Roofing Estimate Template for Roofers
Squares, tear-off, underlayment, flashing, ridge vent, decking by the sheet and dump fees on one PDF the homeowner can sign at the kitchen table.
- Free, no signup
- PDF in about two minutes
- Works on a phone
Why a roofing estimate is different
Two roofers can quote the same house $4,000 apart and both be honest. The gap usually comes from things the homeowner cannot see from the driveway: how many layers come off, how much decking is soft, whether ice barrier goes in the valleys, and whether the price includes a steep-roof charge. A roofing estimate that spells those out wins against a lower number that does not, because the homeowner can finally compare like for like.
The other difference is the unit. Everything big on a roof is priced by the square, 100 sq ft of roof surface. Put the measured squares, the pitch, the number of stories and the existing layers in the header so every price below has a clear basis.
Structure the line items in install order
List the work in the order the crew does it. That is how a homeowner pictures the job, and it makes missing items obvious.
| Description | Quantity | Unit | Unit price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tear-off, 1 layer asphalt shingles | 24 | square | $75 |
| Dumpster and dump fees, 20-yard | 1 | each | $650 |
| OSB decking replacement, 7/16 in | 4 | sheet | $95 |
| Synthetic underlayment, ice barrier at eaves | 24 | square | $55 |
| Architectural shingles, installed | 24 | square | $340 |
| Ridge vent | 40 | linear ft | $12 |
Flashing deserves its own rows: step and counter flashing at walls and chimneys, pipe boots, drip edge. These are where leaks start, and listing them shows you are not reusing old metal.
Pitch and story multipliers
A walkable 4/12 to 6/12 roof is your base price. Add a separate line when the roof is steeper or taller, rather than burying it in the per-square price:
- Steep charge, 8/12 to 9/12: 15% to 25% on labor, or $25 to $50 per square
- Steep charge, 10/12 and up: 30% or more, plus roof jacks and harness setup
- Second story: $10 to $25 per square for extra handling and safety
Shown as its own line, a steep charge reads as a fact about the house. Hidden in the unit price, it reads as an expensive roofer.
Worked example: 24-square reroof
A single-story ranch, 6/12 pitch, one layer of three-tab shingles, 2,400 sq ft of roof surface. The roofer expects a few soft sheets near the chimney.
| Description | Qty | Unit | Unit price | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tear-off, 1 layer asphalt shingles | 24 | square | $75 | $1,800 |
| Dumpster and dump fees, 20-yard | 1 | each | $650 | $650 |
| Synthetic underlayment, ice barrier at eaves | 24 | square | $55 | $1,320 |
| Architectural shingles, installed | 24 | square | $340 | $8,160 |
| Chimney step and counter flashing | 1 | each | $650 | $650 |
| Ridge vent | 40 | linear ft | $12 | $480 |
| OSB decking replacement, 7/16 in | 4 | sheet | $95 | $380 |
| Building permit | 1 | each | $350 | $350 |
| Subtotal | $13,790 |
That works out to about $575 per square all-in, which sits in the normal 2026 range for architectural shingles on a simple roof. Sales tax on materials, if your state charges it separately, goes below the subtotal.
Free download
Roofing estimate template, ready to edit
The worked example above as a file, with its line items and terms already filled in. Change the prices, add your details and send it.
Or skip the file: fill it in above and download a PDFAll trade templates
Terms that belong on a roofing estimate
- Validity: "Pricing valid for 21 days. Shingle prices re-confirmed if the job is scheduled after that date."
- Deposit: state the amount and when the balance is due, usually on completion and final walk. In California, the down payment on home improvement work is capped at 10% or $1,000, whichever is less.
- Warranty: the manufacturer warranty on the shingles and your own workmanship warranty, with the number of years for each.
- Exclusions: gutters, skylight replacement, interior drywall or paint damage from past leaks, solar panel removal and reset, and fascia or soffit repair unless listed.
- Weather: "Start date may move for rain or high wind. Open roof areas will be dried in at the end of each day."
The common dispute: rotten decking
The argument most roofers know: the tear-off reveals soft plywood, and the homeowner hears about an extra charge for the first time with the roof open. The fix is one line in the estimate, written before anyone climbs a ladder:
"Price includes up to 4 sheets of decking replacement. Additional sheets replaced at $95 per sheet, photographed and counted before install."
The included sheets are already in the subtotal, the overage has a fixed price, and the photos settle the count. Nobody has to negotiate on a half-stripped roof.
Prices on this page are ballpark US figures in US dollars for early 2026. They show how a quote is put together, not a rate survey: price from your own costs and your local market.
How to use
Three things, then download
Your business name, the client and the line items are all a PDF needs. Tax, dates and terms are there when you want them.
- 01
Header with license and roof facts
Business name, license number and phone, then the property address, roof size in squares, pitch, number of stories and existing layers; put the roof details in the notes.
- 02
Build the roof in layers
Line items in install order: tear-off, dumpster, decking repair, underlayment and ice barrier, shingles, flashing, vents and ridge.
- 03
Price by the square
Shingles, tear-off and underlayment per square of 100 sq ft, flashing and ridge vent per linear foot, decking per sheet, and steep or two-story charges as their own line.
- 04
Lock the terms
Validity window, deposit, a per-sheet price for rotten decking, warranty terms and what happens if weather delays the job. Download the PDF.
Use cases
Frequently asked questions
Most roofers give replacement and repair estimates for free, because the inspection is part of selling the job. Some charge $100 to $300 for a detailed inspection report on a leak or for a buyer's inspection, and credit it back if you hire them.
Roofing is priced by the square, which is 100 sq ft of roof surface. A roofer measures each plane from the roof or from aerial measurement reports, adjusts for pitch, then adds 10% to 15% waste for shingles, more on cut-up roofs with many valleys and hips.
Yes, as its own line with the number of layers stated, usually $60 to $120 per square per layer plus dumpster and dump fees. Most codes allow no more than two layers, so if a second layer is already on, tear-off is not optional.
Roof size in squares, shingle brand and line, tear-off and disposal, underlayment and ice barrier, flashing, drip edge, ventilation, a per-sheet price for decking replacement, permit, cleanup and both the manufacturer and workmanship warranty.
Fifteen to thirty days is typical. Shingle prices often rise once or twice a year, so say on the estimate that materials will be re-confirmed if the job is scheduled after the valid-until date.
It depends on the state. California caps the down payment on home improvement work, including reroofs, at 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. Where there is no cap, many roofers take 10% to 30% or collect when materials are delivered.
Related tools
Estimate templates by trade
Each page loads the line items that trade actually bills, in the units it bills them. Ballpark US figures, there to show the structure.