Metal roof cost in Athens, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $8,700 – $29,100
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.25 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #246
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a metal roof in the Athens area: $8,700 to $29,100 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 11% lower than the US figure. Roofers earn a median of $22.57 an hour in the Athens area, 15% below 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 Athens, GA, standard level
$14,800 to $23,000
About $7.30 to $11.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,950 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $8,600 | $11,200 |
| Permits and fees | $240 | $370 |
| Total | $14,800 | $23,000 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Athens, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,650 | $15,400 | 46% |
| Labor | $6,600 | $9,900 | $13,200 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $470 | 2% |
| Total | $8,700 | $18,900 | $29,100 | 100% |
Why Athens prices look the way they do
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, Athens wages are 0.83 times the national level. Labor makes up about 53% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Athens is at 96.3 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 93.3: $140 to $470.
Data note: 70% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Athens. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Athens 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.
Related projects, priced for Athens
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Athens wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (−5%) and vinyl siding lowest (−14%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,300 – $11,100 | −11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,800 | −10% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $950 – $3,800 | −5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,200 – $21,700 | −14% |
How Athens compares
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 $18,100 to $20,100 across Athens and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GAthis page | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | |
| Gainesville, GA45 miles | $8,700 – $29,200 | $18,900 | level |
| Greenville, SC70 miles | $8,700 – $29,200 | $18,900 | level |
| Atlanta, GA70 miles | $9,300 – $30,900 | $20,100 | +6% |
| Augusta, GA80 miles | $8,150 – $28,100 | $18,100 | −4% |
| Macon, GA80 miles | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | level |
| Georgia (statewide) | $9,000 – $30,100 | $19,500 | +3% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Athens ranks #246 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Athens is 3% below the Georgia figure.
Elsewhere in Georgia
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $9,300 – $30,900 | $20,100 | +6% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $8,150 – $28,100 | $18,100 | −4% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | +2% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $8,200 – $28,100 | $18,200 | −4% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $8,700 – $29,200 | $18,900 | level |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Athens against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $10,800 – $34,400 | $22,600 | +20% |
| Fort Smith, AR | 95,560 jobs | $8,300 – $28,000 | $18,100 | −4% |
| Binghamton, NY | 97,030 jobs | $10,700 – $33,500 | $22,100 | +17% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | level |
Athens: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Athens. 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
$8,700 to $16,800
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$14,800 to $23,000
Standing seam steel
Premium
$20,900 to $29,100
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,250 – $10,200 | $9,000 – $13,900 | $12,700 – $17,600 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $8,700 – $16,800 | $14,800 – $23,000 | $20,900 – $29,100 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,100 – $23,500 | $20,600 – $32,000 | $29,200 – $40,600 |
The best months for metal roof in Athens
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Athens Ben Epps 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 Athens are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Athens gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, August and December (4.9 inches in June). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 62 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 | 55 | 34 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 59 | 37 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 43 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 50 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 59 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 67 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 70 | 4.2 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 69 | 4.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 63 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 75 | 52 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 42 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 57 | 36 | 4.4 | Workable |
Who does the work: Athens 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 Athens the blend is 0.83.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 70% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Athens metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median: $22.57 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $18.69 and $26.36 an hour.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 20% of the weighting: a median of $23.07 an hour, 22% below the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $19.38 and $28.33 an hour. About 60 work in the metro. That is 6.3 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 $17.85 an hour, which is 21% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.56 and $23.50 an hour. BLS counts 420 of them working in the area, 43.8 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 $1,200 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,200. That is a swing of roughly 6.5% to 6.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Athens-Clarke County has 95,800 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 209th 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% | $18.69 | $22.57 | $26.36 | $26.65 | 0.85 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $19.38 | $23.07 | $28.33 | $29.71 | 0.78 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $16.56 | $17.85 | $23.50 | $22.66 | 0.79 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
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 $14,800 to $23,000 for Athens, GA is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for Athens, GA 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 Athens: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Athens?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $8,700 to $29,100 in the Athens area. A standard-spec job lands at $14,800 to $23,000. 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 Athens?
About $4.25 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $140 to $470 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Athens or Gainesville?
Gainesville is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $18,900, which is 0% more than Athens ($18,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Athens?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $9,900 out of $18,900. Materials are 46% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Athens?
$8,700 to $29,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Athens?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $140 to $470 for fees in the Athens area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Athens expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Georgia?
Athens is 3% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($19,500 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Athens?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $22.57 an hour, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.69 to $26.36.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Athens?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $8,700 to $16,800 and premium work $20,900 to $29,100. 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 Athens?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. May and October 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 Athens
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.