Metal roof cost in Tennessee
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $9,000 – $29,700
- Per sq ft of roof
- $4.40 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 8
Tennessee prices for metal roof: $9,000 to $29,700 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $4.40 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof without the permit. The state midpoint is 9% below the national one. Local wages for roofers are $21.97 an hour.
Inside Tennessee, the metros we cover range from $18,400 (Kingsport) to $19,900 (Nashville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Tennessee (statewide), standard level
$15,200 to $23,500
About $7.50 to $11.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $5,950 | $11,400 |
| Labor | $9,000 | $11,800 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $360 |
| Total | $15,200 | $23,500 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Tennessee
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,900 | $8,650 | $15,400 | 45% |
| Labor | $6,900 | $10,400 | $13,800 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $140 | $300 | $460 | 2% |
| Total | $9,000 | $19,300 | $29,700 | 100% |
How Tennessee compares with nearby states
Tennessee ranks 40 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. Tennessee sits at $19,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 170 miles away | $9,150 – $30,000 | $19,600 | +1% |
| Alabama | 190 miles away | $8,550 – $28,800 | $18,700 | −3% |
| Georgia | 210 miles away | $9,000 – $30,100 | $19,500 | +1% |
| Indiana | 300 miles away | $10,400 – $32,500 | $21,400 | +11% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $8,500 – $28,800 | $18,600 | −4% |
Tennessee metro-by-metro prices
3 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $19,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 8%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | $9,350 – $30,400 | $19,900 | +3% |
| Memphis, TN | $9,100 – $29,900 | $19,500 | +1% |
| Jackson, TN | $9,050 – $29,900 | $19,500 | +1% |
| Knoxville, TN | $9,000 – $29,700 | $19,300 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN | $8,900 – $29,500 | $19,200 | level |
| Johnson City, TN | $8,900 – $29,500 | $19,200 | −1% |
| Clarksville, TN | $8,550 – $28,800 | $18,700 | −3% |
| Kingsport, TN | $8,350 – $28,500 | $18,400 | −5% |
Wages behind the Tennessee number
Tennessee'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 0.86 times the national level.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $21.97 an hour, 18% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.33 and $23.53 an hour. About 2,110 work in the state. That is 6.4 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 $28.45 an hour, 4% below the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $21.74 and $35.40 an hour. About 1,850 work in the state. That is 5.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 10%) the local median is $21.64 an hour, which is 5% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.11 and $23.78 an hour. BLS counts 26,250 of them working in the state, 80.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($23.53 an hour) would add about $490 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.33) would take off about $1,150. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,278,760 jobs across Tennessee (May 2025), which is 2.1% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $18.33 | $21.97 | $23.53 | $26.65 | 0.82 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $21.74 | $28.45 | $35.40 | $29.71 | 0.96 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $18.11 | $21.64 | $23.78 | $22.66 | 0.95 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
If you are planning more than one job in Tennessee
Each project weights the trades differently, so Tennessee's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, attic insulation is −3% and roof replacement −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,350 – $11,200 | −11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $3,950 | −6% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $970 – $3,850 | −3% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,750 – $23,300 | −8% |
Basic, standard or premium: Tennessee 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
$9,000 to $17,300
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$15,200 to $23,500
Standing seam steel
Premium
$21,400 to $29,700
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $5,450 – $10,500 | $9,200 – $14,200 | $13,000 – $18,000 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $9,000 – $17,300 | $15,200 – $23,500 | $21,400 – $29,700 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $12,500 – $24,100 | $21,200 – $32,700 | $29,800 – $41,400 |
Weather windows across Tennessee
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Tennessee 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.
Knoxville has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Tennessee at 12 months; Jackson has the shortest at 10 (September through June). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Johnson City to 57 inches in Jackson.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 30 | 91 | 51 | 10: September through June |
| Memphis | 33 | 92 | 55 | 10: September through June |
| Knoxville | 30 | 88 | 52 | 12: all year |
| Chattanooga | 32 | 91 | 55 | 10: September through June |
| Kingsport | 27 | 87 | 45 | 12: all year |
| Clarksville | 28 | 90 | 54 | 10: September through June |
| Jackson | 27 | 91 | 57 | 10: September through June |
| Johnson City | 26 | 86 | 44 | 12: all year |
Why two Tennessee 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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Detailed metal roof report for Tennessee, $9
Multi-page report for Tennessee: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 Tennessee: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Tennessee?
$9,000 to $29,700 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Tennessee can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Tennessee is cheapest for metal roof?
Kingsport at about $18,400 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Nashville at $19,900.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Tennessee than the US average?
It is 9% cheaper: $19,300 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Tennessee?
About 54% ($10,400). Materials are 45%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.86x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Tennessee?
The BLS statewide median is $21.97 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.33 to $23.53.
+Where does Tennessee rank for metal roof costs?
40th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $19,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Tennessee?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $9,000 to $17,300 and premium work $21,400 to $29,700. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in Tennessee?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Tennessee metros we cover, Knoxville 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 Tennessee
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.