Metal roof cost in Washington, DC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $10,500 – $33,900
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.20 – $16.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +4%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #84
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a metal roof in the Washington area: $10,500 to $33,900 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 4% higher than the US figure. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 104.8).
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Washington, DC, standard level
$17,500 to $26,900
About $8.65 to $13 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,500 | $12,400 |
| Labor | $10,800 | $14,100 |
| Permits and fees | $280 | $430 |
| Total | $17,500 | $26,900 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Washington, DC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,100 | $9,450 | $16,800 | 42% |
| Labor | $8,300 | $12,400 | $16,600 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $350 | $540 | 2% |
| Total | $10,500 | $22,200 | $33,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Washington number
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.05 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Washington is 1.04 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 56% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Washington is at 104.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $9,000 nationally becomes $9,450 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 108.9: $160 to $540.
Who does the work: Washington 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 Washington the blend is 1.04.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $28.05 an hour, 5% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.82 and $35.51 an hour. About 1,940 work in the metro. That is 6.2 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 $29.46 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $24.28 and $35.57 an hour. About 1,840 work in the metro. That is 5.9 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 $22.80 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.07 and $27.05 an hour. BLS counts 17,710 of them working in the area, 56.5 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 $2,350 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,350. That is a swing of roughly 6.0% to 10.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has 3,136,190 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 6th 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% | $23.82 | $28.05 | $35.51 | $26.65 | 1.05 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $24.28 | $29.46 | $35.57 | $29.71 | 0.99 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $20.07 | $22.80 | $27.05 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Washington against nearby metros and the rest of the District of Columbia
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 $18,800 to $22,700 across Washington and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DCthis page | $10,500 – $33,900 | $22,200 | |
| Hagerstown, MD55 miles | $10,500 – $32,700 | $21,600 | −3% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $10,200 – $32,900 | $21,600 | −3% |
| Winchester, VA60 miles | $8,550 – $28,900 | $18,800 | −16% |
| Lexington Park, MD65 miles | $10,600 – $33,500 | $22,100 | −1% |
| Chambersburg, PA75 miles | $11,100 – $34,400 | $22,700 | +2% |
| District of Columbia (statewide) | $11,000 – $35,000 | $23,000 | +3% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −4% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Washington ranks #84 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Washington is 3% below the District of Columbia figure.
Washington is the only District of Columbia metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Washington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $8,800 – $29,900 | $19,300 | −13% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $11,100 – $33,900 | $22,500 | +1% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $9,150 – $30,900 | $20,000 | −10% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $9,300 – $30,900 | $20,100 | −10% |
Cost by quality level and size in Washington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Washington. 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
$10,500 to $19,900
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$17,500 to $26,900
Standing seam steel
Premium
$24,600 to $33,900
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,400 – $12,100 | $10,600 – $16,300 | $14,900 – $20,600 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $10,500 – $19,900 | $17,500 – $26,900 | $24,600 – $33,900 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $14,700 – $27,700 | $24,500 – $37,500 | $34,200 – $47,200 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Washington bid
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).
Planning more than one job in Washington?
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Washington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, roof replacement comes out highest (+5%) 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 | $6,400 – $13,100 | +5% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,350 | +4% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,050 | +1% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,600 – $25,900 | +3% |
The best months for metal roof in Washington
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Washington Reagan Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Washington are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Washington gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 14 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.3 inches in July). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.6 inches. The station averages about 40 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 | 45 | 30 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 48 | 32 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 39 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 68 | 48 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 58 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 68 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 72 | 4.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 71 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 64 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 52 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 42 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 49 | 35 | 3.4 | Workable |
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Detailed metal roof report for Washington, DC, $9
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Metal roof in Washington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Washington?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $10,500 to $33,900 in the Washington area. A standard-spec job lands at $17,500 to $26,900. 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 Washington?
About $5.20 to $16.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $160 to $540 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Washington or Hagerstown?
Hagerstown is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $21,600, which is 3% less than Washington ($22,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Washington?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $12,400 out of $22,200. Materials are 42% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Washington?
$10,500 to $33,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Washington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $160 to $540 for fees in the Washington area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Washington expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of District of Columbia?
Washington is 3% below the District of Columbia statewide estimate ($23,000 at the midpoint).
+What do roofers earn in Washington?
The BLS median is $28.05 an hour in the Washington area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.82 to $35.51.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Washington?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $10,500 to $19,900 and premium work $24,600 to $33,900. 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 Washington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. January and February 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 Washington
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.