Roof Repair Cost Estimator
Last reviewed How we calculate
Roof repairs vary from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, and the price depends on the kind of repair far more than on the size of the roof. This gives a typical US range for the repair you have in mind, adjusts it for a steep roof, an emergency call and any rotten deck sheets, and compares it with the cost of replacing the roof.
Roof repair cost range
A typical US cost range for a roof repair, adjusted for steep roofs, emergency calls and deck sheets, and compared with replacement.
This calculator needs JavaScript to work. The measurements below are the ones you would need to do the sum by hand.
Middle of the estimated range, US dollars
- Low estimate
- High estimate
- Low estimate as a share of replacement
- High estimate as a share of replacement
The repair is under about a quarter of the replacement cost, so repairing is usually reasonable if the roof has years left.
The repair is around a quarter to a third of the replacement cost. In the second half of the roof's life, replacement deserves a serious look.
The repair is more than about 30 percent of the replacement cost. On a roof in the second half of its life, replacement is usually the better use of the money.
These are typical US ranges, not quotes. Your roof, your area and your contractor can put the real figure outside them, so use the result to check a quote, not to replace one.
How the calculation works
Each repair type carries a low and a high price from our roof repair cost guide. The calculator multiplies both by the number of repairs, adds deck sheets at $70 to $150 each, then adds 15 to 30 percent for a steep roof, 20 to 50 percent for an emergency or after-hours call, and $100 to $300 if a diagnostic fee is charged.
A worked example
Two vent pipe boots at $150 to $400 each come to $300 to $800. On a steep roof that rises by 15 to 30 percent, to about $345 to $1,040, with the middle of the range near $693.
Repair or replace
If you enter a replacement quote, the calculator shows the repair as a share of it. The rule of thumb in when repairing a roof stops being worth it is that once repairs approach a quarter to a third of the cost of replacement, and the roof is in the second half of its life, replacing is usually the better use of the money.
Before you rely on it
These are typical ranges, not quotes. Your roof, your area and your contractor can put the real figure outside them. To trace a leak before you price it, see how to find a roof leak.
Frequently asked questions
Where do the repair costs come from?
From the ranges in our roof repair cost guide, which draws on current US cost guides. They are typical ranges and can differ by area and contractor.
Does the estimate include a full roof replacement?
No. It covers repairs. Enter a replacement quote in the last field to see the repair as a share of replacement.
Why does a steep or emergency repair cost more?
A steep roof needs more safety equipment and moves more slowly, and an emergency call means a crew mobilizing at short notice, often in bad weather.
