How Much Does a New Roof Cost in Philadelphia, PA? (2027)
Adjust the house size or the roof slope in Philadelphia, PA
A roof's pitch is its rise in inches over twelve inches of run. Steeper roofs like 9/12 need roof jacks and harness work, so they cost more. We assume 7/12 for Pennsylvania; pick yours above.
Our model puts a new asphalt roof in Philadelphia, PA at $13,650 to $20,810, based on a typical 2,040 sq. ft. single-story house. That covers a 7/12 roof of about 2,499 sq. ft. - 25.0 squares - with tear-off of the current shingles, new materials and the crew.
Per square - the hundred-square-foot unit every roofing bid uses - this job lands at $665.88 installed. Upgrades change the picture: $15,170 to $23,120 for 50-year architectural shingles, or a starting point near $29,370 for steel shingles.
That is about $800 above the statewide figure of $13,000 to $19,810, a typical Philadelphia premium for labor, permits and insurance. Philadelphia covers 87 ZIP codes in Philadelphia and Delaware counties; roofers based anywhere in that area usually quote these prices.
Philadelphia, PA Roofing Costs by Material
Every row is the same Philadelphia, PA roof with a different surface. The low and high ends mark the usual spread between contractors; the middle column is the number to budget.
| Material | Installed cost | Estimate | Per square |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | |||
| Asphalt shingles, 30-year | $13,650 to $20,810 | $16,650 | $665.88 |
| Architectural shingles, 50-year | $15,170 to $23,120 | $18,500 | $739.99 |
| Metal | |||
| Steel shingles | $29,370 to $44,760 | $35,810 | $1,432.81 |
| Aluminum shingles | $32,470 to $49,500 | $39,600 | $1,584.41 |
| Standing seam metal | $39,150 to $59,670 | $47,740 | $1,910.05 |
| Stone-coated steel tiles | $39,970 to $60,930 | $48,750 | $1,950.47 |
| Flat / low-slope membranes (priced on the 2,040 sq. ft. footprint) | |||
| EPDM rubber membrane | $18,600 to $24,160 | $21,380 | $1,047.66 |
| TPO membrane, 60-mil | $16,010 to $20,790 | $18,400 | $901.69 |
| PVC membrane, 60-mil | $19,360 to $25,140 | $22,250 | $1,090.33 |
Plug the same measurements into the roof replacement calculator, metal roof calculator or flat roof calculator and you will get these exact figures; with the Mid-Atlantic factor, pitched roofs here price 12% 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 Philadelphia, PA estimates above.
The Line Items Behind a Philadelphia, PA Roofing Bid
When two quotes for the same house are far apart, the gap is usually scope. Here is what each common variable is worth on the 25.0-square roof above:
- Old shingles. Removing the existing layer accounts for about $3,990 of the price. A hidden second layer adds roughly $2,590 more.
- Complexity. Extra ridges, valleys and dormers cost cutting time and flashing work: roughly $1,650 more for a hip design, around $2,780 more for a busy, cut-up roof.
- Access. Raise this roof a story and expect about $1,180 on top of the price, for staging, hauling and slower work.
- Skylight work. Budget about $400 for every skylight replaced or added during the re-roof.
- Hidden rot. Water-damaged boards appear once the roof is open; settle the per-sheet replacement price in writing first.
- Flashing and ventilation. Reusing old flashing saves a little now and causes leaks later. Gutters are a separate trade line; the gutter cost calculator covers them.
- Town fees. Building permits and container rental are local costs; check whether each bid includes them.
Build Your Roof Scope
Change any option to see what that scope costs in Philadelphia, PA. Then compare each bid against it.
$16,650quotes usually $13,650 – $20,810
Roof size and pitch stay fixed (2,499 sq. ft., 7/12); only the scope changes. Skylights, gutters and rotten decking are not included.
Line the quotes up side by side: layers removed, underlayment type, ice-barrier coverage, flashing, ventilation and the decking price. The lowest bid often leaves one of those out.
Weather, Wear and Your Pennsylvania Roof
Region 2 on the map, Pennsylvania sees average summer highs near 84°F and winter readings from about 35°F by day to 19°F at night. Local terrain shifts these numbers. Below are the stresses that matter most for a Pennsylvania roof, and what to ask for because of them.
Thaw damage. Meltwater that refreezes in gutters and seams expands and opens them a little more each time. Keep gutters clear and have every flashing joint redone during the re-roof.
Ice dams. A ridge of ice at the gutter line is a symptom of attic heat, not of bad shingles. The re-roof is the time to add ice barrier at the edges; the attic insulation and air sealing fix the cause. See the attic insulation calculator and the roof heat cable calculator.
