Labor is the larger part of most new-roof prices, but sources do not agree on how large. HomeAdvisor's general roof page puts labor at $200 to $300 a square and 15% to 25% of the project. Its page on shingle roofs says labor is about 60% of the cost of installing new shingles, at $1.50 to $4 per square foot. Fixr says 40% to 60%. This Old House says 65%. Those figures describe different things, so this page shows them side by side and then explains what makes a roof cost more crew time.
Four sources, four answers
| Source | Labor share of the price | Labor in dollars |
|---|---|---|
| HomeAdvisor, roof replacement page, June 17, 2026 | 15% to 25% of the project | $200 to $300 per square, materials not included |
| HomeAdvisor, shingle roof page, June 17, 2026 | About 60% of installing new shingles | $1.50 to $4 per square foot of roof |
| Fixr, roof replacement page, February 4, 2026 | 40% to 60% of the total | Average $4,000 to $6,000 per job; no per-square rate |
| This Old House, new roof cost guide, shows "Updated 10/07/2026" | 65% of total project cost | About $75 an hour, citing a roofers' guild |
A square is 100 square feet of roof, so HomeAdvisor's shingle-page range of $1.50 to $4 per square foot is $150 to $400 per square (our arithmetic). That overlaps the $200 to $300 on its other page. The two HomeAdvisor percentages are the ones that do not fit, and the page gives no reason for the difference.
Why the percentages disagree
None of the sources says exactly what it counts as labor, but two likely causes show in the pages themselves:
- What is in "the project." A share of a price that includes tear-off, disposal, permits and the contractor's overhead is not the same as a share of the shingle installation alone. HomeAdvisor's 60% is of installing new shingles; its 15% to 25% is of the whole project.
- What the material is. Shingles are cheap per square compared with metal, tile or slate, so labor is a bigger share of a shingle roof than of a premium roof, where material costs more.
- Whose data. HomeAdvisor says its figures come from its customers and other research. The four sources use different samples and assume different roofs.
The plain summary is that for a typical asphalt shingle job, a majority of the price is labor in three of the four sources, and a small minority in the fourth. Treat any single percentage as a planning figure.
What that means in dollars
This is our arithmetic, to show the spread. Take a made-up job priced at $12,000 total.
| Source's share | Labor | Everything else |
|---|---|---|
| 15% to 25% (HomeAdvisor, whole project) | $1,800 to $3,000 | $9,000 to $10,200 |
| 40% to 60% (Fixr) | $4,800 to $7,200 | $4,800 to $7,200 |
| About 60% (HomeAdvisor, shingles) | $7,200 | $4,800 |
| 65% (This Old House) | $7,800 | $4,200 |
Now go from the other end. A 25-square roof at HomeAdvisor's $200 to $300 per square comes to $5,000 to $7,500 of labor. At its shingle-page range of $150 to $400 per square the labor is $3,750 to $10,000. A $12,000 total with $5,000 to $7,500 of labor is 42% to 63%, which is inside Fixr's range and close to the three majority-labor sources. The 15% to 25% share looks low next to HomeAdvisor's own per-square labor rate, so we would not plan on it.
What makes labor cost more on one roof
Labor is time on the roof, and time depends on the roof. The sources agree on the main causes, and none of them gives a percentage for any single one except the steep-roof figure below.
- Steepness. HomeAdvisor says roofs steeper than 6 in 12 have a higher average labor cost, and puts the extra price for a steep roof at $1,000 to $3,000 on top of standard replacement costs. Fixr says steeper roofs have more surface and need safety gear such as harnesses or scaffolding, which slows the work.
- Cut-up shape. Hips, valleys, ridges and dormers mean more cutting and more flashing. Fixr says they add labor time. HomeAdvisor says a hipped roof can reach $25 a square foot, well above its overall range.
- Height. This Old House says roofs over two stories cost more, and HomeAdvisor lists height among the access factors behind its labor range.
- Many planes. This Old House says roofs with many intersecting planes create more waste and labor.
- Low pitch. This Old House says low-pitch roofs need extra material and a self-sealing membrane, which adds time too.
- What has to come off. Tear-off is labor and disposal both; see roof tear-off cost.
For how pitch changes the amount of roof you pay for, see the pitch table in the roof replacement cost guide.
Labor, materials and what sits between
A price for a new roof is not only crew wages plus shingles. Between them sit costs that no source splits cleanly into one or the other:
- The contractor's overhead. Insurance, vehicles, office and the profit the business needs.
- Disposal and permits. The dumpster and the town's fee.
- Accessories. Underlayment, flashing, drip edge and vents are material, and so is the labor to place each.
When a roofer says "the materials are only a third of the price," ask what the other two-thirds contains. A fair answer lists crew time, tear-off, disposal, permit, overhead and profit, not just labor.
