Cambridge, MA Roofing Prices: Shingle, Metal and Flat Roofs (2027)
Use your home size and roof pitch in Cambridge, MA
Not sure of the pitch? Most ranch homes sit low; a roof you cannot walk on, such as 9/12 and up, adds safety gear and labor. This page starts Massachusetts at 7/12.
Budget $11,830 to $18,020 to strip and re-shingle a typical 1,800 sq. ft. single-story house in Cambridge, MA with standard asphalt. Behind the number: a 7/12 pitch, close to 2,205 sq. ft. of roof surface (22.1 squares), one old layer removed, materials and installation included.
Per square - the hundred-square-foot unit every roofing bid uses - this job lands at $653.78 installed. Thicker 50-year architectural shingles raise the job to $13,140 to $20,030, and the cheapest metal choice, steel shingles, begins near $25,440.
That is about $350 above the statewide figure of $11,550 to $17,600, a typical Cambridge premium for labor, permits and insurance. Every one of the 6 Cambridge ZIP codes in Middlesex County uses the prices on this page.
Cambridge, MA Roofing Costs by Material
Your material choice moves the total more than any other decision. This table keeps the 2,205 sq. ft. roof fixed and swaps only what goes on top, old layer removal included.
| Material | Installed cost | Estimate | Per square |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | |||
| Asphalt shingles, 30-year | $11,830 to $18,020 | $14,420 | $653.78 |
| Architectural shingles, 50-year | $13,140 to $20,030 | $16,030 | $726.54 |
| Metal | |||
| Steel shingles | $25,440 to $38,780 | $31,020 | $1,406.78 |
| Aluminum shingles | $28,130 to $42,880 | $34,310 | $1,555.62 |
| Standing seam metal | $33,910 to $51,690 | $41,360 | $1,875.35 |
| Stone-coated steel tiles | $34,630 to $52,790 | $42,230 | $1,915.04 |
| Flat / low-slope membranes (priced on the 1,800 sq. ft. footprint) | |||
| EPDM rubber membrane | $16,110 to $20,930 | $18,520 | $1,028.63 |
| TPO membrane, 60-mil | $13,870 to $18,010 | $15,940 | $885.31 |
| PVC membrane, 60-mil | $16,770 to $21,780 | $19,270 | $1,070.53 |
Where the numbers come from: the roof replacement calculator for shingles, the metal roof calculator for metal and the flat roof calculator for flat membranes, each set to New England pricing - 10% above the U.S. average for shingles and metal.
Price per Year of Roof
The real cost of a roof is price divided by the years it lasts. Hover a bar: metal costs more up front and less per year.
Service lives follow the climate-bell model above (asphalt peaks in moderate regions; metal assumes correct installation); prices are the Cambridge, MA estimates above.
Pricing Variables in a Cambridge, MA Re-Roof
Line items, not markup, explain most bid gaps. Priced on the 22.1-square roof in this guide:
- Layers to remove. One layer costs roughly $3,460 to take off. Older homes sometimes hide a second layer, which adds near $2,240.
- Design. Simple gables are the cheapest to cover. Figure about $1,430 more for a hip roof, or about $2,410 more when dormers and valleys cut it up.
- Access. Raise this roof a story and expect about $1,030 on top of the price, for staging, hauling and slower work.
- Skylights. Swapping or adding a skylight costs around $400 each at Cambridge, MA rates.
- Decking. Nobody can see rotten plywood until the shingles come off. Get a written per-sheet replacement price so a surprise has a fixed cost.
- Flashing, vents and gutters. Some roofers include new flashing and vents; others bill them separately. Price new gutters on their own with the gutter cost calculator.
- Permit, dumpster, cleanup. Each town sets its own fees. Get them written into the price, along with a magnetic nail sweep of the yard.
Match the Quote to Your Roof
Pick the options that match your house; the figure reprices instantly with this page's Cambridge, MA numbers.
