$5,700 – $16,000That is the typical asphalt shingle roof cost in 2026, installed, across two published cost guides. HomeGuide puts an average 1,800 to 2,500 square foot roof at $5,700 to $12,000, or $3 to $5 per square foot; Fixr puts most asphalt roof replacements at $8,000 to $16,000, with a national average of $12,000. Basic 3-tab shingles sit at the bottom of the range; premium designer shingles cost the most.
This guide goes one level deeper than our roof replacement cost guide: it compares the three grades of asphalt shingle, explains what impact-resistant shingles can do for your insurance, and shows when the building code lets a roofer lay new shingles over old ones.
Cost by roof size
| Roof area | Squares | HomeGuide | Fixr |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 10 | $3,000 – $5,000 | — |
| 1,200 sq ft | 12 | $3,600 – $6,000 | $3,600 – $19,200 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 15 | $4,500 – $7,500 | — |
| 1,700 sq ft | 17 | $5,100 – $8,500 | — |
| 2,000 sq ft | 20 | $6,000 – $10,000 | $6,000 – $32,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 25 | $7,500 – $12,500 | — |
| 3,000 sq ft | 30 | $9,000 – $15,000 | $9,000 – $48,000 |
| 3,500 sq ft | 35 | $10,500 – $17,500 | — |
HomeGuide puts the national average at $8,800, with jobs reported from $2,000 to $16,500. Materials account for $1 to $2 per square foot and labor for $2 to $3, so labor is roughly 60% to 70% of the bill (HomeGuide). Fixr’s average is higher, at $12,000, and it puts labor at around 50% to 60% of the total (Fixr).
Two other sources show how wide the spread is. Homewyse, a cost calculator, gives a September 2026 national starting price of $5.21 to $6.82 per square foot for basic mid-range work, before permits, sales tax and any contractor markup. The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report prices a larger, fixed project — 30 squares of shingles with a full tear-off, new underlayment, drip edge and flashing around two skylights — at $31,871 on national average. That is far above the typical ranges in the table, because it is a bigger roof with more work included. The sources disagree a lot, so treat any single number as a starting point and compare it with written quotes.
Estimate your asphalt shingle roof cost
Use the tables above to estimate your cost. The interactive calculator needs JavaScript.
Our estimate: the calculator multiplies your roof size by an installed price per square foot for each grade. For each grade it takes the lowest and the highest price of the two guides: HomeGuide’s price per square divided by 100, and Fixr’s price per square foot. Tear-off uses the widest range of the two guides, with Fixr’s $50 to $150 per square converted to $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot. The labor split assumes 60%, where HomeGuide’s 60% to 70% and Fixr’s 50% to 60% meet. It is not a quote.
3-tab, architectural or premium shingles
| Shingle grade | Materials per square | Installed per square (HomeGuide) | Installed per sq ft (Fixr) | Warranty | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-tab | $80 – $130 | $200 – $500 | $3 – $5 | 25 – 30 years | 15 – 20 years |
| Architectural (dimensional) | $100 – $250 | $400 – $600 | $4 – $8 | 30 – 50 years | 20 – 30 years |
| Luxury / premium (designer) | $150 – $280 | $500 – $700 | $6.50 – $16 | 40 – 50 years or lifetime | 25 – 40 years |
3-tab shingles lie flat and give a uniform look. They are rated for winds up to 60 mph. Architectural shingles are built from several layers for a three-dimensional look and can take gusts up to 130 mph (HomeGuide). They are about 50% thicker than 3-tab and cost about 20% more (HomeGuide). Premium or designer shingles are heavier asphalt shingles, often shaped to imitate slate or wood shakes.
Shingles are sold by the bundle: a bundle costs $27 to $45 on average and covers 32 to 33 square feet, so about three bundles make a square. Lifetime and 50-year shingles cost 10% to 20% more than 30-year shingles. In humid or rainy climates, algae-resistant shingles add 5% to 15% (HomeGuide).
Our estimate: for a 20-square roof (2,000 square feet of roof surface), multiplying HomeGuide’s installed prices per square by 20 gives $4,000 to $10,000 for 3-tab, $8,000 to $12,000 for architectural and $10,000 to $14,000 for premium shingles. Multiplying Fixr’s prices per square foot by 2,000 gives $6,000 to $10,000, $8,000 to $16,000 and $13,000 to $32,000. The headline range of $5,700 to $16,000 is simply the lowest and the highest typical figure of the two guides combined. These are multiplications and comparisons, not measured figures, and they leave out extras such as decking, permits or a steep pitch.
Read the warranty carefully. Shingle warranties cover manufacturing defects, not storm damage or normal wear, and most pay for replacement material but not the labor to install it. Outside mild climates, a shingle roof usually wears out before its warranty runs out (HomeGuide).
Impact-resistant (Class 4) shingles and insurance discounts
Roof coverings tested for hail resistance are rated Class 1 to Class 4 under UL Standard 2218, and Class 4 is the most resistant. In Texas, the Department of Insurance explains that a Class 4 roof covering receives the highest premium credit, but each insurance company sets its own discount, the tests it accepts and the paperwork it wants. For the state’s windstorm insurer, the product must carry a label showing the lab, the impact class, the manufacturer and the year made, and the contractor must fill in form PC068 after installation (Texas Department of Insurance). Keep the shingle wrappers and the installer’s paperwork: without them, a qualifying roof may not earn the credit.
