Metal roof cost in Raleigh, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,300 – $30,400
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.55 – $15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #158
- 1 = most expensive
A metal roof in Raleigh, NC usually costs $9,300 to $30,400 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. That works out to about $4.55 to $15 per sq ft of roof before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,500 less. Roofers earn a median of $24.39 an hour in the Raleigh area, 8% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Raleigh, NC, standard level
$15,600 to $24,000
About $7.70 to $12 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $9,350 | $12,300 |
| Permits and fees | $250 | $390 |
| Total | $15,600 | $24,000 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Raleigh, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,700 | $15,500 | 44% |
| Labor | $7,200 | $10,800 | $14,400 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $320 | $490 | 2% |
| Total | $9,300 | $19,800 | $30,400 | 100% |
Why Raleigh 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, Raleigh wages are 0.90 times the national level. Labor makes up about 55% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Raleigh is at 96.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $9,000 nationally becomes $8,700 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.2: $150 to $490.
Related projects, priced for Raleigh
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Raleigh wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (−4%) and vinyl siding lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,700 – $11,800 | −6% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $3,950 | −6% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $950 – $3,850 | −4% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,750 – $23,200 | −8% |
Cost by quality level and size in Raleigh
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Raleigh. 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
$9,300 to $17,700
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$15,600 to $24,000
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,900 to $30,400
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,650 – $10,700 | $9,450 – $14,600 | $13,300 – $18,400 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,300 – $17,700 | $15,600 – $24,000 | $21,900 – $30,400 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,900 – $24,700 | $21,800 – $33,500 | $30,600 – $42,300 |
How Raleigh compares
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Raleigh is the priciest of the group. Greenville is the cheapest at $19,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NCthis page | $9,300 – $30,400 | $19,800 | |
| Durham, NC40 miles | $9,000 – $29,800 | $19,400 | −2% |
| Burlington, NC55 miles | $8,950 – $29,700 | $19,300 | −3% |
| Fayetteville, NC60 miles | $8,950 – $29,700 | $19,300 | −3% |
| Greenville, NC60 miles | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | −3% |
| Greensboro, NC75 miles | $9,150 – $30,100 | $19,600 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $9,100 – $30,000 | $19,500 | −1% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Raleigh ranks #158 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Raleigh is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $9,050 – $29,900 | $19,500 | −2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $9,150 – $30,100 | $19,600 | −1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $9,000 – $29,800 | $19,400 | −2% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $9,000 – $29,700 | $19,400 | −2% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $9,000 – $29,800 | $19,400 | −2% |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $9,250 – $30,300 | $19,800 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Raleigh against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $9,050 – $30,000 | $19,500 | −2% |
| Providence, RI | 714,120 jobs | $11,000 – $33,900 | $22,400 | +13% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 765,930 jobs | $8,900 – $29,500 | $19,200 | −3% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $9,400 – $30,600 | $20,000 | +1% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Raleigh bid
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).
Panel type
Corrugated sheet metal is $5-$12 per sq ft installed; standing seam is $9-$16 (HomeGuide).
What local crews earn in Raleigh
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 Raleigh the blend is 0.90.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $24.39 an hour, 8% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.09 and $27.94 an hour. About 580 work in the metro. That is 7.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 20% of the weighting: a median of $24.31 an hour, 18% below the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $22.56 and $29.02 an hour. About 470 work in the metro. That is 6.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 10%) the local median is $21.95 an hour, which is 3% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.31 and $23.77 an hour. BLS counts 6,360 of them working in the area, 85.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,100 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $410. That is a swing of roughly 2.1% to 5.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Raleigh-Cary has 743,120 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 41st 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% | $23.09 | $24.39 | $27.94 | $26.65 | 0.92 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $22.56 | $24.31 | $29.02 | $29.71 | 0.82 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $18.31 | $21.95 | $23.77 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Raleigh 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, Raleigh Durham Intl Ap (10 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 Raleigh are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Raleigh gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 52 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 | 52 | 32 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 34 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 63 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 5.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 69 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 63 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 50 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 55 | 34 | 3.4 | Workable |
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Metal roof in Raleigh: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Raleigh?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $9,300 to $30,400 in the Raleigh area. A standard-spec job lands at $15,600 to $24,000. 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 Raleigh?
About $4.55 to $15 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $150 to $490 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Raleigh or Durham?
Durham is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $19,400, which is 2% less than Raleigh ($19,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Raleigh?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $10,800 out of $19,800. Materials are 44% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Raleigh?
$9,300 to $30,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Raleigh?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $150 to $490 for fees in the Raleigh area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Raleigh expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Raleigh is 1% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($19,500 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Raleigh?
The BLS median is $24.39 an hour in the Raleigh area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.09 to $27.94.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Raleigh?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,300 to $17,700 and premium work $21,900 to $30,400. 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 Raleigh?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February 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 Raleigh
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.