How Much Do Roofing Quotes Cost? (Are They Usually Free?)

Written by Masie Pitchard

Whether you need a roof on a new build, replacing an old roof, or doing repairs, you'll want to shop around to find the best roofing company for the best price. You'll need to talk to multiple contractors to get price estimates for the job, but how much should you expect to pay for a roofing quote?

Most reputable contractors and roofing companies will provide roofing quotes free of charge. For commercial buildings that require more hands-on work to estimate or for extremely rural residential buildings, roofing companies may request a small fee that they'll apply to your final invoice.

Getting a quote for a roof is a pretty simple process, but it can seem daunting if you've never done it before. Many variables can influence whether you'll need to pay for a roofing quote or whether you can get it for free, but below, we'll walk through everything so you have a good understanding of what to expect.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a Roofing Quote?

There are no widespread standards regarding the cost of roofing quotes, but most reputable roofers will offer estimates for free. Besides the opportunity cost of your time spent talking to roofing companies, quotes for roof work are typically free to you as the homeowner.

There's no reason you should ever have to pay for a roofing quote in most populated areas. Simply ask for quotes from roofers who offer it as a free service. To remain competitive, almost all roofing companies offer quotes for free, so you should not have too much trouble finding a company that won't charge you.

Why You May Have to Pay for a Roofing Quote

While roofing quotes are entirely free in almost all cases for residential homes, there are some situations where you should expect to pay a fee for a roofing quote. Below are some of the most common reasons you may have to pay for a roofing estimate:

• Multiple Visits - If, for whatever reason, you require the contractor to come out more than once to look at your roof, it may incur a fee. This situation can occur after getting a preliminary quote when you need an updated estimate after making some changes.
• Very Rural Location - If you live near a populated area, this should not be a problem. But if your home is located in a rural area away from most roofing companies, you may have to pay for a roofing quote due to the longer time commitment on the contractor's part.
• Complex Roof - For architecturally complex, extremely steep, or difficult to access roofs, you may need to pay a roofing company to give a quote. These roofs require more time and effort to provide an accurate estimate, so you'll need to pay for the contractor's time.
• Large Roof - It is not uncommon to pay for a quote if your roof is enormous or the project is expected to cost in the upper six digits or millions. Most commercial building roofs fall under this category.

While you typically don't have to pay for roofing quotes for most homes, sometimes it is unavoidable due to the nature of the roofing job. Some roofers will charge a fee for estimates to help filter out clients who are not serious about moving forward with the project.

Most contractors and roofing companies will apply the fee for the roofing estimate, if there is any, to the final invoice for the job.

What Do Roofing Quotes Typically Include?

Now that you know you don't have to pay for an estimate in most cases, you're probably wondering what a roofing quote includes precisely. There's not a standard outline of what a roofing quote should consist of, but most should cover at least the following:

• Basic company contact details and information
• The company's certifications, licenses, and insurance
• Project timeline, including estimated start and end dates
• The total cost of the job broken down into categories
• Materials list with prices and brand names
• Outline of the work that will occur
• Payment details and expected payment dates
• Detailed warranty and guarantee terms

Some information, such as termination clauses and payment details, may or may not be included in the estimate. The roofing quote should give you a good overview of the company and what to expect if you decide to contract them.

If your roof assessment for the estimate is in-person, it is a great time to ask the contractor questions to gain insight into things not included in the quote. It is even better if you can prepare beforehand and ask the same questions to every roofing company that provides an estimate to you. You can then more easily compare roofing companies when deciding which one to contract for your project.

How Many Roofing Quotes Should You Get?

Choosing how many roofing quotes to get before deciding on a company and contracting them is mainly up to your preferences. Typically you should get three quotes, but you may choose to get up to four or only two depending on the job.

To respect the time of everyone involved, thoroughly research all roofing companies beforehand and make sure they're a good fit for your project before requesting a quote. Consider that some roofers specialize in a specific roofing material or roof type when choosing which companies to contact.

Look online for reviews and ask around your community for what roofers people have had good experiences using. Choosing good and reputable roofing companies is a crucial first step to ensure the estimates you do receive are good and viable.

Roofing estimates can vary widely depending on crew size, available equipment, and experience. That is why it is essential to get multiple quotes from different roofers so you can choose the quality, price, and timeframe that works for your project.

Final Thoughts

The stress of needing a new roof or roof repairs combined with dealing with roofing quotes can be very stressful. It is vital to research roofing companies beforehand and get multiple quotes before deciding who to contract for the job.

Most reputable roofing companies provide free estimates for residential homes, including information on labor, materials, timeline, payments, and more. You should only pay for a quote when the job is very rural, complex, or large, and most companies will simply add the fee to the final invoice.