Cost to Replace a Roof in Allentown, PA (2027 Price Guide)
Different home? Enter its size and pitch in Allentown, PA
Change the size or pitch and every price below reprices. We start at 7/12, a common Pennsylvania slope; at 9/12 and steeper, expect harness and jack work in the bid.
A full asphalt shingle replacement in Allentown, PA comes to roughly $13,200 to $20,110 for a typical 2,040 sq. ft. single-story house. Behind the number: a 7/12 pitch, close to 2,499 sq. ft. of roof surface (25.0 squares), one old layer removed, materials and installation included.
Roofers bid by the square, which is a hundred square feet of roof; here the installed rate works out to $643.75 a square. The same roof in architectural 50-year shingles is $14,660 to $22,350. Metal begins with steel shingles at roughly $28,390.
Compared with $13,000 to $19,810 statewide, the Allentown market adds about $250. Our prices apply across the 8 ZIP codes that carry the Allentown name, in Lehigh County.
What a New Roof Costs in Allentown, PA: Shingles, Metal, Membranes
Your material choice moves the total more than any other decision. This table keeps the 2,499 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 | $13,200 to $20,110 | $16,090 | $643.75 |
| Architectural shingles, 50-year | $14,660 to $22,350 | $17,880 | $715.40 |
| Metal | |||
| Steel shingles | $28,390 to $43,280 | $34,620 | $1,385.21 |
| Aluminum shingles | $31,390 to $47,850 | $38,280 | $1,531.77 |
| Standing seam metal | $37,840 to $57,690 | $46,150 | $1,846.59 |
| Stone-coated steel tiles | $38,650 to $58,910 | $47,130 | $1,885.67 |
| Flat / low-slope membranes (priced on the 2,040 sq. ft. footprint) | |||
| EPDM rubber membrane | $17,980 to $23,350 | $20,670 | $1,012.86 |
| TPO membrane, 60-mil | $15,480 to $20,100 | $17,790 | $871.73 |
| PVC membrane, 60-mil | $18,710 to $24,300 | $21,510 | $1,054.11 |
Shingle rows use the same math as our roof replacement calculator; metal rows follow the metal roof calculator, and membranes follow the flat roof calculator. All of them carry the Mid-Atlantic cost adjustment, which puts shingles and metal 8% above the U.S. average.
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 Allentown, PA estimates above.
What Pushes a Allentown, PA Roof Quote Up or Down
A cheap bid and an expensive bid often describe two different jobs. On this 25.0-square Allentown, PA roof, these items carry real dollars:
- Removal. Stripping one layer is worth about $3,860 here. Ask the roofer to confirm the layer count up front; a second one adds about $2,500.
- Design. Simple gables are the cheapest to cover. Figure about $1,590 more for a hip roof, or about $2,690 more when dormers and valleys cut it up.
- Building height. Same roof, two stories up: about $1,140 more, mostly labor and safety staging.
- Skylights. Each skylight installed or replaced during the job adds about $390.
- Bad wood. Damaged decking is the most common mid-job extra. Agree on a price per sheet before work starts.
- Trim items. Chimney flashing, pipe boots, ridge vents and drip edge may or may not be in a bid. Gutters usually are not - the gutter cost calculator prices them.
- Permit, dumpster, cleanup. Each town sets its own fees. Get them written into the price, along with a magnetic nail sweep of the yard.
Check a Bid Against Your Roof
Adjust the four choices below until they describe your job, then hold every quote up to the result.
$16,090quotes usually $13,200 – $20,110
Same 2,499 sq. ft. roof at 7/12, priced with our roofing and metal calculators at Allentown, PA rates. Decking repairs, skylights and gutters are extra.
A fair comparison holds scope constant - same layers off, same underlayment, same flashing and vent work, same decking terms. Then price decides.
What the Pennsylvania Climate Does to Roofing
Climate Region 2 on the map below covers Pennsylvania. Average winter highs run about 35°F, overnight lows about 19°F, and summer afternoons about 84°F. The weather above points to a few specific risks for Pennsylvania roofs.
Cold snaps. Repeated freezing and thawing pries at nail holes, seams and flashing. Ask for ice barrier along the eaves and new flashing everywhere the roof meets a wall.
Ice dams. These form when a warm attic melts snow that refreezes at the eaves, trapping water that backs up under the roofing. Two fixes work together: self-adhering ice barrier at the edges and a well-sealed, well-insulated attic. Compare costs with the attic insulation calculator and roof heat cable calculator.
Humidity. Damp, warm air grows algae and mildew on shady roof planes. Choose algae-resistant shingles and keep branches trimmed back so the roof dries after rain.
Many older attached homes have flat or nearly flat roofs, which take a membrane instead of shingles.
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 - Pennsylvania 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.
Check Roof Prices Where You Live
Metal vs. Shingles in Allentown, PA
A metal roof on a typical 2,040 sq. ft. single-story house in Allentown, PA starts at $28,390. The type you pick matters more than the brand, so here is how the main options differ.
