Metal roof cost in Lafayette, LA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $8,850 – $29,100
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.35 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #236
- 1 = most expensive
Lafayette homeowners pay roughly $8,850 to $29,100 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, Lafayette is 11% lower. Roofers earn a median of $23.03 an hour in the Lafayette area, 14% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Lafayette, LA, standard level
$14,900 to $23,000
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 | $8,900 | $11,600 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $340 |
| Total | $14,900 | $23,000 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Lafayette, LA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,850 | $8,450 | $15,000 | 44% |
| Labor | $6,850 | $10,300 | $13,700 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $280 | $440 | 1% |
| Total | $8,850 | $19,000 | $29,100 | 100% |
Where the Lafayette price comes from
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, Lafayette wages are 0.86 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Lafayette metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $8,450, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.2) and land at $130 to $440.
What nearby projects cost in Lafayette
Because every project leans on different trades, Lafayette's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs −8% and vinyl siding −13%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,350 – $11,100 | −11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,800 | −10% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $910 – $3,700 | −8% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,300 – $21,900 | −13% |
Lafayette: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Lafayette 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 $17,000
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$14,900 to $23,000
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,000 to $29,100
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,350 – $10,300 | $9,050 – $14,000 | $12,700 – $17,600 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $8,850 – $17,000 | $14,900 – $23,000 | $21,000 – $29,100 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,300 – $23,600 | $20,800 – $32,100 | $29,300 – $40,600 |
Lafayette against nearby metros and the rest of Louisiana
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Lake Charles is the priciest of the group at $19,400. Beaumont is the cheapest at $18,900.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LAthis page | $8,850 – $29,100 | $19,000 | |
| Lake Charles, LA65 miles | $9,150 – $29,700 | $19,400 | +2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA70 miles | $9,000 – $29,400 | $19,200 | +1% |
| Houma, LA90 miles | $8,950 – $29,300 | $19,200 | +1% |
| Alexandria, LA95 miles | $8,850 – $29,100 | $19,000 | level |
| Beaumont, TX125 miles | $8,800 – $29,100 | $18,900 | level |
| Louisiana (statewide) | $8,900 – $29,200 | $19,000 | level |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +12% |
Across 300 US metros, Lafayette comes in at #236 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, Lafayette is 0% below the Louisiana figure.
Other Louisiana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $8,850 – $29,100 | $19,000 | level |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $9,000 – $29,400 | $19,200 | +1% |
| Shreveport, LA | 162,750 jobs | $9,050 – $29,500 | $19,300 | +1% |
| Lake Charles, LA | 101,690 jobs | $9,150 – $29,700 | $19,400 | +2% |
| Slidell, LA | 98,240 jobs | $8,900 – $29,200 | $19,100 | level |
| Monroe, LA | 87,500 jobs | $8,800 – $29,000 | $18,900 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Lafayette's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lafayette against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $9,700 – $30,900 | $20,300 | +7% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | 178,590 jobs | $9,050 – $29,700 | $19,400 | +2% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $9,250 – $30,300 | $19,800 | +4% |
| Anchorage, AK | 177,050 jobs | $12,400 – $38,000 | $25,200 | +33% |
When to schedule metal roof in Lafayette
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Lafayette Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Lafayette (9 of 12 months). June, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Lafayette gets about 63 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (7.1 inches in June). Inside the workable window, February and March are the driest, at 4.1 and 3.7 inches. The station averages about 91 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 | 62 | 44 | 5.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 66 | 47 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Mar | 73 | 53 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 79 | 59 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 86 | 67 | 5.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 90 | 73 | 7.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 92 | 75 | 6.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 92 | 75 | 6.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 89 | 70 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 81 | 60 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 72 | 50 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 64 | 45 | 5.0 | Workable |
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 Lafayette is 0.86 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $23.03 an hour, which is 14% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.30 and $27.38 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 4.5 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 $25.04 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $17.20 and $30.67 an hour. BLS counts 100 of them working in the area, 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 $18.57 an hour, 18% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.31 and $22.95 an hour. About 1,780 work in the metro. That is 99.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.38 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,350. At the 25th percentile ($18.30) it shrinks by about $1,500. The total moves by 7.2% or 7.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 179,570 jobs in the Lafayette area. That makes it the 129th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $18.30 | $23.03 | $27.38 | $26.65 | 0.86 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $17.20 | $25.04 | $30.67 | $29.71 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $16.31 | $18.57 | $22.95 | $22.66 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Lafayette bid
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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Detailed metal roof report for Lafayette, LA, $9
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Metal roof in Lafayette: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Lafayette?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $8,850 to $29,100 in the Lafayette area. A standard-spec job lands at $14,900 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 Lafayette?
About $4.35 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $130 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Lafayette or Lake Charles?
Lake Charles is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $19,400, which is 2% more than Lafayette ($19,000). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lafayette?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $10,300 out of $19,000. Materials are 44% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Lafayette?
$8,850 to $29,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Lafayette?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $130 to $440 for fees in the Lafayette area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lafayette expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Louisiana?
Lafayette is 0% below the Louisiana statewide estimate ($19,000 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Louisiana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Lafayette?
The BLS median is $23.03 an hour in the Lafayette area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.30 to $27.38.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Lafayette?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $8,850 to $17,000 and premium work $21,000 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 Lafayette?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through May. February and March 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 Lafayette
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.