Metal roof vs. shingles
The choice between a metal roof and asphalt shingles comes down to how long you'll keep the house and what you can spend upfront. Metal costs two to three times as much but lasts 40–70 years and resists fire, wind, and heat. Shingles are far cheaper and easy to repair, but last 15–30 years. Here's the full head-to-head.
The quick verdict
- Choose metal if this is your long-term home, you're in a wildfire, high-wind, heavy-snow, or hot-sun climate, or you want the lowest lifetime cost and best energy performance.
- Choose asphalt shingles if upfront budget is the priority, you may move within 10–15 years, or you want the simplest, most widely available roof to install and repair.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Metal roof | Asphalt shingles |
|---|---|---|
| Installed cost | $8–$16 / sq ft | $4.50–$9 / sq ft |
| Lifespan | 40–70 years | 15–30 years |
| Weight | Light (~1–1.5 lb/sq ft) | Heavy (~2.5–4 lb/sq ft) |
| Fire resistance | Excellent (non-combustible) | Good (Class A), but combustible |
| Wind / snow | Excellent; sheds snow | Good to ~110–130 mph |
| Energy use | Reflects heat; cuts cooling | Dark colors absorb heat |
| Repairs | Less common; specialist | Easy, cheap, any roofer |
| Recyclable | Yes, fully | Mostly landfilled |
Cost compared
Shingles win decisively on upfront cost — about $4.50–$9 per square foot installed versus $8–$16 for metal. Within metal, standing-seam is the priciest (concealed fasteners, more labor), while metal shingles and corrugated panels sit lower. But the cheaper roof isn't always cheaper over the life of the house: across a 50-year span you'd typically re-roof in asphalt two or three times versus once in metal. Factor in metal's energy savings and you're comparing total cost of ownership, not just the install quote. For full numbers by size and material, see our roof cost guide.
Estimate your roof
Get squares and material quantities with the roofing calculator, and confirm your slope with the roof pitch calculator — both feed an editable cost so you can compare metal against shingles.
Open the Roofing CalculatorDurability & climate
This is where metal pulls ahead. It's non-combustible (a real advantage in wildfire country), handles very high winds, and sheds snow rather than letting it pile up. Its main weakness is denting from large hail, and lower-gauge panels can oil-can (ripple) if poorly installed. Asphalt shingles do fine in moderate climates and carry a Class A fire rating in most lines, but they age faster under intense sun, can blow off in storms once brittle, and are prone to algae streaking and moss in damp, shaded spots.
Energy, noise & looks
In hot, sunny regions metal earns back some of its premium: reflective or "cool roof" coatings can trim summer cooling costs by roughly 10–25%, where dark asphalt simply soaks up heat. The old worry about noise is mostly a myth on a house — over solid decking, underlayment, and attic insulation, metal is only marginally louder than shingles in heavy rain; it's loud only on open-framed barns and sheds. On looks, shingles offer the familiar dimensional appearance in dozens of colors, while metal ranges from sleek standing-seam to panels stamped to mimic shingles, tile, or shake.
Which should you choose?
- Forever home, harsh climate → Metal. Maximum lifespan, fire and wind resistance, and energy savings.
- Tight upfront budget → Asphalt shingles, every time.
- Selling within ~10–15 years → Shingles usually make more financial sense; you won't capture metal's long life.
- Hot, sunny region → Metal, for the cooling-cost savings.
- Easy future repairs matter → Shingles — any roofer can patch them cheaply.