Metal roof cost in Denver, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $10,200 – $32,800
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.05 – $16
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #106
- 1 = most expensive
Denver homeowners pay roughly $10,200 to $32,800 to install a metal roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $5.05 to $16 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Denver is almost level. Roofers earn a median of $26.84 an hour in the Denver area, 1% 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 Denver, CO, standard level
$17,000 to $26,000
About $8.35 to $13 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,250 | $11,900 |
| Labor | $10,500 | $13,700 |
| Permits and fees | $270 | $420 |
| Total | $17,000 | $26,000 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Denver, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,000 | $9,100 | $16,200 | 42% |
| Labor | $8,050 | $12,100 | $16,100 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $340 | $530 | 2% |
| Total | $10,200 | $21,500 | $32,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Denver number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: roofers at 70%, sheet metal workers at 20%, construction laborers at 10%. Weighted together, Denver wages are 1.01 times the national level. Labor makes up about 56% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Denver metro is 101.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $9,100, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (105.8) and land at $160 to $530.
Cost by quality level and size in Denver
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Denver 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
$10,200 to $19,300
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$17,000 to $26,000
Standing seam steel
Premium
$23,800 to $32,800
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,200 – $11,700 | $10,300 – $15,800 | $14,400 – $19,900 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $10,200 – $19,300 | $17,000 – $26,000 | $23,800 – $32,800 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $14,300 – $26,900 | $23,700 – $36,300 | $33,100 – $45,700 |
Metal roof: what moves the price in Denver
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.
Planning more than one job in Denver?
Because every project leans on different trades, Denver's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs +3% and gutters +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,150 – $12,700 | +1% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,250 | +1% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,100 | +2% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,650 – $26,000 | +3% |
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 Denver is 1.01 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $26.84 an hour, which is in line with the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.52 and $29.79 an hour. BLS counts 1,900 of them working in the area, 11.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $29.63 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $22.68 and $39.47 an hour. BLS counts 880 of them working in the area, 5.5 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 $23.44 an hour, 3% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.48 and $27.44 an hour. About 9,650 work in the metro. That is 60.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.79 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $930. At the 25th percentile ($23.52) it shrinks by about $1,050. The total moves by 4.3% or 4.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,609,350 jobs in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial area. That makes it the 17th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.03% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $23.52 | $26.84 | $29.79 | $26.65 | 1.01 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $22.68 | $29.63 | $39.47 | $29.71 | 1.00 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $21.48 | $23.44 | $27.44 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Is Denver cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Denver. Pueblo is the lowest at about $19,000 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof), 90 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, COthis page | $10,200 – $32,800 | $21,500 | |
| Colorado Springs, CO45 miles | $9,100 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −9% |
| Boulder, CO55 miles | $10,000 – $31,700 | $20,900 | −3% |
| Greeley, CO80 miles | $9,200 – $30,100 | $19,700 | −9% |
| Fort Collins, CO90 miles | $9,150 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −9% |
| Pueblo, CO90 miles | $8,800 – $29,300 | $19,000 | −12% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $9,650 – $31,400 | $20,500 | −5% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −1% |
Across 300 US metros, Denver comes in at #106 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, Denver is 5% above the Colorado figure.
Other Colorado metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $9,100 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −9% |
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $10,000 – $31,700 | $20,900 | −3% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $9,150 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −9% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $9,200 – $30,100 | $19,700 | −9% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $9,150 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −9% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $8,800 – $29,300 | $19,000 | −12% |
Cities with a workforce like Denver's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Denver against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $11,200 – $34,900 | $23,100 | +7% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $11,700 – $36,500 | $24,100 | +12% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $11,500 – $35,000 | $23,200 | +8% |
| Tampa, FL | 1,447,120 jobs | $8,850 – $29,400 | $19,100 | −11% |
When to schedule metal roof in Denver
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Denver-Stapleton (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
August through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Denver (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Denver gets about 15 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, July and August (2.3 inches in May). Inside the workable window, January and December are the driest, at 0.5 and 0.5 inches. The station averages about 42 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 | 47 | 18 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Feb | 48 | 19 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 56 | 27 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 34 | 1.7 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 43 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 53 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 59 | 2.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 57 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 80 | 48 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 67 | 36 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 26 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 18 | 0.5 | Workable |
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 $17,000 to $26,000 for Denver, CO is attached.
Detailed metal roof report for Denver, CO, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for Denver, CO 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 Denver: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Denver?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $10,200 to $32,800 in the Denver area. A standard-spec job lands at $17,000 to $26,000. 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 Denver?
About $5.05 to $16 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 Denver or Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $19,600, which is 9% less than Denver ($21,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Denver?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $12,100 out of $21,500. Materials are 42% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Denver?
$10,200 to $32,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Denver?
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 Denver area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Denver expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Colorado?
Denver is 5% 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 Denver?
The BLS median is $26.84 an hour in the Denver area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.52 to $29.79.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Denver?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $10,200 to $19,300 and premium work $23,800 to $32,800. 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 Denver?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. January and December 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 Denver
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.