Pricing Guide: How Much Does a Roof Repair Cost?

The average cost of a roof repair is $767, but the cost typically varies from $348 and $1,186 for each repair needed.

Roofers repairing a section of roof

The roof over your head is supposed to keep you safe and comfortable, but it can’t do its job without a few repairs over the years. Since it’s an inevitable expense, you should be prepared to spend between $348 and $1,186, or a national average of $767, for each repair your roof needs.

Of course, your roof repair cost will fluctuate based on your particular needs. Factors such as the size of your roof, how accessible it is, and the material it’s made from will all affect cost. Different types of repairs also have different price points, and you would pay more for a major repair like replacing underlayment than a small repair like installing a few shingles. 

How Much Does a Roof Repair Cost?

  • National average cost: $767
  • Typical price range: $348 to $1,186
  • Extreme low end: $140
  • Extreme high end: $4,380

While most homeowners pay between $348 and $1,186 for a roof repair, you can’t always assume your cost will fall in that range. Countless specific factors of your project will impact your budget, so you could end up spending much more or less than the average cost. 

A minor repair on a roof with standard shingles might only take a pro a few hours or less and could cost as little as $140. On the other hand, if your roof has structural damage and you need new underlayment, soffit, fascia, or roof trusses, you might pay closer to $4,380.

Cost of Repairs by Roofing Material

Photo Credit: DMahalko, Dale Mahalko Gilman, WI, USA / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

One of the biggest factors in the cost of a roof repair is the roofing material used. Your choice of a roofing material will affect both the cost of a roof repair and the associated labor costs. 

Lighter materials, such as asphalt shingles or flat single-ply roof membranes, will cost the least to repair. Specialty materials like slate, metal, and tile are heavier and require more work from your contractor, so their repairs will usually be more expensive. 

Some of the most common roofing materials for homes in the U.S. include:

Flat / single-ply roof

  • One of the cheapest roofing systems to install and repair
  • Requires repairs more often than many other types of roofs because of frequent leaks
  • More common in commercial building
  • Average cost of repairs: $350 to $750

Asphalt shingle roof

  • Most popular roofing material for homes
  • Good balance between affordability and durability 
  • Usually loses a lot of shingles during severe weather
  • Average cost of repairs: $450 to $825

Wood shake / shingle roof

  • Gives your home a unique aesthetic and boosts curb appeal
  • High maintenance
  • Less durable than asphalt shingles
  • Average cost of repairs: $450 to $825

Metal roof

  • Comes in different styles, including shingles, shakes, and standing seam panels
  • Sometimes requires a metal roof specialist for repairs
  • Extremely durable and rarely needs repairs
  • Average cost of repairs: $550 to $1,350

Slate roof

  • Heavy and expensive to replace or repair
  • More durable than asphalt but still prone to weather-related damage
  • Prone to ice damming because improper installation can cause edges to stick up
  • Average cost of repairs: $575 to $1,750

Clay or concrete tile roof

  • Durable and weather-resistant
  • Without proper maintenance, tiles can crack or slide off and cause leaks
  • Variety of types and styles with different price points, overall one of the most expensive roofing materials 
  • Average cost of repairs: $350 to $450 per roofing square (100 square feet) to be repaired 
ROOFING MATERIALAVERAGE COST TO REPAIR
Flat / single-ply membrane$350 – $750
Asphalt shingles$450 – $825
Wood shakes / shingles$450 – $825
Metal$550 – $1,350
Slate$575 – $1,750
Clay / concrete tile$350 – $450 per damaged roofing square

Cost by Type of Repair

Photo Credit: Andrew Fresh / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

You’ll have to assess the problem with or damage to your roof to determine what kind of repair it needs. You might get off easy and only have to replace a handful of missing shingles, but if your roofer finds deeper underlying issues, you’ll need a much more involved and more expensive repair. 

The most common issue roofers fix is a leaky roof, which can come from a few different sources, including:

  • Missing shingles
  • Broken shingles
  • Cracked flashing around chimney or skylight

Larger problems that are less common and more difficult to solve include:

  • Ice dams: When melted snow on your roof refreezes, it adds extra weight and can cause damage. 
  • Sagging roof: Sagging means there’s a problem somewhere in your roof’s structure, like the underlayment or structural boards. 

These are some typical roof repairs that pro roofing contractors do, along with the approximate cost of each. Costs vary significantly depending on the extent of the damage. 

