Installed roofing in Los Angeles currently prices out at $9–$13.50 per square foot for asphalt shingles, $10–$15 per square foot for torch-down flat roofing, $13–$19.50 per square foot for TPO membrane, $14–$28.50 per square foot for Spanish tile, $16–$37.50 per square foot for flat concrete tile, $18–$27 per square foot for standing-seam metal, and $20–$30 per square foot for slate. A tile reset, reusing your existing tiles over new underlayment, runs $10–$15 per square foot.
The full rate table
| Material | Installed rate per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | $9–$13.50 |
| Tile reset (reuse existing tiles) | $10–$15 |
| Flat / torch down | $10–$15 |
| TPO membrane | $13–$19.50 |
| Spanish tile | $14–$28.50 |
| Flat concrete tile | $16–$37.50 |
| Standing-seam metal | $18–$27 |
| Slate | $20–$30 |
Estimates vary by roof size, pitch, and material grade, which is why each material shows a range rather than a single number. These rates are specific to the Los Angeles market: if you’ve seen lower figures on a national calculator, they probably weren’t priced for LA labor and disposal costs.
What an “installed rate” actually includes
A legitimate per-square-foot rate in the LA market is all-in: tear-off and disposal of the old roof, new underlayment, flashing and drip edge, the roofing material itself, labor, and cleanup. When a contractor quotes a suspiciously low rate, the missing money is usually hiding in one of those line items, commonly disposal, flashing replacement (reusing old flashing is a classic corner-cut), or the permit.
One caution before you multiply
Per-square-foot rates apply to roof surface, not your home’s listed square footage. A single-story house carries far more roof per square foot of living space than a two-story one, and garages, overhangs, and pitch all change the real footage, so two homes with identical floor plans can carry very different roofs. Rather than estimating your surface by hand, let the calculator do it: it converts your home’s size, stories, garage, and pitch into a priced range in one step.
Checking a quote against these rates
When a bid arrives, divide the total price by the roof square footage listed on the bid (a proper bid states it, ask if it doesn’t). Then compare:
- Inside the range for your material? The quote is in normal LA territory; compare workmanship, warranty, and scope rather than price alone.
- Above the range? Look for a stated reason: steep pitch, hillside access, wood repair allowances, premium product lines, or structural work. No reason given is itself a signal.
- Below the range? Be at least as cautious. Check that tear-off, disposal, new flashing, and the permit are actually in the scope, and that the contractor’s CSLB license is current. Lowball bids most often recover margin through change orders.
For whole-project numbers instead of rates, see the full LA cost guide or jump to the breakdown for your home size: 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, or 3,000 sq ft.
Figures on this page are informational estimates based on regional pricing data and automated roof measurements. They are not quotes or bids. Actual pricing requires an on-site inspection by a licensed contractor.