Published prices for 2026
| Measure | Range |
|---|---|
| Standard residential roof | $5.50–$8.50 per sq ft |
| Architectural asphalt, installed | $6.20–$7.50 per sq ft |
| Premium asphalt, installed | $7.50–$9.50 per sq ft |
| Steep or complex roof | $8.50–$12.00+ per sq ft |
| Average detached home (1,500–1,800 sq ft of roof) | $8,500–$16,500 |
| Roof area | Typical total |
|---|---|
| 500–1,000 sq ft | $3,000–$6,500 |
| 1,000–1,500 sq ft | $6,500–$10,500 |
| 1,500–2,500 sq ft | $10,000–$16,500 |
| 2,500–3,500 sq ft | $14,000–$22,000 |
| 4,000+ sq ft | $20,000 and up |
Two Ontario roofing companies published these ranges independently in 2026 and they agree closely, which is more than can be said for most renovation categories. They are still contractor estimates, not statistics.
How do I work out my roof area?
Take the footprint of the house, add the overhangs, then add for the slope. A common shortcut is to multiply the footprint by about 1.1 for a gentle slope, 1.2 for a typical 6/12 pitch and 1.25 or more for a steep one. Dormers, a second storey with its own roof and an attached garage all add area.
Roofers also talk in “squares”. One square is 100 square feet. A quote for 18 squares is a quote for about 1,800 square feet of roof.
Do this before the quotes arrive. If one company measures your roof at 16 squares and another at 22, one of them is wrong, and that alone explains a difference of thousands of dollars.
What pushes a roofing quote up?
| Factor | What it adds |
|---|---|
| Tear-off instead of overlay | $1.20–$1.80 per sq ft |
| Steep slope, 8/12 and up | $0.80–$1.50 per sq ft |
| Replacing rotted decking | $85–$140 per 4×8 sheet plus labour |
| Each valley or dormer | $150–$400 |
| Each skylight | $750–$2,800 |
| Permit, where required | $180–$420 depending on municipality |
Decking is the one to plan for. Nobody can see under the shingles until the tear-off, so a quote that says nothing about it is not a complete price. Ask how many sheets are included and what each extra sheet costs — get that number in writing before the crew arrives, not while they are standing on your roof.
Do I need a permit to replace a roof in Ontario?
For a straight re-shingle, usually not: replacing the same covering on the same structure is maintenance in most municipalities. A permit comes in when the structure changes — new trusses, a changed roofline, a dormer added, or structural repairs to the deck framing.
Check with your own municipality rather than assuming, because the line differs. Our permit guide explains how to ask the question and who is responsible for applying.
When does a roof actually need replacing?
Age is the blunt answer: asphalt shingles in Ontario are commonly replaced somewhere between 15 and 25 years, sooner on a south-facing slope with no shade. The better signals are physical: granules collecting in the gutters, shingles curling at the edges, dark patches where the mat is exposed, and daylight or staining visible in the attic.
Go into the attic with a flashlight on a bright day before you call anyone. What you find there tells you more than what you can see from the driveway, and it makes you a much harder customer to oversell.
Red flags in a roofing quote
| What you see | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No roof area or square count | Without it you cannot compare two quotes at all | Ask every company for the measured area in squares or square feet |
| Nothing about decking | Rotted sheathing appears after tear-off and becomes an unpriced extra | Ask how many sheets are included and the unit price beyond that |
| Overlay offered over two existing layers | Most municipalities and shingle warranties limit layers; weight and heat shorten life | Ask how many layers are up there now and insist on a tear-off if there are two |
| Door-knocking after a storm | Storm-chasing crews are a long-running Ontario problem; some leave the province the same week | Never sign at the door. Remember your 10-day cancellation right on a contract signed at home |
| No WSIB clearance offered | Roofing is high-risk work and an injured uninsured worker on your property is your problem | Ask for a current clearance certificate and verify it yourself |
| Warranty described only as “lifetime” | The shingle warranty and the workmanship warranty are different things with different lengths | Ask for both in writing, separately, with the number of years |
Frequently asked questions
Usually not for a like-for-like re-shingle. A permit is needed when the structure changes, such as new framing, a dormer or a changed roofline. Confirm with your own municipality before work begins.
Most detached homes are done in one to three days of good weather once the crew starts. Rain pauses the work, so ask what happens to your open roof if the forecast turns.
Sometimes, and it saves $1.20 to $1.80 per square foot. But most municipalities and shingle warranties limit the number of layers, and the extra weight and trapped heat shorten the life of the new roof.
Around $85 to $140 per 4×8 sheet plus labour. Because the damage is invisible until the old shingles come off, agree the included quantity and the unit price for extras before work starts.
Between $5.50 and $9.50 per square foot of roof area installed for asphalt shingles in 2026, which puts an average detached house at roughly $8,500 to $16,500. Steep or complex roofs run higher, from $8.50 per square foot.
One hundred square feet of roof area. Roofers quote in squares, so an 1,800 square foot roof is 18 squares. Ask for the square count on every quote so you can compare them properly.
Sources
- Nailed It Roofing, Average price to replace an asphalt shingle roof in Ontario, 2026 — naileditroofing.ca
- AUK Roofers, Shingle replacement cost Ontario, last reviewed 3 June 2026 — aukroofers.com
- Government of Ontario, Your rights when starting home renovations or repairs — ontario.ca, checked 18 September 2026
Prices are published contractor ranges collected on 18 September 2026, not quotes.
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