Roof replacement cost in Boston, MA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $7,050 – $14,100
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3.50 – $6.75
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +14%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #23
- 1 = most expensive
Boston homeowners pay roughly $7,050 to $14,100 to replace a roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $3.50 to $6.75 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Boston is 14% higher. Roofers earn a median of $31.90 an hour in the Boston area, 20% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Boston, MA, standard level
$9,150 to $12,000
About $4.45 to $5.80 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 66% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,600 | $3,950 |
| Labor | $6,300 | $7,600 |
| Permits and fees | $240 | $410 |
| Total | $9,150 | $12,000 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Boston, MA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,600 | $3,300 | $5,000 | 31% |
| Labor | $5,350 | $6,950 | $8,550 | 66% |
| Permits and fees | $110 | $320 | $540 | 3% |
| Total | $7,050 | $10,600 | $14,100 | 100% |
Why Boston 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, Boston wages are 1.22 times the national level. Labor makes up about 66% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Boston metro is 99.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $3,300, compared with $3,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (108.3) and land at $110 to $540.
Why two Boston quotes can differ
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.
When to schedule roof in Boston
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Boston Logan Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Boston (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February 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.
Boston gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, October and December (4.3 inches in December). Inside the workable window, May and August are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 14 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 | 37 | 23 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 25 | 3.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 31 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 56 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 50 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 76 | 60 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 66 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 65 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 58 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 48 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 52 | 38 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Dec | 42 | 29 | 4.3 | Cold |
Planning more than one job in Boston?
Because every project leans on different trades, Boston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl siding runs +14% and attic insulation +2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $12,100 – $36,300 | +13% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,450 – $4,650 | +11% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,550 – $28,700 | +14% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,100 | +2% |
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 Boston is 1.22 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $31.90 an hour, which is 20% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $28.87 and $37.61 an hour. BLS counts 1,120 of them working in the area, 4.1 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 $30.49 an hour, 35% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $26.22 and $45.11 an hour. About 11,580 work in the metro. That is 42.8 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 ($37.61 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,050. At the 25th percentile ($28.87) it shrinks by about $550. The total moves by 9.8% or 5.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,703,890 jobs in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area. That makes it the 10th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.74% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $28.87 | $31.90 | $37.61 | $26.65 | 1.20 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $26.22 | $30.49 | $45.11 | $22.66 | 1.35 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.22 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in Boston
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Boston 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
$7,050 to $9,850
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$9,150 to $12,000
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$11,300 to $14,100
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $4,300 – $6,050 | $5,600 – $7,350 | $6,900 – $8,650 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $7,050 – $9,850 | $9,150 – $12,000 | $11,300 – $14,100 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $9,850 – $13,700 | $12,700 – $16,600 | $15,600 – $19,500 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $12,600 – $17,500 | $16,300 – $21,200 | $20,000 – $24,900 |
Is Boston 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 $8,850 to $13,800 across Boston and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MAthis page | $7,050 – $14,100 | $10,600 | |
| Manchester, NH45 miles | $6,200 – $12,700 | $9,450 | −11% |
| Worcester, MA50 miles | $9,600 – $18,000 | $13,800 | +31% |
| Providence, RI60 miles | $6,650 – $13,300 | $9,950 | −6% |
| Barnstable, MA70 miles | $7,400 – $14,500 | $10,900 | +4% |
| Portland, ME85 miles | $5,800 – $11,900 | $8,850 | −16% |
| Massachusetts (statewide) | $7,500 – $14,700 | $11,100 | +5% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | −12% |
Across 300 US metros, Boston comes in at #23 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, Boston is 5% below the Massachusetts figure.
Other Massachusetts metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $9,600 – $18,000 | $13,800 | +31% |
| Springfield, MA | 201,240 jobs | $7,650 – $14,900 | $11,300 | +7% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $7,400 – $14,500 | $10,900 | +4% |
| Amherst, MA | 65,670 jobs | $7,400 – $14,500 | $10,900 | +3% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 56,810 jobs | $6,150 – $12,500 | $9,350 | −11% |
Cities with a workforce like Boston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $5,650 – $11,900 | $8,800 | −17% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $5,500 – $11,400 | $8,450 | −20% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $5,600 – $11,700 | $8,650 | −18% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $7,900 – $15,600 | $11,700 | +11% |
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Roof replacement in Boston: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Boston?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $7,050 to $14,100 in the Boston area. A standard-spec job lands at $9,150 to $12,000. 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 Boston?
About $3.50 to $6.75 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $110 to $540 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Boston or Manchester?
Manchester is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $9,450, which is 11% less than Boston ($10,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boston?
About 66% at the midpoint, or $6,950 out of $10,600. Materials are 31% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Boston?
$9,850 to $19,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Boston?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $110 to $540 for fees in the Boston area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boston expensive for roof compared with the rest of Massachusetts?
Boston is 5% below the Massachusetts statewide estimate ($11,100 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Massachusetts; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Boston?
The BLS median is $31.90 an hour in the Boston area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.87 to $37.61.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Boston?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $7,050 to $9,850 and premium work $11,300 to $14,100. 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 Boston?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. May 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 Boston
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.