Metal roof cost in Montana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $10,500 – $32,600
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.15 – $16
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 3
Montana prices for metal roof: $10,500 to $32,600 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $5.15 to $16 per sq ft of roof without the permit. The state midpoint is 1% above the national one. Local wages for roofers are $28.38 an hour.
Inside Montana, the metros we cover range from $20,500 (Billings) to $22,800 (Bozeman) 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 Montana (statewide), standard level
$17,100 to $26,000
About $8.45 to $13 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,950 | $11,300 |
| Labor | $10,900 | $14,300 |
| Permits and fees | $240 | $370 |
| Total | $17,100 | $26,000 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Montana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,650 | $15,400 | 40% |
| Labor | $8,400 | $12,600 | $16,800 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $310 | $470 | 1% |
| Total | $10,500 | $21,500 | $32,600 | 100% |
Montana metro-by-metro prices
2 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $21,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $11,300 – $34,300 | $22,800 | +6% |
| Missoula, MT | $10,800 – $33,300 | $22,100 | +2% |
| Billings, MT | $9,750 – $31,200 | $20,500 | −5% |
Montana against its neighbors
Montana ranks 19 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. Montana sits at $21,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 270 miles away | $9,900 – $31,600 | $20,700 | −4% |
| Utah | 400 miles away | $9,400 – $30,600 | $20,000 | −7% |
| Wyoming | 460 miles away | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | −11% |
| Washington | 500 miles away | $11,900 – $36,500 | $24,200 | +12% |
| Colorado | 550 miles away | $9,650 – $31,400 | $20,500 | −5% |
When Montana weather lets you install
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Montana 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.
Billings has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Montana at 9 months (March through November); Missoula has the shortest at 8 (March through October). Rainfall runs from 14 inches a year in Missoula to 20 inches in Bozeman.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | 18 | 87 | 14 | 9: March through November |
| Bozeman | 15 | 82 | 20 | 8: March through October |
| Missoula | 18 | 85 | 14 | 8: March through October |
Wages behind the Montana number
Montana'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 1.05 times the national level.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $28.38 an hour, 6% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.17 and $31.09 an hour. About 370 work in the state. That is 7.2 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 $29.53 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $24.78 and $37.96 an hour. About 410 work in the state. That is 8.0 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 $23.96 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $28.24 an hour. BLS counts 4,590 of them working in the state, 89.7 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 ($31.09 an hour) would add about $850 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.17) would take off about $1,650. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 511,580 jobs across Montana (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $23.17 | $28.38 | $31.09 | $26.65 | 1.06 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $24.78 | $29.53 | $37.96 | $29.71 | 0.99 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $20.80 | $23.96 | $28.24 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.05 | |||||
Why two Montana 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).
Other Montana jobs that often go with metal roof
Each project weights the trades differently, so Montana's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, roof replacement is +2% and attic insulation −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,300 – $12,700 | +2% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | −1% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $980 – $3,900 | −3% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,250 – $24,700 | −2% |
Basic, standard or premium: Montana 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
$10,500 to $19,300
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$17,100 to $26,000
Standing seam steel
Premium
$23,800 to $32,600
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,350 – $11,700 | $10,400 – $15,700 | $14,400 – $19,800 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $10,500 – $19,300 | $17,100 – $26,000 | $23,800 – $32,600 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $14,600 – $27,000 | $23,900 – $36,200 | $33,100 – $45,500 |
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Metal roof in Montana: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Montana?
$10,500 to $32,600 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Montana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Montana is cheapest for metal roof?
Billings at about $20,500 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Bozeman at $22,800.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Montana than the US average?
It is 1% more expensive: $21,500 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Montana?
About 58% ($12,600). Materials are 40%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.05x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Montana?
The BLS statewide median is $28.38 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.17 to $31.09.
+Where does Montana rank for metal roof costs?
19th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $21,500 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Montana?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $10,500 to $19,300 and premium work $23,800 to $32,600. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in Montana?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Montana metros we cover, Billings 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 Montana
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.