Is It Cheaper to Put a Metal Roof or Shingles?
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. If the only question is the day-one invoice, shingles win.
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, for the reasons we’ll break down below. It’s the same logic behind why a metal roof is a great investment.
Asphalt: ~$120–$400 per square, 15–20 year lifespan. Interlock aluminum: 50+ years — one install instead of three.
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.
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. If your budget horizon is this year, asphalt is the lower number — and for a home you plan to sell soon, that may be the deciding factor.
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 reality explored in why no asphalt roof lasts forever.
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. For many homeowners the lifetime spend on metal is comparable to or lower than the repeated asphalt cycle, before a single other benefit is counted.
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% (see metal roof energy efficiency). Asphalt needs periodic repairs, loses granules, and grows moss; aluminum is low-maintenance and immune to rot and rust. And Interlock’s Class A fire and UL 2218 Class 4 impact ratings can earn insurance discounts that asphalt rarely qualifies for.
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. Fewer repairs and no surprise replacements mean the metal roof’s cost is largely known on day one, while asphalt’s true cost keeps accumulating.
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. And with the transferable Guardian Lifetime Warranty, the value follows the house. Compare the looks in the best types of metal roofing, or request a free quote to put real numbers to your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to install a metal roof or shingles?
Shingles are cheaper to install — about $120–$400 per square versus 2–3× for premium metal. Over the life of the home, metal is often cheaper to own because it isn’t replaced every 15–20 years.
How long does each roof last?
Asphalt shingles typically last 15–20 years; an Interlock aluminum roof is built to last 50 years or more — roughly two to three asphalt lifespans.
Why choose metal if it costs more upfront?
Because total cost of ownership favors it: one install instead of 2–3, up to 25% cooling savings, low maintenance, possible insurance discounts, and a transferable lifetime warranty.
Does a metal roof really save on energy?
Yes. Interlock’s energy-efficiency Alunar® finish (solar reflectance up to 0.55, emittance 0.84) can cut cooling-energy use by up to 25% versus dark asphalt.
What hidden costs does asphalt have?
Repeated tear-offs and disposal, periodic repairs, granule loss and moss, higher cooling bills, and fewer insurance discounts — costs that accumulate across each 15–20 year cycle.
Is the metal roof’s value transferable when I sell?
Yes. The Guardian Lifetime Limited Warranty transfers once to a second owner for 50 years from completion, making the roof a documented asset at resale.
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Last updated June 8, 2026 · Reviewed for accuracy by the Interlock SEO Desk.