Roof replacement cost in Los Angeles, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $6,950 – $14,000
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3.40 – $6.75
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #26
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new roof in the Los Angeles area: $6,950 to $14,000 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 13% higher than the US figure. Roofers earn a median of $30.56 an hour in the Los Angeles area, 15% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Los Angeles, CA, standard level
$9,050 to $11,900
About $4.40 to $5.75 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,800 | $4,250 |
| Labor | $6,000 | $7,250 |
| Permits and fees | $250 | $430 |
| Total | $9,050 | $11,900 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Los Angeles, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,700 | $3,500 | $5,350 | 34% |
| Labor | $5,100 | $6,600 | $8,150 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $110 | $340 | $570 | 3% |
| Total | $6,950 | $10,500 | $14,000 | 100% |
Why Los Angeles prices look the way they do
Labor is 63% of the midpoint bill here, against 61% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is roofers (85%), construction laborers (15%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Los Angeles the blended ratio comes out at 1.16.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Los Angeles is at 106.6 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,300 nationally becomes $3,500 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 113.6: $110 to $570.
Who does the work: Los Angeles trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Los Angeles the blend is 1.16.
Roofers (47-2181), 85% of the weighting: a median of $30.56 an hour, 15% above the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.76 and $35.74 an hour. About 5,480 work in the metro. That is 8.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $28.28 an hour, which is 25% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.75 and $37.31 an hour. BLS counts 21,730 of them working in the area, 34.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $940 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $330. That is a swing of roughly 3.1% to 9.0% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has 6,271,560 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 2nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $28.76 | $30.56 | $35.74 | $26.65 | 1.15 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.75 | $28.28 | $37.31 | $22.66 | 1.25 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
How Los Angeles 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 $10,100 to $10,500 across Los Angeles and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CAthis page | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | |
| Oxnard, CA55 miles | $6,850 – $13,900 | $10,400 | −1% |
| Bakersfield, CA90 miles | $6,650 – $13,500 | $10,100 | −4% |
| Santa Maria, CA110 miles | $6,700 – $13,600 | $10,200 | −3% |
| San Diego, CA110 miles | $6,850 – $13,900 | $10,400 | −1% |
| Riverside, CA120 miles | $6,750 – $13,600 | $10,200 | −3% |
| California (statewide) | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | level |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | −11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Los Angeles ranks #26 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Los Angeles is 0% below the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $7,900 – $15,600 | $11,700 | +12% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $6,750 – $13,600 | $10,200 | −3% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $6,850 – $13,900 | $10,400 | −1% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $7,900 – $15,600 | $11,700 | +12% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $6,900 – $13,900 | $10,400 | −1% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $6,750 – $13,700 | $10,200 | −2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Los Angeles against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $7,900 – $15,600 | $11,800 | +12% |
| Chicago, IL | 4,513,280 jobs | $8,200 – $16,000 | $12,100 | +16% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $5,550 – $11,700 | $8,600 | −18% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $5,350 – $11,300 | $8,350 | −20% |
Related projects, priced for Los Angeles
Jobs that often go together with roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Los Angeles wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+15%) and attic insulation lowest (+6%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,600 – $36,200 | +12% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,450 – $4,650 | +12% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,700 – $29,100 | +15% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,250 | +6% |
Los Angeles: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Los Angeles. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small (1,200 sq ft of roof) to very large (3,600 sq ft of roof).
Basic
$6,950 to $9,750
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$9,050 to $11,900
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$11,200 to $14,000
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $4,200 – $6,000 | $5,550 – $7,300 | $6,850 – $8,650 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $6,950 – $9,750 | $9,050 – $11,900 | $11,200 – $14,000 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $9,650 – $13,600 | $12,600 – $16,500 | $15,500 – $19,400 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $12,400 – $17,400 | $16,100 – $21,100 | $19,800 – $24,800 |
The best months for roof in Los Angeles
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Culver City (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Los Angeles: 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.
Los Angeles gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (3.5 inches in February). The station averages about 7 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67 | 48 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Feb | 67 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 51 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 53 | 0.6 | Workable |
| May | 72 | 57 | 0.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 75 | 60 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 78 | 63 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 64 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 62 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 58 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 71 | 52 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 66 | 47 | 2.5 | Workable |
Why two Los Angeles quotes can differ
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.
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Roof replacement in Los Angeles: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Los Angeles?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $6,950 to $14,000 in the Los Angeles area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,050 to $11,900. 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 Los Angeles?
About $3.40 to $6.75 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $110 to $570 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Los Angeles or Oxnard?
Oxnard is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $10,400, which is 1% less than Los Angeles ($10,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Los Angeles?
About 63% at the midpoint, or $6,600 out of $10,500. Materials are 34% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Los Angeles?
$9,650 to $19,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Los Angeles?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $110 to $570 for fees in the Los Angeles area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Los Angeles expensive for roof compared with the rest of California?
Los Angeles is 0% below the California statewide estimate ($10,500 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Los Angeles?
The BLS median is $30.56 an hour in the Los Angeles area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.76 to $35.74.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Los Angeles?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $6,950 to $9,750 and premium work $11,200 to $14,000. Basic means: 3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof. Premium means: heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs.
+Is there a bad season to replace a roof in Los Angeles?
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.
Roof replacement near Los Angeles
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.