tucson?
About $4.20 to $14 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $150 to $480 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Tucson or Phoenix?
Phoenix is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $19,300, which is 3% more than Tucson ($18,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Tucson?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $9,700 out of $18,700. Materials are 46% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Tucson?
$8,550 to $28,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Tucson?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $150 to $480 for fees in the Tucson area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Tucson expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Arizona?
Tucson is 3% below the Arizona statewide estimate ($19,200 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Arizona; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Tucson?
The BLS median is $21.17 an hour in the Tucson area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.07 to $21.57.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Tucson?
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.
+When is the best time to install a metal roof in Tucson?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through April. April and November are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Metal roof near Tucson
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.