Oklahoma goes further. Its Strengthen Oklahoma Homes program has paid grants of up to $10,000 toward a roof built to the FORTIFIED Roof standard with the hail supplement, a voluntary standard above code that includes impact-resistant shingles, a sealed roof deck, stronger deck attachment and locked-down edges. The grant is paid to the contractor; the homeowner pays anything above it plus the evaluator’s fee, and homes with a FORTIFIED designation receive discounts on the wind portion of their premium. Funding comes in rounds, and past rounds are listed as closed, so check the Oklahoma Insurance Department before counting on it.
We did not find an official or published source for the extra cost of Class 4 shingles over standard ones, so we do not give a number. Ask your roofer to quote both side by side, then ask your insurer in writing what the discount would be. The answer depends on your company and your state.
Tear-off or overlay: what the code allows
Removing asphalt shingles costs $1 to $3 per square foot, depending on how many layers there are. Shingling over the old roof avoids that line, but it adds weight, shortens the life of the new roof and stops the roofer from inspecting the deck before the new shingles go on (HomeGuide).
The International Residential Code, the model code most states and cities adopt in some edition, does not allow a roof recover in three cases: when the existing roof is water-soaked or too deteriorated to serve as a base, when the existing covering is slate, clay, cement or asbestos-cement tile, and when the roof already has two or more layers of any covering (IRC 2021, Section R908.3.1.1). In practice, an overlay is only possible once, over a single sound layer. Your local building department has the final word, because codes are adopted with local changes.
Slope matters too. The same code allows asphalt shingles only on slopes of 2:12 or steeper, and requires a double layer of underlayment between 2:12 and 4:12 (IRC 2021, Section R905.2.2). Nearly flat roofs need a different material altogether.
Underlayment and the other lines on the bill
| Item | HomeGuide | Fixr |
|---|---|---|
| Underlayment, felt or synthetic | $75 – $400 per square | Basic felt usually included; ice and water shield about $1,000 |
| Tear-off of old shingles | $1 – $3 per sq ft | $50 – $150 per square, if charged separately |
| Replacing roof decking | $2 – $5 per sq ft | $150 – $1,000 for decking repair |
| Drip edge | $1.50 – $3.00 per linear ft | — |
| Roof vent | $200 – $700 | — |
| Permit | $100 – $500 | $100 – $500 |
| Roofer labor | $30 – $80 per hour | About 50% – 60% of the total |
Underlayment is the sheet between the deck and the shingles. Replacement estimates usually include it, and the price depends on whether it is felt or synthetic (HomeGuide). In areas with a history of ice forming at the eaves, the code also requires an ice barrier: two layers of underlayment cemented together or a self-adhering modified bitumen sheet, running from the roof edge to at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line (IRC 2021, Section R905.1.2). If you live in snow country and your quote does not mention it, ask.
Decking is the line nobody can price for certain in advance, because its condition only shows once the old shingles are off. Steep roofs, dormers, chimneys and skylights all raise the labor line as well (HomeGuide).
How long an asphalt shingle roof lasts
An asphalt roof lasts 15 to 30 years with proper maintenance, and less in hot climates or where temperatures swing widely. Shingles can turn brittle below 40°F, and in cold weather the self-sealing strip may need hand-sealing because it relies on the sun’s warmth to bond (HomeGuide). A cold-season job is possible, but ask how the crew will handle it.
How to keep the bill down
- Get at least three written estimates priced per square, so you can compare them line by line.
- Match the shingle grade to how long you will stay. Architectural shingles cost a little more than 3-tab but last longer.
- If you live in hail country, price a Class 4 shingle and ask your insurer about the discount before you choose.
- In Oklahoma, check whether a Strengthen Oklahoma Homes round is open before you sign a contract.
- Ask for a fixed price per sheet of replacement decking, so a surprise under the old shingles does not become an open-ended bill.
- Do not pay in full up front; agree on a payment schedule tied to the work.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Which shingle grade and wind rating are you quoting, and what does the manufacturer’s warranty cover?
- Is the old roof torn off, and how many layers are on it now?
- What underlayment are you using, and is an ice barrier included?
- Are the shingles impact-rated, and will you provide the labels and paperwork my insurer needs?
- Who pulls the permit, and what does your own workmanship warranty cover?
Sources
- Texas Department of Insurance, Products qualifying for impact-resistant roofing credits, as of February 24, 2023.
- Oklahoma Insurance Department, Strengthen Oklahoma Homes (OKReady).
- International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, Chapter 9: Roof Assemblies, Sections R905.1.2, R905.2.2 and R908.3.1.1.
- HomeGuide, Asphalt Shingle Roof Cost, November 2025.
- HomeGuide, Roofing Shingles Prices, November 2025.
- Fixr, How Much Does Asphalt Shingle Roofing Cost?, updated January 21, 2026.
- Homewyse, Cost to Install Asphalt Shingle Roof, September 2026.
- Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report: Roofing Replacement (Asphalt Shingles), June 20, 2025.
