Roofing Material Prices: Q1 2026 Update
Current Prices (All 10 Materials)
Here is what every major roofing material costs right now, installed, per square foot. These prices include labor, which is 35-45% of the total.[1]
| Material | Low (per sq ft) | Mid (per sq ft) | High (per sq ft) | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-Tab Shingles | $3.50 | $4.50 | $6.00 | 15-20 years |
| Architectural Shingles | $4.50 | $6.00 | $8.00 | 25-30 years |
| Standing Seam Metal | $7.00 | $9.50 | $14.00 | 40-70 years |
| Metal Shingles | $6.00 | $8.00 | $12.00 | 30-50 years |
| Clay Tile | $10.00 | $13.00 | $18.00 | 50-100 years |
| Concrete Tile | $8.00 | $11.00 | $16.00 | 40-75 years |
| TPO (Flat Roof) | $4.00 | $5.50 | $7.00 | 20-30 years |
| EPDM (Flat Roof) | $4.00 | $5.00 | $7.00 | 20-30 years |
| Synthetic Slate | $9.00 | $12.00 | $15.00 | 40-60 years |
| Natural Slate | $15.00 | $22.00 | $30.00 | 75-150 years |
For most homes in the Carolinas, architectural shingles are the default choice. They hit the sweet spot of price and lifespan. See our shingle roof cost page for a deep dive.
What Changed This Quarter
Two big things moved material prices in Q1 2026.
Manufacturer Price Hikes
GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed all raised shingle prices 6-10% in early 2025. Those increases are now fully baked into what contractors pay at the supply house.[2]
No manufacturer has announced a rollback. The new prices are the new normal.
Tariff Impacts
Tariffs on imported metals and chemicals continue to push costs up across the supply chain. Metal roofing was hit hardest. But even asphalt shingle prices are affected because of tariffs on chemical inputs used in underlayment, sealants, and insulation.[3]
The Bigger Picture: 43.4% Higher Than 2020
Construction material prices were 43.4% higher in November 2025 than in February 2020, according to the NRCA construction material price index.[4]
That is not a typo. Materials cost almost half again as much as they did five years ago. This is not temporary inflation. It is a structural reset driven by supply chain changes, consolidation, and trade policy.
If someone tells you prices will "come back down," ask them which of these forces is reversing. See our 2026 annual price report for the full analysis.
The Big Three Manufacturers
Three companies control the vast majority of the residential shingle market in America. When all three raise prices in the same quarter, contractors have no alternative supplier. The increase becomes the floor.[2]
GAF (Standard Industries)
The largest roofing manufacturer in North America. Makes Timberline, the best-selling shingle brand in the US. Raised prices 6-10% in early 2025. If your contractor installs GAF, you are buying from the market leader.
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC)
Publicly traded. Makes Duration, TruDefinition, and Oakridge shingle lines. Also raised prices 6-10% in 2025. Strong in the Southeast market.
CertainTeed (Saint-Gobain)
French-owned. Makes Landmark and Presidential shingle lines. Followed with similar price increases. Known for their premium designer shingle options.
Want to compare specific shingle brands and prices? See our shingle price index for brand-by-brand data.
Distributor Consolidation: Why It Matters to You
The companies that deliver materials to your roofer went through massive consolidation. This is one of the biggest reasons prices are unlikely to drop.[5]
QXO (Formerly Beacon Roofing Supply)
Brad Jacobs' QXO completed its $11 billion acquisition of Beacon in April 2025. They found $200 million in "pricing leakage" from undisciplined discounting. Translation: they are tightening prices. Less room for contractors to negotiate means higher costs for you.
SRS Distribution (Now Owned by Home Depot)
Home Depot acquired SRS for $18.3 billion in 2024, then acquired GMS through SRS in September 2025. This gives Home Depot both retail and professional distribution under one roof.
ABC Supply
The largest wholesale roofing distributor in North America. Privately held by the Hendricks family. The biggest branch network and deepest inventory. Still the 800-pound gorilla.
Fewer distributors means less price competition at the supply level. Volume discounts favor bigger contractors. Material prices are becoming more uniform and less negotiable.
Tariff Breakdown: What You Are Paying For
Here is exactly how tariffs affect roofing material costs in 2026.[3]
| Input | Tariff Rate | What It Hits |
|---|---|---|
| Steel imports | 25% | Metal roofing panels, fasteners, flashing, drip edge |
| Aluminum imports | 25% | Metal roofing, flashing, ventilation components |
| MDI (adhesive chemical) | 60% | Underlayment, sealants, spray foam insulation |
| TCPP (fire retardant) | 272.7% | Insulation, sealants required for code compliance |
| Petroleum ($75-$95/barrel) | Market price | Asphalt shingles (petroleum-based product) |
The NAHB estimates tariffs have added roughly $9,200 to the cost of building a new home. Roofing takes a meaningful share of that total.[6]
Freight Costs
Truckload rates are projected to rise 4-6% in 2026. Roofing materials are heavy and bulky. A square of shingles weighs 200-350 pounds. Shipping cost is a real percentage of what you pay.[7]
If you live far from a distributor branch, delivery surcharges can add $500-$1,500 to your project. Raleigh and Charlotte have multiple branches from all three distributors. Smaller markets pay more.
What to Expect in Q2 2026
Here is my honest forecast for the next three months:
- Shingle prices: Flat or up 2-3%. No manufacturer has signaled relief.
- Metal roofing: Stays elevated as long as 25% steel/aluminum tariffs remain.
- Flat roof materials (TPO/EPDM): Stable. Less affected by current tariffs.
- Tile and slate: Stable. Specialty market with different supply dynamics.
- Labor cost: Still rising. NC needs more roofers than it has.
If you are planning a project, do not wait for prices to drop. They are not dropping. Get quotes now and lock in pricing. See our guide on how to negotiate roof price for tips on getting the best deal at current rates.
References
- Installed material costs per square foot based on Q1 2026 pricing data from ABC Supply, QXO/Beacon, and SRS Distribution regional catalogs. Labor component (35-45% of total) per BLS roofer wage data and contractor bid analysis. Last updated March 2026.
- Manufacturer price increases (6-10% in early 2025) confirmed via GAF, Owens Corning, and CertainTeed dealer communications and Roofing Contractor Magazine industry reporting.
- Tariff rates per current US trade policy: 25% on steel and aluminum imports, 60% on MDI chemical inputs, 272.7% on TCPP fire retardant. Chemical tariff impacts on underlayment and sealant products per NRCA industry analysis.
- NRCA construction material price index: construction materials 43.4% higher in November 2025 vs February 2020.
- QXO/Beacon acquisition ($11B, April 2025) and pricing leakage ($200M) per QXO investor communications. SRS/Home Depot ($18.3B, 2024) and GMS acquisition (September 2025) per Home Depot SEC filings. ABC Supply market position per industry reporting.
- NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) tariff impact analysis. Estimated $9,200 added to new home construction costs from current tariff structure.
- Freight cost projections (4-6% increase in 2026) per NRCA industry outlook and trucking industry forecasts. Shingle weight (200-350 lbs per square) per manufacturer specifications.