Metal Roof vs. Asphalt Shingles

What you are actually comparing

"Metal roof" covers two very different products, and "shingles" covers two grades. Get the right pair in your head before you compare quotes.

• Architectural (laminated) shingles are the standard US reroof today: thicker than 3-tab, with a shadowed look and higher wind ratings. 3-tab shingles are cheaper and shorter-lived, and many suppliers stock them mainly for repairs.
• Exposed-fastener metal (corrugated, ribbed or "5V" panels) is screwed through the face. It's the budget metal option, common on barns, porches and rural homes. The screws' rubber washers age in the sun, so these roofs need more upkeep.
• Standing-seam metal joins panels with raised seams and hides the fasteners under them. It's the long-life, higher-priced product most people mean when they say "a metal roof" on a house.
• Metal shingles and stone-coated steel are stamped to look like shingles, shake or tile, and sit between the two panel types in price.

Prices and lifespans: HomeGuide's roof replacement and metal roof cost guides, November 2025. HomeGuide gives corrugated metal 30 to 50 years in humid climates; the Metal Roofing Alliance, an industry group, says 30 to 50+ years for metal and 12 to 20 for asphalt.

The cost on a real house

Our roofing calculator opens on a 40 x 30 ft house with a 6/12 gable roof. That is 1,342 square feet of roof surface, or about 13.4 squares before waste. Here is what HomeGuide's ranges give for that roof, plus $1 to $3 per square foot to tear off the old shingles (we used $2, or $2,684).

That matches the Metal Roofing Alliance's own rule of thumb that a metal roof costs roughly two to three times as much as asphalt. Steep pitches, two-story eaves, many valleys, skylights and rotten decking push any quote to the top of its range.

Cost per year of roof

The fair way to compare a 25-year product with a 50-year product is to divide what you pay by the years you get. Take the total with tear-off from the table above and divide by a short, typical and long lifespan for each roof:

Put another way: over 50 years you would buy two shingle roofs for about $18,800 (2 × $9,394) or one standing-seam roof for about $19,500. In plain lifetime cost, the two are close to a tie. The real differences are timing and risk.

• Timing. Shingles spread the cost out: half now, half in 25 years. Money you don't spend today can earn interest, which favors shingles slightly.
• Risk. A shingle roof in a hail belt or a hot, sunny climate may not reach 25 years, which favors metal. A metal roof installed badly, with poor flashing or the wrong fasteners, can leak at year five.
• How long you stay. If you sell at year 10, you paid for 40 years of metal you won't use, and buyers don't pay it back (see resale below).

Resale value

The 2025 Cost vs. Value report surveys real estate agents in 119 US markets on what common projects add at sale. Its national averages for full roof replacement:

The report's project is larger and more complete than the example above, so look at the percentages, not the dollar amounts. Buyers value a new roof of either kind, and they pay about $4,500 more for metal, but metal cost about $20,000 more to put on. A new roof mostly helps a house sell; it rarely pays for itself at sale.

Hail, wind, snow and fire

Hail. Look for UL 2218 Class 4, the top impact rating. Most metal roofing earns it, according to the Metal Roofing Alliance, and in IBHS hail tests metal was much less likely to be punctured than asphalt, though it can dent. Impact-resistant Class 4 asphalt shingles also exist, and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety now publishes independent ratings of them because not all "impact-resistant" shingles perform the same. Some insurers in hail states write metal roofs with a cosmetic-damage exclusion, so dents that don't leak aren't covered. Read that part of the policy.

Insurance discounts. The Metal Roofing Alliance says a qualifying metal roof may cut premiums by 5% to 35%, depending on the state and the company, and that not every insurer offers a discount. A FORTIFIED Roof designation from IBHS earns discounts in some states, and it can be done with either material. Call your agent with the exact product before you sign a roofing contract.

Wind. Both can meet high-wind codes when installed to the maker's instructions. For shingles, that usually means six nails per shingle and the maker's high-wind starter strip. For metal, it means the clip and fastener spacing the panel was tested with.

Snow. Metal sheds snow, which helps against ice dams and heavy loads. It also drops it in sheets. Snow guards are a must above doors, walkways, decks and driveways.

Fire. Metal roofs carry a Class A fire rating, the highest, and don't ignite from wind-blown embers. Many asphalt shingles are also rated Class A. In wildfire areas, check how the whole assembly is rated, including underlayment and vents.

