The Slate Roof Cost Calculator prices natural hard slate, soft slate and three kinds of synthetic slate for your roof, adds removal of the existing roof, and sets the result beside the same roof in architectural asphalt. Natural hard slate typically installs for $20 to $30 per square foot and soft slate for $10 to $30, while synthetic slate runs about $4 to $8 for composite, $5 to $12 for fiber cement and $8 to $11 for rubber, according to This Old House's 2026 cost guide. Removal adds roughly $2 to $5 per square foot. Natural slate is commonly expected to last 75 to 150 years, so the calculator also divides each price by its service life: that cost per year is where a slate roof justifies its price, provided you stay in the house and the framing can carry the weight.
Slate is the longest-lived roof covering there is, and the most expensive to install: most of the price is the skilled labour of hanging each slate by hand, and natural stone is heavy enough that the framing is usually checked first. Synthetic slate gives the look at a fraction of the weight and cost.
| Slate | Installed / sq ft | 2,000 sq ft roof | Typical life |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural slate — hard | $20 – $30 | $40,000 – $60,000 | 75–150 years |
| Natural slate — soft | $10 – $30 | $20,000 – $60,000 | 75–150 years |
| Synthetic slate — composite | $4 – $8 | $8,000 – $16,000 | 30–50 years |
| Synthetic slate — fiber cement | $5 – $12 | $10,000 – $24,000 | 30–50 years |
| Synthetic slate — rubber | $8 – $11 | $16,000 – $22,000 | 30–50 years |
Installed bands from This Old House's 2026 slate roof cost guide; removal of an existing roof adds about $2 to $5 per square foot.
Natural hard slate runs about $20–$30 per sq ft installed and soft slate $10–$30. Synthetic slate is far cheaper: roughly $4–$8 for composite, $5–$12 for fiber cement and $8–$11 for rubber (This Old House, 2026). Removing an old roof adds about $2–$5 per sq ft.
About $40,000–$60,000 in natural hard slate, $20,000–$60,000 in soft slate, and $8,000–$24,000 in synthetic slate depending on the product, before tear-off.
Natural slate commonly lasts 75–150 years, so per year of service it can cost less than several asphalt roofs in a row. It only pays back if you stay long enough to use that life, and if the framing can carry the weight.
It gives the look at a fraction of the weight and price, and many products carry impact ratings. It is commonly expected to last 30–50 years — long, but not natural-slate long. Ask for the product's warranty and impact class in writing.
Often, for natural slate. It is several times heavier than asphalt shingles, so have the rafters or trusses checked before you order. Synthetic slate usually avoids the question.