Roof replacement cost in Madison, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,000 sq ft of roof)
- $6,500 – $13,000
- Per sq ft of roof
- $3.20 – $6.25
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $9,300
- Rank of 300 metros
- #77
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to replace a roof in Madison, plan on $6,500 to $13,000 for 2,000 sq ft of roof, all in. Per sq ft of roof, that is $3.20 to $6.25 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 5% higher than the national one. Roofers earn a median of $29.24 an hour in the Madison area, 10% above the US median of $26.65.
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Estimated cost for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Madison, WI, standard level
$8,450 to $11,000
About $4.10 to $5.35 per sq ft of roof before permits. Labor is about 65% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $3,750 |
| Labor | $5,750 | $6,950 |
| Permits and fees | $210 | $370 |
| Total | $8,450 | $11,000 |
Cost breakdown for 2,000 sq ft of roof in Madison, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $3,100 | $4,700 | 32% |
| Labor | $4,900 | $6,350 | $7,800 | 65% |
| Permits and fees | $95 | $290 | $490 | 3% |
| Total | $6,500 | $9,750 | $13,000 | 100% |
Why Madison prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on roofers, who do 85% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.24 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Madison is 1.11 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 65% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Madison 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 (97.3) and land at $95 to $490.
Climate in Madison: timing your roof job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Madison Dane Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Madison (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March 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.
Madison gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 52 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 2.2 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 | 27 | 12 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 25 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 47 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 51 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 29 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 32 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
Specs and site conditions that change a Madison 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.
Planning more than one job in Madison?
Because every project leans on different trades, Madison's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, metal roof runs +5% and attic insulation −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $11,100 – $33,600 | +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 | $990 – $3,900 | −2% |
Madison: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Madison 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
$6,500 to $9,100
3-tab shingles, single layer, simple roof
Standard
$8,450 to $11,000
Architectural shingles, standard pitch and tear-off
Premium
$10,400 to $13,000
Heavy architectural, steep or cut-up roof, decking repairs
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small (1,200 sq ft of roof) | $3,950 – $5,550 | $5,150 – $6,750 | $6,350 – $8,000 |
| average (2,000 sq ft of roof) | $6,500 – $9,100 | $8,450 – $11,000 | $10,400 – $13,000 |
| large (2,800 sq ft of roof) | $9,050 – $12,600 | $11,700 – $15,300 | $14,400 – $18,000 |
| very large (3,600 sq ft of roof) | $11,600 – $16,200 | $15,000 – $19,600 | $18,400 – $23,000 |
Madison 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 Madison is 1.11 times the national level.
For roofers (47-2181, weighted 85%) the local median is $29.24 an hour, which is 10% above the national $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $23.70 and $33.39 an hour. BLS counts 270 of them working in the area, 6.6 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 $27.40 an hour, 21% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.70 and $31.94 an hour. About 2,370 work in the metro. That is 58.1 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 ($33.39 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $750. At the 25th percentile ($23.70) it shrinks by about $1,000. The total moves by 7.7% or 10.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 408,070 jobs in the Madison area. That makes it the 61st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.26% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roofers (47-2181) | 85% | $23.70 | $29.24 | $33.39 | $26.65 | 1.10 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 15% | $22.70 | $27.40 | $31.94 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
Madison against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Same job, same size (2,000 sq ft of roof), priced for the nearest metros. Rockford is the priciest of the group at $10,100. Dubuque is the cheapest at $8,500.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WIthis page | $6,500 – $13,000 | $9,750 | |
| Janesville, WI40 miles | $6,650 – $13,200 | $9,900 | +2% |
| Rockford, IL60 miles | $6,800 – $13,400 | $10,100 | +4% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $5,550 – $11,400 | $8,500 | −13% |
| Oshkosh, WI85 miles | $6,300 – $12,600 | $9,450 | −3% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $6,400 – $12,800 | $9,650 | −1% |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $6,400 – $12,800 | $9,600 | −1% |
| United States | $6,100 – $12,500 | $9,300 | −4% |
Across 300 US metros, Madison comes in at #77 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, Madison is 1% above the Wisconsin figure.
Other Wisconsin metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $6,450 – $12,900 | $9,700 | −1% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $6,350 – $12,700 | $9,550 | −2% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $6,600 – $13,100 | $9,850 | +1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $6,300 – $12,600 | $9,450 | −3% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $5,900 – $12,000 | $8,900 | −8% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $6,400 – $12,800 | $9,650 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Madison's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Madison against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $5,450 – $11,300 | $8,350 | −14% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,200 | −16% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $5,300 – $11,100 | $8,250 | −16% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $8,000 – $15,400 | $11,700 | +20% |
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 $8,450 to $11,000 for Madison, WI is attached.
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Roof replacement in Madison: your questions
+How much does it cost to replace a roof in Madison?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, expect $6,500 to $13,000 in the Madison area. A standard-spec job lands at $8,450 to $11,000. 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 Madison?
About $3.20 to $6.25 per sq ft of roof for materials and labor, plus $95 to $490 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $3 to $6.
+Is roof cheaper in Madison or Janesville?
Janesville is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 2,000 sq ft of roof there is $9,900, which is 2% more than Madison ($9,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Madison?
About 65% at the midpoint, or $6,350 out of $9,750. Materials are 32% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 61%.
+What would large (2,800 sq ft of roof) cost in Madison?
$9,050 to $18,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does roof need a permit in Madison?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $95 to $490 for fees in the Madison area (our national range of $100 to $500 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Madison expensive for roof compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Madison is 1% 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 Madison?
The BLS median is $29.24 an hour in the Madison area, compared with $26.65 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.70 to $33.39.
+What do basic and premium roof work cost in Madison?
For 2,000 sq ft of roof, basic work runs $6,500 to $9,100 and premium work $10,400 to $13,000. 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 Madison?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October and November 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 Madison
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.