Roof replacement cost in Billings, MT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $5,850 – $11,900
- Per sq ft of roof
- $2.85 – $5.75
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −4%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #126
- 1 = most expensive
Billings homeowners pay roughly $5,850 to $11,900 to replace a roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $2.85 to $5.75 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Billings is 4% lower. Roofers earn a median of $24.99 an hour in the Billings area, 6% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Billings, MT, standard level
$7,650 to $10,100
About $3.75 to $4.90 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,800 |
| Labor | $4,950 | $5,950 |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $360 |
| Total | $7,650 | $10,100 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Billings, MT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,150 | $4,800 | 36% |
| Labor | $4,200 | $5,450 | $6,700 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $280 | $470 | 3% |
| Total | $5,850 | $8,900 | $11,900 | 100% |
What is behind the Billings number
Labor is 61% 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 Billings the blended ratio comes out at 0.95.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Billings metro is 96.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $3,150, compared with $3,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.5) and land at $95 to $470.
Pick a size, pick a tier: roof replacement pricing in Billings
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Billings 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
$5,850 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) | $3,550 – $5,050 | $4,700 – $6,200 | $5,850 – $7,350 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $5,850 – $8,250 | $7,650 – $10,100 | $9,500 – $11,900 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $8,100 – $11,500 | $10,600 – $14,000 | $13,200 – $16,500 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $10,400 – $14,700 | $13,600 – $17,900 | $16,800 – $21,100 |
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 Billings is 0.95 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $24.99 an hour, which is 6% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.09 and $31.76 an hour. BLS counts 80 of them working in the area, 8.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $23.68 an hour, 5% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.42 and $28.31 an hour. About 830 work in the metro. That is 88.5 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 ($31.76 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,250. At the 25th percentile ($23.09) it shrinks by about $350. The total moves by 13.9% or 3.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 93,800 jobs in the Billings area. That makes it the 213th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $23.09 | $24.99 | $31.76 | $26.65 | 0.94 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $21.42 | $23.68 | $28.31 | $22.66 | 1.05 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.95 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Billings bid
Permit
Roof replacement permits run $100-$500 depending on the location.
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.
When to schedule roof in Billings
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Billings Logan Intl Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Billings (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.
Billings gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 57 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (2.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, August and November are the driest, at 0.9 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 32 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 | 36 | 18 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 39 | 20 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 49 | 27 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 57 | 35 | 1.7 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 44 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 52 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 59 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 58 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 49 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 37 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 27 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 36 | 19 | 0.6 | Cold |
Is Billings cheap or dear? The local comparison
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Billings. Rapid City is the lowest at about $8,300 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof), 305 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MTthis page | $5,850 – $11,900 | $8,900 | |
| Bozeman, MT115 miles | $6,700 – $13,400 | $10,000 | +13% |
| Idaho Falls, ID225 miles | $6,050 – $12,300 | $9,150 | +3% |
| Missoula, MT275 miles | $6,550 – $13,100 | $9,800 | +10% |
| Logan, UT300 miles | $5,400 – $11,300 | $8,350 | −6% |
| Rapid City, SD305 miles | $5,400 – $11,200 | $8,300 | −6% |
| Montana (statewide) | $6,300 – $12,700 | $9,500 | +7% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | +5% |
Across 300 US metros, Billings comes in at #126 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, Billings is 7% below the Montana figure.
Other Montana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $6,700 – $13,400 | $10,000 | +13% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $6,550 – $13,100 | $9,800 | +10% |
Cities with a workforce like Billings's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Billings against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $7,400 – $14,500 | $10,900 | +23% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $5,550 – $11,400 | $8,500 | −4% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,200 | −8% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $6,300 – $12,600 | $9,450 | +6% |
Related projects, priced for Billings
Because every project leans on different trades, Billings's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs −2% and metal roof −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,750 – $31,200 | −4% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,100 | −3% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,250 – $24,700 | −2% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $990 – $3,950 | −2% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $7,650 to $10,100 for Billings, MT is attached.
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Multi-page report for Billings, MT: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Roof replacement in Billings: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Billings?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $5,850 to $11,900 in the Billings 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 Billings?
About $2.85 to $5.75 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $95 to $470 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Billings or Bozeman?
Bozeman is 115 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $10,000, which is 13% more than Billings ($8,900). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Billings?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $5,450 out of $8,900. Materials are 36% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Billings?
$8,100 to $16,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Billings?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $470 for fees in the Billings area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Billings expensive for roof compared with the rest of Montana?
Billings is 7% below the Montana statewide estimate ($9,500 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Montana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Billings?
The BLS median is $24.99 an hour in the Billings area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.09 to $31.76.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Billings?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $5,850 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 Billings?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. August and November 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 Billings
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.