How Much Does It Cost to Install a Tin Roof?

Average Cost to Install a Tin Roof

Estimating Costs

The cost of installing a tin roof is split fairly evenly between labor and materials. But you'll also need to budget for permits and unforeseen issues.

Materials

The price of the materials for a tin roof installation is $2 to $7 per square foot, or $20 to $700 per square. A square is a roofing trade measurement that's an area of 100 square feet. 

Labor

Labor for a tin roof installation is $3 to $5 per square foot. Labor, like materials, is billed per square foot or per square. So, per square, or 100 square feet, you can expect to pay $300 to $500 in labor fees.

Permits

Permits can cost anywhere from $50 to $300. Where you live, the structure you're roofing, whether you're replacing or patching a roof, or installing a new one all impact whether you need a permit for a tin roof installation. In some states, you only need a permit to put a new roof over an existing roof.

In other areas, you need a permit if you're creating a roof patch or repair over a certain size. A local roofing contractor should be aware of all the permitting requirements in your location.

Overage

It's a very good idea to leave 10% to 15% of the project total aside as a contingency fund. While the installation should be straightforward, your contractor may uncover a separate issue that needs immediate correction. If, for example, you're ripping out an old roof and adding a new one, the contractor could identify issues such as a damaged support beam, water damage, mold, or insect infestation. 

Cost to Install a Tin Roof by Square Foot

All in, it costs $5 to $12 per square foot to install a tin roof, or $500 to $1,200 per square. The exact price of installing a metal roof depends on a lot of variables, including roof type, pitch, location, and more. The table below shows some typical roof sizes and their associated costs.

Price of Tin Roof Installation by the Sheet

Standard 8-by-12-foot tin sheets cost $23 to $42 each, without installation. If you opt for a tin sheet roof, the contractor may charge by the sheet instead of the square foot, based on the number of sheets you need and how long it typically takes to correctly install each sheet. Tin roof sheeting is popular because if the roof gets damaged, you can get away with just replacing the one damaged sheet.

Cost of Installing a Tin Roof by Location

Tin is a versatile and affordable roofing material, at $5 to $12 per square foot, installed. And, if you're handy enough to do a smaller installation yourself, the price of materials alone is $3 to $7 per square foot. Tin roofing goes beyond whole-house installations. You can use the tin for the roof, an open-sided firewood cover or hay store, a shed, barn, porch, and more.

Store Cover

The cost of a tin roof for a 100-square-foot store cover is around $800, depending on size. If you're only roofing a small, 30-square-foot store, you'll pay as little as $150 to $360. Homeowners typically use these simple pitched or slanted covers on open-sided firewood storage or to cover a feed store, fuel store, or similar. 

Shed

To roof a 10-by-12-foot shed, expect to pay an average of $1,000. Sheds need flashing and, if you want to collect rainwater, you'll need a rain barrel and guttering, too. Depending on how you use the shed, you may also want insulation, reflective paint, and ventilation, increasing the final cost. 

Porch

A 16-by-20-foot tin porch roof typically costs $2,000, installed. Tin porch roofs are a great choice if your home already has a tin roof, helping you achieve a cohesive look. This type of roof is also popular for porches because it's comparatively quick and easy to install and, if the homeowner has the right skills and tools, it's a suitable DIY job.

Mobile Home

A typical mobile home roof measures 1,024 square feet and costs an average of $8,700 to install. Tin is a popular roofing option for mobile homes because of its cost-efficiency, lightweight, and durability. A tin roof can protect a mobile home and help with heating and cooling efficiency without overburdening the structure with excessive weight.

Barn

An average 1,200-square-foot tin barn roof costs around $10,200, all in. Tin barn roofing is durable and strong, able to withstand winds of 140 miles per hour. And, like other metal roofs, it's cost- and energy-efficient, lightweight, low-maintenance, and easy to install. 

House

It typically costs $12,700 to install a tin roof on a 1,500-square-foot house. The price varies from $7,500 to $18,000 for a house of this size, depending on what extras you need, such as insulation and flashing, and the roof's pitch.

An increasing number of homeowners are opting for tin roofs because they're cost-efficient, lightweight, more sustainable, and environmentally friendly than asphalt, have a lifespan of up to 70 years, and are a solid choice for saving on heating and cooling costs.

Cost of Installing a Tin Roof by Roof Type

There are two types of tin roofs. The traditional flat tin roof, which costs $5 to $9 per square foot to install, and the standing seam pitched roof, which costs $7 to $12 per square foot to install.

Flat Tin Roof

A flat tin roof typically costs $7 per square foot to install, with a range of $5 to $9 per square foot. The price of a flat tin roof is $500 to $900 per square, with an average of $700 per square. The materials cost $2 to $4 per square foot and the labor costs $3 to $5 per square foot. 

Flat tin roofs, also known as batten seam roofs, consist of wide panels that overlap. They adhere to each other and the roof structure by fixing to wood or metal batten strips with exposed fastenings. While still a common choice for wood or feed stores, they're less popular for roofing homes or porches because of their old-fashioned look.

