Metal roof or asphalt shingles: which is right for you?

How the two compare

The numbers below are national estimates. Your quote will depend on your roof, your area and the roofer.

Trade groups have an interest in their own material. The Metal Roofing Alliance speaks for metal. ARMA, the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association, speaks for shingles. InterNACHI is a home inspectors’ group.

The kinds of each

Each material comes in a few forms.

• 3-tab shingles. A flat, single-layer shingle. ARMA calls it the least expensive asphalt shingle.
• Architectural shingles. Also called laminated. Two layers give a thicker, shaded look. ARMA says this is the most common type.
• Impact-rated shingles. Shingles tested to UL 2218, often to Class 4. They are made to resist hail.
• Standing seam metal. Long panels with raised seams. The fasteners hide under the seams.
• Exposed-fastener panels. Ribbed panels screwed through the face. The screw heads stay out in the weather.
• Metal shingles. Pressed metal pieces that overlap like shingles. Some have a stone coating and look like tile or wood shake.

Cost, lifespan and resale

The Homewyse ranges in the table are national estimates. They leave out permits, contractor overhead and repairs to the structure under the roof. Other surveys give lower figures for metal: HomeGuide put it at $5 to $16 per square foot in November 2025. Use any survey for a rough budget only. The Metal Roofing Alliance says metal costs about two to three times as much as shingles. Our new roof cost guide explains what moves the price.

Metal often outlasts shingles, but sources differ on how much. The Department of Energy’s Building America Solution Center says metal roofs can last up to 50 years or more. InterNACHI says weather, design, material quality and maintenance all change how long a roof lasts.

So ask how long you will stay. If you move in a few years, a long-life roof may not pay you back. Stay for decades, and a shingle roof may need replacing.

We found no reliable national data on resale. A local real estate agent knows what buyers near you expect.

Hail, wind and fire

Hail. The UL 2218 test drops steel balls on roofing. Class 4, the highest, means the product took hits from a 2-inch steel ball without cracking. A metal panel passes if no crack shows on its back, so a dent does not fail it.

IBHS, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, tests shingles with lab-made hailstones. In its 2025 ratings of 24 impact-resistant shingles, most rated Good and none rated Excellent. IBHS does not recommend Marginal or Poor products where hail falls. A Class 4 label is a start, not a promise.

Wind. Shingles carry ASTM D3161 or ASTM D7158 wind classes. Metal roofs are tested to UL 580. Shingles need warm weather to seal down. IBHS says full sealing can take one to two months or more in poor conditions.

Fire. Class A is the highest of three fire classes. ARMA notes the rating applies to the whole roof assembly. Both materials can reach Class A. Ask the roofer to confirm it for your system.

Energy, noise and the look

A cool roof reflects more sunlight and sheds the heat it absorbs. The EPA says cool roofs can cut peak cooling demand in air-conditioned homes by 11 to 27 percent. Both materials come in cool versions. The Cool Roof Rating Council lists rated products in its roof products directory.

In cold places, a cool roof can add a little to winter heating. The EPA says summer savings usually offset this.

Many people worry that metal is loud in the rain. The Metal Roofing Alliance says there is little difference from other roofs. If noise matters, ask a neighbor with a metal roof how it sounds in a storm.

Shingles suit most house styles. Metal can look modern or farmhouse. Check any HOA rules before you choose.

How your climate changes the answer

• Hot sun. A cool-rated product of either kind helps. InterNACHI notes that hot climates shorten the life of asphalt shingles.
• Hail belt. Look at impact-rated shingles and their IBHS scores. A Class 4 metal roof can still dent. Read your policy for a cosmetic-damage exclusion before you choose.
• Hurricane coast. Ask about the whole roof system. The IBHS FORTIFIED standard calls for more ring shank nails and a sealed roof deck. The Building America Solution Center calls for stainless steel fasteners or clips on metal roofs within 3,000 feet of salt water.
• Heavy snow. The Building America Solution Center advises metal roof slopes that let snow slide off safely. Ask where the snow will land and whether you need snow guards over doors and walkways.

Insurance discounts and dents

Some insurers give a discount for an impact-rated roof. The amount depends on the insurer and the state. In Texas, the Department of Insurance says each insurer sets its own discount for each class, and Class 4 gets the highest credit. The roofer fills out TDI form PC068 after the job.

A discount can come with a catch. Some policies exclude cosmetic hail damage: dents that change the look but do not let water in. Texas lets insurers add this exclusion to policies that get the impact-roof credit. Other states and insurers have their own rules. Metal can dent and still work, so this matters most for metal. Ask your agent in writing before you buy.

If hail has already hit your roof, see our guide to filing a hail damage claim.

This guide is general information. It is not engineering or insurance advice. Your policy wording is what counts.

Questions to ask a roofer

Get at least two written quotes for the same work. You can find roofers that list metal roofs and call them direct. We check only that a listed company’s phone works, its website is live and the site says the company does roofing, siding or gutter work. We do not check licenses, insurance, quality or prices, so check the license and insurance yourself.

For either roof:

• What is the exact product, and what are its hail, wind and fire ratings?
• Will you tear off the old roof or cover it? Does local code allow that?
• What underlayment and deck repairs does the price include?
• What do the manufacturer and workmanship warranties cover, and for how long?

For shingles:

• Is this shingle in the IBHS impact ratings, and how did it score?
• How will you nail it for wind?

For metal:

• Is this standing seam or exposed fastener? What gauge and coating?
• If the screws show, how often should someone check them?
• Do I need snow guards or coastal-grade fasteners here?