Metal roof cost in Philadelphia, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $11,100 – $33,900
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.45 – $16.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #71
- 1 = most expensive
Philadelphia homeowners pay roughly $11,100 to $33,900 to install a metal roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $5.45 to $16.50 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Philadelphia is 6% higher. Roofers earn a median of $28.72 an hour in the Philadelphia area, 8% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Philadelphia, PA, standard level
$17,900 to $27,100
About $8.85 to $13.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $11,700 | $15,200 |
| Permits and fees | $260 | $410 |
| Total | $17,900 | $27,100 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Philadelphia, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,700 | $15,500 | 39% |
| Labor | $8,950 | $13,500 | $17,900 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $330 | $510 | 1% |
| Total | $11,100 | $22,500 | $33,900 | 100% |
Why Philadelphia prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.72 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Philadelphia is 1.12 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Philadelphia metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $8,700, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (102.6) and land at $150 to $510.
Is Philadelphia cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Trenton is the priciest of the group at $27,200. Reading is the cheapest at $20,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PAthis page | $11,100 – $33,900 | $22,500 | |
| Vineland, NJ40 miles | $13,700 – $39,600 | $26,600 | +18% |
| Trenton, NJ40 miles | $14,100 – $40,300 | $27,200 | +21% |
| Reading, PA50 miles | $9,800 – $31,800 | $20,800 | −7% |
| Lancaster, PA50 miles | $9,850 – $32,000 | $20,900 | −7% |
| Atlantic City, NJ50 miles | $13,600 – $39,300 | $26,400 | +17% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −5% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −5% |
Across 300 US metros, Philadelphia comes in at #71 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, Philadelphia is 5% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $9,800 – $31,900 | $20,800 | −7% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $10,600 – $33,400 | $22,000 | −2% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $9,800 – $31,900 | $20,800 | −7% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $9,700 – $31,600 | $20,600 | −8% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $9,850 – $32,000 | $20,900 | −7% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $9,950 – $32,200 | $21,100 | −6% |
Cities with a workforce like Philadelphia's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Philadelphia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $10,500 – $33,900 | $22,200 | −1% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $9,300 – $30,900 | $20,100 | −11% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $8,800 – $29,900 | $19,300 | −14% |
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $9,200 – $31,100 | $20,100 | −11% |
When to schedule metal roof in Philadelphia
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Philadelphia Ne Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through December is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Philadelphia (11 of 12 months). January has an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January 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.
Philadelphia gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (4.5 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.6 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 29 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 | 42 | 27 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 28 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 53 | 35 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 65 | 44 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 54 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 64 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 69 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 68 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 60 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 68 | 48 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 57 | 38 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 31 | 4.0 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Philadelphia?
Because every project leans on different trades, Philadelphia's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs +5% and attic insulation level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,450 – $13,000 | +5% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,350 | +5% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,000 | level |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,650 – $25,900 | +3% |
Metal roof: what moves the price in Philadelphia
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).
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 Philadelphia is 1.12 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $28.72 an hour, which is 8% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.83 and $34.93 an hour. BLS counts 1,530 of them working in the area, 5.3 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 $37.09 an hour, which is 25% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $27.31 and $47.94 an hour. BLS counts 1,530 of them working in the area, 5.3 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 $26.50 an hour, 17% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.43 and $34.37 an hour. About 14,580 work in the metro. That is 50.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($34.93 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,950. At the 25th percentile ($23.83) it shrinks by about $1,550. The total moves by 8.7% or 6.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,897,830 jobs in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area. That makes it the 7th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.86% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $23.83 | $28.72 | $34.93 | $26.65 | 1.08 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $27.31 | $37.09 | $47.94 | $29.71 | 1.25 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $22.43 | $26.50 | $34.37 | $22.66 | 1.17 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.12 | |||||
Philadelphia: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Philadelphia 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
$11,100 to $20,200
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$17,900 to $27,100
Standing seam steel
Premium
$24,800 to $33,900
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,700 – $12,200 | $10,900 – $16,400 | $15,000 – $20,600 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $11,100 – $20,200 | $17,900 – $27,100 | $24,800 – $33,900 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $15,400 – $28,200 | $25,000 – $37,700 | $34,600 – $47,300 |
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Metal roof in Philadelphia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Philadelphia?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $11,100 to $33,900 in the Philadelphia area. A standard-spec job lands at $17,900 to $27,100. 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 Philadelphia?
About $5.45 to $16.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $150 to $510 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Philadelphia or Vineland?
Vineland is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $26,600, which is 18% more than Philadelphia ($22,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Philadelphia?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $13,500 out of $22,500. Materials are 39% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Philadelphia?
$11,100 to $33,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Philadelphia?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $150 to $510 for fees in the Philadelphia area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Philadelphia expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia is 5% above the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($21,300 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Philadelphia?
The BLS median is $28.72 an hour in the Philadelphia area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.83 to $34.93.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Philadelphia?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $11,100 to $20,200 and premium work $24,800 to $33,900. 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 Philadelphia?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through December. 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 Philadelphia
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.