Standing Seam Tin Roof

Standing seam tin roofs cost around $9.50 per square foot to install, but you can pay as little as $7 or as much as $12 per square foot. The price of a standing seam tin roof is $700 to $1,200 per square. The average price is $950 per square. The materials alone cost $4 to $7 per square foot, and labor costs $3 to $5 per square foot. 

Standing seam roofs are usually high and pointed and have overlapping edges and concealed fasteners. Their appearance is contemporary and clean, and they're a popular choice in high rainfall areas, as they're very effective at channeling water. Plus, because the seams and fastenings are concealed, there's less chance of water seeping inside.

Price of Installing a Tin Roof by Panel Type

The style of tin you choose directly impacts the price you'll pay for your new tin roof. It's not just a matter of style; the type of tin you choose for your roof determines strength and durability and resistance to wind and rain.

R-Panel

R-panel tin roofs cost an average of $5.50 per square foot to install, and you can pay anywhere from $3 to $8 per square foot. The price of an R-panel tin roof is $300 to $800 per square, with an average of $550 per square.

These roofs are among the most affordable metal roof types and offer a high level of strength and protection against strong wind and water damage. R-panels are a great mix of affordability and durability.

5V Crimp

5V crimp tin roof panels cost around $5.50 per square foot, including installation, with a cost range of $4 to $7 per square foot. Per square, expect to pay an average of $550, with prices starting at $400 per square and reaching as much as $700 per square.

Budget-friendly and super-lightweight, 5V crimp roofs are suitable for installation over an existing roof. Homeowners and pros prize them for their extreme leak resistance. However, the same shape that makes them practically impervious to water makes them more vulnerable to storms and high winds than other types, so they may be unsuitable for installation in a volatile, storm-prone climate.

Corrugated

Corrugated tin roofs cost around $6 per square foot, all-in, or between $4 and $8 per square foot. Therefore, per square of corrugated tin roofing, you'll pay roughly $600 for parts and labor, or between $400 and $800.

Corrugated tin roofs are fire-, weather-, and water-resistant, and extremely durable. They're also the most energy-efficient of tin roof types. Their extreme durability and fire resistance make them popular choices in areas with hostile, stormy climates and locations prone to wildfires. 

Cost of Replacing a Tin Roof

The cost of replacing a tin roof is typically $13,500 for a 1,500-square-foot home. In many cases, because tin is so lightweight, you can simply install the new roof over the existing one without putting excessive weight on the home's structure. 

However, if you want to remove the old roof, it costs an extra $1 per square foot for ripping up the existing roof. So, for a 1,500-square-foot home, you'd pay $1,500 for roof removal, then $12,000 for installing the new tin roof, bringing the total project price to $13,500.

Cost Factors Related to Installing a Tin Roof

Aside from installing the tin panels themselves, there are lots of extras that potentially impact the cost of installing a tin roof.

Installing Guttering

Installing gutters costs $3 to $40 per linear foot, including parts and labor. Adding gutters lets you direct water away from your home's foundation or any other potential trouble spots. It also lets you collect rainwater to use in the garden, helping to reduce water consumption and footprints and lower utility costs. 

Sealing

Sealing a roof costs $0.65 to $5 per square foot. While most tin roofs come with a protective coating already in place, you may still want to add extra protection or apply a new coat when the old one gets worn, scratched, or damaged. This helps to minimize the risk of leaks and corrosion and extends the lifespan of your tin roof.

Flashing

Adding flashing to a roof costs $200 to $500 for a standard home roof. However, you may pay more if you have a large or unusual-shaped roof or one with many joins and valleys. You add flashing at joins or anywhere that water can potentially penetrate, such as around chimneys and skylights, along valleys, and where one section of roof butts up against another. 

Painting

Painting a metal roof costs $1 to $2.50 per square foot, all in. While not necessary, painting your tin roof adds another layer of protection and lets you choose a custom color, rather than the standard shades of gray. Just remember that the roof needs a thorough cleaning before you can successfully paint it.

FAQs About Tin Roofs

Are tin roofs cheaper than shingles?

Yes and no. Tin roof panels are less expensive than asphalt shingles, but tin roofs cost more to install than their asphalt counterparts. So overall, a tin roof is more expensive than a shingle roof at the outset.

But a tin roof lasts up to 70 years (or more with proper maintenance), compared to an asphalt roof's typical lifespan of just 20 to 30 years. And tin roofs are lower maintenance. So, over the long term, tin roofs are considerably cheaper than asphalt roofs, and they cost much less to maintain, too.

Is a tin roof better than a shingle roof?

Whether a tin roof is better than an asphalt roof depends on your priorities. It'll cost you less to install asphalt, but tin lasts much longer and requires less maintenance. Tin is more fire, weather, and climactic cycling resistant than shingles. Tin roofs are more energy-efficient and can help reduce heating and cooling costs. Plus, tin is a more eco-friendly and sustainable material, as, unlike asphalt shingles, it's not petroleum-based, contains recycled material, is recyclable, and lasts longer overall.

How long does a tin roof last?

Tin roofs typically last around 70 years. However, with proper maintenance, a tin roof can last for 100 years or more, though this is the upper end.