Is your contractor's quote fair? Check it before you sign
See what the job should cost in your state, for your size and material, and where your quote sits. Then show the contractor the range and ask them to explain any difference, or let us introduce a local pro.
Type the price you were quoted to see where it sits.
A planning range from our quote engine's starter rates with your state's labour, not a bid. Site conditions a calculator can't see can move a fair price.
Describe the job
Pick the job, its size, the material your quote names and your state.
Enter your quote
Type the price you were quoted; it stays on the page and isn't saved.
Read where it sits
In line, a little above, well above or well below the range for that job in your state.
Talk to the contractor
Share the link and ask them to explain any difference, line by line. Get a second quote if it's well above.
What a fair quote spells out
- The material by brand and line, and how much of it (squares, feet, square feet).
- Removal and disposal of the old roof, fence, deck or surface.
- Permits and inspections, and who pulls them.
- Labour warranty in years, in writing, alongside the manufacturer's.
- What happens, and at what price, if they find damage once work starts.
- Payment schedule: a deposit, not the whole price, before work begins.
Measure your job and meet a local pro
Not sure of the size? Type your address and measure it on the aerial photo for an estimate on your own home. Tick the “Connect me with a local contractor” box and we introduce one company that serves your area.
It's a roof: measure my roofTap your house and we trace it for you.
Questions
How do I know if a contractor's quote is fair?
Compare it with what the same job costs at typical rates in your state, for the same material and size, and with at least one other quote. A price within about 15% of the range is ordinary variation between companies. Well above it, ask for a line-by-line breakdown before you sign.
What should a new roof cost?
For a 2,000 sq ft one-storey home in architectural shingles at an average 6/12 pitch, with the old roof torn off, about $12,400–$14,300 at US-average labour on our pricing engine. Steeper roofs, more storeys, premium materials and higher-wage states cost more.
Can I show this price to my contractor?
Yes. Copy the link under the price: it opens on the same job, size, material and state (never the amount you were quoted). Ask the contractor to walk you through any difference. Good contractors will explain theirs, and some will sharpen their price.
Why might a fair quote be above this range?
Things no one can see from a calculator: rotted roof decking or a second layer to remove, permits and inspections, a steep or hard-to-reach site, rock or roots under a fence line, premium brands, longer warranties, or a busy season. The range is for the job as described, so ask which of these apply.
Is a quote far below the range a good deal?
Sometimes, but check what it leaves out: removal of the old work, materials grade, permits, clean-up, insurance and a written warranty. A price that seems too good often grows once work starts.
Where do these prices come from?
Our quote engine's starter rates for each trade (material and labour per unit, waste and each trade's minimum job), with labour scaled to your state's wage for that trade from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. For example, 150 ft of 6 ft wood privacy fence is about $5,300–$6,100 and 140 ft of seamless aluminium gutters about $2,200–$2,500 at US-average labour.
Can you find me a contractor?
Yes. Measure your job below and tick the "Connect me with a local contractor" box: we pass your request to one local company and tell you who they are. Nobody contacts you unless you tick it.