GetMyRoofCost
Material Cost Guide

Metal Roof Cost (Exposed Fastener).

$850 – $1,300 per square installed nationally for Metal — Exposed Fastener — $20,400 – $31,200 for a typical 24-square roof, including tear-off of one layer. Lifespan: 40-50 years.

MaterialPer squareTypical 24-square roofLifespan
Metal — Exposed Fastener$850 – $1,300$20,400 – $31,20040-50 years

Metal — Exposed Fastener

Corrugated and ribbed steel panels with visible screws: metal's value tier, common on rural and modern homes.

Worked example: a 24-square roof at the national band runs $20,400 – $31,200 installed, including tear-off of one layer, underlayment, and standard flashing. In Washington, labor adjusts that to $21,550 – $33,000.

Pros

  • 40-50 year service life
  • Sheds snow and rain fast
  • Lower cost than standing seam

Cons

  • Exposed screws need periodic re-seating and gasket checks
  • Can telegraph noise in heavy rain without solid decking
  • Oil-canning (visible waviness) on wide panels

Best for: Rural homes, shops, and modern farmhouse styles where budget matters more than a seamless look.

Sources: Angi (2026 cost data): Metal roofing $7-$16 per sq ft installed ($700-$1,600 per square); This Old House (2026): Metal roofing average installation cost from $11,655 per project (guide floor); HomeGuide (2025): Metal roofs $5-$16 per sq ft installed depending on profile. 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 metal (exposed fastener) roof cost?

Installed nationally, Metal — Exposed Fastener runs $850 – $1,300 per square (100 sq ft), or about $20,400 – $31,200 for a typical 24-square roof — including tear-off of one layer, underlayment, and standard flashing. State labor moves the range; Washington runs $898 – $1,374 per square.

How long does a metal (exposed fastener) roof last?

Expect 40-50 years from a properly installed metal — exposed fastener 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.