Metal roof cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,450 – $30,400
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.65 – $15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to install a metal roof in Iowa? Plan on $9,450 to $30,400 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Wages (0.93x the US blend), materials (price index 93.7) and permit costs (87.8) put the state below the national midpoint by 7%.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $19,700 (Sioux City) to $20,400 (Cedar Rapids) 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 Iowa (statewide), standard level
$15,700 to $24,100
About $7.75 to $12 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,800 | $11,100 |
| Labor | $9,700 | $12,700 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $350 |
| Total | $15,700 | $24,100 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $8,450 | $15,000 | 42% |
| Labor | $7,450 | $11,200 | $14,900 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $440 | 1% |
| Total | $9,450 | $19,900 | $30,400 | 100% |
Which Iowa city is cheapest for metal roof?
3 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $19,900, and the top-to-bottom gap is 3%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $9,800 – $31,000 | $20,400 | +2% |
| Davenport, IA | $9,700 – $30,900 | $20,300 | +2% |
| Des Moines, IA | $9,550 – $30,600 | $20,100 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA | $9,450 – $30,400 | $19,900 | level |
| Iowa City, IA | $9,450 – $30,400 | $19,900 | level |
| Waterloo, IA | $9,400 – $30,200 | $19,800 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | $9,350 – $30,100 | $19,700 | −1% |
How Iowa compares with nearby states
Iowa ranks 31 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. Iowa sits at $19,900. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $9,200 – $29,800 | $19,500 | −2% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $9,600 – $30,900 | $20,200 | +2% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $11,000 – $33,500 | $22,200 | +12% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $12,600 – $37,400 | $25,000 | +26% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $13,400 – $39,400 | $26,400 | +33% |
Related projects, priced for Iowa
Each project weights the trades differently, so Iowa's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, attic insulation is level and roof replacement −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,550 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,000 | −4% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,000 | level |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,100 – $24,300 | −4% |
Iowa labor market for metal roof
Iowa's labor line is priced from 3 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.93 times the national level.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $23.39 an hour, 12% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.31 and $29.50 an hour. About 930 work in the state. That is 6.0 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 $31.95 an hour, 8% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $23.78 and $36.58 an hour. About 1,650 work in the state. That is 10.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 10%) the local median is $23.31 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.11 an hour. BLS counts 13,780 of them working in the state, 88.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($29.50 an hour) would add about $1,950 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.31) would take off about $340. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $22.31 | $23.39 | $29.50 | $26.65 | 0.88 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $23.78 | $31.95 | $36.58 | $29.71 | 1.08 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $21.90 | $23.31 | $28.11 | $22.66 | 1.03 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.93 | |||||
Weather windows across Iowa
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Iowa is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Des Moines has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Iowa at 9 months (March through November); Dubuque has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 29 inches a year in Sioux City to 38 inches in Dubuque.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 14 | 86 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Davenport | 14 | 84 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Cedar Rapids | 11 | 83 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Iowa City | 15 | 86 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Waterloo | 11 | 85 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Sioux City | 10 | 85 | 29 | 9: March through November |
| Dubuque | 11 | 82 | 38 | 8: April through November |
Basic, standard or premium: Iowa prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from small (1,200 sq ft of roof) to large (2,800 sq ft of roof).
Basic
$9,450 to $17,800
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$15,700 to $24,100
Standing seam steel
Premium
$22,000 to $30,400
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,750 – $10,800 | $9,550 – $14,600 | $13,300 – $18,400 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,450 – $17,800 | $15,700 – $24,100 | $22,000 – $30,400 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $13,200 – $24,800 | $21,900 – $33,600 | $30,700 – $42,300 |
Why two Iowa quotes can differ
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).
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Metal roof in Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Iowa?
$9,450 to $30,400 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for metal roof?
Sioux City at about $19,700 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Cedar Rapids at $20,400.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 7% cheaper: $19,900 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 56% ($11,200). Materials are 42%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.93x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $23.39 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.31 to $29.50.
+Where does Iowa rank for metal roof costs?
31st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $19,900 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Iowa?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,450 to $17,800 and premium work $22,000 to $30,400. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in Iowa?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Iowa metros we cover, Des Moines 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 Iowa
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.