TYPE OF REPAIR NEEDEDTYPICAL COST FOR PROFESSIONAL REPAIR
Roof vent repair$75 – $3,000
Replace flashing for one fixture$185 – $300
Replace shingles$215 – $1,400
Skylight / chimney repair$250 – $1,350
Repair or replace soffit and fascia$300 – $1,500
Repair or replace roof trusses$325 – $5,450
Roof valley repair$400 – $1,250
Remove ice dams$400 – $2,000
Replace gutters$10 – $15 per linear foot; usually about $850 – $3,500 for all-new gutters
Fix sagging roof$875 – $2,500
Replace underlaymentStarts at $60 per square (100 square feet) or $4 – $6 per square foot for smaller repairs

Labor Costs for Roofers

On top of the cost of materials, roofers will charge for labor, usually per-worker per-hour. 

Your roofer’s hourly labor rate will depend on the quality of his or her work and years of experience, the cost of living in your city, and the type of work to be done.

Nationally, roofing contractors will usually charge between $35 and $90 per hour for repairs. Labor makes up a significant percentage of your total project cost. 

Emergency Roof Repair Costs

After a hurricane, tornado, hail storm, or other severe weather, many roofs will need immediate attention. High winds and flying debris often cause leaks or other problems that require an urgent fix. You don’t want to sit in a puddle in your living room for days or risk exposing your home to wild animals for long periods of time. 

Because roofers will be in high demand in your area after a storm, you should expect to pay more for a repair. To figure out how much your specific emergency roof repair would cost, estimate what the cost would be at a normal time and add $100 to $300

Roof Inspection Cost

For your roof to last as long as possible, regular inspections are a must. Inspecting your roof for minor damage and wear and tear once or twice a year can prevent major issues down the road that would require an expensive repair or even a full roof replacement. 

At least one of those inspections every year should be done by a professional roof inspector. Pros will know exactly what to look for and should be able to tell if your roof is developing problems beneath the top layer. Professional roof inspections cost about $100 to $450.

You can do the second inspection yourself if you’re comfortable getting up on your roof, but be careful and know your limits. Saving money on hiring a pro isn’t worth hurting yourself. If you choose to do your own roof inspection, look for shingles in disorder, mold growth, and other obvious physical signs of trouble lurking. 

Other Cost Factors

Additional circumstances might influence the cost of a roof repair, but the way they add or subtract from your overall budget won’t be easy to calculate. Some of these unmeasurable but still significant cost factors include:

Roof size and design

Photo Credit: Joe Mabel / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0

Because simpler and more accessible roofs are easier to work on, repairs will usually take less time and cost less for labor. Roofers judge the complexity of a roof’s shape based on the number of planes it has. A roof plane is the flat surface of the roof, often defined as a surface with four separate edges, either pitched or at an angle. 

Your roof will fall into one of these broad design categories:

  • Simple: Fewer than 6 planes
  • Average: 6 to 12 planes 
  • Complex: Greater than 12 planes 

You can generally assume that the greater your roof pitch (or the steeper your roof is), the more it will cost to repair (though this rule might not apply in every single case). What this means: Repairs for flat roofs with no pitch are the easiest and cheapest. 

Keep in mind: Even though flat roofs are easier to work on, they’re sensitive to wind and water damage and need repairs more often than most other types of roofs. 

If your roof repair includes work on a fixture like a chimney or skylight, you should expect the repair to cost more. How accessible the damaged area is to roofing contractors — like how close it is to the edge of the roof — will also affect labor costs. 

Time of year

The best time for roofing work is when the temperature is between 40 and 85 degrees and the weather is clear. For that reason, the typical busy season for roofers is in spring and summer. Since roofers are in the highest demand then, that’s when costs will usually be the highest. 

Materials and labor can both be cheaper in the off-season when roofers and the materials they use aren’t in demand. You could get up to a 10% to 15% discount by hiring a roofer in the off-season. 

In freezing climates, you’ll want to avoid hiring roofers in winter. Here’s why: A roofer may charge more because working on snowy or icy roofs is more difficult and dangerous. 

Snow removal

Photo Credit: flightlog / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0

Heavy snow buildup on your roof can cause significant damage, so it’s smart to remove snow as soon as possible. Adding snow to a roof can make it even more slippery and risky to work on than usual, so you’ll probably want to leave this job to the pros. 

