Metal roof cost in Boulder, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $10,000 – $31,700
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.90 – $15.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #120
- 1 = most expensive
A metal roof in Boulder, CO usually costs $10,000 to $31,700 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. That works out to about $4.90 to $15.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Boulder, CO, standard level
$16,500 to $25,200
About $8.15 to $12.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,950 | $11,300 |
| Labor | $10,300 | $13,500 |
| Permits and fees | $270 | $420 |
| Total | $16,500 | $25,200 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Boulder, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,650 | $15,400 | 41% |
| Labor | $7,950 | $11,900 | $15,900 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $340 | $530 | 2% |
| Total | $10,000 | $20,900 | $31,700 | 100% |
Where the Boulder price comes from
Labor is 57% 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 Boulder the blended ratio comes out at 0.99.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Boulder is at 96.1 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 105.2: $160 to $530.
Boulder: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Boulder. 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
$10,000 to $18,700
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$16,500 to $25,200
Standing seam steel
Premium
$23,100 to $31,700
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,050 – $11,300 | $10,000 – $15,300 | $14,000 – $19,300 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $10,000 – $18,700 | $16,500 – $25,200 | $23,100 – $31,700 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $13,900 – $26,100 | $23,000 – $35,100 | $32,100 – $44,200 |
How Boulder compares
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Denver is the priciest of the group at $21,500. Cheyenne is the cheapest at $18,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, COthis page | $10,000 – $31,700 | $20,900 | |
| Fort Collins, CO40 miles | $9,150 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −6% |
| Denver, CO55 miles | $10,200 – $32,800 | $21,500 | +3% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $9,200 – $30,100 | $19,700 | −6% |
| Cheyenne, WY90 miles | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −10% |
| Colorado Springs, CO95 miles | $9,100 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −6% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $9,650 – $31,400 | $20,500 | −2% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Boulder ranks #120 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Boulder is 2% above the Colorado figure.
Elsewhere in Colorado
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $10,200 – $32,800 | $21,500 | +3% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $9,100 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −6% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $9,150 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −6% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $9,200 – $30,100 | $19,700 | −6% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $9,150 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −6% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $8,800 – $29,300 | $19,000 | −9% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boulder against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $8,050 – $27,600 | $17,800 | −15% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $9,000 – $29,800 | $19,400 | −7% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $11,500 – $35,800 | $23,600 | +13% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −9% |
Boulder weather and the metal roof calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Boulder (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Boulder: 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.
Boulder gets about 21 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 93 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and September (3.2 inches in May). The station averages about 33 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 | 47 | 22 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 48 | 22 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 29 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 35 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 51 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 57 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 56 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 48 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 37 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 28 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 21 | 0.8 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Boulder
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 Boulder the blend is 0.99.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $26.99 an hour, in line with the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.08 and $29.26 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 7.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 20% of the weighting: a median of $26.75 an hour, 10% below the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $21.54 and $32.26 an hour. About 60 work in the metro. That is 3.1 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 $23.07 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.64 and $28.23 an hour. BLS counts 540 of them working in the area, 28.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $720 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,250. That is a swing of roughly 5.9% to 3.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Boulder has 192,390 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 119th 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% | $23.08 | $26.99 | $29.26 | $26.65 | 1.01 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $21.54 | $26.75 | $32.26 | $29.71 | 0.90 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $19.64 | $23.07 | $28.23 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Boulder
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Boulder wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, roof replacement comes out highest (level) and gutters lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,100 – $12,400 | level |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,050 | −3% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $3,950 | −1% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,200 – $24,500 | −3% |
Why two Boulder quotes can differ
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.
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Detailed metal roof report for Boulder, CO, $9
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Metal roof in Boulder: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Boulder?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $10,000 to $31,700 in the Boulder area. A standard-spec job lands at $16,500 to $25,200. 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 Boulder?
About $4.90 to $15.50 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 Boulder or Fort Collins?
Fort Collins is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $19,600, which is 6% less than Boulder ($20,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boulder?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $11,900 out of $20,900. Materials are 41% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Boulder?
$10,000 to $31,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Boulder?
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 Boulder area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boulder expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Colorado?
Boulder is 2% above the Colorado statewide estimate ($20,500 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Boulder?
The BLS median is $26.99 an hour in the Boulder area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.08 to $29.26.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Boulder?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $10,000 to $18,700 and premium work $23,100 to $31,700. 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 Boulder?
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 Boulder
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.