You’re in the market for a new roof, which usually means one of two things: You’re having a house built or remodeled or your roof has reached the end of its lifespan—maybe even prematurely after a major weather event like a hailstorm—and it’s time for a replacement. Now, you have a decision to make: Should you opt for a metal roof vs. shingles?
While other types of roofing materials exist, like clay tiles, concrete, and even green roofs that involve a layer of vegetation on top of your home, asphalt shingles and metal roofing tend to be the most popular picks for home roofing materials. From a design perspective, choosing materials for a new roof may not be as exciting as a kitchen makeover or making additions to your backyard landscaping, but the roof over your head is the very thing that keeps you and your home shielded from the elements. Plus, with a growing number of roofing options available, a new roof can even add curb appeal.
Homeowners have several factors to consider, ranging from the cost of a metal roof vs. shingles to their differences in lifespan, aesthetics, sustainability, and, for some, homeowner association (HOA) rules. Ahead, roofing experts share everything to know about choosing between a metal roof vs. shingles, explaining what these materials comprise and their pros and cons.
What Is an Asphalt Shingle Roof?
Asphalt shingles are the most common roofing material. Not only do they cost less than other roofing materials such as wood shakes, tiles, and metal roofs, but they’re easy to install.
Asphalt shingles are typically made with a tar-based adhesive that sticks asphalt granules to a fiberglass base mat. They are installed in overlapping rows starting from the bottom edge of the roof, using nails to secure each shingle in place, which helps in providing a weatherproof barrier, says James Marino, the CEO of Pinnacle Home Improvements, which specializes in roofs and has locations in Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Roof underlayments are often used in this process to help further protect against moisture.
What Is a Metal Roof?
Metal roofing comes in a wide range of styles and types. The most common metal for roofs is steel, followed by aluminum, copper, and zinc, says Todd Miller, the president of Isaiah Industries, a metal roofing manufacturer, and chair of the Metal Roofing Alliance.
Most metal roofs have an initial baked-on finish of either polyester or fluoropolymer chemistry. The fluoropolymer finishes have a greater life expectancy as well as fade resistance, he says. Metal roofs typically are installed with interlocking panels, which helps with their wind resistance over time, Miller explains.
“There are metal roofs that look like traditional vertical seam panels, but also, there are many metal roofs today that look like asphalt shingles, slate, wood shakes, or even tile,” he says.
The higher-quality metal roofs on homes will have concealed fasteners rather than exposed screw heads. The low weight of metal roofing often allows it to be installed over one layer of existing composition shingles.
Steel roofing is appropriate for most climates but aluminum or copper will be better choices for corrosive environments such as saltwater coasts, Miller says, or areas prone to high amounts of acid rain. (Rain skews more acidic in the Northeastern part of the United States, according to the U.S. Geological Survey; blame it on the car exhaust and industrial pollution).
Pros and Cons of Shingle Roofs
Shingle Roof Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to install and repair
- Versatile—it’s easy to find contractors who work with asphalt shingles
- A wide variety of colors and styles are available
- Low-maintenance
Shingle Roof Cons:
- More prone to damage, especially in high winds
- Shorter life cycle, especially in harsh weather environments
- No energy savings
- “Roof algae” can develop over time. These dark stains take away from aesthetics and make a roof look older.
Pros and Cons of Metal Roofs
Metal Roof Pros:
- Long lifespan
- On-trend designs
- Potential energy savings
- Low-maintenance
Metal Roof Cons:
- More expensive to install
- May have difficulty finding skilled contractors to install or repair them
- Some HOAs don’t allow metal roofing
How Much Do They Cost?
Whether you choose shingles or a metal roof, prices will vary dramatically based on the exact roofing product you choose, where you live, and factors like how steep your roof is and how complex the installation job will be. The American Society of Home Inspectors in 2023 reported that the average cost of asphalt shingles ranged between $4.25 to $8.25.
Generally speaking, though, a quality metal roof will often total about two to three times the cost of a fiberglass shingle roof, Miller says. So, for a typical 2,500-square-foot home with a 4,000-square-foot roof, a good fiberglass roof costs about $32,000 in 2024, and a quality metal roof costs more in the $75,000 range, Miller says.
Which Has a Longer Lifespan?
The lifespan of metal roofing is longer, typically ranging from 40 to 70 years, depending on the material, Marino says, whereas asphalt shingles usually last between 20 to 30 years. In addition, harsh weather, including hail storms, heavy snow, and extreme heat, can further shorten the lifespan of shingles.
Proper maintenance can help extend the life of both types of roofing, Marino says. Metal roofing requires minimal maintenance, often just periodic inspections and cleaning to remove debris. Shingles may need more frequent checks and repairs, especially after severe weather, when damaged or missing shingles might need to be replaced, he says.
Considering the differences in durability between metal roofs vs. shingles, Miller often asks homeowners how long they plan to stay in their current residence.
“If they intend to remain in their home through at least one ‘re-roofing cycle,’ metal roofs can make a lot of sense for them,” he says.
You can also consider that some metal roofs on historical buildings have lasted hundreds of years, Miller says. He points to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, which had metal shingles installed in 1820 that weren’t removed until a few years ago.
Which Is More Environmentally Friendly?
Asphalt shingles are the most popular roofing material for homes, but because they can be tough to recycle, a disproportionate amount of them end up in landfills. In fact, 11 million tons of asphalt shingles are landfilled each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Technically, asphalt shingles can be recycled and then reused to pave roads, according to the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. However, some recycling facilities won’t accept asphalt shingles. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, for instance, adopted a policy in 2015 that disallows asphalt shingles from being recycled due to low demand—and facilities that were accepting the waste were abandoning thousands of tons of roofing shingles.
Asphalt shingles also tend to absorb and hold heat, which means homeowners may have to run their air conditioning more, Miller points out.
On the flip side, metal roofing can be considered more environmentally friendly because it has a longer lifespan and can be recycled more easily. Metal roofs can also trim summer energy bills by up to 20 to 25 percent, Miller says.
Which Is Better: A Metal Roof vs. Shingles?
There is no definitive answer to which roofing material is best, it all comes down to your specific needs, Marino says. When comparing the potential for leaks, neither shingles nor metal roofs inherently leak more than the other, and proper installation is crucial for both, he says.
“Metal roofs are superior in terms of longevity and durability, while shingles are preferred for their cost-effectiveness and design versatility,” Marino says.
If you have the budget to install a metal roof, and your HOA allows them, this choice could provide long-term energy savings and may be more cost-efficient since you won't need to repair or replace it as often.
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Brittany Anas is a former newspaper reporter (The Denver Post, Boulder Daily Camera) turned freelance writer. Before she struck out on her own, she covered just about every beat—from higher education to crime. Now she writes about food, cocktails, travel, and lifestyle topics for Men’s Journal, House Beautiful, Forbes, Simplemost, Shondaland, Livability, Hearst newspapers, TripSavvy and more. In her free time, she coaches basketball, crashes pools, and loves hanging out with her rude-but-adorable Boston Terrier that never got the memo the breed is nicknamed "America’s gentleman."
