Roof replacement cost depends heavily on material choice, roof size and pitch, and how many layers of old roofing need to be removed first. These ranges reflect typical U.S. pricing for a full replacement on an average single-family home and are meant to help you sanity-check quotes, not replace an actual on-site estimate.
Asphalt shingles remain the most common and most affordable option, typically running $8,000 to $16,000 for a full replacement on an average-size home, or roughly $4 to $7 per square foot installed. Architectural (dimensional) shingles cost somewhat more than basic three-tab shingles but last longer and handle wind better, which is usually worth the difference.
Metal roofing typically runs $12,000 to $25,000, reflecting both higher material cost and specialized installation labor, but often comes with a 40-to-50-year lifespan versus 20-to-30 years for asphalt, making the per-year cost more competitive than the upfront number suggests.
Tile roofing — clay or concrete — typically runs $15,000 to $30,000 or more, driven by both material cost and the structural reinforcement some homes need to support the additional weight. Tile is most common in warmer climates and can last 50 years or longer with proper maintenance.
Flat or low-slope roofing, common on additions, garages, and some home styles, is typically priced and quoted differently from pitched roofs and generally runs $5,000 to $12,000 depending on the material used (TPO, EPDM rubber, or modified bitumen) and the square footage involved.
Two factors move any of these numbers more than people expect: tear-off and roof complexity. Removing multiple existing layers of old roofing before installing new material adds real labor cost, and a roof with many angles, valleys, skylights, or chimneys takes significantly longer to install correctly than a simple rectangular roof of the same square footage. When comparing quotes, confirm each one includes full tear-off and disposal, and ask specifically how the contractor is pricing the complexity of your roof's shape — it's one of the most common places quotes diverge for what looks like the same job on paper.