Roof replacement cost in St. Louis
Our estimate for a typical St. Louis asphalt roof replacement is about $6,000 to $12,000. Quotes for a single St. Louis house can vary widely, from about $8,000 to $25,000. Try the estimator below, then see what drives the spread.
Missouri averages, installed, per square foot of roof (Source: This Old House):
| Material | Per sq ft | Missouri average job |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | $4.59 | $5,392 |
| Metal | $8.51 | $9,996 |
| Wood shakes | $10.95 | $12,851 |
| Slate | $15.19 | $17,837 |
These are statewide averages built on RSMeans material data and a median-size home. St. Louis houses with older roofs, extra layers or steep pitches usually price above them.
Estimate your St. Louis roof replacement cost
Why quotes for one St. Louis house vary so widely
Quotes for a single St. Louis house can vary widely, from about $8,000 to $25,000. Run your home through the estimator for a starting range. Two quotes for the same house can differ by thousands of dollars. Usually that's because they price a different job, not because one roofer is cheating. Here's what moves the number.
1. Roof size, in "squares"
Roofers price by the square: 100 square feet of roof surface. Roof area is bigger than your floor area, because of pitch and overhangs. A 1,600 sq ft bungalow often has 13 to 16 squares; a 2,400 sq ft two-story with a steep, cut-up roof can top 20.
2. Material
Architectural asphalt shingles are the St. Louis default. Metal costs roughly twice as much per square foot (Source: This Old House) and lasts longer. Flat sections (common on City brick homes and porches) use a membrane instead of shingles, priced separately. Flat roof costs
3. How many layers come off
A full replacement removes the old roofing down to the deck (Source: IRC R908). A second layer of old shingles means more labor and more dumpster. Model building codes don't allow a new layer over two or more existing ones (Source: IRC R908). Older St. Louis houses often hide two layers, so ask each roofer to state the number of layers in the quote.
4. Pitch, height and access
Steep roofs need harnesses and slow down the crew. Three-story City homes need extra staging and a way to get debris down. Narrow lots and alleys can limit where the dumpster goes.
5. Decking (sheathing)
Nobody knows how much of the wood deck is rotten until the old roof is off. Good quotes list a per-sheet price for replacing decking, so you're not surprised. In the City, replacing more than 25% of the sheathing also triggers a permit (Source: City of St. Louis).
6. Flashing, vents, chimneys and gutters
Chimney flashing, skylights, ridge vents and new gutters are often line items. Brick chimneys on older homes may need repointing before new flashing will seal.
7. Permits
Like-for-like replacements usually don't need a permit in the City (Source: City of St. Louis), or in the parts of St. Louis County where the County enforces the code, on roofs of 4:12 slope or steeper (Source: St. Louis County). Changing materials, a low-slope roof, or a lot of new sheathing can change that. Permits, City vs. County
How to compare St. Louis roof quotes
Line up quotes on these points before you look at the total:
- Scope: full tear-off to the deck, and how many layers
- Shingle line (brand and product), underlayment, and ice-and-water shield at eaves and valleys
- Decking: per-sheet price and an estimate of how many sheets
- Flashing: new or reused at chimneys and walls; drip edge
- Ventilation: ridge vent or other venting changes
- Permits: who pulls them, if needed
- Cleanup: magnetic sweep for nails, dumpster, landscaping protection
- Warranty: the manufacturer's coverage and the roofer's own workmanship warranty, in writing
- Payment schedule: avoid paying most of the price upfront. A 2026 case charged by the Missouri Attorney General involved a contractor who took upfront payments for storm-damaged roofs and abandoned the jobs (Source: St. Louis Public Radio).
Insurance and roof replacement
If hail or wind damaged your roof, your insurer may pay part or all of the cost, depending on your policy. That decision belongs to your insurer, not the roofer. In Missouri, a roofer can't offer to cover your deductible or negotiate your claim for you (Source: RSMo 407.725). Hail damage and insurance
How the estimator works
Our model, labeled as an estimate everywhere it appears. We'll refine it as we collect real St. Louis quotes.
| Step | Assumption |
|---|---|
| Footprint | Home size ÷ stories |
| Roof surface | Footprint × pitch factor (flat 1.0, low 1.05, medium 1.15, steep 1.35) × 1.1 for overhangs and waste |
| Price per sq ft | Asphalt $4.60–$7.00 · metal $8.50–$13.00 · flat membrane $6.00–$11.00. The low ends sit at RSMeans-based Missouri averages (Source: This Old House); the high ends are our assumption for full tear-off, architectural or premium products, and St. Louis labor |
| Steep roofs | ×1.10–1.20 labor |
| Three stories | ×1.05–1.10 access |
| Second layer | +$0.60–$1.20 per sq ft of roof |
| Not included | Rotten decking, chimney work, skylights, gutters, permits |
Sources
Last reviewed October 22, 2026.
- How much does a roof replacement cost in Missouri? (updated May 27, 2026; RSMeans material data), This Old House. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- International Residential Code, Section R908 Reroofing (model code), International Code Council. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- When a residential building permit is needed, City of St. Louis Building Division. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Residential re-roofing checklist and guide for asphalt shingles, St. Louis County Department of Transportation and Public Works. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Man charged with allegedly scamming tornado victims seeking home repair in north St. Louis (May 29, 2026), St. Louis Public Radio. Accessed October 22, 2026.
- Section 407.725, Revised Statutes of Missouri: roof and exterior work contractors, insurance deductibles, cancellation, Missouri Revisor of Statutes. Accessed October 22, 2026.