Metal roof cost in Louisiana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $8,900 – $29,200
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.40 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 9
What does it cost to install a metal roof in Louisiana? Plan on $8,900 to $29,200 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Wages (0.86x the US blend), materials (price index 93.7) and permit costs (88.2) put the state below the national midpoint by 11%.
Inside Louisiana, the metros we cover range from $18,900 (Monroe) to $19,400 (Lake Charles) 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 Louisiana (statewide), standard level
$15,000 to $23,100
About $7.35 to $11.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,800 | $11,100 |
| Labor | $8,950 | $11,700 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $350 |
| Total | $15,000 | $23,100 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Louisiana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $8,450 | $15,000 | 44% |
| Labor | $6,900 | $10,300 | $13,800 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $440 | 2% |
| Total | $8,900 | $19,000 | $29,200 | 100% |
Louisiana versus the states around it
Louisiana ranks 45 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. Louisiana sits at $19,000. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | 130 miles away | $8,500 – $28,800 | $18,600 | −2% |
| Alabama | 310 miles away | $8,550 – $28,800 | $18,700 | −2% |
| Texas | 360 miles away | $8,850 – $29,700 | $19,300 | +1% |
| Arkansas | 360 miles away | $8,600 – $28,700 | $18,600 | −2% |
| Tennessee | 460 miles away | $9,000 – $29,700 | $19,300 | +2% |
Metal roof: what moves the price in Louisiana
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).
Weather windows across Louisiana
Season matters for metal roof. For each Louisiana metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
New Orleans has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Louisiana at 10 months (September through June); Shreveport has the shortest at 8 (October through May). Rainfall runs from 51 inches a year in Shreveport to 66 inches in Slidell.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans | 47 | 91 | 60 | 10: September through June |
| Baton Rouge | 42 | 92 | 62 | 9: September through May |
| Lafayette | 44 | 92 | 63 | 9: September through May |
| Shreveport | 37 | 94 | 51 | 8: October through May |
| Lake Charles | 43 | 92 | 60 | 9: September through May |
| Slidell | 42 | 90 | 66 | 10: September through June |
| Monroe | 37 | 93 | 55 | 9: September through May |
| Houma | 44 | 91 | 65 | 9: September through May |
| Alexandria | 39 | 92 | 61 | 10: September through June |
Metal roof cost by metro in Louisiana
4 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $19,000, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Charles, LA | $9,150 – $29,700 | $19,400 | +2% |
| Shreveport, LA | $9,050 – $29,500 | $19,300 | +1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $9,000 – $29,400 | $19,200 | +1% |
| Houma, LA | $8,950 – $29,300 | $19,200 | +1% |
| Slidell, LA | $8,900 – $29,200 | $19,100 | level |
| Alexandria, LA | $8,850 – $29,100 | $19,000 | level |
| Lafayette, LA | $8,850 – $29,100 | $19,000 | level |
| New Orleans, LA | $8,850 – $29,100 | $19,000 | level |
| Monroe, LA | $8,800 – $29,000 | $18,900 | −1% |
Wages behind the Louisiana number
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 0.86 for Louisiana.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $23.44 an hour, which is 12% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.74 and $27.02 an hour. BLS counts 760 of them working in the state, 3.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $24.19 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $17.86 and $29.45 an hour. BLS counts 1,080 of them working in the state, 5.6 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 $18.38 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.59 and $22.74 an hour. About 22,100 work in the state. That is 114.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($27.02 an hour) would add about $1,150 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.74) would take off about $1,500. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,934,900 jobs across Louisiana (May 2025), which is 1.2% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $18.74 | $23.44 | $27.02 | $26.65 | 0.88 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $17.86 | $24.19 | $29.45 | $29.71 | 0.81 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $16.59 | $18.38 | $22.74 | $22.66 | 0.81 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Quality levels and sizes in Louisiana
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Louisiana wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$8,900 to $17,000
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$15,000 to $23,100
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,100 to $29,200
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,400 – $10,300 | $9,050 – $14,000 | $12,800 – $17,700 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $8,900 – $17,000 | $15,000 – $23,100 | $21,100 – $29,200 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,400 – $23,700 | $20,900 – $32,200 | $29,400 – $40,700 |
If you are planning more than one job in Louisiana
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Louisiana wages and prices. Against national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (−6%) and vinyl siding lowest (−12%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,400 – $11,200 | −11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,750 | −10% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $940 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,400 – $22,100 | −12% |
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Metal roof in Louisiana: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Louisiana?
$8,900 to $29,200 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Louisiana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Louisiana is cheapest for metal roof?
Monroe at about $18,900 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Lake Charles at $19,400.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Louisiana than the US average?
It is 11% cheaper: $19,000 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Louisiana?
About 54% ($10,300). Materials are 44%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.86x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Louisiana?
The BLS statewide median is $23.44 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.74 to $27.02.
+Where does Louisiana rank for metal roof costs?
45th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $19,000 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Louisiana?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $8,900 to $17,000 and premium work $21,100 to $29,200. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in Louisiana?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Louisiana metros we cover, New Orleans has the most comfortable months (10 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 Louisiana
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.