Roof replacement cost in Birmingham, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $5,300 – $11,100
- Per sq ft of roof
- $2.60 – $5.35
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #244
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace a roof in Birmingham, plan on $5,300 to $11,100 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, all in. Per sq ft of roof, that is $2.60 to $5.35 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 12% lower than the national one. Roofers earn a median of $22.41 an hour in the Birmingham area, 16% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Birmingham, AL, standard level
$7,050 to $9,400
About $3.45 to $4.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,550 | $3,850 |
| Labor | $4,350 | $5,200 |
| Permits and fees | $200 | $350 |
| Total | $7,050 | $9,400 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Birmingham, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,200 | $4,800 | 39% |
| Labor | $3,700 | $4,750 | $5,850 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $270 | $460 | 3% |
| Total | $5,300 | $8,250 | $11,100 | 100% |
Where the Birmingham price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: roofers at 85%, construction laborers at 15%. Weighted together, Birmingham wages are 0.84 times the national level. Labor makes up about 58% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Birmingham metro is 96.4 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $3,200, compared with $3,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.6) and land at $90 to $460.
Roof replacement: what moves the price in Birmingham
Roof area, not floor area
Pitch and complexity mean roof surface is larger than the house's footprint. A 1,500 sq ft ranch can have 1,800-2,200 sq ft of roof.
Tear-off and layers
Removing a second layer or rotted decking adds cost, and the contractor can only see decking damage after tear-off.
Tear-off
Removing the old roof is $1-$5 per sq ft depending on the material and number of layers (HomeGuide). Check that your quote includes it.
Birmingham labor market for roof
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Birmingham is 0.84 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $22.41 an hour, which is 16% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $20.90 and $27.09 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 5.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $18.45 an hour, 19% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $15.51 and $22.60 an hour. About 4,780 work in the metro. That is 91.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($27.09 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $850. At the 25th percentile ($20.90) it shrinks by about $270. The total moves by 10.3% or 3.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 520,290 jobs in the Birmingham area. That makes it the 50th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.33% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $20.90 | $22.41 | $27.09 | $26.65 | 0.84 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $15.51 | $18.45 | $22.60 | $22.66 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Climate in Birmingham: timing your roof job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Birmingham Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Birmingham (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Birmingham gets about 57 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 1 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and July (5.7 inches in March). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 4.0 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 65 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 | 55 | 35 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 59 | 38 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 45 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 52 | 5.1 | Workable |
| May | 82 | 61 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 69 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 72 | 5.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 91 | 71 | 4.3 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 65 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 54 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 65 | 43 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 57 | 38 | 4.9 | Workable |
Birmingham against nearby metros and the rest of Alabama
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 2,000 sq ft of roof range from $8,100 to $8,250 across Birmingham and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, ALthis page | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,250 | |
| Tuscaloosa, AL60 miles | $5,200 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −2% |
| Decatur, AL75 miles | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL80 miles | $5,250 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −1% |
| Huntsville, AL90 miles | $5,250 – $11,000 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL100 miles | $5,200 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −2% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $5,250 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −1% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | +13% |
Across 300 US metros, Birmingham comes in at #244 from the top. The priciest is Worcester, MA at $13,800; the cheapest is El Paso, TX at $7,200 (midpoints, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Statewide, Birmingham is 1% above the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $5,250 – $11,000 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $5,200 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −2% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $5,250 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $5,200 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −2% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $5,250 – $11,100 | $8,150 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL | 72,710 jobs | $5,200 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Birmingham's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Birmingham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NY | 534,550 jobs | $6,600 – $13,300 | $9,950 | +21% |
| Omaha, NE | 498,100 jobs | $5,400 – $11,200 | $8,300 | +1% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $5,600 – $11,600 | $8,600 | +4% |
| Rochester, NY | 494,280 jobs | $6,500 – $13,100 | $9,800 | +19% |
Planning more than one job in Birmingham?
Because every project leans on different trades, Birmingham's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs −4% and metal roof −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,650 – $29,100 | −11% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,800 | −10% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,500 – $22,500 | −11% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $960 – $3,850 | −4% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: roof replacement pricing in Birmingham
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Birmingham 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 4 common sizes.
Basic
$5,300 to $7,650
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$7,050 to $9,400
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$8,800 to $11,100
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,250 – $4,700 | $4,300 – $5,750 | $5,400 – $6,850 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $5,300 – $7,650 | $7,050 – $9,400 | $8,800 – $11,100 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $7,400 – $10,600 | $9,800 – $13,000 | $12,200 – $15,400 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $9,500 – $13,600 | $12,600 – $16,600 | $15,600 – $19,700 |
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 $7,050 to $9,400 for Birmingham, AL is attached.
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Multi-page report for Birmingham, AL: 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.
Roof replacement in Birmingham: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Birmingham?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $5,300 to $11,100 in the Birmingham area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,050 to $9,400. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of roof and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of roof for roof in Birmingham?
About $2.60 to $5.35 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $90 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Birmingham or Tuscaloosa?
Tuscaloosa is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $8,100, which is 2% less than Birmingham ($8,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Birmingham?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $4,750 out of $8,250. Materials are 39% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Birmingham?
$7,400 to $15,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Birmingham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $90 to $460 for fees in the Birmingham area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Birmingham expensive for roof compared with the rest of Alabama?
Birmingham is 1% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($8,100 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Birmingham?
The BLS median is $22.41 an hour in the Birmingham area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.90 to $27.09.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Birmingham?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $5,300 to $7,650 and premium work $8,800 to $11,100. Basic means: 3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof. Premium means: heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs.
+When is the best time to replace a roof in Birmingham?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. September and October are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Roof replacement near Birmingham
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 Roof Replacement Cost? (2026) (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 = HomeGuide's asphalt shingle price of $80-$250 per roofing square (100 sq ft), i.e. $0.80-$2.50 per sq ft. The rest of the installed price covers roofer labor ($1.50-$3.00/sq ft), tear-off, disposal, underlayment and contractor overhead.