Metal Roofing Calculator

How to Measure A Roof for Metal Roofing?

by with No Comment Roof measurement

How do you calculate the length of a metal roof panel?

Finally, enter the coverage area (width) of the panels you plan to buy. For instance a 38″ panel will have an effective coverage width of 36″. The metal roof length calculator calculates the distance from peak to trim so add the length you want the roof metal to extend beyond the eave trim. We recommend about 2″.

How do you measure for a steep roof?

You will need to go up on top. If the pitch of the roof is not that steep, you won’t have to worry too much about following. You should do this with someone that can hold one end of the tape measure so you can go to the other ends. You will then measure how much it will be for the with all the way to the edge.

How do I figure out how many sheets of roofing I need?

Divide the total roof area by the effective area of a single sheet and round up the result to the next whole number. The result is the number of sheets required.
 

How do I calculate corrugated metal roofing?

Call your metal provider and ask for the width of the corrugated metal, which is commonly 36 inches. Multiply the length of the sheet — sheets vary in length depending on your need — times the width. For example, 10 feet times 3 feet (36 inches wide) equals 30 square feet. One sheet will cover 30 square feet.
 

Here’s our step-by-step guide for measuring the total roof area for installation:

  1. Step 1: Start by sketching out a top-down view of your home’s roof. …
  2. Step 2: Measure the length of your roof. …
  3. Step 3: Next, figure out the width of the metal that you’re installing. …
  4. Step 4: Repeat Step 3 for the other side of the roof.

How do you figure linear feet for a metal roof?

24 inches divided by 12 inches is equal to 2 feet and 36 inches divided by 12 inches is equal to 3 feet. First we will calculate the 2-foot wide material. Divide 533 square feet by 2 feet and the result is 266.5 linear feet. Next do the same with the 3-foot material and the result is 177.66 linear feet.
 

Install Metal Panels

Align the first metal roofing panel so that it overlaps the edging by 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch and is square to the roof line. Be sure the larger edge is laid so that the small edge of the next panel will overlap it. Follow us!
 

What is the standard width of metal roofing?

The two most common widths are 26 and 36 inches. Other standard widths include 24 and 39 inches. When calculating coverage using the width and length of corrugated roofing, keep in mind that each piece will need to overlap by several inches.
 

How do you calculate roofing materials?

To estimate roofing materials, start by finding the total square footage of the roof and divide the number by 100 to determine the number of “squares” in the roof. Since it takes 3 bundles of shingles to cover a square, plan to purchase 3 bundles for each square. Then, add 10% to the number to account for waste.
Metal Roofing Calculator

Metal Roofing Material and Price Estimate

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Cost Comparison of Metal Roofing

MaterialMaterial price per square footTotal cost
MaterialMaterial price per square footTotal cost
Corrugated steel$1.00–$2.50$9,350–$19,500
Aluminum shingles$3.15–$6.00$15,500–$28,000
Galvanized steel shingles$3.35–$4.25$17,000–$25,000

How do I estimate the cost of a metal roof?

Divide the length of your roof by the width of the metal. In our example we will use 24-inch standing seam roofing, so we will divide 360 inches by 24, which equals 15. This is the number of metal panels needed for one side of the roof.

How much is a 24 gauge metal roof?

The actual price you’ll pay depends on multiple cost factors that are based on your roof and the contractor you hire. For a one-story house with a basic up and over roof with no penetrations and no valleys, you can expect a 24 gauge steel standing seam metal roof to cost around $12.00 per square foot.
 

Common Metal Roof Sheet Sizes

Roofing panels come in many styles and dimensions with different overlap dimensions. The most common lengths are 8′, 10′, 12′, and 16′, however many distributors will cut to length.

The most common widths are 24″ and 36″ exposed, but the actual width of the panel will be larger to accommodate an overlap. Each style of panel is unique and may have a different actual width and exposed width.

Metal roofs are beautiful and very durable. When installed correctly, they can last a very long time with little maintenance. See our other roofing resources for more roofing calculators and tools.