Living under each roof: noise, heat and upkeep

Noise. The "rain on a tin roof" sound comes from metal over open framing, like a barn. On a house, residential metal goes over solid sheathing, underlayment and an insulated attic. The Metal Roofing Alliance says there is little difference in rain or hail noise between metal and other materials. Rooms with vaulted ceilings and thin insulation are the exception.

Energy. Light-colored and "cool" painted metal reflect more sun than dark shingles, which helps most in hot, sunny climates with ducts or living space in the attic. The industry claims savings of 10% to 40%; real savings depend on your climate, color and insulation, and are small under a well-insulated, vented attic. Cool-colored shingles exist too. Run your cooling costs through the electric bill calculator before you count on big savings.

Upkeep. Shingles need little until they start losing granules, curling or cracking. Standing seam needs the least care of all. Exposed-fastener panels need their screws checked as the washers age, since a loose or cracked washer is the most common leak. Keep different metals apart: copper flashing or pressure-treated wood touching steel panels can corrode them.

Solar. Standing seam is the easiest roof to mount solar panels on, since clamps grip the seams with no holes in the roof. If you plan solar in the next decade, also remember that panels on a 15-year-old shingle roof may have to come off for the next reroof. The solar payback calculator shows whether solar pays where you live.

Code points that change the choice

• Low slopes. Under the 2021 International Residential Code, asphalt shingles need at least a 2/12 pitch, with double underlayment from 2/12 to 4/12. Standing-seam metal can go much lower, down to 1/4 in 12, which makes it the go-to for low porches and additions. Lapped exposed-fastener panels need 3/12 unless the laps are sealed.
• Going over the old roof. The code limits how many layers a roof can carry, and metal is sometimes allowed over one layer of shingles. Many roofers and makers still prefer a tear-off, so they can see and repair the decking. Ask your building department and read the warranty.
• Permits. Most towns require a permit for a full reroof. HOAs may restrict metal or its colors, so check before you order.
• No federal tax credit. The IRS energy-efficient home improvement credit ended for property placed in service after 2025, and roofs were no longer on its list of qualifying items. Some older industry pages still mention a roof credit. Check your state and utility for local rebates.

Common mistakes

• Comparing a standing-seam quote with a corrugated quote. They are different products with different lifespans. Ask every bidder for the panel profile, gauge (most residential metal is 24 or 26 gauge), finish and fastener type.
• Hiring a shingle crew for metal. Metal flashing, trim and expansion details are their own trade. Ask how many metal roofs the crew has installed and to see a few.
• Ignoring ventilation. Both roofs need a vented attic or a properly designed unvented one. Bad ventilation shortens shingle life and causes condensation under metal.
• Skipping the ice barrier. In cold climates the code calls for a self-adhering ice barrier at the eaves under either roof.
• Buying a 50-year roof for a 7-year stay. If you'll move soon, a good architectural shingle roof is usually the better use of the money.

When to call a pro

Roofing is one of the most dangerous jobs in construction, and metal is slick and sharp. Even confident DIYers should leave a full reroof of a two-story or steep house to a licensed, insured crew. Get at least three written quotes that spell out the material, underlayment, ice barrier, drip edge, flashing, ventilation and how rotten decking will be priced. A small shed or garage in exposed-fastener metal is a reasonable DIY job; the roofing calculator gives you the squares, panels and trim. If you are repainting siding and trim at the same time, the exterior paint calculator helps you plan colors and quantities with the new roof.

Common questions

Sources

• HomeGuide, Roof replacement cost, November 7, 2025: installed prices for 3-tab and architectural shingles, tear-off cost and lifespans by material.
• HomeGuide, Metal roof cost, November 21, 2025: installed prices for corrugated, standing-seam and metal shingle roofs, exposed vs. hidden fasteners, gauges and lifespans.
• Cost vs. Value 2025, national averages (Zonda / Journal of Light Construction): asphalt and metal roof replacement job cost, resale value and percent recouped.
• Metal Roofing Alliance, FAQs, Hail and Insurance: cost ratio, lifespan claims, UL 2218 Class 4, noise, energy and insurance discount range. An industry group; its claims are labeled as such above.
• Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, impact-resistant shingle ratings and FORTIFIED Roof program.
• 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 9: minimum slopes for shingles and metal panels, ice barrier and reroofing rules. Your town may have amended them.
• IRS, Energy efficient home improvement credit: qualifying items and the end of the credit after 2025.
• Roof size: the HomeOutlay roofing calculator default (40 x 30 ft footprint, 6/12 gable).

Figures are US national averages checked in October 2026. Roofing prices vary widely by region and season, so get local quotes.