Roof replacement cost in Portland, ME
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $5,800 – $11,900
- Per sq ft of roof
- $2.85 – $5.70
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #128
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a new roof in the Portland area: $5,800 to $11,900 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 5% lower than the US figure. Roofers earn a median of $24.61 an hour in the Portland area, 8% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Portland, ME, standard level
$7,650 to $10,100
About $3.70 to $4.85 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,550 | $3,850 |
| Labor | $4,850 | $5,850 |
| Permits and fees | $220 | $390 |
| Total | $7,650 | $10,100 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Portland, ME
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,200 | $4,850 | 36% |
| Labor | $4,150 | $5,350 | $6,550 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $310 | $510 | 3% |
| Total | $5,800 | $8,850 | $11,900 | 100% |
Why Portland 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, Portland wages are 0.94 times the national level. Labor makes up about 60% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Portland is at 97.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $3,300 nationally becomes $3,200 here (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof). Permits follow the all-items index of 101.9: $100 to $510.
Portland: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Portland. 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
$5,800 to $8,250
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$7,650 to $10,100
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$9,500 to $11,900
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,500 – $5,050 | $4,650 – $6,200 | $5,850 – $7,350 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $5,800 – $8,250 | $7,650 – $10,100 | $9,500 – $11,900 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $8,050 – $11,400 | $10,600 – $14,000 | $13,100 – $16,500 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $10,300 – $14,600 | $13,600 – $17,900 | $16,800 – $21,100 |
Why two Portland 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.
Related projects, priced for Portland
Jobs that often go together with roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Portland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl siding comes out highest (+1%) and metal roof lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,800 – $31,500 | −3% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,150 | −1% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,500 – $25,500 | +1% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $980 – $3,900 | −2% |
Who does the work: Portland 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 Portland the blend is 0.94.
Roofers (47-2181), 85% of the weighting: a median of $24.61 an hour, 8% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.84 and $29.30 an hour. About 140 work in the metro. That is 4.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $23.31 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.50 and $27.46 an hour. BLS counts 1,470 of them working in the area, 51.0 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 $850 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $320. That is a swing of roughly 3.6% to 9.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Portland-South Portland has 288,480 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 89th 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% | $22.84 | $24.61 | $29.30 | $26.65 | 0.92 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $21.50 | $23.31 | $27.46 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
Portland against nearby metros and the rest of Maine
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Worcester is the priciest of the group at $13,800.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, MEthis page | $5,800 – $11,900 | $8,850 | |
| Manchester, NH85 miles | $6,200 – $12,700 | $9,450 | +6% |
| Boston, MA85 miles | $7,050 – $14,100 | $10,600 | +19% |
| Worcester, MA120 miles | $9,600 – $18,000 | $13,800 | +56% |
| Barnstable, MA135 miles | $7,400 – $14,500 | $10,900 | +23% |
| Providence, RI140 miles | $6,650 – $13,300 | $9,950 | +12% |
| Maine (statewide) | $5,700 – $11,800 | $8,700 | −2% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | +5% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Portland ranks #128 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Portland is 2% above the Maine figure.
Elsewhere in Maine
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $5,500 – $11,500 | $8,500 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stockton, CA | 289,660 jobs | $6,750 – $13,700 | $10,200 | +16% |
| Lexington, KY | 286,910 jobs | $5,450 – $11,300 | $8,350 | −6% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $6,200 – $12,500 | $9,350 | +5% |
| New Haven, CT | 281,410 jobs | $6,600 – $13,300 | $9,950 | +12% |
The best months for roof in Portland
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Portland Intl Jetport (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Portland are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Portland gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 69 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, October and December (5.3 inches in October). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 3.4 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 32 | 16 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 17 | 3.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 42 | 26 | 4.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 35 | 4.4 | Workable |
| May | 64 | 46 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 55 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 80 | 61 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 41 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 32 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 22 | 4.5 | Cold |
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Roof replacement in Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Portland?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $5,800 to $11,900 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,650 to $10,100. 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 Portland?
About $2.85 to $5.70 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $100 to $510 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Portland or Manchester?
Manchester is 85 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $9,450, which is 6% more than Portland ($8,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $5,350 out of $8,850. Materials are 36% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Portland?
$8,050 to $16,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Portland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $510 for fees in the Portland area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for roof compared with the rest of Maine?
Portland is 2% above the Maine statewide estimate ($8,700 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in Maine; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Portland?
The BLS median is $24.61 an hour in the Portland area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.84 to $29.30.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Portland?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $5,800 to $8,250 and premium work $9,500 to $11,900. 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 Portland?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. July and August 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 Portland
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.