Roof Replacement Cost in Memphis, TN (2026)
Planning a new roof in Memphis, TN? This guide lays out what Tennessee homeowners have been paying per square foot in 2026, what tends to push a Shelby County job above or below those averages, and how to read the written estimate a local roofer gives you before you agree to anything.
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Costs at a Glance
The five rows below are statewide 2026 averages for installed roofing in Tennessee, given per square foot of roof surface. No source published a figure for Memphis alone, so read them as a starting line for homes in Shelby County, not a local price list.
| Cost row | Figure | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee 3-tab shingles, per sq ft | about $4.60 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Tennessee architectural shingles, per sq ft | about $5.05 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Tennessee premium shingles, per sq ft | about $6.25 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Tennessee exposed-fastener metal, per sq ft | about $6.75 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
| Tennessee standing-seam metal, per sq ft | about $10.45 | RoofObservations, 2026 |
Metal climbs past these figures when the panels are aluminum or carry a premium coating, and standing seam can reach about $13.95 a square foot. Steep or complex roofs, extra layers to tear off and decking repairs all push the price up as well. Slate, tile and flat roofs are left out of the table on purpose: their costs vary too much to average, so a roofer's own quote is the number to trust.
Here is how the rows play out on a real house. Take a one-story home of about 1,750 square feet with a pitch you could walk on. Once slope and the overhang at the eaves are added, the roof surface comes to roughly 2,160 square feet. Priced between the 3-tab and premium shingle rows, that lands near $9,900 to $13,500, before any surprises under the old shingles. The roof cost calculator repeats that math with your own home's size, height and pitch.
Price Drivers Explained
The table gives you a middle line. Where your own estimate falls against it depends on the roof itself: its shape, what is under the shingles, and what you choose to put back on. These are the things that move a Memphis-area number the most.
- Pitch and shape. Steep roofs, like those on many older bungalows and Tudors in Midtown neighborhoods, take more time and safety gear. Large hip roofs with many valleys, common on Cordova and suburban subdivision homes, add cutting and flashing work.
- Layers to strip. Each extra layer of old shingles adds labor, weight and disposal cost. Some older houses can carry more than one, and nobody knows for sure until the tear-off starts.
- Decking repairs. Soft or rotted boards found after tear-off get replaced at added cost, usually priced per sheet. In Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County, deck work is also what can bring a county permit into the job.
- Material grade. Going from 3-tab to architectural or premium shingles, or from exposed-fastener panels to standing seam, is the biggest single choice on the bill.
- Ventilation and underlayment. Long, hot, humid summers can bake an attic and age shingles from below. Ask the roofer about attic vents and about underlayment at the eaves and valleys, and what each upgrade adds.
- Trees and access. Big shade trees over the roof, tight driveways and fenced yards can slow tear-off, material drops and cleanup.
- Extras on the same visit. Gutters, drip edge, chimney flashing, skylights and ridge vents are often priced as their own lines, so check which ones are included.
Inside a Roof Estimate
The estimate comes from the roofer, never from this site. Many roofers give estimates at no charge; ask the roofer when you call. A useful one is written out line by line, so you can see where the money goes and hold it up against a second bid if you want one.
- Roof size. The total area in squares or square feet, and how the roofer measured it.
- Tear-off and disposal. How many layers come off and whether the haul-away is included.
- Decking. A price per sheet for any replacement boards, since the amount can't be known until the old roof is off.
- Materials by name. The shingle or panel line, underlayment, flashing, drip edge and vents.
- Warranties. The manufacturer warranty and the roofer's own labor warranty in writing, plus who registers the manufacturer coverage.
- Permit. Whether your address needs one and who pulls it.
- Payment schedule. What is due when, tied to stages of the work.
Before you sign, look the roofer up on verify.tn.gov, the state's online license search. In Shelby County, a residential job from $3,000 to $24,999 calls for a state Home Improvement license, and a job of $25,000 or more calls for a state contractor license. On the money side, Tennessee consumer guidance suggests paying no more than about one-third up front. A roofer who wants cash only, or the whole price before work begins, is one to pass on.
How Insurance Changes the Math
When wind, a falling limb or the weight of ice damages a roof, part of the cost may fall to your homeowners policy. A roofer can document what it finds and write an estimate for the repair. Settling the claim is up to you and your insurance company, with help from a licensed public adjuster or attorney if you decide to hire one.
Insurance or not, you pay your own deductible. A contractor who offers to cover or waive it while billing your insurer the full price is a red flag, and misstating a claim to an insurer can be insurance fraud.
If a roofing contract will be paid from a claim, Tennessee adds two protections. You can cancel within three business days after you receive the insurer's written denial of all or part of the claim, and Tennessee law limits payment before coverage is confirmed. Some insurers also credit impact-rated (Class 4) shingles; each sets its own terms, so ask yours before you choose. The Tennessee roofing rules page walks through each point.
Want a Number for Your Roof?
A statewide average can't see your pitch, your decking or the oak leaning over the garage. Request an estimate, and this free referral service passes your details to one independent local roofer serving the Memphis area, who looks at the roof and prices it in writing. The roofing company pays this site a fee for each referral; homeowners pay nothing and receive nothing.