How to read a labor line
Many estimates give one total, which tells you nothing about labor. Those that break it out may show a "labor" line per square. To judge it:
- Divide by the squares measured. Compare the number to the per-square range in the table above, keeping in mind that your roof's pitch and shape may put it near the top.
- Check what the line covers. Does it include tear-off, cleanup, the dumpster, and flashing work, or only installing shingles?
- Check the squares. A roofer who measures more squares than the others charges more per job even at the same labor rate. Ask how each estimate counted squares and waste. Our guide to comparing roofing estimates goes line by line.
- Compare the total, not the labor line. A low labor figure with high material or "other" lines is the same price in a different place.
Our guide to roof cost per square foot has the totals by material, and the guide to architectural shingle cost covers what the product itself adds.
A labor price is not a wage
An hourly figure such as This Old House's $75 for a roofer is a billing rate, which is not the same as a worker's wage. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports what roofers earn, and our guide to roof replacement cost uses it to show how labor costs vary from state to state. Do not expect a wage to match a billing rate.
For the price of a small repair rather than a whole roof, see roof repair cost.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of a new roof is labor?
It depends on the source. HomeAdvisor gives 15% to 25% for the whole project and about 60% for installing shingles, Fixr gives 40% to 60%, and This Old House gives 65%. For a typical shingle roof, plan on labor being roughly half or more of the price.
How much do roofers charge per square for labor?
HomeAdvisor gives $200 to $300 per square on its roof replacement page and $1.50 to $4 per square foot, or $150 to $400 per square, on its shingle page. Fixr gives no per-square rate.
Why is labor more on a steep roof?
It is slower and needs safety equipment. HomeAdvisor says roofs steeper than 6 in 12 have a higher average labor cost and puts the extra price at $1,000 to $3,000 for the job.
Does a lower labor price mean a worse roof?
Not always, but it is a reason to ask what is left out. Compare the same scope: squares, layers torn off, underlayment, flashing and the roofer's own warranty on workmanship. Our guide to comparing roofing estimates lists the lines.
How we got these numbers
HomeAnvil does not yet publish price data of its own. Every figure comes from a published source, read on October 13, 2026:
- HomeAdvisor, roof replacement cost, updated June 17, 2026: labor per square, labor share of the project, the steep-roof extra and the hipped-roof price.
- HomeAdvisor, shingle roof replacement cost, updated June 17, 2026: labor's share of installing shingles, labor per square foot and the note on roofs steeper than 6 in 12. The page's title says 2024, which conflicts with its update date.
- Fixr, roof replacement cost, updated February 4, 2026: labor share and average labor cost, and the effect of steepness and complex shapes.
- This Old House, new roof cost guide, shows "Updated 10/07/2026", a date format we could not read for certain: labor share, hourly rate and the factors that raise labor.
- HomeGuide publishes its own labor figures, but its pages refused our request on October 13, 2026, so none of them is used here.
- The per-square conversion and the dollar examples are our arithmetic.
We will update this page when these sources publish new figures, and the date above will say when.
Related guides
How much does a new roof cost per square foot?A new roof costs $4 to $11 a square foot installed, or $400 to $1,100 a square, per HomeAdvisor. Prices by material and what raises the rate per foot.
How much does a roof replacement cost?A roof replacement typically costs $5,900 to $13,400, or $400 to $1,100 per square installed. How to measure your roof, what moves the price and how to compare estimates.
How do you compare roofing estimates?Compare roofing estimates line by line: squares, price per square, product lines, tear-off, decking, underlayment, flashing, permit, warranties and payment terms.- How much does roof tear-off and disposal cost?Tear-off and disposal usually add $1,500 to $4,500 to a roof job, or about $50 to $150 a square. What layers, dumpster size and recycling do to the line.
How much does a roof repair cost?Most roof repairs cost $395 to $1,967, about $1,173 on average. Prices by problem: shingles, flashing, leaks, decking, vents, fascia and sagging.
How much does an architectural shingle roof cost?An architectural shingle roof costs about $4 to $6 a square foot installed per HomeAdvisor, and up to $15 for designer lines per Fixr. Totals by roof size.- What hidden costs come with a new roof?Rotted decking at $2 to $8 a square foot, permits of $100 to $1,400, code upgrades and disposal can add 15% to 20% to a roof estimate. How to cap them in writing.
- How can you save money on a new roof?Compare estimates for the same scope, pick a simpler design and material, time the job and skip nothing that protects the deck. Federal home energy credits ended after 2025.
- How do you prepare your home for a roof replacement?Clear the driveway and a 15-foot ring around the house, cover the attic floor, take down wall hangings and plan for pets. A checklist from shingle maker guidance.