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Material Cost Guide

Cedar Shake Roof Cost.

$700 – $1,150 per square installed nationally for Cedar Shake — $16,800 – $27,600 for a typical 24-square roof, including tear-off of one layer. Lifespan: 25-35 years.

MaterialPer squareTypical 24-square roofLifespan
Cedar Shake$700 – $1,150$16,800 – $27,60025-35 years

Cedar Shake

Hand-split cedar with unmatched texture — and real maintenance obligations, especially in wet climates.

Worked example: a 24-square roof at the national band runs $16,800 – $27,600 installed, including tear-off of one layer, underlayment, and standard flashing. In Washington, labor adjusts that to $17,750 – $29,150.

Pros

  • Distinctive, high-end appearance
  • Natural insulation value
  • 25-35 years with disciplined maintenance

Cons

  • Needs periodic cleaning and treatment, especially in the wet Northwest
  • Fire restrictions in some jurisdictions
  • Among the pricier per-square options

Best for: Pacific Northwest and New England homes where the look is the point and maintenance is budgeted.

Sources: Angi (2026 cost data): Wood shakes $6-$15 per sq ft installed ($600-$1,500 per square); This Old House / Homewyse (2026): Wood shake $13.15 per sq ft ($1,315 per square) — above our high bound; see notes; HomeGuide (2025): Wood shake roofs typically $700-$1,100 per square installed. Full sourcing on the methodology page.

Price your own roof with the free satellite estimator or the manual calculator — same dataset, your measurements.

Fair Questions

Asked by every homeowner.

How much does a cedar shake roof cost?

Installed nationally, Cedar Shake runs $700 – $1,150 per square (100 sq ft), or about $16,800 – $27,600 for a typical 24-square roof — including tear-off of one layer, underlayment, and standard flashing. State labor moves the range; Washington runs $740 – $1,216 per square.

How long does a cedar shake roof last?

Expect 25-35 years from a properly installed cedar shake roof with adequate ventilation. Underlayment and flashing quality — the invisible half — decide whether a roof reaches the top of that range.

Is the satellite estimate free for this material too?

Yes. The estimator measures your roof once and re-prices it across every material instantly, from the same measurements and the same published dataset.