Roof replacement cost in Decatur, 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 – $5.30
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #260
- 1 = most expensive
Decatur homeowners pay roughly $5,300 to $11,100 to replace a roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $2.60 to $5.30 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Decatur is 12% lower. Roofers earn a median of $22.25 an hour in the Decatur area, 17% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Decatur, AL, standard level
$7,000 to $9,350
About $3.40 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 | $4,300 | $5,150 |
| Permits and fees | $190 | $330 |
| Total | $7,000 | $9,350 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Decatur, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,200 | $4,800 | 39% |
| Labor | $3,650 | $4,750 | $5,800 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $260 | $440 | 3% |
| Total | $5,300 | $8,150 | $11,100 | 100% |
Where the Decatur price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 85% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.25 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Decatur is 0.83 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 58% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Decatur 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 (87.2) and land at $85 to $440.
Decatur: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Decatur 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 $7,600
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$7,000 to $9,350
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$8,750 to $11,100
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,200 – $4,650 | $4,300 – $5,750 | $5,350 – $6,800 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $5,300 – $7,600 | $7,000 – $9,350 | $8,750 – $11,100 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $7,350 – $10,500 | $9,750 – $12,900 | $12,100 – $15,300 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $9,450 – $13,500 | $12,500 – $16,500 | $15,500 – $19,600 |
Planning more than one job in Decatur?
Because every project leans on different trades, Decatur's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs −4% and metal roof −12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,600 – $28,900 | −12% |
| 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% |
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Decatur is 0.83 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $22.25 an hour, which is 17% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.00 and $26.72 an hour. BLS counts 30 of them working in the area, 4.9 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 $18.11 an hour, 20% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $15.52 and $23.05 an hour. About 690 work in the metro. That is 112.7 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 ($26.72 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $810. At the 25th percentile ($22.00) it shrinks by about $45. The total moves by 9.9% or 0.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 61,240 jobs in the Decatur area. That makes it the 283rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $22.00 | $22.25 | $26.72 | $26.65 | 0.83 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $15.52 | $18.11 | $23.05 | $22.66 | 0.80 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.83 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Decatur bid
Shingle type
3-tab asphalt is $3-$5 per sq ft installed; architectural is $4-$6 (HomeGuide). Metal, tile and slate are separate projects with much higher ranges.
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.
When to schedule roof in Decatur
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Decatur Pryor Fld (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 Decatur (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Decatur gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are February, March and December (5.2 inches in December). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 64 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 | 51 | 32 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 55 | 35 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 50 | 4.5 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 70 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 68 | 3.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 61 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 75 | 50 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 39 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 54 | 35 | 5.2 | Workable |
How Decatur compares
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 $8,500 across Decatur and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, ALthis page | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,150 | |
| Huntsville, AL30 miles | $5,250 – $11,000 | $8,150 | level |
| Birmingham, AL75 miles | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,250 | +1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL105 miles | $5,200 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −1% |
| Chattanooga, TN105 miles | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,200 | level |
| Nashville, TN115 miles | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,500 | +4% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $5,250 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −1% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | +14% |
Across 300 US metros, Decatur comes in at #260 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, Decatur is 1% above the Alabama figure.
Other Alabama metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,250 | +1% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $5,250 – $11,000 | $8,150 | level |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $5,200 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −1% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $5,250 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −1% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $5,200 – $11,000 | $8,100 | −1% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $5,250 – $11,100 | $8,150 | level |
Cities with a workforce like Decatur's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Decatur against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $5,250 – $11,100 | $8,150 | level |
| Dothan, AL | 60,720 jobs | $5,150 – $10,900 | $8,000 | −2% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $5,400 – $11,300 | $8,350 | +2% |
| Sheboygan, WI | 60,630 jobs | $6,300 – $12,700 | $9,500 | +16% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Roof replacement in Decatur: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Decatur?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $5,300 to $11,100 in the Decatur area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,000 to $9,350. 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 Decatur?
About $2.60 to $5.30 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $85 to $440 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Decatur or Huntsville?
Huntsville is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $8,150, which is 0% less than Decatur ($8,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Decatur?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $4,750 out of $8,150. Materials are 39% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Decatur?
$7,350 to $15,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Decatur?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $85 to $440 for fees in the Decatur area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Decatur expensive for roof compared with the rest of Alabama?
Decatur 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 Decatur?
The BLS median is $22.25 an hour in the Decatur area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.00 to $26.72.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Decatur?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $5,300 to $7,600 and premium work $8,750 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 Decatur?
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 Decatur
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.