Roof replacement cost in Durham, NC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $5,600 – $11,600
- Per sq ft of roof
- $2.75 – $5.55
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #154
- 1 = most expensive
A new roof in Durham, NC usually costs $5,600 to $11,600 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. That works out to about $2.75 to $5.55 per sq ft of roof before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $690 less. Roofers earn a median of $23.56 an hour in the Durham area, 12% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Durham, NC, standard level
$7,400 to $9,800
About $3.60 to $4.70 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,550 | $3,850 |
| Labor | $4,650 | $5,600 |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $370 |
| Total | $7,400 | $9,800 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Durham, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,200 | $4,850 | 37% |
| Labor | $3,950 | $5,150 | $6,300 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $290 | $490 | 3% |
| Total | $5,600 | $8,600 | $11,600 | 100% |
Why Durham 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, Durham wages are 0.90 times the national level. Labor makes up about 60% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices). BLS does not publish this trade for the metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Durham is at 96.6 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 97.6: $100 to $490.
Data note: 85% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Durham. The wage table below marks each row.
Specs and site conditions that change a Durham bid
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.
What local crews earn in Durham
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 Durham the blend is 0.90.
Roofers (47-2181) carry 85% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Durham metro, so we used the North Carolina statewide median: $23.56 an hour against $26.65 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $21.61 and $27.18 an hour.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $22.38 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.03 and $25.15 an hour. BLS counts 1,120 of them working in the area, 32.6 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 $660 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $350. That is a swing of roughly 4.1% to 7.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Durham-Chapel Hill has 344,020 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 74th 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% | $21.61 | $23.56 | $27.18 | $26.65 | 0.88 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $19.03 | $22.38 | $25.15 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Is Durham cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Raleigh is the priciest of the group at $8,750. Greensboro is the cheapest at $8,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durham, NCthis page | $5,600 – $11,600 | $8,600 | |
| Burlington, NC15 miles | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,500 | −1% |
| Greensboro, NC40 miles | $5,500 – $11,500 | $8,500 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC40 miles | $5,700 – $11,800 | $8,750 | +2% |
| Fayetteville, NC65 miles | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,550 | −1% |
| Winston, NC70 miles | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,550 | −1% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $5,550 – $11,600 | $8,550 | level |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Durham ranks #154 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Durham is 1% above the North Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in North Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,550 | −1% |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $5,700 – $11,800 | $8,750 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $5,500 – $11,500 | $8,500 | −1% |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,550 | −1% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $5,600 – $11,600 | $8,550 | level |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $5,650 – $11,700 | $8,700 | +1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Durham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester, MA | 349,880 jobs | $9,600 – $18,000 | $13,800 | +61% |
| North Port, FL | 339,940 jobs | $5,550 – $11,600 | $8,600 | level |
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $5,300 – $11,000 | $8,200 | −5% |
| El Paso, TX | 339,120 jobs | $4,550 – $9,850 | $7,200 | −17% |
Durham weather and the roof replacement calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Raleigh Durham Intl Ap (10 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 Durham are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Durham gets about 46 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, August and September (5.2 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 52 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 | 52 | 32 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 34 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 63 | 40 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 80 | 58 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 5.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 89 | 69 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 63 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 73 | 50 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 55 | 34 | 3.4 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Durham
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Durham. 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
$5,600 to $8,000
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$7,400 to $9,800
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$9,200 to $11,600
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,400 – $4,900 | $4,550 – $6,050 | $5,650 – $7,150 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $5,600 – $8,000 | $7,400 – $9,800 | $9,200 – $11,600 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $7,800 – $11,100 | $10,300 – $13,600 | $12,800 – $16,100 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $10,000 – $14,200 | $13,200 – $17,400 | $16,300 – $20,500 |
Planning more than one job in Durham?
Jobs that often go together with roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Durham wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (−6%) and metal roof lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,000 – $29,800 | −9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,150 – $3,900 | −7% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,750 – $23,300 | −8% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $930 – $3,800 | −6% |
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Detailed roof replacement report for Durham, NC, $9
Multi-page report for Durham, NC: 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 Durham: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Durham?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $5,600 to $11,600 in the Durham area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,400 to $9,800. 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 Durham?
About $2.75 to $5.55 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $100 to $490 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Durham or Burlington?
Burlington is 15 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $8,500, which is 1% less than Durham ($8,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Durham?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $5,150 out of $8,600. Materials are 37% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Durham?
$7,800 to $16,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Durham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $490 for fees in the Durham area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Durham expensive for roof compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Durham is 1% above the North Carolina statewide estimate ($8,550 at the midpoint). We cover 11 metros in North Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Durham?
BLS has no published metro figure here, so we use the statewide median of $23.56 an hour, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.61 to $27.18.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Durham?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $5,600 to $8,000 and premium work $9,200 to $11,600. 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 Durham?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February 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 Durham
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.