Most homeowners start with one question: what is this going to cost? Below are the published 2026 figures for Toronto and Ontario by material, what makes one roof cost twice as much as the house next door, and what a proper quote should show you. They are averages to budget with, not a price for your roof.
The short answer
For a typical Toronto house, an asphalt shingle replacement usually lands in the low-to-mid teens of thousands of dollars, and a standing-seam metal roof costs roughly two and a half to three times as much. Cedar sits between the two, and flat roofs vary more than anything else because size and drainage differ so much.
| Roof | Per sq ft of roof, Ontario | Typical project |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt shingle | $5–$9 (premium lines up to $12) | About $13,000 in Toronto; reported range $7,800 to $22,000+ |
| Standing-seam metal | $7–$30 (steel at the low end, copper and zinc at the top) | About $35,000 in Toronto; reported range $23,500 to $57,000 |
| Cedar shake | $15–$25 | $30,000 to $50,000 for a 2,000 sq ft home |
| Flat and low-slope | $5–$17 (modified bitumen at the low end) | $10,000 to $34,000 for a 2,000 sq ft home |
| Repairs | Not priced by area | About $2,500 in Toronto; reported range $300 to $10,000+ |
Toronto project figures are from the HomeStars Toronto roofing cost guide, which collects prices reported by homeowners and local roofers. Per-square-foot ranges and the 2,000 sq ft examples are from Green Building Canada's Ontario guide, updated June 2026. Sources are listed at the end.
Why the price per square foot only gets you so far
Roofs are priced on roof area, not floor area, and the two are rarely the same. A steep roof has much more surface than its footprint suggests: at a 12-in-12 pitch the roof is about 41 percent larger than the ground it covers, and at a 6-in-12 pitch about 12 percent larger. Overhangs, dormers and porch roofs add more. Roofers usually work in "squares" of 100 square feet, so a quote for 22 squares means roughly 2,200 square feet of roof.
That is why two houses with the same floor area can be priced thousands of dollars apart, and why an estimate without anyone looking at the roof can only ever be a range.
What moves the price on a Toronto roof
- Pitch and height. A steep or three-storey roof needs more fall protection, staging and time, and labour is the largest part of most quotes.
- What comes off. Removing two layers of old shingle takes longer and fills more bins than removing one.
- The deck underneath. Rotten plywood or plank boards only show up once the old roof is off. Ask how replacement sheets are priced before you sign, so the number is not a surprise.
- Complexity. Valleys, dormers, skylights and chimneys all need flashing, and flashing is where roofs leak. A simple gable roof costs less per square foot than a cut-up one.
- Access. Tight lots, shared driveways and laneway houses are common in the older parts of the city. A disposal bin on the street needs a City permit, and some sites need material carried in by hand.
- Ventilation and ice protection. Bringing attic ventilation up to standard and running ice-and-water membrane well past the eaves adds cost, and saves far more. Our ice dam guide explains why.
- Heritage designation. A designated home may need a heritage permit and matching materials. See re-roofing a heritage-designated home.
- Timing. Spring and early autumn are the busiest seasons. Booking ahead gives you more choice of date.
What a proper quote should show you
A low number on a vague quote is not a saving. Before you compare prices, make sure each quote spells out:
- Full tear-off to the deck, and how many layers are coming off.
- The price per sheet for any deck replacement.
- The brand and line of shingle, metal or membrane.
- How far the ice-and-water membrane runs, and whether valleys get it too.
- Which flashings are replaced and which are reused.
- The ventilation plan for intake and exhaust.
- Disposal, bin permits and clean-up.
- The workmanship warranty, in writing, with its length and what it covers.
- Proof of liability insurance and WSIB coverage.
If two quotes differ by a lot, the difference is almost always in one of those lines.
Spending less without cutting corners
- Repair a young roof instead of replacing it. A localized leak on a roof under about 15 years old is usually a repair. Our guide to how long a roof lasts in Toronto covers the signs that it is time to replace.
- Choose architectural shingle over premium designer lines. The installation matters far more to how long it lasts than the product tier.
- Do the eavestroughs at the same time. Sharing the setup and access saves labour.
- Think in cost per year. A metal roof costs more today but may be the last roof you buy. We compare the two in shingle vs metal roofing in Ontario.
How we price a roof
We visit the property, measure the roof and look at the things no estimate can see from above: the deck, the flashings and the attic. Then you get a written, fixed price, itemised by material and labour. The consultation is free and there is no obligation.
Sources
- HomeStars, Roofing Cost Guide for Toronto
- Green Building Canada, Average Cost of Roof Replacement in Ontario (By Roof Type), updated June 2026