Algae streaks. The dark stains on many roofs here are algae that thrive in humid air. Algae-resistant shingles, made with copper-treated granules, stay clean much longer.
Row houses and attached homes often have flat roofs, so the membrane prices below matter as much as the shingle prices.
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.
Roof Replacement Cost Near You
Philadelphia, PA Metal Roof Cost
Most metal bids in Philadelphia, PA fall into one of the types below. Each line is priced for a typical 2,040 sq. ft. single-story house, the same way our metal roof calculator does it.
- Standing seam: $39,150 to $59,670. The panels interlock at upright seams, and the clips let the metal grow and shrink with the weather. Budget about $29,240 over architectural shingles for this roof.
- Steel shingles: $29,370 to $44,760. Aluminum shingles: $32,470 to $49,500. The look of a regular roof with the life of metal. These pieces work on steep or complicated roofs. Steel resists dents; aluminum resists corrosion.
- Stone-coated steel: $39,970 to $60,930. 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. Copper has no price in our tools: each job is a custom quote, and it runs well past standing seam. In return it can outlive the house. Use it where people will see it, like a front porch or a turret.
Ice dams are the main roof killer in Pennsylvania winters. A smooth metal roof sheds snow in sheets, so meltwater never gets to back up under the edge. The deck stays dry and the roof lives longer. Plan snow guards where people walk.
Think about your timeline: metal's higher price spreads across many more years, but only if you are there to use them. Price a specific panel, gauge and finish with the metal roof calculator.
See costs in your area
Start Here - Enter Your Zip Code
Timing a Roof Replacement in Philadelphia, PA
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.
Membrane Roof Costs in Philadelphia, PA
Porches, additions, garages and some whole houses have roofs too flat for shingles; they get a membrane. Priced on the full 2,040 sq. ft. footprint in Philadelphia, PA:
- EPDM rubber: $18,600 to $24,160. Old-school rubber roofing, and still a fair choice. It takes a hailstorm and a hard freeze in stride. The dark color soaks up sun, so it fits best where nobody lives right under it.
- TPO, 60-mil: $16,010 to $20,790. White plastic sheet, welded at the seams. It stays light for years and keeps the rooms below cooler. Quality varies by maker more than with the other two, so ask which product the bid names.
- PVC, 60-mil: $19,360 to $25,140. It looks like TPO but has a longer service record, and it holds up better where water sits or oils land. Choose it for a busy roof deck or a spot that never drains well.
From cheapest to most expensive here: TPO, then EPDM, then PVC. Each figure covers new polyiso board under the membrane and stripping the existing layer. Small flat areas cost more per square foot, since edges, flashing and setup barely shrink. In Pennsylvania winters, puddles on a flat roof freeze, thaw and creep into the seams. Clear the drains often, and ask for tapered fill at any low spot during the re-roof. The flat roof calculator handles other membranes and insulation levels.
Winter lows near 19°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 Philadelphia With Other Pennsylvania Cities
Same roof, other Pennsylvania markets - distances measured from Philadelphia:
- Bethlehem, PA (45 miles north) - $13,110 to $19,980
- Allentown, PA (45 miles northwest) - $13,200 to $20,110
- Reading, PA (50 miles northwest) - $13,150 to $20,040
- Scranton, PA (100 miles north) - $13,110 to $19,980
- Pittsburgh, PA (260 miles west) - $13,360 to $20,360
- Erie, PA (300 miles northwest) - $13,140 to $20,030
The same crews work Fort Washington, Wayne, Valley Forge, Levittown and West Chester, so these prices apply there too. See the Pennsylvania roofing cost guide for the statewide picture.
Before You Re-Roof in Philadelphia, PA
Does a re-roof in Pennsylvania require a permit?
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 can I check the size a roofer quoted?
Roofers measure surface, not floor area. The 2,040 sq. ft. footprint in this guide turns into about 2,499 sq. ft. of roof at 7/12 - 25.0 squares. Different counts between bids are a red flag.
How many working days does a new roof need?
Expect a short job for 25.0 squares of shingles - often a day or two, sometimes more. The crew should tarp or dry-in anything they open before leaving.
Is an old roof covered by my insurer?
Policies pay for sudden events, not aging. Check whether yours pays replacement cost or depreciated value; on a $13,650 to $20,810 roof, that choice decides who pays most of the bill.
Check your figures: Roof Replacement Calculator · Metal Roof Calculator · Flat Roof Calculator · Gutter Cost Calculator · Attic Insulation Calculator · Roof Heat Cable Calculator
How we price: every figure runs through our roofing calculator math, scaled for Mid-Atlantic costs and refreshed each year for inflation. They are budgeting numbers, not quotes. Real roof size, site access, code rules and season all change bids, so collect three or more written quotes on one scope.
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
