Metal roof cost in Boston, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $12,100 – $36,300
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.95 – $18
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #23
- 1 = most expensive
A metal roof in Boston, MA usually costs $12,100 to $36,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. That works out to about $5.95 to $18 per sq ft of roof before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $2,850 more. Roofers earn a median of $31.90 an hour in the Boston area, 20% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Boston, MA, standard level
$19,300 to $29,000
About $9.55 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,200 | $11,800 |
| Labor | $12,900 | $16,900 |
| Permits and fees | $280 | $430 |
| Total | $19,300 | $29,000 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Boston, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,000 | $8,950 | $15,900 | 37% |
| Labor | $9,900 | $14,900 | $19,800 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $350 | $540 | 1% |
| Total | $12,100 | $24,200 | $36,300 | 100% |
Where the Boston 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 $31.90 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Boston is 1.24 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 61% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Boston is at 99.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $9,000 nationally becomes $8,950 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 108.3: $160 to $540.
Planning more than one job in Boston?
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Boston wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+14%) and attic insulation lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $7,050 – $14,100 | +14% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,450 – $4,650 | +11% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,100 | +2% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,550 – $28,700 | +14% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: metal roof pricing in Boston
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Boston. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small (1,200 sq ft of roof) to large (2,800 sq ft of roof).
Basic
$12,100 to $21,800
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$19,300 to $29,000
Standing seam steel
Premium
$26,600 to $36,300
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $7,300 – $13,200 | $11,700 – $17,600 | $16,100 – $22,000 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $12,100 – $21,800 | $19,300 – $29,000 | $26,600 – $36,300 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $16,800 – $30,400 | $27,000 – $40,500 | $37,100 – $50,600 |
Boston weather and the metal roof calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Boston Logan Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Boston are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Boston gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, October and December (4.3 inches in December). Inside the workable window, May and August are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 14 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37 | 23 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 25 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 31 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 56 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 50 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 60 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 66 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 65 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 58 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 48 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 52 | 38 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 42 | 29 | 4.3 | Cold |
Boston against nearby metros and the rest of Massachusetts
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 $20,600 to $29,600 across Boston and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MAthis page | $12,100 – $36,300 | $24,200 | |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $10,300 – $32,500 | $21,400 | −11% |
| Worcester, MA50 miles | $15,800 – $43,400 | $29,600 | +22% |
| Providence, RI60 miles | $11,000 – $33,900 | $22,400 | −7% |
| Barnstable, MA70 miles | $12,600 – $37,000 | $24,800 | +2% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $9,800 – $31,500 | $20,600 | −15% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $12,700 – $37,400 | $25,100 | +4% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −12% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Boston ranks #23 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Boston is 3% below the Massachusetts figure.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $15,800 – $43,400 | $29,600 | +22% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $12,800 – $37,500 | $25,200 | +4% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $12,600 – $37,000 | $24,800 | +2% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $12,400 – $36,600 | $24,500 | +1% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $10,200 – $32,300 | $21,200 | −12% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $9,200 – $31,100 | $20,100 | −17% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $9,000 – $29,600 | $19,300 | −20% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $9,300 – $30,900 | $20,100 | −17% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $13,700 – $40,700 | $27,200 | +13% |
What local crews earn in Boston
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Boston the blend is 1.24.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $31.90 an hour, 20% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.87 and $37.61 an hour. About 1,120 work in the metro. That is 4.1 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 $39.69 an hour, 34% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $25.37 and $45.12 an hour. About 2,330 work in the metro. That is 8.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 10%) the local median is $30.49 an hour, which is 35% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $26.22 and $45.11 an hour. BLS counts 11,580 of them working in the area, 42.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,800 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $960. That is a swing of roughly 3.9% to 7.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Boston-Cambridge-Newton has 2,703,890 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 10th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $28.87 | $31.90 | $37.61 | $26.65 | 1.20 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $25.37 | $39.69 | $45.12 | $29.71 | 1.34 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $26.22 | $30.49 | $45.11 | $22.66 | 1.35 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.24 | |||||
Metal roof: what moves the price in Boston
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).
Metal and gauge
Galvalume and galvanized steel are budget-friendly; copper and zinc are the top of the range.
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Detailed metal roof report for Boston, MA, $9
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Metal roof in Boston: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Boston?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $12,100 to $36,300 in the Boston area. A standard-spec job lands at $19,300 to $29,000. 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 Boston?
About $5.95 to $18 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $160 to $540 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Boston or Manchester?
Manchester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $21,400, which is 11% less than Boston ($24,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boston?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $14,900 out of $24,200. Materials are 37% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Boston?
$12,100 to $36,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Boston?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $160 to $540 for fees in the Boston area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boston expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Boston is 3% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($25,100 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Boston?
The BLS median is $31.90 an hour in the Boston area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.87 to $37.61.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Boston?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $12,100 to $21,800 and premium work $26,600 to $36,300. 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 Boston?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. May and August 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 Boston
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.