$8,300 – $23,400 our estimate for an asphalt shingle roof over a 2,000 square foot footprint in Louisiana, adjusted for the state's roofer wages
$23.44 an hour median roofer wage in Louisiana, 12% below the national median (BLS, May 2025)
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What a new roof costs in Louisiana
Nationally, an asphalt shingle roof costs $4 to $11 a square foot installed (see our roof replacement cost guide). Labor is about 40% to 60% of a roofing job, and a roofer's median wage in Louisiana is 12% below the national median, so we scale the labor part of that range by the state's wage. That gives about $3.71 to $10.47 a square foot in Louisiana.
For a 2,000 square foot footprint at a medium pitch, about 2,236 square feet of roof, that comes to $8,300 to $23,400. It is an estimate from national prices and state wages, not a survey of Louisiana jobs: materials, tear-off, permits and your roof's shape move the real price. Use the roof cost calculator for your own roof and material.
Roofer wages in Louisiana
| Louisiana | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median hourly wage | $23.44 | $26.65 |
| Mean hourly wage | $25.38 | — |
| Roofers employed | 760 | 135,490 |
A wage is not a price: an estimate also carries materials, tear-off, disposal, permits, insurance and the contractor's overhead. But where roofers earn more, labor-heavy work such as tear-off and steep or complex roofs usually costs more too.
Weather that damages roofs in Louisiana
From 1980 to 2024, NOAA counts 106 weather and climate disasters that each cost at least $1 billion and affected Louisiana, about 2.4 a year on average and 6.8 a year in 2020–2024. These are the kinds that damage roofs:
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Drought and freeze events are left out; they rarely damage roofs.
- 44 billion-dollar severe storms, which bring hail and high wind, have affected Louisiana: see how to tell if hail damaged your roof and whether Class 4 impact-resistant shingles are worth it.
- 27 billion-dollar hurricanes and tropical storms have affected Louisiana: see what to do after a storm and how roof shape affects wind (hip vs gable).
- 9 billion-dollar winter storms have affected Louisiana: see how to stop ice dams.
The building code for roofs in Louisiana
Louisiana enforces the 2021 International Residential Code, with state amendments, as a statewide minimum code. It took effect on January 1, 2023. Source: ICC NTA. Your roofer pulls any permit under the rules of your city or county; see whether you need a permit.
Roofing contractor licensing in Louisiana
Since January 1, 2026, residential roof work valued at $7,500 or more needs a state license from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. The license must carry the Residential Roofing or Residential Construction classification. You can check a license number with the board. Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. Whatever the state requires, check a contractor before you sign: see what to check before you hire and questions to ask a roofer.
Grants for a FORTIFIED roof
When it is funded, the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program gives grants of up to $10,000 toward upgrading an existing home's roof to the FORTIFIED Roof standard. It is run by the Louisiana Department of Insurance and is limited to primary residences. Funding opens in rounds, so check the department for the current status before you start work. Source: Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (FORTIFIED).
A permit and inspection for every reroof
Under Act 239 of 2025, roof construction and reroofing on homes need a permit and an inspection for projects that began on or after August 1, 2025. Starting work before the permit is issued is a violation for the contractor. Check your parish or city for the permit fee. Source: Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.
You pay your own deductible
Louisiana law requires the homeowner to pay the deductible on a property insurance claim. A seller who knowingly helps you skip it breaks state law. Contracts of $1,000 or more expected to be paid from a claim must print this notice in bold type. Source: Louisiana State Legislature.
Drip edge rules for FORTIFIED roofs
An emergency amendment to the state's residential code sets drip-edge and fastener requirements for roofs installed to the FORTIFIED standard. It includes a minimum 26-gauge steel drip edge at eaves and gables of shingle roofs. The rule took effect on June 1, 2026 for 180 days unless renewed or made permanent, so check the code council for its current status. Source: ICC NTA.
Roof costs in other states
How we got these numbers
The Louisiana estimate is our own arithmetic: HomeAdvisor's national range of $4 to $11 a square foot, with its labor share (40% to 60%, per HomeGuide) scaled by Louisiana's median roofer wage over the national one (23.44 ÷ 26.65 = 0.88), times 2,236 square feet of roof, rounded to $100. Rules change: check the agency named in each source before you rely on it. This page states facts about Louisiana; it does not say that HomeAnvil or any contractor works there.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, roofers (47-2181)
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, billion-dollar disasters, Louisiana summary, inflation-adjusted, read September 27, 2026
- National price and labor share: our roof replacement cost guide and garage roof guide
- ICC NTA, Louisiana Code Adoption and Amendments Effective January 1, 2023, December 9, 2022
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, Licensure Requirements/Permits/Inspections, August 12, 2025
- Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (FORTIFIED), Incentives for Residents of Louisiana
- Louisiana State Legislature, RS 51:452 Contract paid with insurance policy proceeds; notice required
- ICC NTA, Louisiana Exercises Emergency Provision to Amend Construction Code, May 28, 2026
Show the quoted text
- ICC NTA: “have an effective date of January 1, 2023 and are enforceable as the statewide minimum codes for construction.”
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors: “project value is seven thousand five hundred dollars or more shall hold the classification of Residential Roofing or Residential Construction.”
- Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (FORTIFIED): “When funded, the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program provides grants up to $10,000 to owners of existing homes to upgrade to the FORTIFIED Roof standard.”
- Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors: “requires permitting and inspection of roof construction and reroofing of residential and commercial structures for any projects beginning on or after August 1, 2025.”
- Louisiana State Legislature: “Louisiana law requires a person insured under a property insurance policy to pay any deductible applicable to a claim made under the policy.”
- ICC NTA: “Provide (minimum 26 gauge for steel) corrosion-resistant metal drip edge and fasteners at eaves and gables of shingle roofs.”
Each state source was read September 27, 2026.