$14,420quotes usually $11,830 – $18,020
Same 2,205 sq. ft. roof at 7/12, priced with our roofing and metal calculators at Cambridge, MA rates. Decking repairs, skylights and gutters are extra.
Ask each bidder to fill in the same list: tear-off layers, underlayment, ice barrier, flashing, vents, decking rate, permit. Gaps in that list explain most low bids.
Weather, Wear and Your Massachusetts Roof
Region 2 on the map, Massachusetts sees average summer highs near 83°F and winter readings from about 35°F by day to 17°F at night. Local terrain shifts these numbers. What that means for materials and installation in Massachusetts:
Ice dams. Heat leaking from the house melts roof snow, and the water refreezes at the cold overhang. The ice ridge then forces meltwater under the shingles. On a new roof, run ice-barrier membrane along the eaves and valleys, and fix the attic leaks behind it - the attic insulation calculator and roof heat cable calculator price both.
Snow cover. Roofs here carry snow for long stretches. That rewards a solid deck, good attic ventilation and careful flashing at chimneys and walls, where meltwater collects.
Salt air. Near the ocean, salt corrodes steel fasteners, flashing and cut metal edges. Ask for corrosion-resistant nails and flashing, and choose aluminum or coastal-rated metal panels.
Where Shingles Live Longest: the Climate Bell
Asphalt life peaks in the moderate middle (Region 3) and falls toward BOTH ends of the map above - cold regions destroy shingles with ice dams, hot ones bake them. Note the middle columns: shingles marketed as “lifetime” are good for about 25 real-world years at best - Massachusetts is Region 2. Hover any column.
low pitch holds snow and ice - it costs the most years in cold regions
Planning figures from our climate model, for ventilation-correct installs - a baked, unvented attic can take years off any column. Pitch adjusts the asphalt columns only; metal sheds snow at any sane pitch.
Price a New Roof for Your ZIP Code
Metal vs. Shingles in Cambridge, MA
Metal roofs come in a few families, and they do different jobs. The prices below are for a typical 1,800 sq. ft. single-story house in Cambridge, MA.
- Standing seam: $33,910 to $51,690. Tall ribs, clips under the seams, nothing exposed to rust or work loose. Wide, plain roof planes show it at its best. Here it costs about $25,340 above architectural shingles.
- Steel shingles: $25,440 to $38,780. Aluminum shingles: $28,130 to $42,880. Pressed metal pieces shaped like shakes, slate or ordinary shingles. They interlock, so they handle cut-up roofs with valleys and dormers where long panels waste metal. Aluminum will not rust, which counts near salt water. Steel is stiffer and dents less.
- Stone-coated steel: $34,630 to $52,790. Steel tiles with a coat of stone granules. They are quiet in the rain, hard to dent, and look like tile or shake from the street.
- Copper: custom quote only. We do not price copper, because every copper roof is custom work. Expect it to cost well above standing seam. It is soft, formed by hand, and can last a century, turning brown and then green. Most homes use it on bay windows, porch roofs and other accents.
Shingle roofs in Massachusetts often fail at the eaves first, where ice builds up and water backs in. Metal is slick, so snow lets go before that ice ridge can form. The edge stays sound, and the roof can go two or three times as long as asphalt.
Metal pays off for long-term owners. If a move is likely within a few years, architectural shingles usually give better value. Price a specific panel, gauge and finish with the metal roof calculator.
See costs in your area
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When to Re-Roof in Cambridge, MA
Asphalt needs warmth to seal, and winter highs near 35°F rarely provide it. Aim for late spring through early fall, and line up quotes well ahead.
Cambridge, MA Flat Roof Replacement Cost
Low-slope sections need a sealed membrane instead of shingles. Priced across the whole 1,800 sq. ft. footprint, a membrane roof in Cambridge, MA costs:
- EPDM rubber: $16,110 to $20,930. Think of a heavy inner tube spread over the deck. The seams are glued, not welded, and over time they are its weak spot. It earns its place on small, simple roofs and in cold places.
