Roof replacement cost in Bellingham, WA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $6,650 – $13,500
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3.25 – $6.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +8%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #53
- 1 = most expensive
Bellingham homeowners pay roughly $6,650 to $13,500 to replace a roof at 2,000 sq ft of roof, or $3.25 to $6.50 per sq ft of roof (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Bellingham is 8% higher. Roofers earn a median of $28.72 an hour in the Bellingham area, 8% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Bellingham, WA, standard level
$8,700 to $11,400
About $4.25 to $5.50 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,750 | $4,200 |
| Labor | $5,700 | $6,850 |
| Permits and fees | $230 | $390 |
| Total | $8,700 | $11,400 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Bellingham, WA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,700 | $3,450 | $5,250 | 34% |
| Labor | $4,850 | $6,300 | $7,700 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $100 | $310 | $520 | 3% |
| Total | $6,650 | $10,100 | $13,500 | 100% |
Where the Bellingham price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: roofers at 85%, construction laborers at 15%. Weighted together, Bellingham wages are 1.10 times the national level. Labor makes up about 62% of the midpoint estimate (61% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bellingham metro is 105.0 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,000 sq ft of roof comes to $3,450, compared with $3,300 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (103.3) and land at $100 to $520.
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 Bellingham is 1.10 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $28.72 an hour, which is 8% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $24.26 and $37.17 an hour. BLS counts 440 of them working in the area, 48.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 8.7), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 15% of the weighting: a median of $28.06 an hour, 24% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.41 and $36.85 an hour. About 1,030 work in the metro. That is 112.7 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 ($37.17 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $1,550. At the 25th percentile ($24.26) it shrinks by about $810. The total moves by 15.3% or 8.1%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 91,390 jobs in the Bellingham area. That makes it the 217th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $24.26 | $28.72 | $37.17 | $26.65 | 1.08 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.41 | $28.06 | $36.85 | $22.66 | 1.24 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.10 | |||||
When to schedule roof in Bellingham
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Bellingham Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Bellingham: 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.
Bellingham gets about 35 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, November and December (5.2 inches in November).
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 | 46 | 34 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Feb | 49 | 35 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 53 | 38 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 58 | 42 | 2.8 | Workable |
| May | 64 | 47 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 68 | 52 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 73 | 55 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 73 | 55 | 1.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 68 | 50 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 43 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 38 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 34 | 4.3 | Workable |
Planning more than one job in Bellingham?
Because every project leans on different trades, Bellingham's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs +16% and metal roof +12%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,600 – $36,100 | +12% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,500 – $4,750 | +14% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $9,650 – $28,900 | +15% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,200 – $4,600 | +16% |
Is Bellingham cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Seattle is the priciest of the group at $10,400. Yakima is the cheapest at $9,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, WAthis page | $6,650 – $13,500 | $10,100 | |
| Bremerton, WA90 miles | $6,550 – $13,400 | $9,950 | −1% |
| Seattle, WA95 miles | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,400 | +4% |
| Olympia, WA140 miles | $6,450 – $13,200 | $9,800 | −3% |
| Yakima, WA175 miles | $6,300 – $12,900 | $9,600 | −5% |
| Spokane, WA200 miles | $6,450 – $13,200 | $9,800 | −2% |
| Washington (statewide) | $6,700 – $13,500 | $10,100 | +1% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | −8% |
Across 300 US metros, Bellingham comes in at #53 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, Bellingham is 1% below the Washington figure.
Other Washington metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $6,950 – $14,000 | $10,400 | +4% |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $6,450 – $13,200 | $9,800 | −2% |
| Olympia, WA | 130,300 jobs | $6,450 – $13,200 | $9,800 | −3% |
| Kennewick, WA | 129,490 jobs | $6,600 – $13,400 | $10,000 | −1% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $6,300 – $12,900 | $9,600 | −5% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $6,550 – $13,400 | $9,950 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Bellingham's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bellingham against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $6,550 – $13,400 | $9,950 | −1% |
| Panama City, FL | 90,610 jobs | $5,350 – $11,200 | $8,250 | −18% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $6,300 – $12,600 | $9,450 | −6% |
| St. George, UT | 90,500 jobs | $5,650 – $11,700 | $8,650 | −14% |
Cost by quality level and size in Bellingham
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bellingham 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
$6,650 to $9,350
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$8,700 to $11,400
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$10,700 to $13,500
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $4,000 – $5,750 | $5,300 – $7,000 | $6,600 – $8,300 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $6,650 – $9,350 | $8,700 – $11,400 | $10,700 – $13,500 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $9,250 – $13,000 | $12,100 – $15,800 | $14,900 – $18,700 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $11,900 – $16,700 | $15,500 – $20,300 | $19,100 – $23,900 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Bellingham 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.
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 $8,700 to $11,400 for Bellingham, WA is attached.
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Roof replacement in Bellingham: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Bellingham?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $6,650 to $13,500 in the Bellingham area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,700 to $11,400. 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 Bellingham?
About $3.25 to $6.50 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $100 to $520 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Bellingham or Bremerton?
Bremerton is 90 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $9,950, which is 1% less than Bellingham ($10,100). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bellingham?
About 62% at the midpoint, or $6,300 out of $10,100. Materials are 34% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Bellingham?
$9,250 to $18,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Bellingham?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $100 to $520 for fees in the Bellingham area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bellingham expensive for roof compared with the rest of Washington?
Bellingham is 1% below the Washington statewide estimate ($10,100 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Washington; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Bellingham?
The BLS median is $28.72 an hour in the Bellingham area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.26 to $37.17.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Bellingham?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $6,650 to $9,350 and premium work $10,700 to $13,500. 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 Bellingham?
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 Bellingham
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.