Roof replacement cost in Wilmington, 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
- −8%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #162
- 1 = most expensive
Wilmington homeowners pay roughly $5,600 to $11,600 to replace a roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $2.75 to $5.55 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Wilmington is 8% lower. Roofers earn a median of $23.43 an hour in the Wilmington area, 12% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Wilmington, NC, standard level
$7,350 to $9,750
About $3.60 to $4.70 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,550 | $3,850 |
| Labor | $4,650 | $5,550 |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $370 |
| Total | $7,350 | $9,750 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Wilmington, NC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,200 | $4,850 | 37% |
| Labor | $3,950 | $5,100 | $6,250 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $290 | $480 | 3% |
| Total | $5,600 | $8,550 | $11,600 | 100% |
Where the Wilmington price comes from
Labor is 59% 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 Wilmington the blended ratio comes out at 0.89.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Wilmington metro is 96.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $3,200, compared with $3,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (96.4) and land at $95 to $480.
Related projects, priced for Wilmington
Because every project leans on different trades, Wilmington's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs −7% and attic insulation −9%.
| 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 – $23,200 | −8% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $890 – $3,650 | −9% |
Is Wilmington 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 $8,250 to $8,750 across Wilmington and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NCthis page | $5,600 – $11,600 | $8,550 | |
| Myrtle Beach, SC60 miles | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,250 | −4% |
| Fayetteville, NC75 miles | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,550 | level |
| Greenville, NC100 miles | $5,450 – $11,400 | $8,400 | −2% |
| Florence, SC100 miles | $5,350 – $11,200 | $8,250 | −4% |
| Raleigh, NC105 miles | $5,700 – $11,800 | $8,750 | +2% |
| North Carolina (statewide) | $5,550 – $11,600 | $8,550 | level |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | +8% |
Across 300 US metros, Wilmington comes in at #162 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, Wilmington is 0% above the North Carolina figure.
Other North Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte, NC | 1,358,370 jobs | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,550 | level |
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $5,700 – $11,800 | $8,750 | +2% |
| Greensboro, NC | 365,410 jobs | $5,500 – $11,500 | $8,500 | −1% |
| Durham, NC | 344,020 jobs | $5,600 – $11,600 | $8,600 | level |
| Winston, NC | 271,980 jobs | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,550 | level |
| Asheville, NC | 180,620 jobs | $5,650 – $11,700 | $8,700 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Wilmington's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Wilmington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 192,390 jobs | $6,100 – $12,400 | $9,250 | +8% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $5,350 – $11,200 | $8,250 | −4% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $4,700 – $10,100 | $7,450 | −13% |
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $6,100 – $12,700 | $9,400 | +9% |
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 Wilmington is 0.89 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $23.43 an hour, which is 12% below the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.76 and $24.20 an hour. BLS counts 170 of them working in the area, 8.9 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 $22.16 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.02 and $26.94 an hour. About 1,870 work in the metro. That is 97.8 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 ($24.20 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $140. At the 25th percentile ($18.76) it shrinks by about $850. The total moves by 1.6% or 9.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 191,280 jobs in the Wilmington area. That makes it the 120th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.12% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $18.76 | $23.43 | $24.20 | $26.65 | 0.88 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $18.02 | $22.16 | $26.94 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
When to schedule roof in Wilmington
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Wilmington Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
August through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Wilmington (11 of 12 months). July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Wilmington gets about 60 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (8.7 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and April are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.1 inches. The station averages about 45 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 | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Mar | 67 | 44 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 53 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 61 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 87 | 69 | 5.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 73 | 6.9 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 72 | 8.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 84 | 67 | 8.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 56 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 45 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 60 | 39 | 3.7 | Workable |
Why two Wilmington 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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: roof replacement pricing in Wilmington
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Wilmington 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
$5,600 to $7,950
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$7,350 to $9,750
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$9,150 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 | $4,500 – $6,000 | $5,650 – $7,150 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $5,600 – $7,950 | $7,350 – $9,750 | $9,150 – $11,600 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $7,750 – $11,100 | $10,200 – $13,500 | $12,700 – $16,000 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $9,950 – $14,200 | $13,100 – $17,300 | $16,200 – $20,400 |
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Detailed roof replacement report for Wilmington, NC, $9
Multi-page report for Wilmington, 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 Wilmington: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Wilmington?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $5,600 to $11,600 in the Wilmington area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,350 to $9,750. 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 Wilmington?
About $2.75 to $5.55 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $95 to $480 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Wilmington or Myrtle Beach?
Myrtle Beach is 60 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $8,250, which is 4% less than Wilmington ($8,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Wilmington?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $5,100 out of $8,550. Materials are 37% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Wilmington?
$7,750 to $16,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Wilmington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $480 for fees in the Wilmington area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Wilmington expensive for roof compared with the rest of North Carolina?
Wilmington is 0% 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 Wilmington?
The BLS median is $23.43 an hour in the Wilmington area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.76 to $24.20.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Wilmington?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $5,600 to $7,950 and premium work $9,150 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 Wilmington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. February and April 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 Wilmington
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.