- Standing seam: $37,840 to $57,690. One panel covers the whole run from the ridge down to the gutter, so water has almost no joints to find. Roofers like it on low pitches and simple gables. The premium over architectural shingles here is roughly $28,270.
- Steel shingles: $28,390 to $43,280. Aluminum shingles: $31,390 to $47,850. Short interlocking pieces stamped to look like asphalt, shake or slate. A good pick for a busy roofline, or for owners who want metal without the barn look. Steel stands up to hail better; aluminum stands up to salt air better.
- Stone-coated steel: $38,650 to $58,910. A steel base under a granule finish. You get the tile look at a small part of the weight of real tile.
- 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.
With winter lows near 19°F, metal earns its price. Snow does not sit on it long, ice rarely builds at the eaves, and there are no shingles for frost to crack. That adds years to the roof. Put snow guards above entries and the driveway.
Metal pays off for long-term owners. If a move is likely within a few years, architectural shingles usually give better value. Want a firmer metal number? Try the metal roof calculator with your measurements.
Scheduling Your Allentown, PA Roof Job
Cold winters (highs around 35°F) push most re-roofing into the warm months, when shingle seal strips can bond. Get bids in late winter to secure a spring or summer slot.
Allentown, PA Flat Roof Replacement Cost
Membrane roofing covers what shingles cannot: flat porches, garages, additions and row-house tops. On a 2,040 sq. ft. footprint:
- EPDM rubber: $17,980 to $23,350. Synthetic rubber, usually black, laid in wide sheets with glued or taped seams. It shrugs off hail and hard frost and is easy to patch, so it suits garages, porches and roofs nobody sees.
- TPO, 60-mil: $15,480 to $20,100. A white single-ply sheet whose seams are welded with hot air into one piece. It reflects the sun and now covers most new flat roofs on homes and shops.
- PVC, 60-mil: $18,710 to $24,300. A flexible white sheet with welded seams that has kept flat roofs dry for decades. It handles ponding water and grease better than the other two.
On this footprint TPO comes in lowest, EPDM sits in the middle and PVC costs the most. These figures assume polyiso insulation and one layer removed. Small roofs carry a premium because setup is the same for any size. Ponding water is the main enemy of flat roofs through a Pennsylvania winter. Ask for tapered insulation at low spots and clear drains. For thicker insulation or a different membrane, use the flat roof calculator.
Snow load and slow melt are the test in Pennsylvania. Any of the three can pass it if the seams are done right and the water has a clear path off the roof. Ask how the bid handles drains and low corners.
Other Pennsylvania Markets
The same 30-year shingle roof in other large Pennsylvania cities, with distance from Allentown:
- Bethlehem, PA, 8 mi east: $13,110 to $19,980
- Reading, PA, 30 mi southwest: $13,150 to $20,040
- Philadelphia, PA, 45 mi southeast: $13,650 to $20,810
- Scranton, PA, 55 mi north: $13,110 to $19,980
- Pittsburgh, PA, 240 mi west: $13,360 to $20,360
- Erie, PA, 260 mi northwest: $13,140 to $20,030
The same crews work Lehigh Valley, Fullerton, Emmaus, Easton and Harleysville, so these prices apply there too. Statewide prices and the full city list: Pennsylvania roofing cost guide.
Roof Replacement FAQ: Allentown, PA
Should my roofer get a permit in Pennsylvania?
Often yes. Most local building departments want a permit for a full replacement. The contractor normally handles it - ask to see it before work starts.
How do I estimate my roof size?
A square is a hundred square feet of roof surface. For this 2,040 sq. ft. footprint at a 7/12 pitch, figure about 25.0 squares (2,499 sq. ft.). Use the same number when you compare bids.
How many days will my roof replacement take?
Plan on a few days at most for an asphalt roof around 2,499 sq. ft. Complex shapes, a second layer or bad weather can stretch it.
Can I file an insurance claim for a new roof?
Covered: hail, wind, fallen trees. Not covered: age and wear. With asphalt at $13,200 to $20,110 in Allentown, PA, it pays to read your roof settlement terms now, not after a storm.
Run your own numbers: Roof Replacement Calculator · Metal Roof Calculator · Flat Roof Calculator · Gutter Cost Calculator · Attic Insulation Calculator · Roof Heat Cable Calculator
Where prices come from: our roofing calculators, a Mid-Atlantic adjustment and yearly inflation. Real bids depend on your roof, so ask several contractors to quote the same work.
Quick Answers
Answers use Pennsylvania averages; energy prices updated October 2026.
What time of year is best for a new roof in Pennsylvania?
Plan for the warm season. Winter highs in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania need an ice barrier membrane?
It should have one. With typical winter lows around 19°F, roofs in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Usually, if you will stay. With winter lows around 19°F, metal in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
Only a little. Winter lows around 19°F mean heating dominates the energy bill in Pennsylvania; 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.
More Roofing Cost Guides
Pennsylvania Roofing costs (statewide) · Roofing costs in every state
