Roof replacement cost in Rhode Island
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $6,600 – $13,300
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3.25 – $6.35
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +7%
- US $9,300
- Metros covered
- 1
Across Rhode Island, a new roof costs about $6,600 to $13,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Statewide, that midpoint is 7% above the US figure of $9,300. Roofers earn a median $29.63 an hour in Rhode Island (US: $26.65).
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Rhode Island (statewide), standard level
$8,600 to $11,300
About $4.20 to $5.45 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 65% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,550 | $3,850 |
| Labor | $5,850 | $7,000 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $390 |
| Total | $8,600 | $11,300 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Rhode Island
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,200 | $4,850 | 32% |
| Labor | $4,950 | $6,450 | $7,900 | 65% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $310 | $510 | 3% |
| Total | $6,600 | $9,950 | $13,300 | 100% |
Roof replacement: what moves the price in Rhode Island
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.
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.
Permit
Roof replacement permits run $100-$500 depending on the location.
If you are planning more than one job in Rhode Island
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Rhode Island wages and prices. Against national midpoints, metal roof comes out highest (+5%) and attic insulation lowest (level), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,000 – $33,800 | +5% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,350 – $4,300 | +3% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,600 – $25,800 | +2% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,000 | level |
How Rhode Island compares with nearby states
Rhode Island ranks 12 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for roof, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is New Jersey at $11,700 and the cheapest Oklahoma at $7,900, both for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint. Rhode Island sits at $9,950. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 50 miles away | $7,500 – $14,700 | $11,100 | +12% |
| Connecticut | 80 miles away | $6,650 – $13,300 | $10,000 | +1% |
| New Hampshire | 90 miles away | $6,400 – $13,000 | $9,700 | −2% |
| New York | 160 miles away | $7,050 – $14,200 | $10,600 | +7% |
| Maine | 170 miles away | $5,700 – $11,800 | $8,700 | −12% |
Roof replacement cost by metro in Rhode Island
Rhode Island has one metro in our dataset, Providence, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (2,000 sq ft of roof) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RI | $6,650 – $13,300 | $9,950 | level |
Weather windows across Rhode Island
Season matters for roof. For each Rhode Island metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Providence has 9 comfortable months (March through November), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Providence | 22 | 84 | 48 | 9: March through November |
Wages behind the Rhode Island number
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 1.13 for Rhode Island.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $29.63 an hour, which is 11% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.72 and $36.81 an hour. BLS counts 360 of them working in the state, 7.2 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 $27.52 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.51 and $37.25 an hour. About 2,110 work in the state. That is 42.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for roofers ($36.81 an hour) would add about $1,300 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($23.72) would take off about $1,050. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 501,340 jobs across Rhode Island (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $23.72 | $29.63 | $36.81 | $26.65 | 1.11 | state |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.51 | $27.52 | $37.25 | $22.66 | 1.21 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.13 | |||||
Quality levels and sizes in Rhode Island
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Rhode Island wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$6,600 to $9,250
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$8,600 to $11,300
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$10,600 to $13,300
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $4,000 – $5,650 | $5,250 – $6,900 | $6,500 – $8,150 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $6,600 – $9,250 | $8,600 – $11,300 | $10,600 – $13,300 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $9,200 – $12,900 | $12,000 – $15,600 | $14,700 – $18,400 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $11,800 – $16,500 | $15,300 – $20,000 | $18,800 – $23,500 |
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Roof replacement in Rhode Island: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Rhode Island?
$6,600 to $13,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Rhode Island can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Rhode Island is cheapest for roof?
Providence at about $9,950 (midpoint, 2,000 sq ft of roof).
+Is roof cheaper in Rhode Island than the US average?
It is 7% more expensive: $9,950 against $9,300 for 2,000 sq ft of roof at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Rhode Island?
About 65% ($6,450). Materials are 32%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.13x the national wage level.
+What do roofers earn in Rhode Island?
The BLS statewide median is $29.63 an hour, against $26.65 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.72 to $36.81.
+Where does Rhode Island rank for roof costs?
12th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $9,950 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Rhode Island?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $6,600 to $9,250 and premium work $10,600 to $13,300. Basic means: 3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof. Premium means: heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs.
+Does the season matter for roof in Rhode Island?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Rhode Island metros we cover, Providence has the most comfortable months (9 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Roof replacement by city in Rhode Island
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.