Metal roof cost in Charleston, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,200 – $30,200
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.55 – $15
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #165
- 1 = most expensive
A metal roof in Charleston, SC usually costs $9,200 to $30,200 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. That works out to about $4.55 to $15 per sq ft of roof before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,600 less. Roofers earn a median of $23.09 an hour in the Charleston area, 13% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Charleston, SC, standard level
$15,500 to $23,900
About $7.65 to $12 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,950 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $9,300 | $12,100 |
| Permits and fees | $260 | $400 |
| Total | $15,500 | $23,900 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Charleston, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,950 | $8,650 | $15,400 | 44% |
| Labor | $7,150 | $10,700 | $14,300 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $150 | $330 | $500 | 2% |
| Total | $9,200 | $19,700 | $30,200 | 100% |
What is behind the Charleston number
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 70% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.09 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Charleston is 0.89 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 54% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Charleston is at 96.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $9,000 nationally becomes $8,650 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.0: $150 to $500.
Charleston weather and the metal roof calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Charleston City (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Charleston: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Charleston gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (6.1 inches in August). The station averages about 25 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | 44 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 46 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 52 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 60 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 68 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 74 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 77 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 77 | 6.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 73 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 63 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 53 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 61 | 47 | 2.9 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Charleston
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Charleston the blend is 0.89.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $23.09 an hour, 13% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.81 and $29.46 an hour. About 110 work in the metro. That is 2.8 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 $28.68 an hour, 3% below the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $24.01 and $31.82 an hour. About 270 work in the metro. 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 $20.98 an hour, which is 7% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $24.49 an hour. BLS counts 3,710 of them working in the area, 94.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $2,000 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $1,350. That is a swing of roughly 6.8% to 10.2% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Charleston-North Charleston has 394,170 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 66th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $18.81 | $23.09 | $29.46 | $26.65 | 0.87 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $24.01 | $28.68 | $31.82 | $29.71 | 0.97 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $18.00 | $20.98 | $24.49 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
How Charleston compares
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Charleston. Columbia is the lowest at about $18,800 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SCthis page | $9,200 – $30,200 | $19,700 | |
| Hilton Head, SC65 miles | $8,850 – $29,500 | $19,200 | −3% |
| Florence, SC80 miles | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −4% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC85 miles | $8,650 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −4% |
| Columbia, SC95 miles | $8,600 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −5% |
| Savannah, GA95 miles | $8,950 – $29,600 | $19,300 | −2% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $8,700 – $29,200 | $18,900 | −4% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Charleston ranks #165 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Charleston is 4% above the South Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in South Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $8,700 – $29,200 | $18,900 | −4% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $8,600 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −5% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $8,650 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −4% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $8,650 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −4% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $8,700 – $29,100 | $18,900 | −4% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $8,850 – $29,500 | $19,200 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charleston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $8,600 – $29,000 | $18,800 | −5% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $10,400 – $32,500 | $21,500 | +9% |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $9,550 – $30,600 | $20,100 | +2% |
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $8,550 – $28,800 | $18,700 | −5% |
Why two Charleston quotes can differ
Other metals
Tin runs $600-$1,800 per roofing square (100 sq ft) installed and aluminum $700-$1,700 per square (HomeGuide).
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.
Related projects, priced for Charleston
Jobs that often go together with metal roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Charleston wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gutters comes out highest (−5%) and roof replacement lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,500 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $4,000 | −5% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $900 – $3,700 | −8% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,700 – $23,100 | −8% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: metal roof pricing in Charleston
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Charleston. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small (1,200 sq ft of roof) to large (2,800 sq ft of roof).
Basic
$9,200 to $17,600
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$15,500 to $23,900
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,800 to $30,200
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,600 – $10,700 | $9,400 – $14,500 | $13,200 – $18,300 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,200 – $17,600 | $15,500 – $23,900 | $21,800 – $30,200 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,800 – $24,500 | $21,600 – $33,300 | $30,400 – $42,100 |
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Detailed metal roof report for Charleston, SC, $9
The report lays out the metal roof numbers for Charleston, SC 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 Charleston: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Charleston?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $9,200 to $30,200 in the Charleston area. A standard-spec job lands at $15,500 to $23,900. 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 Charleston?
About $4.55 to $15 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $150 to $500 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Charleston or Hilton Head?
Hilton Head is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $19,200, which is 3% less than Charleston ($19,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charleston?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $10,700 out of $19,700. Materials are 44% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Charleston?
$9,200 to $30,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Charleston?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $150 to $500 for fees in the Charleston area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charleston expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Charleston is 4% above the South Carolina statewide estimate ($18,900 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Charleston?
The BLS median is $23.09 an hour in the Charleston area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.81 to $29.46.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Charleston?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,200 to $17,600 and premium work $21,800 to $30,200. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Is there a bad season to install a metal roof in Charleston?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Metal roof near Charleston
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.