Get a free roof estimate: a number now, real quotes next

How to get a free roof estimate

Getting a roof estimate should cost you nothing. Here is the order that saves the most time:

1. Ballpark it. Use the calculator above to see the likely range for your roof size, pitch, and material, so you know a fair number when you see one.
2. Gather the basics. Roof age, current material, any leaks or storm damage, and whether you plan an insurance claim. Photos from the ground help.
3. Get three written quotes. Ask licensed, insured local roofers to measure the roof and quote the same scope. One form here matches you with up to four.
4. Compare line by line. Same materials, same tear-off, same warranty. Then ask the outliers to explain the difference.

How to estimate your roof cost yourself

You can estimate roof cost yourself by multiplying the roof area by an installed price per square foot. Roof area is your home’s footprint times a pitch multiplier (1.118 for a 6:12 roof), and asphalt shingles run about $4.25 to $9.25 per square foot with one old layer removed. The roof cost calculator page walks through measuring, the full pitch table, and what the number leaves out.

What a roofing estimate should include

A trustworthy roofing estimate is a written, itemized document, not a number over the phone. The FTC recommends getting the contractor’s name, address, phone, and license number in writing, along with start and completion dates and everything promised about scope and price. Before you compare prices, make sure every quote spells out:

• Materials by name. Shingle brand and product line, underlayment, ice-and-water shield, drip edge, and flashing.
• Labor and tear-off. Whether old layers are removed, and what disposal costs.
• Decking. The price per sheet to replace rotten decking found after tear-off.
• Permits and cleanup. Who pulls the permit (it should be the roofer) and what happens to the debris, including magnetic nail sweeps.
• Warranty terms. Both the manufacturer’s material warranty and the roofer’s own workmanship warranty.
• Payment schedule and price validity. Never pay the full amount up front, and note how long the quoted price is honored.

If two quotes are far apart, the itemization tells you why: different materials, different scope, or someone hoping you won’t ask.

What do roof estimates usually come out to?

Nationally, a full asphalt-shingle roof replacement averages about $9,500, with most homes falling between $5,800 and $19,800. Repairs typically run $400 to $1,800, about $1,100 on average, and restoration work usually lands at a fraction of replacement cost. See the full breakdown in the roof replacement cost guide, what a roof repair costs, or roof restoration cost.

Why compare at least three estimates

One estimate tells you a price; three tell you the market. Comparing also surfaces the red flags: the storm-chaser demanding a big cash deposit, the bid that’s cheap because it skips underlayment, the “today only” discount designed to stop you from shopping around. Our guide to choosing a roofer and how to spot a bad roofer cover exactly what to check before you sign.