Metal roof cost in North Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $10,600 – $32,900
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.25 – $16
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 2
What does it cost to install a metal roof in North Dakota? Plan on $10,600 to $32,900 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Wages (1.07x the US blend), materials (price index 95.7) and permit costs (89.0) put the state above the national midpoint by 2%.
Inside North Dakota, the metros we cover range from $20,300 (Bismarck) to $22,600 (Fargo) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in North Dakota (statewide), standard level
$17,300 to $26,200
About $8.55 to $13 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,950 | $11,300 |
| Labor | $11,100 | $14,500 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $350 |
| Total | $17,300 | $26,200 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in North Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,600 | $15,300 | 40% |
| Labor | $8,550 | $12,800 | $17,100 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $130 | $290 | $440 | 1% |
| Total | $10,600 | $21,700 | $32,900 | 100% |
Weather windows across North Dakota
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and North Dakota 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.
Every North Dakota metro on the list has 7 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 19 inches a year in Bismarck to 24 in Fargo.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | 0 | 82 | 24 | 7: April through October |
| Bismarck | 2 | 85 | 19 | 7: April through October |
If you are planning more than one job in North Dakota
Each project weights the trades differently, so North Dakota's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, roof replacement is +3% and attic insulation −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,350 – $12,700 | +3% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,300 – $4,150 | −1% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $960 – $3,850 | −4% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,200 – $24,500 | −3% |
Wages behind the North Dakota number
North Dakota'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 1.07 times the national level.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $28.72 an hour, 8% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.08 and $34.68 an hour. About 290 work in the state. That is 6.8 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 $31.34 an hour, 5% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $23.51 and $38.91 an hour. About 290 work in the state. That is 6.8 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 $23.59 an hour, which is 4% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.96 and $29.17 an hour. BLS counts 5,050 of them working in the state, 117.6 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 ($34.68 an hour) would add about $1,900 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.08) would take off about $1,800. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 429,430 jobs across North Dakota (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% | $23.08 | $28.72 | $34.68 | $26.65 | 1.08 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $23.51 | $31.34 | $38.91 | $29.71 | 1.05 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $21.96 | $23.59 | $29.17 | $22.66 | 1.04 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.07 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: North Dakota 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
$10,600 to $19,500
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$17,300 to $26,200
Standing seam steel
Premium
$24,000 to $32,900
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,400 – $11,800 | $10,500 – $15,900 | $14,500 – $19,900 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $10,600 – $19,500 | $17,300 – $26,200 | $24,000 – $32,900 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $14,800 – $27,200 | $24,100 – $36,500 | $33,400 – $45,800 |
Which North Dakota city is cheapest for metal roof?
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $21,700, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | $11,200 – $34,000 | $22,600 | +4% |
| Bismarck, ND | $9,650 – $31,000 | $20,300 | −6% |
North Dakota versus the states around it
North Dakota ranks 18 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 Dakota sits at $21,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | 220 miles away | $8,900 – $29,400 | $19,100 | −12% |
| Minnesota | 270 miles away | $12,600 – $37,400 | $25,000 | +15% |
| Nebraska | 410 miles away | $9,200 – $29,800 | $19,500 | −10% |
| Iowa | 450 miles away | $9,450 – $30,400 | $19,900 | −8% |
| Wyoming | 500 miles away | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | −11% |
Why two North Dakota 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).
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Detailed metal roof report for North Dakota, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for North Dakota line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 North Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in North Dakota?
$10,600 to $32,900 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside North Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in North Dakota is cheapest for metal roof?
Bismarck at about $20,300 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Fargo at $22,600.
+Is metal roof cheaper in North Dakota than the US average?
It is 2% more expensive: $21,700 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in North Dakota?
About 59% ($12,800). Materials are 40%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.07x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in North Dakota?
The BLS statewide median is $28.72 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.08 to $34.68.
+Where does North Dakota rank for metal roof costs?
18th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $21,700 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in North Dakota?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $10,600 to $19,500 and premium work $24,000 to $32,900. 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 Dakota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the North Dakota metros we cover, Fargo has the most comfortable months (7 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 Dakota
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.