Metal roof cost in Illinois
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $13,400 – $39,400
- Per sq ft of roof
- $6.60 – $19.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +24%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 6
Across Illinois, a metal roof costs about $13,400 to $39,400 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Statewide, that midpoint is 24% above the US figure of $21,300. Roofers earn a median $37.45 an hour in Illinois (US: $26.65).
Inside Illinois, the metros we cover range from $23,000 (Champaign) to $27,700 (Chicago) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Illinois (statewide), standard level
$21,200 to $31,600
About $10.50 to $15.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,450 | $12,300 |
| Labor | $14,500 | $18,900 |
| Permits and fees | $250 | $390 |
| Total | $21,200 | $31,600 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Illinois
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,100 | $9,350 | $16,600 | 35% |
| Labor | $11,100 | $16,700 | $22,300 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $320 | $500 | 1% |
| Total | $13,400 | $26,400 | $39,400 | 100% |
How Illinois compares with nearby states
Illinois ranks 2 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. Illinois sits at $26,400. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 120 miles away | $11,000 – $33,500 | $22,200 | −16% |
| Indiana | 140 miles away | $10,400 – $32,500 | $21,400 | −19% |
| Michigan | 220 miles away | $10,600 – $32,900 | $21,700 | −18% |
| Iowa | 240 miles away | $9,450 – $30,400 | $19,900 | −25% |
| Kentucky | 280 miles away | $9,150 – $30,000 | $19,600 | −26% |
If you are planning more than one job in Illinois
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Illinois wages and prices. Against national midpoints, roof replacement comes out highest (+25%) and attic insulation lowest (+7%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $7,850 – $15,400 | +25% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,550 – $4,850 | +16% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,100 – $4,250 | +7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,850 – $29,600 | +17% |
Weather windows across Illinois
Season matters for metal roof. For each Illinois metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Every Illinois metro on the list has 9 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 34 inches a year in Chicago to 40 in Springfield.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 19 | 85 | 34 | 9: March through November |
| Peoria | 18 | 86 | 38 | 9: March through November |
| Rockford | 15 | 84 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Champaign | 18 | 85 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Springfield | 19 | 86 | 40 | 9: March through November |
| Bloomington | 16 | 86 | 39 | 9: March through November |
Metal roof: what moves the price in Illinois
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).
Illinois metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $26,400, and the top-to-bottom gap is 21%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $14,100 – $41,300 | $27,700 | +5% |
| Springfield, IL | $13,300 – $37,900 | $25,600 | −3% |
| Bloomington, IL | $13,200 – $37,700 | $25,400 | −4% |
| Peoria, IL | $13,100 – $37,600 | $25,300 | −4% |
| Rockford, IL | $11,600 – $34,700 | $23,100 | −12% |
| Champaign, IL | $11,500 – $34,400 | $23,000 | −13% |
Quality levels and sizes in Illinois
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Illinois wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$13,400 to $23,800
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$21,200 to $31,600
Standing seam steel
Premium
$29,000 to $39,400
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $8,100 – $14,400 | $12,800 – $19,100 | $17,500 – $23,800 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $13,400 – $23,800 | $21,200 – $31,600 | $29,000 – $39,400 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $18,700 – $33,200 | $29,500 – $44,100 | $40,400 – $55,000 |
Illinois 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 1.39 for Illinois.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $37.45 an hour, which is 41% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $27.81 and $49.54 an hour. BLS counts 5,300 of them working in the state, 8.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is about average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $41.65 an hour, which is 40% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $28.56 and $50.64 an hour. BLS counts 3,260 of them working in the state, 5.3 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 $29.18 an hour, 29% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $45.79 an hour. About 35,940 work in the state. That is 58.9 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 ($49.54 an hour) would add about $3,800 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($27.81) would take off about $3,050. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,098,130 jobs across Illinois (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $27.81 | $37.45 | $49.54 | $26.65 | 1.41 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $28.56 | $41.65 | $50.64 | $29.71 | 1.40 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $22.14 | $29.18 | $45.79 | $22.66 | 1.29 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.39 | |||||
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Metal roof in Illinois: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Illinois?
$13,400 to $39,400 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Illinois can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Illinois is cheapest for metal roof?
Champaign at about $23,000 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Chicago at $27,700.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Illinois than the US average?
It is 24% more expensive: $26,400 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Illinois?
About 63% ($16,700). Materials are 35%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.39x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Illinois?
The BLS statewide median is $37.45 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.81 to $49.54.
+Where does Illinois rank for metal roof costs?
2nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $26,400 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Illinois?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $13,400 to $23,800 and premium work $29,000 to $39,400. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in Illinois?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Illinois metros we cover, Chicago has the most comfortable months (9 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 Illinois
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.