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A standing seam metal roof costs about $7.54 to $19.48 per square foot installed in 24-gauge steel. This Old House's standing seam cost guide (updated March 2026) prices steel panels at $4.59 to $8.55 per square foot, aluminum and zinc at $6.12 to $28.50 and copper at $12.24 to $26.60, with installation labour adding $2.95 to $10.93. That puts a 2,000 sq ft roof at roughly $15,080 to $38,960 in steel before tear-off, against $9,000 to $13,000 for architectural shingles. The calculator applies those bands to your roof area or footprint and pitch, adds removal of one layer of shingles ($1.00 to $1.75 per square foot), and divides each total by its service life — 40 to 70 years for steel and aluminum, 70 to 100 for zinc and copper — so you can compare what each roof costs per year you own it.
Standing seam is the concealed-fastener metal roof: panels run eave to ridge, clip to the deck and lock together at raised seams. This Old House (updated March 2026) prices the panels and the labour separately, so the installed band below is panel price plus labour of $2.95 to $10.93 per square foot.
| Metal | Panels / sq ft | Installed / sq ft | 2,000 sq ft roof | Typical life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steel standing seam (24 ga, Galvalume or painted) | $4.59 – $8.55 | $7.54 – $19.48 | $15,080 – $38,960 | 40–70 years |
| Aluminum standing seam | $6.12 – $28.50 | $9.07 – $39.43 | $18,140 – $78,860 | 40–70 years |
| Zinc standing seam | $6.12 – $28.50 | $9.07 – $39.43 | $18,140 – $78,860 | 70–100 years |
| Copper standing seam | $12.24 – $26.60 | $15.19 – $37.53 | $30,380 – $75,060 | 70–100 years |
About $7.54–$19.48 per sq ft installed in steel: This Old House (March 2026) puts 24-gauge steel panels at $4.59–$8.55 per sq ft and labour at $2.95–$10.93. Aluminum and zinc run $9.07–$39.43 installed and copper $15.19–$37.53.
Roughly $15,080–$38,960 in steel before tear-off, and up to about $78,860 in aluminum or zinc at the top of the range. Removing one layer of shingles adds about $2,000–$3,500.
Upfront it costs two to three times architectural shingles. It is commonly expected to last 40–70 years against 25–30, has no exposed screws to re-seal, and sheds snow. Per year of service it can come out close to or below asphalt if you stay in the house.
Snap-lock panels click together and are faster, so they cost less to install; mechanically seamed panels are crimped with a seaming tool and are the choice for low slopes and high-wind or heavy-snow areas. Ask which one each quote includes.
Each panel is run to length, clipped to the deck and seamed, and every hip, valley and penetration needs custom trim. That is why This Old House's labour band ($2.95–$10.93 per sq ft) is as wide as the material band.
Counting panels, clips and trim? The metal roof calculator works out panel lengths, screws and trim from the same roof.
Want the stone-chip look instead? The stone-coated steel roof cost calculator prices shake and tile-profile 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.