As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
A copper roof costs about $11 to $35 per square foot installed. This Old House's copper roof cost guide (updated June 2026) prices copper shingles at $11 to $21 per square foot, panels at $19 to $28, tiles at $17 to $28, batten seam at about $22, standing seam at $28 to $31 and soldered flat seam at about $35. A whole 2,000 sq ft roof therefore runs roughly $22,000 to $70,000, while a 150 sq ft bay or porch roof is about $1,650 to $5,250. Copper is expected to last at least 100 years, so the calculator divides each price by a 70 to 100 year life and sets it beside architectural asphalt on the same roof. Enter a whole roof, or just the bay, porch or turret you want in copper.
Copper roofs are priced by system. Shingles and pre-formed panels install much like other roofs; standing seam, batten seam and soldered flat seam copper are formed on site by sheet-metal crews. Prices are This Old House's copper roof cost guide, updated June 2026.
| Copper roof | Installed / sq ft | 150 sq ft bay or porch | 2,000 sq ft roof |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper shingles | $11 – $21 | $1,650 – $3,150 | $22,000 – $42,000 |
| Copper panels | $19 – $28 | $2,850 – $4,200 | $38,000 – $56,000 |
| Copper tiles | $17 – $28 | $2,550 – $4,200 | $34,000 – $56,000 |
| Copper batten seam | $22 | $3,300 | $44,000 |
| Copper standing seam | $28 – $31 | $4,200 – $4,650 | $56,000 – $62,000 |
| Copper flat seam | $35 | $5,250 | $70,000 |
This Old House expects copper to last at least 100 years with little maintenance; our lifespan table uses 70 to 100+ years. Per year of service it can cost less than three or four asphalt roofs, but only for an owner who stays. Many homeowners put copper only where it shows — a bay window, porch, turret or dormer.
About $11–$35 per sq ft installed, according to This Old House (June 2026): copper shingles $11–$21, panels $19–$28, tiles $17–$28, batten seam about $22, standing seam $28–$31 and flat seam about $35. A 2,000 sq ft roof runs roughly $22,000–$70,000.
$11 per sq ft at the low end for copper shingles and up to about $35 for soldered flat-seam copper. Most of the difference is labour: shingles go on like any shingle roof, while seamed and soldered copper is hand work by a sheet-metal crew.
This Old House says at least 100 years with little maintenance; our lifespan table uses 70–100+ years for copper and zinc. The fasteners, underlayment and flashings must be chosen to last as long.
The metal costs several times more than steel, and copper roofs are formed, seamed and often soldered by specialist sheet-metal crews. Many homeowners use copper only on a bay window, porch or turret, where the area is small.
Yes. Bare copper darkens to brown within months and slowly develops a blue-green patina over many years, faster near the sea. Pre-patinated copper is sold if you want the green look straight away.
Copper on only part of the roof? Price the rest with the standing seam metal roof cost calculator in steel.
Need the whole roof at once? The free roofing calculator works out roof area, squares, shingle bundles, underlayment, drip edge, ridge cap and installed cost from one set of measurements.