Metal roof cost in Seattle, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $12,600 – $37,900
- Per sq ft of roof
- $6.20 – $18.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +18%
- US $21,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #15
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a metal roof in Seattle, plan on $12,600 to $37,900 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, all in. Per sq ft of roof, that is $6.20 to $18.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 18% higher than the national one. Roofers earn a median of $30.81 an hour in the Seattle area, 16% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Seattle, WA, standard level
$20,200 to $30,300
About $9.95 to $15 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,450 | $12,300 |
| Labor | $13,400 | $17,600 |
| Permits and fees | $280 | $440 |
| Total | $20,200 | $30,300 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Seattle, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,100 | $9,350 | $16,600 | 37% |
| Labor | $10,300 | $15,500 | $20,700 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $170 | $360 | $560 | 1% |
| Total | $12,600 | $25,200 | $37,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Seattle number
Labor is 61% of the midpoint bill here, against 56% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is roofers (70%), sheet metal workers (20%), construction laborers (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Seattle the blended ratio comes out at 1.29.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Seattle metro is 104.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $9,350, compared with $9,000 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (111.1) and land at $170 to $560.
Cost by quality level and size in Seattle
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Seattle wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$12,600 to $22,700
Corrugated or exposed-fastener steel panels
Standard
$20,200 to $30,300
Standing seam steel
Premium
$27,700 to $37,900
Aluminum or premium finish, complex roof
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $7,600 – $13,700 | $12,200 – $18,300 | $16,800 – $22,900 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $12,600 – $22,700 | $20,200 – $30,300 | $27,700 – $37,900 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $17,500 – $31,600 | $28,100 – $42,200 | $38,700 – $52,800 |
How Seattle compares
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Seattle is the priciest of the group. Yakima is the cheapest at $22,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WAthis page | $12,600 – $37,900 | $25,200 | |
| Bremerton, WA40 miles | $11,500 – $35,800 | $23,600 | −6% |
| Olympia, WA60 miles | $11,600 – $36,000 | $23,800 | −6% |
| Yakima, WA90 miles | $10,800 – $34,400 | $22,600 | −10% |
| Bellingham, WA95 miles | $11,600 – $36,100 | $23,900 | −5% |
| Portland, OR135 miles | $11,400 – $35,700 | $23,600 | −7% |
| Washington (statewide) | $11,900 – $36,500 | $24,200 | −4% |
| United States | $10,200 – $32,500 | $21,300 | −15% |
Across 300 US metros, Seattle comes in at #15 from the top. The priciest is Worcester, MA at $29,600; the cheapest is Lubbock, TX at $17,000 (midpoints, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Statewide, Seattle is 4% above the Washington figure.
Other Washington metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $11,000 – $34,800 | $22,900 | −9% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $11,600 – $36,000 | $23,800 | −6% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $11,700 – $36,200 | $24,000 | −5% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $10,800 – $34,400 | $22,600 | −10% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $11,500 – $35,800 | $23,600 | −6% |
| Bellingham, WA | 91,390 jobs | $11,600 – $36,100 | $23,900 | −5% |
Cities with a workforce like Seattle's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Seattle against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $13,700 – $40,700 | $27,200 | +8% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $12,800 – $38,100 | $25,500 | +1% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $9,000 – $29,600 | $19,300 | −23% |
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $11,500 – $35,000 | $23,200 | −8% |
Seattle labor market for metal roof
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Seattle is 1.29 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 70%) the local median is $30.81 an hour, which is 16% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $27.23 and $44.40 an hour. BLS counts 2,970 of them working in the area, 14.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 20%) the local median is $52.80 an hour, which is 78% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $37.23 and $64.78 an hour. BLS counts 2,190 of them working in the area, 10.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.72 an hour, 27% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.67 and $37.03 an hour. About 13,040 work in the metro. That is 62.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($44.40 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $4,300. At the 25th percentile ($27.23) it shrinks by about $1,150. The total moves by 17.0% or 4.5%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,086,210 jobs in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue area. That makes it the 13th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.34% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 70% | $27.23 | $30.81 | $44.40 | $26.65 | 1.16 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $37.23 | $52.80 | $64.78 | $29.71 | 1.78 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 10% | $23.67 | $28.72 | $37.03 | $22.66 | 1.27 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Seattle?
Because every project leans on different trades, Seattle's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs +19% and roof replacement +12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $6,950 – $14,000 | +12% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,600 – $4,950 | +19% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,250 – $4,650 | +18% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,900 – $29,700 | +18% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Seattle bid
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.
Climate in Seattle: timing your metal roof job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Seattle Sand Pt Wsfo (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Seattle: 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.
Seattle gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, November and December (5.8 inches in November). The station averages about 2 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47 | 37 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Feb | 50 | 37 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 54 | 39 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 59 | 43 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 65 | 48 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 70 | 53 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 77 | 57 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 77 | 57 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 53 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 47 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 52 | 41 | 5.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 37 | 5.5 | Workable |
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Detailed metal roof report for Seattle, WA, $9
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Metal roof in Seattle: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a metal roof in Seattle?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $12,600 to $37,900 in the Seattle area. A standard-spec job lands at $20,200 to $30,300. 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 Seattle?
About $6.20 to $18.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $170 to $560 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $5 to $16.
+Is metal roof cheaper in Seattle or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $23,600, which is 6% less than Seattle ($25,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Seattle?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $15,500 out of $25,200. Materials are 37% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 56%.
+What would average (2,000 sq ft of roof) cost in Seattle?
$12,600 to $37,900. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does metal roof need a permit in Seattle?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $170 to $560 for fees in the Seattle area (our national range of $150 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Seattle expensive for metal roof compared with the rest of Washington?
Seattle is 4% above the Washington statewide estimate ($24,200 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Seattle?
The BLS median is $30.81 an hour in the Seattle area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $27.23 to $44.40.
+What do basic and premium metal roof work cost in Seattle?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $12,600 to $22,700 and premium work $27,700 to $37,900. 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 Seattle?
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 Seattle
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.