Short answer
HomeGuide estimates roll roofing at $2.00 to $5.50 per square foot installed, which is $200 to $550 per square (100 sq ft), with materials about $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot and tear-off adding $1 to $2. Mineral roll roofing is typically estimated to last about 5 to 15 years; modified bitumen and EPDM are estimated to last much longer. Get local quotes: these are national estimates, not prices.
Installed cost estimates
Installed cost, national estimates
| Roof type | Installed (per sq ft) | Per square | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roll roofing | $2.00 to $5.50 | $200 to $550 | HomeGuide |
| Modified bitumen | $4.25 to $6 | $425 to $600 | Hunker |
| TPO | $5.50 to $6 | $550 to $600 | Hunker |
| EPDM | $5 to $9 | $500 to $900 | Hunker |
Per square figures are the per square foot ranges times 100. Removing the old roof adds about $1 to $2 per square foot by HomeGuide’s estimate. Prices move with materials, labor markets and region, so treat these as a starting point for comparing quotes.
Lifespan estimates
How long each roof type is estimated to last
| Roof type | Estimated life | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral surface roll roofing | About 5 to 15 years | Hunker |
| TPO | 10 to 20 years | Hunker |
| EPDM | More than 20 years | Hunker |
| Modified bitumen | Up to about 30 years | Hunker |
None of these are test results, ours or anyone’s. They are published estimates, and real roofs vary widely.
Estimate a DIY job
- Measure the roof. Length times width of each plane, along the slope, including overhangs. Add them up.
- Convert to squares. Divide by 100. A 10 by 12 shed roof is 1.2 squares.
- Count rolls. Standard mineral rolls cover about one square each (GAF); 19 inch selvage rolls about half (TAMKO). Add about 10 percent for laps, starters and waste.
- Add the extras. Felt, lap cement (GAF gives about 2 gallons per 100 sq ft), nails, drip edge, and ice barrier where needed.
The roll picker does the roll math for you.
DIY shopping list
Cost per year
A cheap roof that you replace twice can cost more over time than a dearer one you install once. Divide each quote by its expected life in years to compare. For a house, that math often favors shingles or a modified bitumen system; for a shed, roll roofing usually wins anyway.
Questions people ask
How much does roll roofing cost per square?
HomeGuide’s estimate of $2.00 to $5.50 per square foot installed works out to $200 to $550 per square. DIY material cost is far lower, mostly the rolls, felt, cement, nails and drip edge, but check current local prices.
How long does roll roofing last?
Estimates vary: Hunker gives five to 15 years for asphalt roll roofing (and five to 10 in another section). Slope, sun, snow, ventilation and how well the laps were sealed all matter.
Is roll roofing worth it?
On sheds, outbuildings and low slope roofs where looks do not matter, often yes: it is cheap, fast and easy to replace. On a house roof you plan to keep for decades, compare the cost per year with shingles or a membrane.
What makes a roll roofing quote more expensive?
Tearing off the old roof, replacing rotten decking, steep or high roofs, complicated edges and walls, ice barrier, and minimum job charges on small roofs. Ask each roofer to itemize those.
Sources
Last reviewed October 12, 2026. Products and listings change; check the data sheet and wrapper before you buy, follow the maker’s instructions, and check your local building code.