Metal roof cost in Dalton, GA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $8,850 – $29,500
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.35 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #223
- 1 = most expensive
Dalton homeowners pay roughly $8,850 to $29,500 to install a metal roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $4.35 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dalton is 10% lower. Roofers earn a median of $22.57 an hour in the Dalton area, 15% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Dalton, GA, standard level
$15,100 to $23,300
About $7.40 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 | $8,850 | $11,600 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $350 |
| Total | $15,100 | $23,300 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Dalton, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,650 | $15,400 | 45% |
| Labor | $6,800 | $10,200 | $13,600 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $450 | 2% |
| Total | $8,850 | $19,200 | $29,500 | 100% |
Where the Dalton price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.57 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Dalton is 0.85 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 53% of the total. BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dalton metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $8,650, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (89.8) and land at $130 to $450.
Data note: 90% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Dalton. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Dalton?
Because every project leans on different trades, Dalton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs −5% and vinyl siding −15%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,300 – $11,100 | −12% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,850 | −8% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $950 – $3,800 | −5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,150 – $21,500 | −15% |
Why two Dalton quotes can differ
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).
Pick a size, pick a tier: metal roof pricing in Dalton
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dalton 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
$8,850 to $17,100
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$15,100 to $23,300
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,200 to $29,500
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,400 – $10,400 | $9,100 – $14,100 | $12,900 – $17,900 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $8,850 – $17,100 | $15,100 – $23,300 | $21,200 – $29,500 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,400 – $23,900 | $21,000 – $32,500 | $29,600 – $41,100 |
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 Dalton is 0.85 times the national level.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 70% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dalton 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) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dalton metro, so we used the Georgia statewide median: $27.31 an hour against $29.71 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $22.23 and $33.96 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $16.98 an hour, 25% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $12.27 and $20.63 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 36.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($26.36 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,200. At the 25th percentile ($18.69) it shrinks by about $1,200. The total moves by 6.2% or 6.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 65,300 jobs in the Dalton area. That makes it the 276th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| 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% | $22.23 | $27.31 | $33.96 | $29.71 | 0.92 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $12.27 | $16.98 | $20.63 | $22.66 | 0.75 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.85 | |||||
When to schedule metal roof in Dalton
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Chattanooga Lovell Ap (20 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Dalton (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Dalton gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.3 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 58 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 | 51 | 32 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 35 | 5.3 | Workable |
Is Dalton cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $18,900 to $20,100 across Dalton and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GAthis page | $8,850 – $29,500 | $19,200 | |
| Chattanooga, TN35 miles | $8,900 – $29,500 | $19,200 | level |
| Gainesville, GA70 miles | $8,700 – $29,200 | $18,900 | −1% |
| Atlanta, GA80 miles | $9,300 – $30,900 | $20,100 | +5% |
| Knoxville, TN95 miles | $9,000 – $29,700 | $19,300 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL105 miles | $8,650 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −2% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $9,000 – $30,100 | $19,500 | +2% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +11% |
Across 300 US metros, Dalton comes in at #223 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, Dalton is 2% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $9,300 – $30,900 | $20,100 | +5% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $8,150 – $28,100 | $18,100 | −5% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | +1% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $8,200 – $28,100 | $18,200 | −5% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $8,700 – $29,200 | $18,900 | −1% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Dalton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dalton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $11,600 – $35,900 | $23,800 | +24% |
| Terre Haute, IN | 65,120 jobs | $9,750 – $31,000 | $20,400 | +6% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $8,800 – $29,400 | $19,100 | level |
| Muskegon, MI | 62,340 jobs | $10,900 – $33,300 | $22,100 | +15% |
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Metal roof in Dalton: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Dalton?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $8,850 to $29,500 in the Dalton area. A standard-spec job lands at $15,100 to $23,300. 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 Dalton?
About $4.35 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $130 to $450 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Dalton or Chattanooga?
Chattanooga is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $19,200, which is 0% more than Dalton ($19,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dalton?
About 53% at the midpoint, or $10,200 out of $19,200. Materials are 45% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Dalton?
$8,850 to $29,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Dalton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $130 to $450 for fees in the Dalton area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dalton expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Georgia?
Dalton is 2% 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 Dalton?
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 Dalton?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $8,850 to $17,100 and premium work $21,200 to $29,500. 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 Dalton?
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 Dalton
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.