Roof Replacement Cost in Cambridge, MA (2026)
Updated October 2026 · Cambridge, MA · index 1.18
How much does a new roof cost in Cambridge? For a 2,000 sq ft roof with architectural asphalt shingles, homeowners in Cambridge, MA pay about $15,600 on average, and most quotes land between $12,100 and $19,000 — $6.07 to $9.48 per sq ft. The price covers tearing off one layer to the deck, ice and water shield, synthetic underlayment, drip edge, the roofing itself, ridge vent, flashing, the permit, the dumpster and cleanup.
The roof replacement price in Cambridge runs 18% above the U.S. average: construction labor in the Cambridge area runs 27% above the national mean, materials 3% above. The same job averages $13,200 nationally and about $15,200 at the Massachusetts statewide index.
Roof Replacement cost calculator for Cambridge
800 to 5,000 sq ft
Are you a roofing contractor? Price jobs like this in 60 seconds
Roof replacement price in Cambridge by roofing material
What a 2,000 sq ft roof costs in Cambridge with each roofing material, installed:
| Option | Average · range |
|---|---|
| Architectural asphalt shingles30-year laminated shingle, the most common re-roof$7.78 per sq ft | $15,600$12,100 – $19,000 |
| 3-tab asphalt shinglesflat single-layer shingle, the budget option$7.03 per sq ft | $14,100$10,900 – $17,200 |
| Impact-resistant (Class 4) shingleshail-rated shingle; some insurers discount it$8.68 per sq ft | $17,400$13,700 – $21,000 |
| Standing-seam metalconcealed-fastener steel panels$17.95 per sq ft | $35,900$29,300 – $42,500 |
The least expensive option in Cambridge is 3-tab asphalt shingles, at about $14,100; standing-seam metal averages $35,900, 2.6 times as much.
Cost to replace a roof in Cambridge by size
With architectural asphalt shingles, priced for Cambridge, MA:
| Size | Average · range |
|---|---|
| A 1,500 sq ft roof$8.12 per sq ft | $12,200$9,400 – $15,000 |
| A 2,000 sq ft roof$7.78 per sq ft | $15,600$12,100 – $19,000 |
| A 3,000 sq ft roof$7.44 per sq ft | $22,300$17,600 – $27,000 |
Some costs stay the same whatever the size — roof measurement and inspection, permit and final inspection, site protection — so a bigger job costs less per unit: $7.44 per sq ft for a 3,000 sq ft roof against $8.12 for a 1,500 sq ft roof.
What a roof replacement in Cambridge includes
Line by line, the $15,600 average for a 2,000 sq ft roof breaks down like this: 53% labor, 45% materials and equipment, and $300 in permit fees passed through at cost.
| Line | Low – high |
|---|---|
| Roof measurement and inspection | $90 – $300 |
| Permit and final inspection | $150 – $450 |
| Site protection | $180 – $410 |
| Tear-off to the bare deck (one layer) | $1,550 – $2,350 |
| Dumpster and landfill fees | $380 – $710 |
| Ice and water shield at eaves and valleys | $540 – $850 |
| Synthetic underlayment | $500 – $810 |
| Drip edge | $350 – $610 |
| Starter strip | $200 – $350 |
| Roofing material, delivered | $3,300 – $4,350 |
| Installation labor | $3,550 – $4,950 |
| Valleys | $70 – $130 |
| Ridge and hip cap | $320 – $530 |
| Pipe boots and vent flashing | $270 – $590 |
| Step and wall flashing | $140 – $280 |
| Ridge vent | $230 – $380 |
| Cleanup and magnetic nail sweep | $300 – $530 |
| Warranty registration | $60 – $350 |
Each line is the price book's U.S. rate for that step times Cambridge's index of 1.18; permit fees are not scaled.
Get free quotes from Cambridge contractors
Describe your project once and JobFlex sends it to a local roofing contractor who prices it for your home — free, no account needed.
