Roof replacement cost in San Francisco, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $7,900 – $15,600
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3.90 – $7.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +26%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #7
- 1 = most expensive
San Francisco homeowners pay roughly $7,900 to $15,600 to replace a roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $3.90 to $7.50 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, San Francisco is 26% higher. Roofers earn a median of $35.74 an hour in the San Francisco area, 34% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in San Francisco, CA, standard level
$10,200 to $13,300
About $4.95 to $6.40 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 67% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,850 | $4,300 |
| Labor | $7,100 | $8,550 |
| Permits and fees | $250 | $440 |
| Total | $10,200 | $13,300 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in San Francisco, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,750 | $3,600 | $5,400 | 30% |
| Labor | $6,050 | $7,800 | $9,600 | 67% |
| Permits and fees | $120 | $350 | $580 | 3% |
| Total | $7,900 | $11,700 | $15,600 | 100% |
Why San Francisco prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: roofers at 85%, construction laborers at 15%. Weighted together, San Francisco wages are 1.37 times the national level. Labor makes up about 67% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the San Francisco metro is 108.5 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $3,600, compared with $3,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (115.6) and land at $120 to $580.
Is San Francisco cheap or dear? The local comparison
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 $10,200 to $11,700 across San Francisco and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CAthis page | $7,900 – $15,600 | $11,700 | |
| Vallejo, CA40 miles | $6,850 – $13,900 | $10,400 | −12% |
| Napa, CA50 miles | $6,900 – $14,000 | $10,500 | −11% |
| Santa Cruz, CA55 miles | $6,750 – $13,700 | $10,300 | −13% |
| Stockton, CA55 miles | $6,750 – $13,700 | $10,200 | −13% |
| Santa Rosa, CA65 miles | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | −11% |
| California (statewide) | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | −11% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | −21% |
Across 300 US metros, San Francisco comes in at #7 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, San Francisco is 12% above the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,500 | −11% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $6,750 – $13,600 | $10,200 | −13% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $6,850 – $13,900 | $10,400 | −12% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $7,900 – $15,600 | $11,700 | level |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $6,900 – $13,900 | $10,400 | −11% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $6,750 – $13,700 | $10,200 | −13% |
Cities with a workforce like San Francisco's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Francisco against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $5,500 – $11,400 | $8,450 | −28% |
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,400 | −11% |
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $7,050 – $14,100 | $10,600 | −10% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $7,700 – $15,200 | $11,400 | −3% |
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 San Francisco is 1.37 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $35.74 an hour, which is 34% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $29.86 and $37.91 an hour. BLS counts 2,610 of them working in the area, 11.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $34.91 an hour, 54% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $28.03 and $40.50 an hour. About 11,620 work in the metro. That is 48.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the roofers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($37.91 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $390. At the 25th percentile ($29.86) it shrinks by about $1,050. The total moves by 3.4% or 9.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,373,920 jobs in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area. That makes it the 12th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.53% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $29.86 | $35.74 | $37.91 | $26.65 | 1.34 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $28.03 | $34.91 | $40.50 | $22.66 | 1.54 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.37 | |||||
When to schedule roof in San Francisco
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for San Francisco Dwtn (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in San Francisco: 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.
San Francisco gets about 23 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (4.8 inches in December). The station averages about 3 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 | 58 | 47 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 48 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 62 | 49 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 50 | 1.6 | Workable |
| May | 64 | 51 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 67 | 53 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 66 | 54 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 68 | 56 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 70 | 56 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 54 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 51 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 58 | 47 | 4.8 | Workable |
Related projects, priced for San Francisco
Because every project leans on different trades, San Francisco's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs +30% and attic insulation +25%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $13,700 – $40,700 | +28% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,650 – $5,200 | +26% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $10,900 – $32,700 | +30% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,950 | +25% |
Why two San Francisco 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.
Cost by quality level and size in San Francisco
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for San Francisco 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
$7,900 to $11,000
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$10,200 to $13,300
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$12,500 to $15,600
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $4,800 – $6,700 | $6,200 – $8,150 | $7,650 – $9,600 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $7,900 – $11,000 | $10,200 – $13,300 | $12,500 – $15,600 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $11,000 – $15,200 | $14,200 – $18,400 | $17,400 – $21,600 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $14,100 – $19,500 | $18,200 – $23,600 | $22,200 – $27,600 |
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Roof replacement in San Francisco: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in San Francisco?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $7,900 to $15,600 in the San Francisco area. A standard-spec job lands at $10,200 to $13,300. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of roof and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of roof for roof in San Francisco?
About $3.90 to $7.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $120 to $580 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in San Francisco or Vallejo?
Vallejo is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $10,400, which is 12% less than San Francisco ($11,700). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Francisco?
About 67% at the midpoint, or $7,800 out of $11,700. Materials are 30% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in San Francisco?
$11,000 to $21,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in San Francisco?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $120 to $580 for fees in the San Francisco area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Francisco expensive for roof compared with the rest of California?
San Francisco is 12% above 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 San Francisco?
The BLS median is $35.74 an hour in the San Francisco area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $29.86 to $37.91.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in San Francisco?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $7,900 to $11,000 and premium work $12,500 to $15,600. 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 San Francisco?
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 San Francisco
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.