How to bid roofing jobs
Roofing bids at $425 to $750 per square for architectural shingle replacement including tear-off, underlayment, flashing and disposal — on a simple, walkable roof. Complexity moves that number more than material choice does.
The formula
(Squares × base rate) × pitch multiplier × layer multiplier + fixed lines.
A 24-square roof, 6/12 pitch, one existing layer, simple gable:
- 24 squares × $520 = $12,480
- Pitch 6/12: walkable, no multiplier
- One layer: no multiplier
- Ridge vent 42 lf, drip edge, valley metal, flashing: $1,150
- Permit: $280
- Bid: $13,910 — $580/square, mid-band.
Same roof at 10/12 pitch with two existing layers:
- Base $12,480 × 1.35 (pitch) = $16,848
- Tear-off second layer +$120/sq × 24 = $2,880
- Fixed lines as above: $1,430
- Bid: $21,158 — $881/square.
Identical footprint. 52% more money, all of it justified.
Price a roofing job
Your numbers, the formula above. Nothing is sent anywhere — this runs in your browser.
$13,200 base (24 squares × $550)
This is a starting number, not a bid. Walk the property before you send it.
Always pre-price the decking
This is the most important line in a roofing bid and the one most commonly missing.
Decking is inspected after tear-off. Replacement, if required, is charged at $XX per 4×8 sheet, carried out only with your written approval. All areas requiring replacement will be photographed before covering.
Without it you are negotiating price on an open roof with an anxious homeowner, which is the worst position available to you. With it, a bad discovery becomes a signed change order in five minutes.
What changes a roofing bid
Pitch. A labour multiplier across the whole job.
Layers. Tear-off of a second or third layer is disposal weight and time.
Complexity. Valleys, dormers, chimneys, skylights, hips. Cut-up roofs are slower per square than simple gables by a wide margin.
Access. Where the dumpster goes, whether you can get a conveyor in, how far the carry is.
Ventilation. Existing ventilation is frequently inadequate and correcting it is both good practice and a chargeable line.
Material tier. Three-tab, architectural, designer, metal. Quote two or three.
The mistakes
Bidding from a plan-view measurement without pitch. A 10/12 roof has substantially more area than its footprint suggests.
No decking allowance. Guarantees at least one bad conversation per month.
Forgetting the second layer. Check before bidding, not after tear-off starts.
One option. Customers given one number shop it. Customers given three choose one.
Quoting warranties loosely. Manufacturer and workmanship warranties are different; say so, separately.
Measuring and quoting faster
QuoteIQ at $29.99/mo measures the roof off satellite imagery — a workable plan-view area for repairs and simple replacements, though not a substitute for a pitch-aware report on complex roofs. Jobber at $49/mo produces the best customer-facing proposal and its Grow plan adds optional line items for material tiers. Housecall Pro Max includes a proposal tool built for the three-option presentation.
Questions operators actually ask
How do I bid a roofing job?
Measure the roof in squares, apply your per-square rate for the material, add multipliers for pitch, layers and complexity, then add fixed lines for flashing, ventilation, permit and disposal. Always include a pre-priced decking allowance — that is the line that prevents the worst conversation in roofing.
How much should I charge per square for a roof?
$425 to $750 per square for architectural shingle replacement including tear-off, underlayment, flashing and disposal on a simple walkable roof. Steep pitch, multiple layers and complex rooflines push it well above that.
How do I handle unknown decking?
Price it in the bid at a stated per-sheet rate, carried out only with written approval. You cannot know what is under the shingles until it is off, and discovering that on an open roof with no agreed price is how roofing jobs become disputes.
How much do I add for pitch?
20% to 60% on labour for 8/12 and above, more for anything requiring staging or harness work throughout. Pitch is a labour multiplier, not a flat fee — it slows every part of the job.
Should I bid options?
Yes. Two or three shingle tiers presented as choices reliably raises average job size against a single number, and it changes the customer's question from whether to buy from you to which one to take.