Metal roof cost in Los Angeles, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $11,600 – $36,200
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.70 – $18
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +12%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #30
- 1 = most expensive
Los Angeles homeowners pay roughly $11,600 to $36,200 to install a metal roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $5.70 to $18 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Los Angeles is 12% higher. Roofers earn a median of $30.56 an hour in the Los Angeles area, 15% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Los Angeles, CA, standard level
$19,000 to $28,800
About $9.35 to $14 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,600 | $12,600 |
| Labor | $12,100 | $15,800 |
| Permits and fees | $290 | $450 |
| Total | $19,000 | $28,800 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Los Angeles, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,150 | $9,600 | $17,100 | 40% |
| Labor | $9,300 | $14,000 | $18,600 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $370 | $570 | 2% |
| Total | $11,600 | $23,900 | $36,200 | 100% |
Why Los Angeles prices look the way they do
Labor is 58% 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 Los Angeles the blended ratio comes out at 1.16.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Los Angeles metro is 106.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $9,600, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (113.6) and land at $170 to $570.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Los Angeles is 1.16 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $30.56 an hour, which is 15% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.76 and $35.74 an hour. BLS counts 5,480 of them working in the area, 8.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is about average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $34.96 an hour, which is 18% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $26.43 and $50.45 an hour. BLS counts 2,440 of them working in the area, 3.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.28 an hour, 25% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.75 and $37.31 an hour. About 21,730 work in the metro. That is 34.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($35.74 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,650. At the 25th percentile ($28.76) it shrinks by about $570. The total moves by 6.8% or 2.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 6,271,560 jobs in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim area. That makes it the 2nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 4.03% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $28.76 | $30.56 | $35.74 | $26.65 | 1.15 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $26.43 | $34.96 | $50.45 | $29.71 | 1.18 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $22.75 | $28.28 | $37.31 | $22.66 | 1.25 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Los Angeles
Because every project leans on different trades, Los Angeles's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs +15% and attic insulation +6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,950 – $14,000 | +13% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,450 – $4,650 | +12% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,250 | +6% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,700 – $29,100 | +15% |
When to schedule metal roof in Los Angeles
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Culver City (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Los Angeles: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Los Angeles gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (3.5 inches in February). The station averages about 7 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67 | 48 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 51 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 53 | 0.6 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 57 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 60 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 78 | 63 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 64 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 62 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 58 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 52 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 47 | 2.5 | Workable |
Is Los Angeles cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. San Diego is the priciest of the group at $24,100. Riverside is the cheapest at $23,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CAthis page | $11,600 – $36,200 | $23,900 | |
| Oxnard, CA55 miles | $11,200 – $35,300 | $23,300 | −3% |
| Bakersfield, CA90 miles | $11,300 – $35,300 | $23,300 | −3% |
| Santa Maria, CA110 miles | $11,200 – $35,300 | $23,300 | −3% |
| San Diego, CA110 miles | $11,700 – $36,500 | $24,100 | +1% |
| Riverside, CA120 miles | $11,200 – $34,900 | $23,100 | −4% |
| California (statewide) | $11,700 – $36,400 | $24,100 | +1% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −11% |
Across 300 US metros, Los Angeles comes in at #30 from the top. The priciest is Worcester, MA at $29,600; the cheapest is Lubbock, TX at $17,000 (midpoints, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Statewide, Los Angeles is 1% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $13,700 – $40,700 | $27,200 | +14% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $11,200 – $34,900 | $23,100 | −4% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $11,700 – $36,500 | $24,100 | +1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $14,000 – $40,800 | $27,400 | +15% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $11,600 – $36,100 | $23,900 | level |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $11,400 – $35,600 | $23,500 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Los Angeles's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Los Angeles against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $13,100 – $39,700 | $26,400 | +10% |
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $14,100 – $41,300 | $27,700 | +16% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $9,150 – $30,900 | $20,000 | −16% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $8,800 – $29,900 | $19,300 | −19% |
Metal roof: what moves the price in Los Angeles
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).
Panel type
Corrugated sheet metal is $5-$12 per sq ft installed; standing seam is $9-$16 (HomeGuide).
Cost by quality level and size in Los Angeles
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Los Angeles wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$11,600 to $21,500
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$19,000 to $28,800
Standing seam steel
Premium
$26,400 to $36,200
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $7,050 – $13,000 | $11,500 – $17,500 | $16,000 – $22,000 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $11,600 – $21,500 | $19,000 – $28,800 | $26,400 – $36,200 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $16,200 – $29,900 | $26,500 – $40,200 | $36,800 – $50,500 |
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Metal roof in Los Angeles: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Los Angeles?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $11,600 to $36,200 in the Los Angeles area. A standard-spec job lands at $19,000 to $28,800. 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 Los Angeles?
About $5.70 to $18 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $170 to $570 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Los Angeles or Oxnard?
Oxnard is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $23,300, which is 3% less than Los Angeles ($23,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Los Angeles?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $14,000 out of $23,900. Materials are 40% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Los Angeles?
$11,600 to $36,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Los Angeles?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $170 to $570 for fees in the Los Angeles area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Los Angeles expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of California?
Los Angeles is 1% below the California statewide estimate ($24,100 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Los Angeles?
The BLS median is $30.56 an hour in the Los Angeles area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.76 to $35.74.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Los Angeles?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $11,600 to $21,500 and premium work $26,400 to $36,200. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Is there a bad season to install a metal roof in Los Angeles?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Metal roof near Los Angeles
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.