A metal roof costs more up front and lasts longer. In the 2025 Cost vs Value report, the same 3,000-square-foot roof costs $51,865 in standing-seam metal and $31,871 in asphalt shingles, about 1.6 times as much. The home inspectors' association InterNACHI puts the life of a metal roof at 40 to 80 years, against 20 years for 3-tab shingles and 30 for architectural shingles. Whether the extra cost pays off depends mostly on how long you will own the house.
The two roofs side by side
| Asphalt shingles | Standing-seam metal | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard project cost, 30 squares (Cost vs Value 2025) | $31,871 | $51,865 |
| Cost per square of that project | about $1,060 | about $1,730 |
| Installed cost per square foot (HomeAdvisor, June 2026) | $3 to $7 | $7 to $13 for metal generally; $4 to $30 for standing seam |
| Share of cost recouped at resale (Cost vs Value 2025) | 67.5% | 50.1% |
| Expected life (InterNACHI) | 20 years (3-tab), 30 years (architectural) | 40 to 80 years |
The per-square figures divide each Cost vs Value total by the 30 squares its specification names. HomeAdvisor's figures come from what its customers reported paying, so they cover smaller and simpler jobs as well as large ones.
What each price buys
Cost vs Value prices both projects on the same house: a rectangular hip roof of 3,000 square feet with two skylights, stripped to the bare wood deck.
- The asphalt job installs 30 squares of fiberglass asphalt shingles weighing at least 235 pounds per square, with a warranty of at least 25 years, over felt or synthetic underlayment, with galvanized drip edge and aluminum flashing.
- The metal job installs prefinished standing-seam panels over an ice-barrier membrane at the edges and premium synthetic underlayment everywhere else, with matching drip edge, gable trim and vented ridge flashing.
Standing seam is the kind of metal roof with long panels joined at raised seams. Metal shingles and exposed-fastener panels are also sold for homes, and are priced differently, so ask which one an estimate is for.
Lifespan and cost per year
A roof that lasts twice as long can cost less per year even when it costs more to install. Using the Cost vs Value totals and InterNACHI's life expectancies:
| Roof | Project cost | Expected life | Cost per year of life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt, architectural | $31,871 | 30 years | about $1,060 |
| Metal, short end of range | $51,865 | 40 years | about $1,300 |
| Metal, long end of range | $51,865 | 80 years | about $650 |
These are simple divisions, not forecasts. InterNACHI says its figures assume normal maintenance and ordinary wear, and should be used as guidelines, not guarantees. It also notes that hot climates shorten the life of asphalt shingles sharply. The Metal Roofing Alliance, the metal industry's trade group, gives a more cautious 30 to 50 years or more for metal and 12 to 20 years for asphalt.
The comparison only favors metal if you keep the roof long enough. If you expect to sell within a few years, the buyer gets most of the metal roof's extra life.
Wind, hail and fire
Wind. The Metal Roofing Alliance says metal roofing carries a 140 mph wind rating. Asphalt shingles are tested to ASTM D3161 and ASTM D7158; the basic 3-tab shingles we checked from two major manufacturers pass the top classes of both, but the wind speed the manufacturer's warranty covers is usually lower. Our guide to architectural and 3-tab shingles sets out those ratings.
Hail. Roof coverings are rated for impact under UL 2218, which drops steel balls from 1.25 to 2 inches across onto the roof covering; Class 4, the 2-inch ball, is the top rating. Impact ratings belong to products, not materials: in tests by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, basic shingles cracked far more often than Class 4 impact-resistant ones. Where hail is common, ask for the UL 2218 class of the exact product, metal or asphalt.
Fire. The CertainTeed 3-tab and architectural shingles we checked are both rated Class A for fire under UL 790 and ASTM E108, the top class. The Metal Roofing Alliance says metal roofing can protect a home when burning embers land on the roof. Check the rating of the whole roof assembly with your roofer, since the underlayment and deck count too.
Noise in rain
The Metal Roofing Alliance says there is little difference in noise between metal and other roofing in rain or hail. The loud metal roofs people remember are usually on sheds and barns, with bare panels and no deck, insulation or ceiling below them. On a house, the solid deck, underlayment, attic and insulation all dampen the sound. If noise concerns you, ask the roofer what goes under the panels.
