Metal Roofing Cost in Iowa
City-by-city comparison for the same default project size, priced with BLS metro CPI where available and a regional model elsewhere. Use the table to gauge how much your ZIP code alone will move the quote.
Cheapest Iowa metro
$32,319
Cedar Rapids
Statewide median
$32,356
Across 2 Iowa cities
Most expensive Iowa metro
$32,393
Des Moines
Metal Roofing — City-by-City Total
Open national calculator →| City | Cost multiplier | Typical project total | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids | 0.78× | $32,319 | Open → |
| Des Moines | 0.79× | $32,393 | Open → |
All totals priced with the calculator's default scope. To re-run for your specific project size, open the city link in the right column. Local labor wages and seasonality (below) are pulled from BLS OEWS and NOAA climate normals for Iowa.
Typical Project Cost by Metal Roof System
Adjusted for Des Moines, IA (-21%)Same default project size (default scope), priced across each material tier.
| Tier | Material rate | Total project | Installed per sqft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrugated / Agricultural Panel | $5.97 | $25,815 | $12 |
| Exposed-Fastener Residential Metal | $8.96 | $32,393 | $15 |
| Standing-Seam Metal | — | $45,527 | $21 |
Material rates reflect the latest BLS construction PPI adjustment. Installed totals include labor and supplies but exclude permits and any tear-out beyond the calculator's default scope.
Tier table priced for Des Moines, the state's largest metro by population. Per-city totals in the table above use the same default scope across the 2 cities we cover.
Local Labor Rates Near Iowa
State-level mean hourly wages from BLS OEWS, May 2023.
| Trade | SOC | Mean hourly (IA) | vs national | Loaded billing rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RoofersMost relevant | 47-2181 | $23.12 | -10.7% | ~$55/hr |
| Electricians | 47-2111 | $31.62 | -1.8% | ~$76/hr |
| Plumbers & Pipefitters | 47-2152 | $30.07 | -8.4% | ~$72/hr |
| HVAC Mechanics | 49-9021 | $27.34 | -4.6% | ~$66/hr |
| Carpenters | 47-2031 | $26.20 | -9.5% | ~$63/hr |
| Painters | 47-2141 | $22.42 | -9.5% | ~$54/hr |
| Construction Laborers | 47-2061 | $22.55 | -1.1% | ~$54/hr |
"Mean hourly" is the BLS OEWS state-level cross-industry mean wage paid to the worker. Loaded billing rate is a typical 2.4× multiple used in residential bids to cover overhead, insurance, taxes, vehicle, and contractor margin. Use it as a sanity check on a quoted hourly rate.
Best Months to Schedule Roof replacement & repair in Iowa
Derived from NOAA climate normals for IA: heating/cooling degree days, freeze months, and annual precipitation.
Why these months
With about 5 sub-freezing months and 35" precipitation, the practical roofing window is narrow and crews book out fast.
Booking tip
Get on a roofer's calendar in late winter to claim a slot in the short summer/early-fall window.
Recommendations derived from Iowa's climate profile (IECC zone 5A-6A, ~5 freeze months, 35" annual precipitation).
About this comparison
Project totals on this page use the calculator's default size and tier — they are designed for inter-city comparison, not as a quote. Pricing is built from the BLS residential construction PPI for materials and labor, with regional and direct metro CPI applied to capture local cost-of-living differences. Read the full methodology for source detail.