Metal Roofing Costs at a Glance

  • Average labor costs: $350-$400 per 100 square feet
  • Average labor costs, seam roof: $500 per 100 square feet
  • Corrugated metal sheets: $180-$250 per 100 square feet
  • Aluminum sheets: $325-$575 per 100 square feet
  • Copper sheets: $1,400-$2,200 per 100 square feet
  • Average total material costs: $4,875-$8,625
  • 2,000-square-foot metal roof cost: $8,000-$60,000
  • Compare to 2,000-square-foot asphalt roof: $6,000-$7,500

Replacing your roof can be inconvenient and expensive, so it’s hardly surprising that durability is one of the most important deciding factors for many homeowners. Metal roofing systems are gaining popularity thanks to their stylish appearance and long lifespans. However, metal is also one of the most expensive roofing options, so it’s important to understand the costs involved before replacing your existing roof with a metal one.

Types of Metal Roofing

There’s a lot to choose from when it comes to metal roofs. If you are not decided yet on the best metal roofing for your home, here’s a list of the common metal roofs out there.

  • Corrugated metal roof
  • Copper Roofing
  • Aluminum roofs
  • Metal slate roofs
  • Standing seam metal roofs
  • Tin Roofing
  • Steel roofs
  • Zinc metal roof
  • Metal tile roofs

Steel roofing is a common choice for property owners because they produce roof surfaces that effectively shed snow and rain. When you choose this option, you should hire a professional roofer to install them properly. Otherwise, the results will be noisy when it rains.

roof

How do I estimate the cost of a metal roof?

by with No Comment Roof measurement

Divide the length of your roof by the width of the metal. In our example we will use 24-inch standing seam roofing, so we will divide 360 inches by 24, which equals 15. This is the number of metal panels needed for one side of the roof.

Is it cheaper to get a metal roof or shingles?

With that in mind, a metal roof will always be more expensive than shingles. … For example, an architectural shingle roof (the most commonly used shingle) will cost around $4.76 per square foot, while a standing seam metal roof will cost around $15.00 per square foot.

How much does it cost to put a metal roof on a 1700 square foot house?

These metal panels cost between $1 and $2.50 per square foot for the raw materials, or between $5.50 and $11.50 for materials plus installation costs. For a 1,700-square-foot roof, the total metal roofing cost comes out to about $9,350 to $19,500.

Is a metal roof better than a shingle roof?

Metal roofing is durable and routinely lasts 2-4 times longer than shingles. Homeowners like the idea of buying only one more roof in their life instead of potentially several. Metal roofing outperforms shingles in cases of hail and other severe weather events. 

How to calculate metal roof cost? Metal roof formulas

Although our metal roof calculator will do all the work for you, we understand that you may feel more confident if you know how to carry out the calculations yourself. Here are detailed instructions on how to calculate metal roof cost on your own.

  • calculating roof area based on roof measurements: roof length * roof width = roof area
  • calculating roof area based on footprint measurements: footprint length * footprint width * roof pitch multiplier = roof area
  • calculating panel area: panel length * panel width = single panel area
  • calculating number of panels to buy: roof area / panel area = panels needed (rounded up)
  • calculating the cost of buying the panels: cost of a single panel * number of panels = total expenses

Average Cost of Metal Roof Installation

Once you have the materials, then you need to actually install your roof – or more accurately, have it installed by a team of professional roofers.

The costs of installing your metal roof will vary depending on your location, your property, and the type of roof that you are installing, but installation costs are important to account for since they will affect the total price of your new metal roof.

Metal roofing tends to be more expensive to install than asphalt or wood shingles since it is not simply nailed to the top of the roof but rather built on top of a breathable synthetic underlayer, prefabricated trim, fashioning, and requires the installation or customization of pipe boots and roof vents.

This of course increases the overall cost of materials as well as the expertise necessary to do the job – roofers in your area or metal roof contractors who can handle metal roofing with the appropriate skill tend to be on the higher end, cost-wise.

Also, keep in mind that smaller orders of metal roofing material (or any other roofing material) tend to cost a bit more per square foot than larger orders.

Ordering through your roofing contractor can be one way to save on your new roof since they likely have the connections to buy at a bulk rate or can get an industry discount.

Another important factor to consider when you are pricing out metal roofing is the sustainability aspect; while metal roofing might be initially more expensive than other materials, it may last longer and you might not require many metal roof repairs or be less likely to require a total replacement than other types of roofing materials.

Plus, metal roofing can often be the most energy-efficient selection, saving you money on heating during the winter and air conditioning in the summer.

How Much Does a New Metal Roof Cost?