Heat and energy
A roof that reflects more sunlight stays cooler. ENERGY STAR says a clean white roof that reflects 80% of sunlight stays about 50°F cooler than a grey roof that reflects 20%, and lists metal and shingles among the materials sold as cool roofs. The benefit is largest where summers are long and hot and the house is air-conditioned; where winters are long and cold, a cool roof matters less. Ask for the product's solar reflectance rating from the Cool Roof Rating Council directory if energy is part of your decision.
Resale
Neither roof pays for itself when you sell. The 2025 Cost vs Value report estimates that the asphalt roof adds $21,501 to resale value, 67.5% of its cost, and the metal roof $25,972, 50.1% of its cost. The metal roof adds more dollars, but you recover a smaller share of what you spent on it. A new roof mainly protects the house and removes an objection a buyer might raise.
When each makes sense
Asphalt shingles tend to make sense when:
- You expect to move within the next ten years or so.
- Your budget is fixed and the difference would come out of other repairs.
- Your neighborhood rules or the style of the house favor shingles.
Metal tends to make sense when:
- You plan to stay for decades and want to avoid paying for another roof.
- The roof is a simple shape with long, uninterrupted slopes, which suits standing-seam panels.
- Heat, wind or wildfire embers are serious concerns where you live, and you choose a product rated for them.
- You want a reflective roof to cut cooling load.
Whichever you choose, the installer matters as much as the material. Ask how many roofs of that exact type the crew has installed, and see our guide to what to check before you hire a home improvement contractor.
Frequently asked questions
How much more does a metal roof cost than shingles?
In the 2025 Cost vs Value report, a standing-seam metal roof costs $51,865 and the same roof in asphalt shingles $31,871, about 1.6 times as much. The Metal Roofing Alliance puts metal at roughly two to three times the cost of asphalt. The gap on your house depends on the type of metal, the shape of the roof and how many roofers near you install metal.
How long does a metal roof last compared with shingles?
InterNACHI lists 40 to 80 years for metal, 30 years for architectural shingles and 20 years for 3-tab shingles, with normal maintenance. InterNACHI notes that weather, design, material quality and maintenance all change how long a roof lasts.
Is a metal roof louder in the rain?
Not much, when it is installed over a solid deck with underlayment and an insulated attic below. The Metal Roofing Alliance says the difference from other materials is small.
Can a metal roof go over my old shingles?
Sometimes. The Metal Roofing Alliance says metal can often be installed over an existing roof, which saves tear-off and disposal. Building codes limit when that is allowed, and a layer left in place hides the deck from inspection. Ask your roofer what your local code permits and what a full tear-off would add.
Does a metal roof raise my home's value more than shingles?
It adds more dollars, but less than it costs. Cost vs Value 2025 estimates $25,972 added for metal against $21,501 for asphalt, which recovers 50.1% and 67.5% of each project's cost.
How we got these numbers
HomeAnvil does not yet publish price data of its own. Every figure on this page comes from a published source, read on September 26, 2026:
- Remodeling Cost vs Value Report 2025, Journal of Light Construction with Zonda: the 2025 national averages, and the project specifications for asphalt shingle roofing replacement and metal roofing replacement. Zonda's announcement and method, published September 18, 2025, says its costs come from Verisk's XactRemodel estimating data and its resale values from a survey of real estate professionals. The report shows the percentages recouped rounded to whole numbers.
- HomeAdvisor, roof replacement cost, updated June 17, 2026, for the installed cost per square foot by material. HomeAdvisor says its figures come from a survey of more than 30,000 customers and other published research.
- InterNACHI, the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, life expectancy of home components.
- Metal Roofing Alliance, frequently asked questions, for its lifespan, cost, wind rating, noise and re-roofing statements. It is the metal roofing industry's trade group.
- Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, Relative Impact Resistance of Asphalt Shingles, August 2014, for the UL 2218 test sizes.
- CertainTeed technical data sheets for XT 25 and Landmark shingles, for the Class A fire ratings.
- ENERGY STAR, cool roofs.
- The cost per square and cost per year of life are divisions of the figures above, calculated for this page.
We will update this page when these sources publish new figures, and the date above will say when.
Related guides
How much does a roof replacement cost?A roof replacement typically costs $5,900 to $13,400, or $400 to $1,100 per square installed. How to measure your roof, what moves the price and how to compare estimates.
Are architectural shingles worth it over 3-tab shingles?Architectural shingles start near $3.50 a square foot against $1.50 for 3-tab, last about 30 years instead of 20, and carry longer warranties.
How long does a roof last?Architectural shingles last about 30 years, 3-tab about 20, metal 40 to 80, slate 60 to 150. What shortens a roof's life, and why a warranty isn't a lifespan.