What affects roof replacement prices in Cambridge
Labor and materials in Cambridge
Construction wages in the Cambridge area run 27% above the U.S. mean (BLS, May 2025), and materials in its ZIP codes price 3% above the national average. Together they give Cambridge a construction cost index of 1.18.
Where Cambridge sits in Massachusetts
Cambridge is the 3rd most expensive of the 7 Massachusetts cities in our index, against a statewide index of 1.15. Boston is the dearest at 1.22; Springfield is the least expensive at 1.09.
Against the rest of the country
Of the 306 U.S. cities in JobFlex's index, Cambridge ranks 38th from the most expensive. The job that averages $15,600 here averages $13,200 at the national rate.
Sales tax in Massachusetts
Massachusetts's base state sales tax is 6.25%, and cities and counties can add their own. How it applies to a home-improvement contract varies, so ask whether a quote includes it. Prices on this page are before tax.
What a Cambridge contractor will ask before quoting
- How many layers come off, and is the decking sound?
- Roof pitch and stories — steep or two-story work adds 15-30% labor
- Ventilation and flashing details (ridge vent, chimney, skylights)
Roof replacement cost in other Massachusetts cities
A 2,000 sq ft roof with architectural asphalt shingles averages $15,600 in Cambridge; $16,100 in Boston, $15,600 in Newton, $15,900 in Brookline.
| City | Average · range |
|---|---|
| Boston, MA3% more | $16,100$12,500 – $19,600 |
| Newton, MAsame as Cambridge | $15,600$12,100 – $19,000 |
| Brookline, MA3% more | $15,900$12,400 – $19,400 |
| Lowell, MA1% less | $15,400$12,000 – $18,800 |
| Worcester, MA6% less | $14,600$11,400 – $17,900 |
| Springfield, MA8% less | $14,400$11,200 – $17,500 |
roof replacement price in Cambridge: questions
How much does a new roof cost in Cambridge, MA?
About $15,600 for a 2,000 sq ft roof with architectural asphalt shingles, and most Cambridge quotes fall between $12,100 and $19,000. That is 18% above the U.S. average, where the same job averages $13,200.
What is the roof price per square foot in Cambridge?
$6.07 to $9.48 per sq ft, about $7.78 on average, or $778 per square (100 sq ft), with architectural asphalt shingles. Smaller jobs cost more per unit, because the fixed costs are spread over less.
How much is a 3,000 sq ft roof in Cambridge?
$17,600 to $27,000, about $22,300 on average, with architectural asphalt shingles — $7.44 per sq ft.
Do you need a permit for roof replacement in Cambridge?
It depends on the city: for a roof replacement some building departments want a permit and some don't, so check with Cambridge's. The prices on this page carry $150–$450 for the permit and inspection.
Does the price include sales tax in Massachusetts?
No. The prices here are before tax; Massachusetts's base state rate is 6.25%, plus any local rate.
What is the cheapest roofing material for roof replacement in Cambridge?
3-tab asphalt shingles, at about $14,100 for a 2,000 sq ft roof. Standing-seam metal runs about $35,900.
Other home projects in Cambridge
Roof replacement cost in Massachusetts
How these prices are built
Every price on this page comes from JobFlex's contractor price book: what a homeowner pays a licensed contractor for each step of the job, as a U.S. national average per unit, with the contractor's overhead and profit included and sales tax left out. The roof replacement is priced step by step, then multiplied by Cambridge's construction cost index of 1.18.
The index weighs local construction wages (BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025) at 60% and the area's material prices (Craftsman ZIP-area factors) at 40%. Published indices for Cambridge, each on its own base: Craftsman 1.29. Treat any city figure as about ±5%; a contractor's quote for your house is the number to plan with.
Contractors in Cambridge build quotes like these with JobFlex's roof estimator.
- HomeGuide 2026: architectural shingles $400-$600 per square installed, $7,500-$16,000 average roof
- Roof tear-off guides 2026 (SquareDash, RoofingCalculatorHQ): tear-off $1.00-$2.40/sqft incl. dumpster; permit $100-$500