Metal roof cost in Riverside, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $11,200 – $34,900
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.55 – $17
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #56
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a metal roof in the Riverside area: $11,200 to $34,900 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 8% higher than the US figure. Roofers earn a median of $29.83 an hour in the Riverside area, 12% above the US median of $26.65.
Estimate your metal roof cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Riverside, CA, standard level
$18,300 to $27,800
About $9.05 to $13.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,300 | $12,000 |
| Labor | $11,800 | $15,400 |
| Permits and fees | $270 | $420 |
| Total | $18,300 | $27,800 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Riverside, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,050 | $9,150 | $16,200 | 40% |
| Labor | $9,050 | $13,600 | $18,100 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $350 | $530 | 1% |
| Total | $11,200 | $23,100 | $34,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Riverside number
Labor is 59% 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 Riverside the blended ratio comes out at 1.13.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Riverside is at 101.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $9,000 nationally becomes $9,150 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 106.4: $160 to $530.
Riverside: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Riverside. 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
$11,200 to $20,700
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$18,300 to $27,800
Standing seam steel
Premium
$25,400 to $34,900
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,800 – $12,500 | $11,100 – $16,800 | $15,400 – $21,100 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $11,200 – $20,700 | $18,300 – $27,800 | $25,400 – $34,900 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $15,700 – $28,900 | $25,600 – $38,700 | $35,400 – $48,600 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Riverside bid
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).
Metal and gauge
Galvalume and galvanized steel are budget-friendly; copper and zinc are the top of the range.
The best months for metal roof in Riverside
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Riverside Fire Stn 3 (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Riverside are October through June: 9 of 12. Outside them, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Riverside gets about 10 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and March (2.5 inches in February). Inside the workable window, May and June are the driest, at 0.2 and 0.1 inches. The station averages about 110 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 | 70 | 43 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Feb | 70 | 44 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 46 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 78 | 50 | 0.6 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 55 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 59 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 95 | 64 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 97 | 65 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Sep | 93 | 62 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 84 | 55 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 76 | 47 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 69 | 42 | 1.4 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Riverside?
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Riverside wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+10%) and attic insulation lowest (+1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,750 – $13,600 | +9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,400 – $4,500 | +7% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,050 | +1% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,250 – $27,800 | +10% |
Who does the work: Riverside 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 Riverside the blend is 1.13.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $29.83 an hour, 12% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $27.65 and $34.60 an hour. About 2,480 work in the metro. That is 14.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 20% of the weighting: a median of $33.07 an hour, 11% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $24.69 and $46.53 an hour. About 750 work in the metro. That is 4.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.61 an hour, which is 26% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.57 and $37.37 an hour. BLS counts 12,120 of them working in the area, 70.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,500 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $690. That is a swing of roughly 3.0% to 6.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario has 1,716,760 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 16th 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% | $27.65 | $29.83 | $34.60 | $26.65 | 1.12 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $24.69 | $33.07 | $46.53 | $29.71 | 1.11 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $22.57 | $28.61 | $37.37 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
Is Riverside cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $19,600 to $24,100 across Riverside and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CAthis page | $11,200 – $34,900 | $23,100 | |
| San Diego, CA110 miles | $11,700 – $36,500 | $24,100 | +4% |
| El Centro, CA115 miles | $11,600 – $35,900 | $23,800 | +3% |
| Los Angeles, CA120 miles | $11,600 – $36,200 | $23,900 | +4% |
| Las Vegas, NV130 miles | $9,150 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −15% |
| Bakersfield, CA155 miles | $11,300 – $35,300 | $23,300 | +1% |
| California (statewide) | $11,700 – $36,400 | $24,100 | +4% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Riverside ranks #56 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Riverside is 4% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $11,600 – $36,200 | $23,900 | +4% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $13,700 – $40,700 | $27,200 | +18% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $11,700 – $36,500 | $24,100 | +4% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $14,000 – $40,800 | $27,400 | +19% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $11,600 – $36,100 | $23,900 | +3% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $11,400 – $35,600 | $23,500 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Riverside against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $11,500 – $35,000 | $23,200 | +1% |
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $10,200 – $32,800 | $21,500 | −7% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $12,800 – $38,100 | $25,500 | +10% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $11,700 – $36,500 | $24,100 | +4% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $18,300 to $27,800 for Riverside, CA is attached.
Detailed metal roof report for Riverside, CA, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for Riverside, CA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Metal roof in Riverside: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Riverside?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $11,200 to $34,900 in the Riverside area. A standard-spec job lands at $18,300 to $27,800. 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 Riverside?
About $5.55 to $17 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $160 to $530 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Riverside or San Diego?
San Diego is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $24,100, which is 4% more than Riverside ($23,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Riverside?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $13,600 out of $23,100. Materials are 40% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Riverside?
$11,200 to $34,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Riverside?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $160 to $530 for fees in the Riverside area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Riverside expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of California?
Riverside is 4% 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 Riverside?
The BLS median is $29.83 an hour in the Riverside area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.65 to $34.60.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Riverside?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $11,200 to $20,700 and premium work $25,400 to $34,900. 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 Riverside?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through June. May and June 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 Riverside
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.