Roof replacement cost in Cleveland, OH
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $6,150 – $12,400
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3.05 – $5.95
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #114
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace a roof in Cleveland, plan on $6,150 to $12,400 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, all in. Per sq ft of roof, that is $3.05 to $5.95 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.6).
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Cleveland, OH, standard level
$8,050 to $10,500
About $3.90 to $5.10 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 64% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $3,750 |
| Labor | $5,350 | $6,450 |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $360 |
| Total | $8,050 | $10,500 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Cleveland, OH
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,100 | $4,700 | 33% |
| Labor | $4,550 | $5,900 | $7,250 | 64% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $280 | $470 | 3% |
| Total | $6,150 | $9,300 | $12,400 | 100% |
Why Cleveland 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, Cleveland wages are 1.04 times the national level. Labor makes up about 64% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Cleveland metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $3,100, compared with $3,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (93.9) and land at $95 to $470.
How Cleveland compares
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Cleveland. Youngstown is the lowest at about $8,400 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof), 45 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland, OHthis page | $6,150 – $12,400 | $9,300 | |
| Akron, OH35 miles | $6,100 – $12,300 | $9,200 | −1% |
| Youngstown, OH45 miles | $5,500 – $11,300 | $8,400 | −9% |
| Canton, OH65 miles | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,550 | +3% |
| Erie, PA75 miles | $5,750 – $11,900 | $8,850 | −5% |
| Pittsburgh, PA115 miles | $5,950 – $12,300 | $9,100 | −2% |
| Ohio (statewide) | $5,700 – $11,700 | $8,700 | −6% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | level |
Across 300 US metros, Cleveland comes in at #114 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, Cleveland is 7% above the Ohio figure.
Other Ohio metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | 1,105,580 jobs | $5,800 – $11,800 | $8,800 | −5% |
| Cincinnati, OH | 1,101,030 jobs | $5,700 – $11,700 | $8,700 | −6% |
| Dayton, OH | 372,660 jobs | $5,800 – $11,800 | $8,800 | −5% |
| Akron, OH | 319,560 jobs | $6,100 – $12,300 | $9,200 | −1% |
| Toledo, OH | 291,530 jobs | $6,200 – $12,500 | $9,350 | +1% |
| Canton, OH | 163,080 jobs | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,550 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Cleveland's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Cleveland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $6,900 – $13,900 | $10,400 | +12% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | 826,210 jobs | $5,550 – $11,600 | $8,550 | −8% |
| Kansas City, MO | 1,096,110 jobs | $6,250 – $12,600 | $9,400 | +1% |
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $6,450 – $12,900 | $9,700 | +4% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: roof replacement pricing in Cleveland
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Cleveland 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
$6,150 to $8,650
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$8,050 to $10,500
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$9,900 to $12,400
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,750 – $5,300 | $4,900 – $6,450 | $6,050 – $7,650 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $6,150 – $8,650 | $8,050 – $10,500 | $9,900 – $12,400 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $8,550 – $12,000 | $11,200 – $14,600 | $13,700 – $17,200 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $11,000 – $15,400 | $14,300 – $18,700 | $17,600 – $21,900 |
Roof replacement: what moves the price in Cleveland
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.
Climate in Cleveland: timing your roof job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Cleveland Burke 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 Cleveland (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.
Cleveland gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, July and August (3.7 inches in July). Inside the workable window, March and June are the driest, at 2.4 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 35 | 24 | 1.8 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 25 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 45 | 31 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 57 | 41 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 53 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 63 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 68 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 67 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 60 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 49 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 38 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 40 | 30 | 2.0 | Cold |
Cleveland labor market for roof
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 Cleveland is 1.04 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $26.77 an hour, which is in line with the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $22.38 and $35.58 an hour. BLS counts 780 of them working in the area, 7.6 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 $27.49 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.57 and $34.86 an hour. About 5,660 work in the metro. That is 54.9 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 ($35.58 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,600. At the 25th percentile ($22.38) it shrinks by about $800. The total moves by 17.3% or 8.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 1,031,130 jobs in the Cleveland area. That makes it the 36th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.66% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $22.38 | $26.77 | $35.58 | $26.65 | 1.00 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.57 | $27.49 | $34.86 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Cleveland?
Because every project leans on different trades, Cleveland's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs +2% and attic insulation −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $10,600 – $32,700 | +1% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,250 | +2% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,500 – $25,500 | +1% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $970 – $3,850 | −4% |
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 $8,050 to $10,500 for Cleveland, OH is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
Multi-page report for Cleveland, OH: 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 Cleveland: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Cleveland?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $6,150 to $12,400 in the Cleveland area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,050 to $10,500. 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 Cleveland?
About $3.05 to $5.95 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 Cleveland or Akron?
Akron is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $9,200, which is 1% less than Cleveland ($9,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Cleveland?
About 64% at the midpoint, or $5,900 out of $9,300. Materials are 33% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Cleveland?
$8,550 to $17,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Cleveland?
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 Cleveland area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Cleveland expensive for roof compared with the rest of Ohio?
Cleveland is 7% above the Ohio statewide estimate ($8,700 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Ohio; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Cleveland?
The BLS median is $26.77 an hour in the Cleveland area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.38 to $35.58.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Cleveland?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $6,150 to $8,650 and premium work $9,900 to $12,400. 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 Cleveland?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and June 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 Cleveland
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.