Is It Cheaper to Put a Metal Roof or Shingles?

Asphalt shingles are cheaper to install today; a metal roof is cheaper to own. Shingles run roughly $120–$400 per square and last 15–20 years, so you replace them 2–3 times over the 50+ years one Interlock aluminum roof lasts — before counting energy savings and avoided repairs.

Ask "which roof is cheaper?" and the honest answer is: it depends entirely on whether you mean cheaper today or cheaper over the time you own your home.

On install day, asphalt shingles are the budget choice — there's no debating it. They're inexpensive to manufacture and quick to lay down, which is why they top most North American homes. A premium metal roof costs more upfront, often two to three times as much per square.

But a roof isn't a one-time purchase you make once and forget — it's a cost you carry for as long as you own the house. Measured that way, the cheaper roof is frequently the more expensive-looking one.

Is it cheaper to install a metal roof or shingles?

Shingles are cheaper upfront — typically $120–$400 per square versus two to three times that for premium metal. But over the life of your home the comparison flips: an Interlock metal roof lasts 50+ years versus 15–20 for asphalt, so you buy one roof instead of two or three. Add up to 25% in cooling savings and minimal maintenance, and metal is usually the lower total cost of ownership.

Metal roof vs. asphalt shingles at a glance

Upfront Cost: Asphalt Is Cheaper, Full Stop

There's no need to spin this: asphalt shingles cost less to install than a premium metal roof. A "square" (100 square feet) of asphalt typically runs about $120–$400 in materials, and installation is fast and widely available. Premium aluminum systems like Interlock generally cost two to three times more per square upfront, reflecting the material, the engineering, and the factory-trained installation. That upfront gap is also why it's worth understanding the different types of metal roofing available, since profile and finish both affect price.

Lifespan: Where the Comparison Flips

The upfront number only tells half the story, because the two roofs don't last anywhere near the same length of time. A typical asphalt roof lasts 15–20 years before it needs replacing — sooner in harsh sun, salt air, or hail country. An Interlock aluminum roof is built to last 50 years or more. That means over the life of one metal roof you would buy, tear off, and dispose of two or three asphalt roofs — a reminder that no roof lasts forever, but some last far longer than others.

Total Cost of Ownership: The Honest Comparison

Stack the lifecycles side by side and the math changes. Three asphalt roofs over 50 years means three sets of materials, three tear-offs, three disposal fees, and three labor bills — and labor and materials inflate every year, so each replacement costs more than the last. One Interlock install, by contrast, is a single cost spread across the same five decades.

"Despite a longer lead time, the investment was worth it: the crew was fast, punctual, and professional... and delivered top-tier quality, value, and lasting performance." — Michele Beckler, Portland, Oregon · Installed August 2022 · Verified GuildQuality review

Worked example: a 2,000 sq ft roof over 40 years

Use the same defaults as our roof cost calculator: architectural asphalt at $6 per square foot, premium interlocking aluminum at $13, a 20-year asphalt life, and 3% a year roofing-cost inflation. The asphalt roof costs about $12,000 today and about $21,700 to replace at year 20 — a 40-year cumulative of roughly $33,700, with a third roof (about $39,100) due at year 40. The aluminum roof costs about $26,000, once.

On the re-roof cycle alone the lines cross at the first asphalt replacement. Energy savings, a Class 4 insurance credit and the 60–70% resale recoup all pull the crossover earlier. Change any assumption in the calculator and it re-runs the comparison for your roof.

The Costs Asphalt Hides

Sticker price also ignores what each roof costs you while it's on the house. Asphalt absorbs heat and drives up cooling bills; Interlock's energy-efficiency Alunar® finish reflects it, cutting cooling-energy use by up to 25%. Asphalt needs periodic repairs, loses granules, and grows moss; aluminum is low-maintenance and immune to rot and rust.

Maintenance and Risk Over the Decades

Every asphalt roof is a maintenance schedule waiting to happen — curling tabs, cracked shingles, sealed flashing, and storm repairs that add up quietly over 15–20 years. An Interlock roof's four-way interlocking aluminum panels have no exposed fasteners to back out and won't curl, crack, rot, or rust, so ongoing upkeep is minimal.

When asphalt is the better choice

Honest comparison cuts both ways. Asphalt is the right call if you expect to sell within about five years in a market that doesn't price a premium roof; if the roof is on a low-value outbuilding, garage or rental where a 15-year horizon is the whole plan; if the budget can't stretch to the higher first invoice and financing isn't attractive; or if the building is temporary. A premium architectural shingle, properly installed and ventilated in a mild climate, can also reach the upper end of its 30-year range — the example above uses 20 years because that is what most North American climates deliver. If you're staying put, in a climate with hail, wildfire ember exposure, coastal salt, heavy snow or summer heat, the case for metal strengthens on every one of those lines.

So, Which Is Cheaper?

If you're selling next year, asphalt is cheaper. If you're staying — or want to hand the next owner a roof they'll never replace — metal usually wins on total cost of ownership once you count lifespan, energy, maintenance, and insurance. That total-cost logic is also the heart of why an Interlock metal roof is a great investment rather than just a purchase. For the full numbers, see how much a metal roof costs and is a metal roof worth it.