And of course, if you need a roof repair in winter, your contractors will have to remove the snow before they start working. 

Professional roof snow removal usually costs between $51 and $143 depending on the size of the roof and how deep the snow is. 

Home insurance

Homeowners Insurance often covers roof repairs from storm damage and other accidents — pretty much anything other than normal wear and tear. Under some policies, you may not be covered if you file a claim too late, so make sure you file in time. 

Most professional roofers will handle insurance claims for you or at least assist you through the process. Depending on your insurance, you may not have to pay for your roof repair out of your own pocket.

DIY Roof Repairs

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Because working from on top of your roof can be dangerous, most homeowners will be better off calling in a professional for all their roofing needs. If you’re willing to brave standing on the roof, though, there are some simple repairs you should be able to handle yourself. 

Inexperienced homeowners should never take on major roof repairs such as replacing underlayment or remedying a sagging roof, since messing up a large job like these could cause problems in your roof’s structure and leave your home exposed to the elements. Saving money on professional labor isn’t worth the risk. 

That being said, some small repairs that handy DIY-ers often take on include:

  • Replacing a few cracked, curling, or loose shingles
  • Patching small leaks with sealant
  • Replacing a small section of roof flashing 

If you think DIY is the best route for your roof repair project, here are some supplies you may need and the average cost of each:

EQUIPMENT / MATERIALSAVERAGE COST
Adhesive sealant$9
Flat pry-bar$15
Flashing material$20 per fixture
Roofing nails$21 per pack
Asphalt shingles$30 per bundle
Roofing hammer$34
Roofing nail gun$176
Ladder$158

The downside of easy DIY roof repairs is that, since you don’t have the expert eye of a pro, you likely won’t be able to tell if there are deeper issues under the surface. You could end up treating a symptom of the problem instead of the cause itself, and your roof could fall into even worse shape in the future.  

Cost of Roof Repairs by Location

Labor rates and roofing material costs will vary according to your area’s cost of living. If you live in a large metro city like New York or Los Angeles, your overall roof repair cost could be up to 25% higher than in other parts of the country. 

Weather can affect your cost, too. Heavy snow and ice can complicate roof repairs, while the ideal roofing season will last longer in milder climates.

There’s no way to know what your exact repair cost will look like until you get free quotes from local contractors. You should reach out to at least three roofers so you can compare prices. 

FAQ About Roof Repairs

1. How can you tell when your roof needs a repair?

Signs that your roof needs attention include:

— Curling, cracked, or missing shingles
— Wet or discolored shingles
— Lots of shingle granules in the gutters
— Water stains on the ceiling or wall inside your home
— Roof sagging
— Sunlight coming in through the attic
— Sudden spike in energy bills

2. What should you look for in a roofing contractor?

When you’re searching for a roofing contractor, remember that the ideal candidate will have all or most of these traits:

— Licensed, bonded, and insured
— Offer a warranty or service guarantee in writing
— Association with a creditable professional roofing organization such as the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA)
— Several years of experience
— Positive customer reviews and recommendations
— Expertise or specialty related to your roofing needs
— Offer financing options if you need them

3. When should you replace the entire roof instead of getting a repair?

For roofs and other types of repairs, the general rule of thumb is that if the repair will cost one-third as much as a replacement or more, go for the replacement.

A typical roof replacement costs $5,706 to $11,185, so you shouldn’t pay more than about $1,902 to $3,728 on a repair. 

Find a Roof Repair Pro Near You

Most roofs last for 15 to 20 years, but only with attentive, regular maintenance. Roofing maintenance includes spotting issues early and getting them repaired ASAP.

The type of repair will vary based on the problem with or damage to your roof, but you can generally expect to pay between $348 and $1,186, or a national average cost of $767

While the type of roof repair and extent of the damage are the main influences on cost, the material and shape of your roof also play major roles in how much you spend on professional labor. 

So, even though you can use our national average cost estimates to get an idea of what your roofing repair budget will look like, you can’t know the exact cost until you talk to a roofing company near you about your specific project. 

Main Photo Credit: Pixabay

Jordan Ardoin

Jordan Ardoin is a writer and editor with a passion for sustainable, earth-friendly gardening and lawn care practices. When she isn't sharing her knowledge about lawn care and landscaping, you can find her curled up with a good book and a cat in her lap.