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Metal roof cost in Ann Arbor, MI

Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.

Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
$11,100 – $33,600
Per sq ft of roof
$5.45 – $16.50
before permit
Versus US midpoint
+5%
US $21,300
Rank of 300 metros
#79
1 = most expensive

Ann Arbor homeowners pay roughly $11,100 to $33,600 to install a metal roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $5.45 to $16.50 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Ann Arbor is 5% higher. Roofers earn a median of $29.68 an hour in the Ann Arbor area, 11% above the US median of $26.65.

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Quality level

Standing seam steel

Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Ann Arbor, MI, standard level

$17,800 to $26,800

About $8.80 to $13 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.

Cost breakdown
PartLowHigh
Materials$5,800$11,100
Labor$11,800$15,400
Permits and fees$260$400
Total$17,800$26,800
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Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Ann Arbor, MI

Part of the jobLowMidpointHighShare
Materials$1,850$8,450$15,00038%
Labor$9,050$13,600$18,10061%
Permits and fees$150$330$5001%
Total$11,100$22,300$33,600100%

Why Ann Arbor prices look the way they do

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, Ann Arbor wages are 1.13 times the national level. Labor makes up about 61% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).

On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Ann Arbor 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 (100.9) and land at $150 to $500.

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 Ann Arbor is 1.13 times the national level.

For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $29.68 an hour, which is 11% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.75 and $44.17 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 3.6 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 $36.28 an hour, which is 22% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $24.63 and $45.18 an hour. BLS counts 90 of them working in the area, 4.1 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 $24.48 an hour, 8% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.01 and $29.43 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 23.2 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.

Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($44.17 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $4,550. At the 25th percentile ($22.75) it shrinks by about $2,200. The total moves by 20.4% or 9.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.

For context on the local economy, BLS counts 219,730 jobs in the Ann Arbor area. That makes it the 110th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.14% of US employment.

Median hourly wages behind the labor line (BLS OEWS, May 2025)
TradeWeight25th pctMedian75th pctUS medianRatioLevel used
Roofers (47-2181)70%$22.75$29.68$44.17$26.651.11metro
Sheet metal workers (47-2211)20%$24.63$36.28$45.18$29.711.22metro
Construction laborers (47-2061)10%$22.01$24.48$29.43$22.661.08metro
Blended100%1.13

When to schedule metal roof in Ann Arbor

We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ann Arbor Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.

March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Ann Arbor (9 of 12 months). 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.

Ann Arbor gets about 30 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and July (3.6 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 1.9 and 2.1 inches. The station averages about 11 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.

Monthly normals, Ann Arbor Muni Ap (NOAA, 1991-2020)
MonthAvg high °FAvg low °FPrecip (in)For this job
Jan32151.7Cold
Feb35161.5Cold
Mar45251.9Workable
Apr59353.0Workable
May70463.4Workable
Jun79543.6Workable
Jul84573.2Workable
Aug81572.7Workable
Sep74482.8Workable
Oct62382.2Workable
Nov48302.1Workable
Dec36221.7Cold

Metal roof: what moves the price in Ann Arbor

  • 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.

Ann Arbor against nearby metros and the rest of Michigan

Of the five closest metros, 3 are cheaper than Ann Arbor. Lansing is the lowest at about $20,600 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof), 50 miles away.

Comparison with nearby areas
AreaRangeMidpointvs. here
Ann Arbor, MIthis page$11,100 – $33,600$22,300
Detroit, MI45 miles$11,500 – $35,000$23,200+4%
Toledo, OH50 miles$10,900 – $33,100$22,000−2%
Lansing, MI50 miles$9,950 – $31,300$20,600−8%
Flint, MI55 miles$12,300 – $35,900$24,100+8%
Saginaw, MI75 miles$10,300 – $32,000$21,200−5%
Michigan (statewide)$10,600 – $32,900$21,700−3%
United States$10,200 – $32,500$21,300−5%

Across 300 US metros, Ann Arbor comes in at #79 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, Ann Arbor is 3% above the Michigan figure.

Other Michigan metros

Michigan metros compared with Ann Arbor
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Detroit, MI1,904,530 jobs$11,500 – $35,000$23,200+4%
Grand Rapids, MI598,260 jobs$9,200 – $29,900$19,600−12%
Lansing, MI217,180 jobs$9,950 – $31,300$20,600−8%
Flint, MI135,040 jobs$12,300 – $35,900$24,100+8%
Kalamazoo, MI121,790 jobs$11,000 – $33,400$22,200−1%
Saginaw, MI80,000 jobs$10,300 – $32,000$21,200−5%

Cities with a workforce like Ann Arbor's

Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Ann Arbor against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.

Metros closest to this one by total employment
MetroSizeRangeMidpointvs. here
Deltona, FL219,740 jobs$8,800 – $29,300$19,000−15%
Lansing, MI217,180 jobs$9,950 – $31,300$20,600−8%
Springfield, MO223,030 jobs$8,900 – $29,300$19,100−15%
Santa Rosa, CA205,260 jobs$11,700 – $36,200$23,900+7%

Ann Arbor: what basic, standard and premium work costs

Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Ann Arbor 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

$11,100 to $20,100

Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels

Standard

$17,800 to $26,800

Standing seam steel

Premium

$24,600 to $33,600

Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof

Cost by size and quality level
SizeBasicStandardPremium
small (1,200 sq ft of roof)$6,700 – $12,200$10,800 – $16,300$14,900 – $20,400
average (2,000 sq ft of roof)$11,100 – $20,100$17,800 – $26,800$24,600 – $33,600
large (2,800 sq ft of roof)$15,500 – $28,000$24,900 – $37,400$34,300 – $46,800

Related projects, priced for Ann Arbor

Because every project leans on different trades, Ann Arbor's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, roof replacement runs +4% and attic insulation −5%.

Related projects with local prices
ProjectSizeRangevs. US
Roof replacement2,000 sq ft of roof$6,500 – $13,000+4%
Gutters160 linear ft$1,350 – $4,250+2%
Attic insulation1,000 sq ft$960 – $3,800−5%
Vinyl siding2,100 sq ft of wall$8,500 – $25,600+1%

Get 3 local quotes

Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $17,800 to $26,800 for Ann Arbor, MI is attached.

A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9

Multi-page report for Ann Arbor, MI: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.

Metal roof in Ann Arbor: your questions

+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Ann Arbor?

For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $11,100 to $33,600 in the Ann Arbor area. A standard-spec job lands at $17,800 to $26,800. 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 Ann Arbor?

About $5.45 to $16.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $150 to $500 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.

+Is metal roof cheaper in Ann Arbor or Detroit?

Detroit is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $23,200, which is 4% more than Ann Arbor ($22,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.

+How much of the bill is labor in Ann Arbor?

About 61% at the midpoint, or $13,600 out of $22,300. Materials are 38% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.

+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Ann Arbor?

$11,100 to $33,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.

+Does metal roof need a permit in Ann Arbor?

Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $150 to $500 for fees in the Ann Arbor area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).

+Is Ann Arbor expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Michigan?

Ann Arbor is 3% above the Michigan statewide estimate ($21,700 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.

+What do roofers earn in Ann Arbor?

The BLS median is $29.68 an hour in the Ann Arbor area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.75 to $44.17.

+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Ann Arbor?

For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $11,100 to $20,100 and premium work $24,600 to $33,600. 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 Ann Arbor?

Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and November 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 Ann Arbor

Metal roof: all pricesMetal roof in MichiganAll projects in Ann ArborMichigan cost hub

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.

Note on derived figures: Materials = installed range minus HomeGuide's $4-$8/sq ft labor range for metal roofs.