Metal roof cost in Bismarck, ND
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,650 – $31,000
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.75 – $15.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #142
- 1 = most expensive
Bismarck homeowners pay roughly $9,650 to $31,000 to install a metal roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $4.75 to $15.50 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Bismarck is 5% lower. Roofers earn a median of $24.20 an hour in the Bismarck area, 9% below the US median of $26.65.
Estimate your metal roof cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Bismarck, ND, standard level
$16,100 to $24,600
About $7.90 to $12 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,950 | $11,300 |
| Labor | $9,900 | $13,000 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $360 |
| Total | $16,100 | $24,600 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Bismarck, ND
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,600 | $15,300 | 42% |
| Labor | $7,600 | $11,400 | $15,200 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $460 | 1% |
| Total | $9,650 | $20,300 | $31,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Bismarck number
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, Bismarck wages are 0.95 times the national level. Labor makes up about 56% of the midpoint estimate (56% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bismarck metro is 95.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $8,600, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.0) and land at $140 to $460.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Bismarck. The wage table below marks each row.
Cost by quality level and size in Bismarck
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bismarck 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
$9,650 to $18,200
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$16,100 to $24,600
Standing seam steel
Premium
$22,500 to $31,000
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,850 – $11,000 | $9,750 – $14,900 | $13,600 – $18,800 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,650 – $18,200 | $16,100 – $24,600 | $22,500 – $31,000 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $13,500 – $25,400 | $22,400 – $34,300 | $31,300 – $43,200 |
What nearby projects cost in Bismarck
Because every project leans on different trades, Bismarck's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs −2% and roof replacement −6%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,700 – $11,800 | −6% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | −2% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $960 – $3,850 | −4% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,050 – $24,200 | −4% |
Why two Bismarck 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.
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 Bismarck is 0.95 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $24.20 an hour, which is 9% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.37 and $33.96 an hour. BLS counts 50 of them working in the area, 7.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bismarck metro, so we used the North Dakota statewide median: $31.34 an hour against $29.71 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.51 and $38.91 an hour.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.93 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.87 and $29.41 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 87.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($33.96 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $3,100. At the 25th percentile ($23.37) it shrinks by about $260. The total moves by 15.1% or 1.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 71,270 jobs in the Bismarck area. That makes it the 258th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $23.37 | $24.20 | $33.96 | $26.65 | 0.91 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $23.51 | $31.34 | $38.91 | $29.71 | 1.05 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $21.87 | $23.93 | $29.41 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.95 | |||||
When to schedule metal roof in Bismarck
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Bismarck (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Bismarck (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November 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.
Bismarck gets about 19 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 51 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (3.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 1.3 and 1.4 inches. The station averages about 21 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.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23 | 2 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 28 | 7 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 19 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 30 | 1.3 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 42 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 53 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 58 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 56 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 46 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 57 | 33 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 41 | 19 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 28 | 8 | 0.6 | Cold |
Bismarck against nearby metros and the rest of North Dakota
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 2,000 sq ft of roof range from $18,800 to $25,200 across Bismarck and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, NDthis page | $9,650 – $31,000 | $20,300 | |
| Fargo, ND190 miles | $11,200 – $34,000 | $22,600 | +11% |
| Rapid City, SD210 miles | $8,650 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −7% |
| Sioux Falls, SD305 miles | $9,050 – $29,700 | $19,400 | −5% |
| St. Cloud, MN325 miles | $12,900 – $37,500 | $25,200 | +24% |
| Sioux City, IA380 miles | $9,350 – $30,100 | $19,700 | −3% |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $10,600 – $32,900 | $21,700 | +7% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Bismarck comes in at #142 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, Bismarck is 6% below the North Dakota figure.
Other North Dakota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 148,660 jobs | $11,200 – $34,000 | $22,600 | +11% |
Cities with a workforce like Bismarck's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bismarck against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $11,400 – $35,700 | $23,500 | +16% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $10,600 – $33,500 | $22,100 | +8% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $11,300 – $34,300 | $22,800 | +12% |
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $11,200 – $33,800 | $22,500 | +11% |
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 $16,100 to $24,600 for Bismarck, ND is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for Bismarck, ND 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 Bismarck: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Bismarck?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $9,650 to $31,000 in the Bismarck area. A standard-spec job lands at $16,100 to $24,600. 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 Bismarck?
About $4.75 to $15.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $140 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Bismarck or Fargo?
Fargo is 190 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $22,600, which is 11% more than Bismarck ($20,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bismarck?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $11,400 out of $20,300. Materials are 42% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Bismarck?
$9,650 to $31,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Bismarck?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $140 to $460 for fees in the Bismarck area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bismarck expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Bismarck is 6% below the North Dakota statewide estimate ($21,700 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in North Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Bismarck?
The BLS median is $24.20 an hour in the Bismarck area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.37 to $33.96.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Bismarck?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,650 to $18,200 and premium work $22,500 to $31,000. 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 Bismarck?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April and October 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 Bismarck
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.