Metal roof cost in North Carolina
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,100 – $30,000
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.50 – $15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 11
What does it cost to install a metal roof in North Carolina? Plan on $9,100 to $30,000 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Wages (0.88x the US blend), materials (price index 96.6) and permit costs (94.3) put the state below the national midpoint by 8%.
Inside North Carolina, the metros we cover range from $19,000 (Hickory) to $19,800 (Raleigh) 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 North Carolina (statewide), standard level
$15,400 to $23,700
About $7.55 to $11.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $9,150 | $11,900 |
| Permits and fees | $240 | $370 |
| Total | $15,400 | $23,700 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in North Carolina
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,700 | $15,500 | 45% |
| Labor | $7,000 | $10,500 | $14,000 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $310 | $470 | 2% |
| Total | $9,100 | $19,500 | $30,000 | 100% |
If you are planning more than one job in North Carolina
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide North Carolina wages and prices. Against national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (−6%) and vinyl siding lowest (−9%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,550 – $11,600 | −8% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $3,950 | −7% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $930 – $3,750 | −6% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,650 – $22,900 | −9% |
North Carolina seasons and metal roof
Season matters for metal roof. For each North Carolina metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Greensboro has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in North Carolina at 12 months; Burlington has the shortest at 11 (August through June). Rainfall runs from 41 inches a year in Asheville to 60 inches in Wilmington.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 32 | 90 | 44 | 11: August through June |
| Raleigh | 32 | 91 | 46 | 11: August through June |
| Greensboro | 30 | 89 | 46 | 12: all year |
| Durham | 32 | 91 | 46 | 11: August through June |
| Winston | 31 | 88 | 43 | 12: all year |
| Wilmington | 36 | 90 | 60 | 11: August through June |
| Asheville | 29 | 86 | 41 | 12: all year |
| Hickory | 30 | 87 | 47 | 12: all year |
| Fayetteville | 34 | 91 | 45 | 11: August through June |
| Greenville | 33 | 90 | 53 | 11: August through June |
| Burlington | 30 | 91 | 43 | 11: August through June |
North Carolina against its neighbors
North Carolina ranks 35 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. North Carolina sits at $19,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | 120 miles away | $8,700 – $29,200 | $18,900 | −3% |
| Virginia | 180 miles away | $9,150 – $30,500 | $19,800 | +2% |
| West Virginia | 240 miles away | $9,850 – $31,400 | $20,600 | +6% |
| District of Columbia | 260 miles away | $11,000 – $35,000 | $23,000 | +18% |
| Georgia | 270 miles away | $9,000 – $30,100 | $19,500 | level |
Metal roof: what moves the price in North Carolina
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).
Quality levels and sizes in North Carolina
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide North Carolina wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$9,100 to $17,400
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$15,400 to $23,700
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,600 to $30,000
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,500 – $10,600 | $9,300 – $14,400 | $13,100 – $18,200 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,100 – $17,400 | $15,400 – $23,700 | $21,600 – $30,000 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,700 – $24,300 | $21,400 – $33,000 | $30,100 – $41,800 |
What roofers and the other trades earn in North Carolina
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 0.88 for North Carolina.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $23.56 an hour, which is 12% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $21.61 and $27.18 an hour. BLS counts 3,060 of them working in the state, 6.2 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 $24.39 an hour, which is 18% below the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $21.87 and $29.56 an hour. BLS counts 2,780 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 $21.50 an hour, 5% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.97 and $23.59 an hour. About 35,620 work in the state. That is 72.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($27.18 an hour) would add about $1,150 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.61) would take off about $610. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 4,941,820 jobs across North Carolina (May 2025), which is 3.2% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $21.61 | $23.56 | $27.18 | $26.65 | 0.88 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $21.87 | $24.39 | $29.56 | $29.71 | 0.82 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $17.97 | $21.50 | $23.59 | $22.66 | 0.95 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Metal roof cost by metro in North Carolina
2 of the 11 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $19,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 4%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | $9,300 – $30,400 | $19,800 | +1% |
| Asheville, NC | $9,250 – $30,300 | $19,800 | +1% |
| Greensboro, NC | $9,150 – $30,100 | $19,600 | level |
| Charlotte, NC | $9,050 – $29,900 | $19,500 | level |
| Durham, NC | $9,000 – $29,800 | $19,400 | −1% |
| Wilmington, NC | $9,000 – $29,800 | $19,400 | −1% |
| Winston, NC | $9,000 – $29,700 | $19,400 | −1% |
| Burlington, NC | $8,950 – $29,700 | $19,300 | −1% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $8,950 – $29,700 | $19,300 | −1% |
| Greenville, NC | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | −1% |
| Hickory, NC | $8,750 – $29,300 | $19,000 | −3% |
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Detailed metal roof report for North Carolina, $9
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Metal roof in North Carolina: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in North Carolina?
$9,100 to $30,000 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside North Carolina can sit above or below that.
+Which city in North Carolina is cheapest for metal roof?
Hickory at about $19,000 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Raleigh at $19,800.
+Is metal roof cheaper in North Carolina than the US average?
It is 8% cheaper: $19,500 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in North Carolina?
About 54% ($10,500). Materials are 45%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.88x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in North Carolina?
The BLS statewide median is $23.56 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.61 to $27.18.
+Where does North Carolina rank for metal roof costs?
35th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $19,500 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in North Carolina?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,100 to $17,400 and premium work $21,600 to $30,000. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in North Carolina?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the North Carolina metros we cover, Greensboro has the most comfortable months (12 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 North Carolina
- Raleigh, NC$19,800 midpoint
- Asheville, NC$19,800 midpoint
- Greensboro, NC$19,600 midpoint
- Charlotte, NC$19,500 midpoint
- Durham, NC$19,400 midpoint
- Wilmington, NC$19,400 midpoint
- Winston, NC$19,400 midpoint
- Burlington, NC$19,300 midpoint
- Fayetteville, NC$19,300 midpoint
- Greenville, NC$19,300 midpoint
- Hickory, NC$19,000 midpoint
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.