Cost & Buying

Metal vs. Asphalt Roof Cost in Washington & Oregon (2026)

The Peaks & Valleys field teamWritten by the crews and inspectors on the roofs

Guide2 min readLast reviewed August 2, 2026How we research

The short answer

In WA & OR, architectural asphalt runs $12,000–$28,000 and lasts 20–25 years; standing-seam metal runs $25,000–$55,000 and lasts 50+. Metal costs about double upfront and lasts about triple. If you're staying 15+ years — or in snow or fire country east of the Cascades — metal usually wins the cost-per-year math. Selling sooner? Asphalt.

Part of our guide to What a Roof Replacement Actually Costs in Washington & Oregon (2026).

“Should I go metal or asphalt?” is really a math question wearing a materials question’s clothes. Here are the real numbers from our WA and OR job files, and the calculation that actually answers it for your home.

The upfront numbers

Architectural asphalt shingles: $12,000–$28,000 installed for most homes; 20–25 year PNW lifespan. Full breakdown here.
Standing-seam metal: $25,000–$55,000 installed; 50+ year lifespan.

Metal costs roughly double upfront. That number scares people off before they finish the calculation — which is a mistake, because the useful comparison isn’t sticker price. It’s cost per year of service.

The cost-per-year math

Take a mid-range home:

Asphalt: $18,000 ÷ 22 years = ~$820/year
Metal: $38,000 ÷ 50 years = ~$760/year

On a pure cost-per-year basis they’re close, with metal slightly ahead — and that’s before counting the second tear-off you avoid. Choose asphalt and you’ll likely reroof again in ~22 years; choose metal once and you’re done. Factor the avoided future replacement (and its inflated future price), and metal’s lifetime math pulls clearly ahead for homeowners who stay long enough to bank the years.

Where metal wins outright

You’re staying 15+ years. You’ll actually use the lifespan you paid for.
East of the Cascades — Spokane, the foothills, snow country. Metal sheds snow instead of stacking it and shrugs off freeze-thaw. Here’s why metal fits snow country.
Fire-risk zones. Class A ratings matter more every summer.
Low-maintenance priority. No moss farming in the grain, no granule loss.

Where asphalt wins

You’re selling within 5–8 years. You’ll pay for decades of metal life you won’t use, and buyers rarely credit it fully.
Budget is the hard constraint today. Architectural asphalt delivers a genuinely good 20–25 year roof at the lowest entry cost. Financing bridges the gap either way.
HOA or neighborhood consistency favors the standard.

The honest bottom line

For a forever home, especially east of the mountains, run the metal numbers seriously — the upfront premium usually pays back. For a home you’ll sell within a decade, architectural asphalt is the rational choice. We’ll run your specific numbers at a free inspection rather than push you toward the higher ticket.

Try the instant cost calculator for both materials on your home, or read the full materials guide.

Questions homeowners actually ask

How much more does a metal roof cost than asphalt?

Roughly double the installed cost of architectural asphalt — standing-seam metal typically runs about $25,000–$55,000 versus $12,000–$28,000 for asphalt on a comparable home. It also lasts roughly triple as long, which is where the lifetime math starts to favor it.

Does metal actually save money over time?

For long-term owners, often yes. One metal roof can outlive two or three asphalt roofs, so on a cost-per-year basis the gap narrows or flips — especially east of the Cascades where snow, UV, and fire exposure are harder on asphalt. If you're moving within 5–8 years, asphalt usually wins.

Will a metal roof lower my energy bills?

It can help modestly — reflective finishes cut summer heat gain — but don't buy metal expecting the energy savings alone to pay for it. The real case for metal is longevity, snow-shedding, and fire resistance, not the utility bill.