 
Low Estimate
$5 – $8 / sqft
Average Cost Estimate
$12 – $18 /sqft
High Estimate
$15 – $30 /sqft
Type of Roofing MetalCorrugated PanelsShingles / Standing SeamStone Coated / Standing Seam
Metal Gauge or Thickness29 Gauge26 – 29 Gauge24 – 27 Gauge
Surface CoatingsNone / PaintedPainted / CoatedPainted / Coated
Life Expectancy15-20 Years25 – 40 Years35 – 50 Years or Longer
Existing ShinglesRemainRemain / RemoveRemain / Remove
Existing Underlayment$20 – $150$20 – $250Included
Roof Features and ConstructionSimple RoofAverageAverage / Difficult
Installed ByDIY / ProProPro
Permits and/or Inspection$0 – $250$0 – $250$0 – $250
Roofing Calculator

How Much Does a Metal Roof Cost?

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Is it cheaper to get a metal roof or shingles?

With that in mind, a metal roof will always be more expensive than shingles. … For example, an architectural shingle roof (the most commonly used shingle) will cost around $4.76 per square foot, while a standing seam metal roof will cost around $15.00 per square foot.

Is a metal roof better than a shingle roof?

While asphalt shingles can withstand fire, metal roofs offer the best resistance. And though it’s commonly believed hail can easily dent a metal roof, that’s a myth. Metal roofs are more efficient at handling common hail impacts than asphalt shingles. Winner: Metal roofing.

Is it OK to put a metal roof over shingles?

In almost every case, the answer is yes, you can lay down a new metal roof over an existing shingle roof. This is one of the many reasons metal roofs keep growing in popularity – their installation doesn’t require completely tearing off the existing roof, which is a time-consuming and expensive job.

Metal Roof Cost: How to Calculate the Cost of a Metal Roof

 

 

You may know the size of your home, and you may even know the square footage of your roof—but calculating the cost of a metal roof is a little more complicated. Roofing prices change with the demand for materials and the cost of acquiring them, and labor costs vary regionally and seasonally. As a base calculator, use the following formula:

**  Materials + Labor and Installation in My Area + Overhead = Total Cost of Metal Roofing Near Me

Each of these three components should make up one-third of your project cost.

As you begin calculating, keep in mind that roofers use a unique unit of measure called a roofing square to calculate material prices, equivalent to 100 square feet (a 10-foot by 10-foot square). This calculation will itemize the total material cost for that section, so the number of squares needed to cover your roof will drive the rest of the expenses. To accurately estimate, plan on over-ordering material by 5 to 20 percent to account for waste on cuts and any pattern matching. Labor costs will vary, so plan to collect multiple estimates with itemized cost lists before you choose. Overhead will include costs such as shipping, tools, permits, and insurance.

We can now apply the same premise to metal roofing panels with a better understanding of life cycle costs. The table below highlights that life cycle costs are a game-changer in any cost comparison between shingle and metal roofing.

 

3 Tab Asphalt

Architectural Shingle

Metal Roof Exposed Fastened

Metal Roof Standing Seam

Life Expectancy

12 years

15 years

50-60 years

50-60 years

Initial Roof Cost Total

$9,100.00

$9,560.00

$13,660.00

$19,340.00

Tear Off Cost @ year 12-15 (Inflation-Adjusted @ 2% annually)

$4,120.00

$4,120.00

0

0

New Roof at Year 12-15 (Inflation-Adjusted @ 2% annually)

$13,180.00

$13,846.00

0

0

Total roofing cost at year 16

$26,400.00

$27,526.00

$13,660.00

$19,340.00

Do metal roofs rust?

Rust Resistant Roofing

Metal does rust – as do old roofs made of tin, aluminum, and steel. With the right protective coating, a metal roof can fight against oxidation and the formation of rust.

What is the cheapest metal roofing?

Corrugated metal roofing is the cheapest metal roofing. This type of roofing is typically made from galvanized steel, which is the most common steel roofing type. Corrugated metal roofing costs between $1.80 and $2.50 per square foot.
Estimate Roof Size

Metal Roofing Calculator

by with No Comment Roof measurement

How do I figure out how much metal roofing I need?

Divide the length of your roof by the width of the metal. In our example we will use 24-inch standing seam roofing, so we will divide 360 inches by 24, which equals 15. This is the number of metal panels needed for one side of the roof.

How do you measure a roof for metal roofing?

Here’s our step-by-step guide for measuring the total roof area for installation:
  1. Step 1: Start by sketching out a top-down view of your home’s roof. …
  2. Step 2: Measure the length of your roof. …
  3. Step 3: Next, figure out the width of the metal that you’re installing. …
  4. Step 4: Repeat Step 3 for the other side of the roof

How much overhang should a metal roof have?

