A metal roof costs about two to two and a half times what asphalt shingles cost, once you count the whole job. Asphalt around Ellicott City usually runs $6.00 to $9.00 per square foot installed, so standing seam metal lands well above that. Here is what sits behind the number, and what moves it.
The short version
- Standing seam metal typically runs two to two and a half times the price of asphalt.
- National guides put standing seam at $9 to $30 per square foot (opens in a new tab), a range wide enough to be useless on its own.
- Labor, roof shape and trim work move the price more than the metal does.
- Metal can last 40 to 70 years (opens in a new tab), but only if the details are put on right.
- A measured quote beats any average, and the measuring is free.
How much more than asphalt does a metal roof cost?
Standing seam metal typically runs two to two and a half times the price of a full architectural asphalt roof. That multiplier is the one number we would trust over a national average, because asphalt is the roof we price most.
For a typical Ellicott City replacement, an average roof of 3,580 square feet, asphalt comes to about $25,200, with most jobs between $22,500 and $29,500. Double that and you are well past $50,000 before anything unusual turns up. Our metal roofing installation page says what we put on and where it suits.
Why is standing seam so much more than screw-down panels?
Standing seam costs more because the fasteners are hidden and every panel is formed and fitted to your roof. Screw-down panels, the corrugated kind, put the screws through the face of the metal, so they are quicker to lay and cheaper.
The table below shows how the same national guide breaks it down. Read it as a map of how the pieces rank, not as a quote.
| Type of metal roof | Typical national cost per square foot |
|---|---|
| Corrugated, exposed fasteners | $4 to $26 (opens in a new tab) |
| Standing seam, hidden fasteners | $9 to $30 (opens in a new tab) |
| Steel, an average of | $20 (opens in a new tab) |
| Copper, an average of | $35 (opens in a new tab) |
The exposed screws are the catch with the cheaper style. Each one has a rubber washer that wears out long before the metal does, and those are the first things to check on an older screw-down roof.
Where does the money go on a metal roof?
Most of it goes to labor, not metal. One national guide puts labor at roughly 60 percent (opens in a new tab) of a metal roof’s total, because the panels have to be cut, formed and trimmed to fit.
That is why a simple gable costs far less per square foot than a roof with dormers, valleys and a chimney. Every change of direction needs its own trim, and metal leaves little room for a sloppy fit. The crew matters more than the panel brand, the same as it does with shingles.
What pushes the price up on a metal roof?
The same things that push asphalt up, plus a few that hit metal harder. These are the usual ones, from what we see on Ellicott City roofs:
- Steep pitch and cut-up geometry. More cuts, more trim, slower work.
- Poor access. Wooded lots and tight ladders add hours.
- A second layer to tear off. Our asphalt jobs include tear-off up to two layers, and a second one adds a per-square charge.
- Bad decking. Wet or rotted boards cost $70 to $150 per 4x8 sheet installed, and metal has to sit on a sound deck.
- Skylights and chimneys. Skylight replacement is quoted separately at $800 to $2,000+ each, and each one means more trim.
- Low-slope sections. A section under a 2/12 pitch can’t take shingles and often needs standing seam or a membrane, usually subcontracted at a $2,500 to $5,000 minimum.
- Neighborhood rules. Covenant-controlled neighborhoods can add 30 to 45 days for review, and Old Ellicott City’s Historic Preservation Commission adds months and limits which materials you can use.
Does a metal roof pay for itself?
Sometimes, if you stay long enough. A metal roof that lasts 40 to 70 years (opens in a new tab) can beat asphalt on cost per year, because Maryland asphalt shingles realistically last 18 to 25 years. If you may sell in ten years, asphalt usually wins. We lay out that math in shingles or metal.
Energy savings are smaller than the pitch suggests. The Department of Energy says a cool roof can cut a single-story building’s air conditioning use by up to 15% (opens in a new tab), and it says that for warm or hot climates. Maryland is not the hot end of that, so treat the savings as a bonus rather than the reason.
How do you get a real number for your house?
Have the roof measured. A price per square foot only means something once someone has walked your roof and counted the squares, checked the pitch and looked at the decking.
Our free roof inspection includes a written report with the measured square count and pitch, and there is no obligation to book work. If the total is the worry, you can look at payment options before you decide on anything. And if you are weighing a different style of metal, the same cost questions apply to metal shingles.
Common questions
Is a metal roof cheaper than asphalt over time?
It can be, but only if you stay in the house for decades. Metal costs two to two and a half times more up front and lasts longer, so the gap closes slowly. Sell early and you rarely get the premium back.
Should I repair my roof instead of putting on metal?
If the roof can still be fixed, a repair costs a fraction of any new roof, and we would rather fix it than sell you a new one. A free inspection tells you which one yours is.
What costs extra that people forget?
Rotted decking, a second layer of old roofing, skylights, chimney work and neighborhood review are the usual surprises. They sit outside the base price on any roof. Ask what a quote leaves out before you compare two of them.
Can you put a metal roof over shingles?
Sometimes, but a tear-off lets the crew see the deck and the flashing, which is where leaks start. It is also the only way to know the boards under the old layer are sound. Ask for both prices and compare.