- TPO, 60-mil: $13,870 to $18,010. Most roofers reach for TPO first today. It is white, light, and the seams are melted together rather than glued. Thicker sheets last longer, so compare the mil rating on each bid.
- PVC, 60-mil: $16,770 to $21,780. PVC is the one to pay up for when the roof works hard: a deck with chairs on it, a grill, a corner that never quite dries. Its welded seams and chemical resistance outlast the cheaper sheets there.
Price order in Cambridge, MA: TPO first, PVC last, with EPDM between them. We count new insulation board and one stripped layer in every row. Expect a higher per-square-foot price on a small porch or garage roof. Make sure a new flat roof drains completely; trapped water and winter freezes are a bad combination. Run the flat roof calculator to match a specific membrane and drain layout.
Winter lows near 17°F favor a membrane that stays flexible. EPDM handles deep cold well, and welded TPO or PVC seams resist the freeze and thaw that open glued joints. Either way, keep drains clear so meltwater can leave.
Compare Cambridge With Other Massachusetts Cities
Moving or comparing? The standard asphalt roof in other Massachusetts cities:
- Boston, MA: $11,990 to $18,270, about 3 miles southeast
- Lowell, MA: $11,820 to $18,020, about 20 miles northwest
- Worcester, MA: $11,800 to $17,990, about 35 miles west
- Springfield, MA: $11,760 to $17,920, about 75 miles west
Roofers serving Cambridge also cover Newton, Lynn, Framingham, Andover and Brockton, generally at similar prices. For statewide figures, see the Massachusetts roofing cost guide.
Roof Replacement FAQ: Cambridge, MA
When does a home policy pay for roofing?
Insurance covers storm and impact damage, not wear. A worn-out roof is a maintenance cost - here about $11,830 to $18,020 for asphalt. After a storm, take photos and have a roofer look before you open a claim.
How can I check the size a roofer quoted?
Roofers measure surface, not floor area. The 1,800 sq. ft. footprint in this guide turns into about 2,205 sq. ft. of roof at 7/12 - 22.1 squares. Different counts between bids are a red flag.
Who pulls the roofing permit in Massachusetts?
Most local building departments want one when the old roof comes off completely, and some send an inspector at the end. The contractor should file it; be cautious if a roofer asks you to.
How long does a re-roof take?
Plan on a few days at most for an asphalt roof around 2,205 sq. ft. Complex shapes, a second layer or bad weather can stretch it.
Price it yourself: Roof Replacement Calculator · Metal Roof Calculator · Flat Roof Calculator · Gutter Cost Calculator · Attic Insulation Calculator · Roof Heat Cable Calculator
About the numbers: each figure runs through our roofing calculators, adjusted for the New England market and updated for inflation every year. Treat them as a planning guide and compare at least three written bids on identical scope.
Quick Answers
Answers use Massachusetts averages; energy prices updated October 2026.
What time of year is best for a new roof in Massachusetts?
Plan for the warm season. Winter highs in Massachusetts average about 35°F, too cold for the seal strips to set on their own, so late spring through early fall is the usual window.
Does a new roof in Massachusetts need an ice barrier membrane?
It should have one. With typical winter lows around 17°F, roofs in Massachusetts face ice dams, so the membrane belongs at the eaves and in every valley - check the building code for the minimum.
Does metal roofing make sense in Massachusetts?
Usually, if you will stay. With winter lows around 17°F, metal in Massachusetts sends snow sliding off before it can build ice at the eaves - just add snow guards above entries.
Will a lighter roof lower cooling costs in Massachusetts?
Only a little. Winter lows around 17°F mean heating dominates the energy bill in Massachusetts; spend first on attic insulation and air sealing.
Can new shingles go on top of the old roof?
Sometimes, if only one layer is on now and local code allows a second. A full tear-off costs more but exposes the deck, so rotted boards get replaced rather than buried.
Run your own numbers: Roof replacement calculator or Metal roof cost calculator.
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Massachusetts Roofing costs (statewide) · Roofing costs in every state
