Metal vs. Asphalt Roof Cost in Washington & Oregon (2026)
By the Peaks & Valleys field team · Updated 2026-07-07
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.
“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.