Roof replacement cost in Knoxville, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $5,300 – $11,100
- Per sq ft of roof
- $2.60 – $5.35
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −12%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #243
- 1 = most expensive
A new roof in Knoxville, TN usually costs $5,300 to $11,100 for 2,000 sq ft of roof. That works out to about $2.60 to $5.35 per sq ft of roof before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,050 less. Roofers earn a median of $21.65 an hour in the Knoxville area, 19% below the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Knoxville, TN, standard level
$7,050 to $9,400
About $3.45 to $4.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,500 | $3,850 |
| Labor | $4,350 | $5,200 |
| Permits and fees | $200 | $350 |
| Total | $7,050 | $9,400 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Knoxville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,550 | $3,200 | $4,800 | 39% |
| Labor | $3,700 | $4,750 | $5,850 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $280 | $460 | 3% |
| Total | $5,300 | $8,250 | $11,100 | 100% |
Why Knoxville 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, Knoxville wages are 0.84 times the national level. Labor makes up about 58% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Knoxville is at 96.2 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 92.6: $95 to $460.
Knoxville 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, Knoxville Mcghee Tyson Ap (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Knoxville: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Knoxville gets about 52 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.3 inches in July). The station averages about 37 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 | 48 | 30 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 48 | 4.7 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 57 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 69 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 61 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 72 | 49 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 38 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 51 | 33 | 5.0 | Workable |
What local crews earn in Knoxville
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 Knoxville the blend is 0.84.
Roofers (47-2181), 85% of the weighting: a median of $21.65 an hour, 19% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $17.89 and $22.80 an hour. About 440 work in the metro. That is 10.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 15%) the local median is $22.18 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.16 and $25.87 an hour. BLS counts 3,640 of them working in the area, 85.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (roofers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $210 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $680. That is a swing of roughly 8.3% to 2.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Knoxville has 424,600 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 59th 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% | $17.89 | $21.65 | $22.80 | $26.65 | 0.81 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $18.16 | $22.18 | $25.87 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Planning more than one job in Knoxville?
Jobs that often go together with roof are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Knoxville wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (−3%) 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 – $29,700 | −9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $4,000 | −5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $7,800 – $23,400 | −7% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $970 – $3,900 | −3% |
Specs and site conditions that change a Knoxville bid
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.
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Knoxville
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Knoxville. 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
$5,300 to $7,650
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$7,050 to $9,400
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$8,800 to $11,100
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,250 – $4,700 | $4,300 – $5,800 | $5,400 – $6,850 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $5,300 – $7,650 | $7,050 – $9,400 | $8,800 – $11,100 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $7,400 – $10,600 | $9,800 – $13,000 | $12,200 – $15,400 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $9,500 – $13,600 | $12,600 – $16,600 | $15,600 – $19,700 |
Is Knoxville cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Asheville is the priciest of the group at $8,700. Kingsport is the cheapest at $7,750.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TNthis page | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,250 | |
| Asheville, NC95 miles | $5,650 – $11,700 | $8,700 | +6% |
| Dalton, GA95 miles | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,200 | level |
| Chattanooga, TN95 miles | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,200 | level |
| Johnson City, TN100 miles | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,200 | −1% |
| Kingsport, TN100 miles | $4,950 – $10,500 | $7,750 | −6% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $5,350 – $11,200 | $8,250 | level |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | +13% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Knoxville ranks #243 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Knoxville is 0% below the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $5,550 – $11,500 | $8,500 | +3% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $5,400 – $11,300 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,200 | level |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $4,950 – $10,500 | $7,750 | −6% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,200 | level |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $5,350 – $11,100 | $8,250 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Knoxville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $5,400 – $11,300 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $5,450 – $11,300 | $8,350 | +2% |
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $5,450 – $11,300 | $8,350 | +1% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $6,500 – $13,000 | $9,750 | +18% |
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Roof replacement in Knoxville: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Knoxville?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $5,300 to $11,100 in the Knoxville area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,050 to $9,400. 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 Knoxville?
About $2.60 to $5.35 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $95 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Knoxville or Asheville?
Asheville is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $8,700, which is 6% more than Knoxville ($8,250). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Knoxville?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $4,750 out of $8,250. Materials are 39% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Knoxville?
$7,400 to $15,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Knoxville?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $460 for fees in the Knoxville area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Knoxville expensive for roof compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Knoxville is 0% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($8,250 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Knoxville?
The BLS median is $21.65 an hour in the Knoxville area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.89 to $22.80.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Knoxville?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $5,300 to $7,650 and premium work $8,800 to $11,100. Basic means: 3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof. Premium means: heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs.
+Is there a bad season to replace a roof in Knoxville?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Roof replacement near Knoxville
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.