A typical metal roof overhang may be 2 to 4 inches, or even less. Some slight overhang is recommended, in conjunction with a drip edge flashing, to prevent water from getting under the roofing and onto underlying wood.
 
Install Metal Panels
Align the first metal roofing panel so that it overlaps the edging by 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch and is square to the roof line. Be sure the larger edge is laid so that the small edge of the next panel will overlap it.

Metal Roof Cost Per Square Foot

For many homeowners who are looking to install a metal roof on their house, cost is a huge factor.

As of 2022, the average price to install metal roofing is $5.97 to $9.85 per square foot.

Once you start researching various metal roof options, you will notice that there is a wide price range, depending on the type of metal and roofing system you want to install.

 

Lets take a closer look at how much you will spend on each popular metal roofing system:

Roofing TypeCost per sq. ft.Cost per square (100 Sq. Ft)Cost per sq.ft. installedInstall a 2,000 sq.ft. roof
Corrugated metal panels$1.75-2.5$175-250$4.25 – 6$8,500 – 12,000
Interlocking steel shingles$3.5 – $5$350- $500$8.75-11.5$17,500 – 23,000
Aluminum Shingles$4-6$400-600$9.5-13$19,000 – 26,000
Stone coated steel shingles$4.75 – 6.50$475-650$10 – 14$20,000 – 28,000
Steel standing seam$2 – 3.5$200-350$7.5 – 13$15,000 – 26,000
Aluminum standing seam$4-5.5$400-550$9.75 – 15$19,500 – 30,000
Zinc metal panels$8 – 11$800-1,100$15-20$30,000 – 40,000
Copper metal panels$10-13$1,000 – 1,300$17-22$34,000 – 44,000
 
roof blueprint

How to Measure a Roof for Metal Roofing Installation

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Most residential homes don’t have a perfectly square roof, which is fine, but it can make measuring a roof for metal roofing a bit tricky. Most home roofs also have a pitch and angles that need to be taken into consideration when measuring which can also make things complicated. Not too worry though, we put together some of our best tips and tricks for how to measure a roof for metal roofing.

The Basics: What You Need to Measure

The first step when measuring your roof for metal roofing is to draw out an aerial view of your roof. This drawing doesn’t have to be perfect or to scale, but it does need to be clearly labeled with all the features of the roof in inches and feet.

Be sure to also include any porches or overhangs that are attached to your roof that you also want to be covered in the metal roofing.

Measuring your roof slopes can be helpful but isn’t necessarily required. If the pitch of the roof is known, the length of the panels needed in that area can be calculated.

Don’t Forget to Include Chimneys and Skylights

There are a couple of things you will also need to take into consideration, such as skylights, chimneys and any other roof penetrations. Always measure the dimensions of anything that protrudes from the roof.

Basically, anything that breaks up the smooth plane of the roof should be added to your drawing and labeled with measurements.

Determine the length of the metal panels needed for one side of your roof by measuring from the fascia board (the board attached to your roof joists) to the ridge (the peak) of the roof. For example, your roof could measure 12 feet to its peak. This number will tell you the total length of metal panels needed. Add an inch or two, depending on your preference for overhang. For example, if you measure 12 feet, then make the length 12 feet, 1 inch or 12 feet, 2 inches. Always measure in the middle of your roof and on each end, checking that the measurements are the same. In our example, we will need 15 panels, each 12 feet (plus an inch or two) in length, for one side of the roof. We will need a similar amount for the other side, based on its measurements.

Safety Considerations

When learning how to install a metal roof, understanding safety is the most important step. Always be sure to prioritize safety when working above ground.

Gloves and safety googles should be part of your roofing supplies and worn at all times to prevent injury. Always prioritize safety when working above ground.

  • Be sure there are no electrical wires or low branches hanging over the roof.
  • Secure your ladder at the base and at the point of roof contact. Test the ladder to be certain it will not shift under your weight.
  • Use proper fall protection equipment and be certain the system is anchored to your roof studs correctly.
  • Wear appropriate safety shoes when engaging in roof work.

While this overview can give you a good idea of what is generally required to install a metal roof, the process can be very complex and hazardous. A project of this scope is often best assigned to a professional installer. If you decide to hire professionals for your metal roof installation, thoroughly research and select a team that has experience in roof repair, the roofing system you want and that is insured (general liability and worker’s compensation insurance) and licensed as required by your state.