Metal roof cost in the District of Columbia
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $11,000 – $35,000
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.40 – $17
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 1
What does it cost to install a metal roof in the District of Columbia? Plan on $11,000 to $35,000 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Wages (1.09x the US blend), materials (price index 106.5) and permit costs (109.9) put the state above the national midpoint by 8%.
District of Columbia has one metro in our dataset, Washington, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in District of Columbia (statewide), standard level
$18,200 to $27,800
About $8.95 to $13.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,600 | $12,600 |
| Labor | $11,300 | $14,800 |
| Permits and fees | $280 | $430 |
| Total | $18,200 | $27,800 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in District of Columbia
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,150 | $9,600 | $17,000 | 42% |
| Labor | $8,700 | $13,000 | $17,400 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $360 | $550 | 2% |
| Total | $11,000 | $23,000 | $35,000 | 100% |
Quality levels and sizes in the District of Columbia
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide District of Columbia wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$11,000 to $20,600
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$18,200 to $27,800
Standing seam steel
Premium
$25,400 to $35,000
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,650 – $12,500 | $11,000 – $16,800 | $15,400 – $21,200 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $11,000 – $20,600 | $18,200 – $27,800 | $25,400 – $35,000 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $15,300 – $28,700 | $25,300 – $38,700 | $35,400 – $48,700 |
Metal roof cost by metro in the District of Columbia
District of Columbia has one metro in our dataset, Washington, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (2,000 sq ft of roof) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $10,500 – $33,900 | $22,200 | −3% |
District of Columbia labor market for metal roof
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.09 for the District of Columbia.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $29.69 an hour, which is 11% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.37 and $48.83 an hour. BLS counts 100 of them working in the state, 1.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for District of Columbia, so we used the national median: $29.71 an hour against $29.71 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.99 and $39.24 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $24.05 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $28.41 an hour. About 2,090 work in the state. That is 29.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($48.83 an hour) would add about $6,050 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.37) would take off about $2,000. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 701,920 jobs across the District of Columbia (May 2025), which is 0.5% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $23.37 | $29.69 | $48.83 | $26.65 | 1.11 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $22.99 | $29.71 | $39.24 | $29.71 | 1.00 | US |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $20.80 | $24.05 | $28.41 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.09 | |||||
District of Columbia seasons and metal roof
Season matters for metal roof. For each District of Columbia metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Washington has 11 comfortable months (August through June), with about 42 inches of precipitation a year.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 30 | 90 | 42 | 11: August through June |
Metal roof: what moves the price in the District of Columbia
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.
Other metals
Tin runs $600-$1,800 per roofing square (100 sq ft) installed and aluminum $700-$1,700 per square (HomeGuide).
How District of Columbia compares with nearby states
District of Columbia ranks 11 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for metal roof, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is New Jersey at $26,800 and the cheapest Mississippi at $18,600, both for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint. District of Columbia sits at $23,000. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 50 miles away | $10,700 – $33,900 | $22,300 | −3% |
| Virginia | 110 miles away | $9,150 – $30,500 | $19,800 | −14% |
| Pennsylvania | 110 miles away | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −7% |
| Delaware | 110 miles away | $10,400 – $32,600 | $21,500 | −6% |
| New Jersey | 160 miles away | $13,500 – $40,100 | $26,800 | +17% |
Related projects, priced for the District of Columbia
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide District of Columbia wages and prices. Against national midpoints, roof replacement comes out highest (+9%) and attic insulation lowest (+5%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,700 – $13,600 | +9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,450 | +6% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,200 | +5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,800 – $26,400 | +5% |
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Metal roof in the District of Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in the District of Columbia?
$11,000 to $35,000 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside the District of Columbia can sit above or below that.
+Which city in the District of Columbia is cheapest for metal roof?
Washington at about $22,200 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof).
+Is metal roof cheaper in the District of Columbia than the US average?
It is 8% more expensive: $23,000 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in the District of Columbia?
About 57% ($13,000). Materials are 42%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.09x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in the District of Columbia?
The BLS statewide median is $29.69 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.37 to $48.83.
+Where does District of Columbia rank for metal roof costs?
11th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $23,000 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in the District of Columbia?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $11,000 to $20,600 and premium work $25,400 to $35,000. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in the District of Columbia?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the District of Columbia metros we cover, Washington has the most comfortable months (11 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Metal roof by city in the District of Columbia
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.