Metal roof cost in Washington
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $11,900 – $36,500
- Per sq ft of roof
- $5.85 – $18
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $21,300
- Metros covered
- 7
Across Washington, a metal roof costs about $11,900 to $36,500 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Statewide, that midpoint is 14% above the US figure of $21,300. Roofers earn a median $29.16 an hour in Washington (US: $26.65).
Inside Washington, the metros we cover range from $22,600 (Yakima) to $25,200 (Seattle) 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 Washington (statewide), standard level
$19,300 to $29,200
About $9.50 to $14.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,450 | $12,300 |
| Labor | $12,600 | $16,400 |
| Permits and fees | $270 | $420 |
| Total | $19,300 | $29,200 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Washington
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,100 | $9,400 | $16,700 | 39% |
| Labor | $9,650 | $14,500 | $19,300 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $160 | $350 | $540 | 1% |
| Total | $11,900 | $24,200 | $36,500 | 100% |
Which Washington city is cheapest for metal roof?
1 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $24,200, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | $12,600 – $37,900 | $25,200 | +4% |
| Kennewick, WA | $11,700 – $36,200 | $24,000 | −1% |
| Bellingham, WA | $11,600 – $36,100 | $23,900 | −2% |
| Olympia, WA | $11,600 – $36,000 | $23,800 | −2% |
| Bremerton, WA | $11,500 – $35,800 | $23,600 | −2% |
| Spokane, WA | $11,000 – $34,800 | $22,900 | −5% |
| Yakima, WA | $10,800 – $34,400 | $22,600 | −7% |
Why two Washington 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).
Weather windows across Washington
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Washington 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.
Seattle has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Washington at 12 months; Kennewick has the shortest at 8 (February through June and September through November). Rainfall runs from 8 inches a year in Kennewick to 57 inches in Bremerton.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | 37 | 77 | 38 | 12: all year |
| Spokane | 26 | 87 | 17 | 9: March through November |
| Olympia | 33 | 78 | 51 | 12: all year |
| Kennewick | 28 | 93 | 8 | 8: February through June and September through November |
| Yakima | 24 | 90 | 8 | 9: February through June and August through November |
| Bremerton | 36 | 77 | 57 | 12: all year |
| Bellingham | 34 | 73 | 35 | 12: all year |
Washington against its neighbors
Washington ranks 8 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. Washington sits at $24,200. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 170 miles away | $11,000 – $34,800 | $22,900 | −5% |
| Idaho | 380 miles away | $9,900 – $31,600 | $20,700 | −14% |
| Montana | 500 miles away | $10,500 – $32,600 | $21,500 | −11% |
| Utah | 650 miles away | $9,400 – $30,600 | $20,000 | −17% |
| Nevada | 780 miles away | $9,300 – $30,300 | $19,800 | −18% |
Related projects, priced for Washington
Each project weights the trades differently, so Washington's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, gutters is +15% and roof replacement +9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,700 – $13,500 | +9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,500 – $4,800 | +15% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,200 – $4,550 | +15% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,700 – $29,000 | +15% |
Wages behind the Washington number
Washington'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 1.21 times the national level.
Roofers (47-2181), 70% of the weighting: a median of $29.16 an hour, 9% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $25.15 and $38.21 an hour. About 5,890 work in the state. That is 16.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 20% of the weighting: a median of $47.38 an hour, 59% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $34.72 and $64.71 an hour. About 3,440 work in the state. That is 9.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 10%) the local median is $27.75 an hour, which is 22% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.56 and $34.69 an hour. BLS counts 25,060 of them working in the state, 70.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($38.21 an hour) would add about $2,850 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($25.15) would take off about $1,250. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,550,970 jobs across Washington (May 2025), which is 2.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $25.15 | $29.16 | $38.21 | $26.65 | 1.09 | state |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $34.72 | $47.38 | $64.71 | $29.71 | 1.59 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $22.56 | $27.75 | $34.69 | $22.66 | 1.22 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.21 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: Washington 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
$11,900 to $21,800
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$19,300 to $29,200
Standing seam steel
Premium
$26,700 to $36,500
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $7,200 – $13,200 | $11,700 – $17,700 | $16,200 – $22,100 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $11,900 – $21,800 | $19,300 – $29,200 | $26,700 – $36,500 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $16,600 – $30,300 | $26,900 – $40,700 | $37,200 – $51,000 |
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 $19,300 to $29,200 for Washington is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Washington: 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 Washington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Washington?
$11,900 to $36,500 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Washington can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Washington is cheapest for metal roof?
Yakima at about $22,600 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). The priciest is Seattle at $25,200.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Washington than the US average?
It is 14% more expensive: $24,200 against $21,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Washington?
About 60% ($14,500). Materials are 39%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.21x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Washington?
The BLS statewide median is $29.16 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.15 to $38.21.
+Where does Washington rank for metal roof costs?
8th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $24,200 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Washington?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $11,900 to $21,800 and premium work $26,700 to $36,500. Basic means: corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels. Premium means: aluminum or premium finish, complex roof.
+Does the season matter for metal roof in Washington?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Washington metros we cover, Seattle 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 Washington
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.