Roof replacement cost in Appleton, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $6,600 – $13,100
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3.25 – $6.35
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #67
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace a roof in Appleton, plan on $6,600 to $13,100 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, all in. Per sq ft of roof, that is $3.25 to $6.35 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% higher than the national one. Roofers earn a median of $29.75 an hour in the Appleton area, 12% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Appleton, WI, standard level
$8,550 to $11,200
About $4.15 to $5.40 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 66% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $3,750 |
| Labor | $5,900 | $7,100 |
| Permits and fees | $200 | $350 |
| Total | $8,550 | $11,200 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Appleton, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,100 | $4,700 | 31% |
| Labor | $5,000 | $6,500 | $7,950 | 66% |
| Permits and fees | $90 | $280 | $460 | 3% |
| Total | $6,600 | $9,850 | $13,100 | 100% |
Where the Appleton price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 85% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.75 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Appleton is 1.14 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 66% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Appleton metro is 93.8 (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 (92.4) and land at $90 to $460.
Is Appleton cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Appleton is the priciest of the group. Oshkosh is the cheapest at $9,450.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appleton, WIthis page | $6,600 – $13,100 | $9,850 | |
| Oshkosh, WI20 miles | $6,300 – $12,600 | $9,450 | −4% |
| Green Bay, WI20 miles | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,550 | −3% |
| Sheboygan, WI50 miles | $6,300 – $12,700 | $9,500 | −4% |
| Wausau, WI80 miles | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,500 | −3% |
| Milwaukee, WI100 miles | $6,450 – $12,900 | $9,700 | −2% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $6,400 – $12,800 | $9,600 | −3% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | −6% |
Across 300 US metros, Appleton comes in at #67 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, Appleton is 3% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $6,450 – $12,900 | $9,700 | −2% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $6,500 – $13,000 | $9,750 | −1% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,550 | −3% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $6,300 – $12,600 | $9,450 | −4% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $5,900 – $12,000 | $8,900 | −9% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $6,400 – $12,800 | $9,650 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Appleton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Appleton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duluth, MN | 124,710 jobs | $7,400 – $14,400 | $10,900 | +11% |
| Amarillo, TX | 123,930 jobs | $5,250 – $10,900 | $8,100 | −18% |
| Crestview, FL | 125,050 jobs | $5,450 – $11,400 | $8,400 | −15% |
| Rochester, MN | 122,980 jobs | $6,650 – $13,200 | $9,900 | +1% |
Appleton: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Appleton 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
$6,600 to $9,200
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$8,550 to $11,200
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$10,500 to $13,100
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $4,000 – $5,600 | $5,200 – $6,850 | $6,450 – $8,050 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $6,600 – $9,200 | $8,550 – $11,200 | $10,500 – $13,100 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $9,200 – $12,800 | $11,900 – $15,500 | $14,600 – $18,200 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $11,800 – $16,400 | $15,200 – $19,800 | $18,700 – $23,200 |
Appleton 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 Appleton is 1.14 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $29.75 an hour, which is 12% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.42 and $32.31 an hour. BLS counts 120 of them working in the area, 9.7 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 $28.49 an hour, 26% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.86 and $36.28 an hour. About 1,030 work in the metro. That is 82.9 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 ($32.31 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $470. At the 25th percentile ($23.42) it shrinks by about $1,150. The total moves by 4.7% or 11.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 124,230 jobs in the Appleton area. That makes it the 174th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $23.42 | $29.75 | $32.31 | $26.65 | 1.12 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $21.86 | $28.49 | $36.28 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.14 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Appleton
Because every project leans on different trades, Appleton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, metal roof runs +7% and attic insulation −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,400 – $34,200 | +7% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,400 – $4,350 | +5% |
| Vinyl siding | 2,100 sq ft of wall | $8,700 – $26,000 | +3% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $3,900 | −2% |
Climate in Appleton: timing your roof job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Appleton (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Appleton (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November 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.
Appleton gets about 33 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 49 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.7 inches in June). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 2.8 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 25 | 10 | 1.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 29 | 12 | 1.1 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 22 | 1.9 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 34 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 46 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 57 | 4.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 61 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 79 | 60 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 51 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 58 | 39 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 43 | 28 | 2.1 | Cold |
| Dec | 31 | 17 | 1.8 | Cold |
Why two Appleton 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.
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 $8,550 to $11,200 for Appleton, WI is attached.
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Multi-page report for Appleton, WI: 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 Appleton: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Appleton?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $6,600 to $13,100 in the Appleton area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,550 to $11,200. 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 Appleton?
About $3.25 to $6.35 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $90 to $460 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Appleton or Oshkosh?
Oshkosh is 20 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $9,450, which is 4% less than Appleton ($9,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Appleton?
About 66% at the midpoint, or $6,500 out of $9,850. Materials are 31% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Appleton?
$9,200 to $18,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Appleton?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $90 to $460 for fees in the Appleton area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Appleton expensive for roof compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Appleton is 3% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($9,600 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do roofers earn in Appleton?
The BLS median is $29.75 an hour in the Appleton area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.42 to $32.31.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Appleton?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $6,600 to $9,200 and premium work $10,500 to $13,100. 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 Appleton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. September and October 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 Appleton
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.