Metal roof cost in South Carolina
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $8,700 – $29,200
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.30 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 7
South Carolina prices for metal roof: $8,700 to $29,200 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $4.30 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof without the permit. The state midpoint is 11% below the national one. Local wages for roofers are $22.00 an hour.
Inside South Carolina, the metros we cover range from $18,800 (Columbia) to $19,700 (Charleston) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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 South Carolina (statewide), standard level
$14,800 to $23,000
About $7.30 to $11.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 53% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,950 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $8,650 | $11,300 |
| Permits and fees | $240 | $370 |
| Total | $14,800 | $23,000 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in South Carolina
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,650 | $15,400 | 46% |
| Labor | $6,650 | $9,950 | $13,300 | 53% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $470 | 2% |
| Total | $8,700 | $18,900 | $29,200 | 100% |
South Carolina labor market for metal roof
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 3 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.83 for South Carolina.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $22.00 an hour, which is 17% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.26 and $25.37 an hour. BLS counts 850 of them working in the state, 3.7 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 $24.00 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $18.49 and $30.55 an hour. BLS counts 1,710 of them working in the state, 7.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $20.65 an hour, 9% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.64 and $23.62 an hour. About 19,620 work in the state. That is 85.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($25.37 an hour) would add about $1,050 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.26) would take off about $1,200. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,305,080 jobs across South Carolina (May 2025), which is 1.5% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $18.26 | $22.00 | $25.37 | $26.65 | 0.83 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $18.49 | $24.00 | $30.55 | $29.71 | 0.81 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $17.64 | $20.65 | $23.62 | $22.66 | 0.91 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Which South Carolina city is cheapest for metal roof?
2 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $18,900, and the top-to-bottom gap is 5%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SC | $9,200 – $30,200 | $19,700 | +4% |
| Hilton Head, SC | $8,850 – $29,500 | $19,200 | +1% |
| Greenville, SC | $8,700 – $29,200 | $18,900 | level |
| Florence, SC | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | level |
| Spartanburg, SC | $8,650 – $29,100 | $18,900 | level |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $8,650 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −1% |
| Columbia, SC | $8,600 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −1% |
When South Carolina weather lets you install
Season matters for metal roof. For each South Carolina metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Charleston has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in South Carolina at 12 months; Columbia has the shortest at 9 (September through May). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Columbia to 54 inches in Myrtle Beach.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | 35 | 91 | 47 | 11: August through June |
| Columbia | 37 | 93 | 44 | 9: September through May |
| Charleston | 44 | 88 | 44 | 12: all year |
| Spartanburg | 32 | 90 | 50 | 11: August through June |
| Myrtle Beach | 34 | 87 | 54 | 12: all year |
| Florence | 36 | 92 | 45 | 10: September through June |
| Hilton Head | 40 | 92 | 45 | 10: September through June |
If you are planning more than one job in South Carolina
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide South Carolina wages and prices. Against national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (−4%) and roof replacement lowest (−11%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,300 – $11,200 | −11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,850 | −8% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $960 – $3,850 | −4% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,650 – $22,900 | −9% |
South Carolina against its neighbors
South Carolina ranks 47 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. South Carolina sits at $18,900. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 120 miles away | $9,100 – $30,000 | $19,500 | +3% |
| Georgia | 180 miles away | $9,000 – $30,100 | $19,500 | +3% |
| Virginia | 300 miles away | $9,150 – $30,500 | $19,800 | +5% |
| West Virginia | 340 miles away | $9,850 – $31,400 | $20,600 | +9% |
| Tennessee | 350 miles away | $9,000 – $29,700 | $19,300 | +2% |
Metal roof: what moves the price in South Carolina
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).
Quality levels and sizes in South Carolina
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide South Carolina wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$8,700 to $16,900
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$14,800 to $23,000
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,000 to $29,200
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,300 – $10,200 | $9,000 – $14,000 | $12,700 – $17,700 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $8,700 – $16,900 | $14,800 – $23,000 | $21,000 – $29,200 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,100 – $23,500 | $20,700 – $32,100 | $29,200 – $40,700 |
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 $14,800 to $23,000 for South Carolina is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for South Carolina 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 South Carolina: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in South Carolina?
$8,700 to $29,200 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside South Carolina can sit above or below that.
+Which city in South Carolina is cheapest for metal roof?
Columbia at about $18,800 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Charleston at $19,700.
+Is metal roof cheaper in South Carolina than the US average?
It is 11% cheaper: $18,900 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in South Carolina?
About 53% ($9,950). Materials are 46%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.83x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in South Carolina?
The BLS statewide median is $22.00 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.26 to $25.37.
+Where does South Carolina rank for metal roof costs?
47th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $18,900 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in South Carolina?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $8,700 to $16,900 and premium work $21,000 to $29,200. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in South Carolina?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the South Carolina metros we cover, Charleston has the most comfortable months (12 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 South Carolina
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.