Metal roof cost in Rhode Island
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $11,000 – $33,800
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.40 – $16.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 1
Across Rhode Island, a metal roof costs about $11,000 to $33,800 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Statewide, that midpoint is 5% above the US figure of $21,300. Roofers earn a median $29.63 an hour in Rhode Island (US: $26.65).
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Rhode Island (statewide), standard level
$17,800 to $27,000
About $8.80 to $13.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,000 | $11,500 |
| Labor | $11,500 | $15,100 |
| Permits and fees | $260 | $400 |
| Total | $17,800 | $27,000 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Rhode Island
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,750 | $15,500 | 39% |
| Labor | $8,900 | $13,300 | $17,800 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $330 | $510 | 1% |
| Total | $11,000 | $22,400 | $33,800 | 100% |
Metal roof cost by metro in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | $11,000 – $33,900 | $22,400 | level |
What roofers and the other trades earn in Rhode Island
Rhode Island'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 1.11 times the national level.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $29.63 an hour, 11% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.72 and $36.81 an hour. About 360 work in the state. That is 7.2 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 $31.30 an hour, 5% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $25.04 and $39.42 an hour. About 370 work in the state. That is 7.4 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 $27.52 an hour, which is 21% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.51 and $37.25 an hour. BLS counts 2,110 of them working in the state, 42.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($36.81 an hour) would add about $2,250 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.72) would take off about $1,850. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 501,340 jobs across Rhode Island (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% | $23.72 | $29.63 | $36.81 | $26.65 | 1.11 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $25.04 | $31.30 | $39.42 | $29.71 | 1.05 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $22.51 | $27.52 | $37.25 | $22.66 | 1.21 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
If you are planning more than one job in Rhode Island
Each project weights the trades differently, so Rhode Island's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, roof replacement is +7% and attic insulation level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,600 – $13,300 | +7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,300 | +3% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,000 | level |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,600 – $25,800 | +2% |
Rhode Island seasons and metal roof
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Rhode Island 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.
Providence has 9 comfortable months (March through November), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 22 | 84 | 48 | 9: March through November |
Rhode Island versus the states around it
Rhode Island ranks 13 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. Rhode Island sits at $22,400. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 50 miles away | $12,700 – $37,400 | $25,100 | +12% |
| Connecticut | 80 miles away | $11,400 – $34,700 | $23,000 | +3% |
| New Hampshire | 90 miles away | $10,600 – $33,200 | $21,900 | −2% |
| New York | 160 miles away | $11,800 – $36,800 | $24,300 | +8% |
| Maine | 170 miles away | $9,550 – $31,000 | $20,300 | −10% |
Basic, standard or premium: Rhode Island 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
$11,000 to $20,100
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$17,800 to $27,000
Standing seam steel
Premium
$24,700 to $33,800
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $6,650 – $12,200 | $10,800 – $16,300 | $15,000 – $20,500 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $11,000 – $20,100 | $17,800 – $27,000 | $24,700 – $33,800 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $15,300 – $28,000 | $24,900 – $37,600 | $34,400 – $47,100 |
Why two Rhode Island 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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Metal roof in Rhode Island: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Rhode Island?
$11,000 to $33,800 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Rhode Island can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Rhode Island is cheapest for metal roof?
Providence at about $22,400 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof).
+Is metal roof cheaper in Rhode Island than the US average?
It is 5% more expensive: $22,400 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Rhode Island?
About 59% ($13,300). Materials are 39%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.11x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Rhode Island?
The BLS statewide median is $29.63 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.72 to $36.81.
+Where does Rhode Island rank for metal roof costs?
13th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $22,400 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Rhode Island?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $11,000 to $20,100 and premium work $24,700 to $33,800. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in Rhode Island?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Rhode Island metros we cover, Providence has the most comfortable months (9 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 Rhode Island
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.