The most affordable roofing materials for your home are 3-tab asphalt shingles and basic dimensional shingles. The cheapest roofing material of all is rolled asphalt roofing. Corrugated steel is somewhat less affordable, but lasts longer than asphalt roofing, so the lifetime value is better.
In this guide, we explore inexpensive roofing options for homes, with focus on viability and practicality, value and installed cost, top products and brands, and expected performance.
Most Affordable Roofing Options: Cost Comparison
| Materials | Installed Cost per Sq. Ft. | Cost for 2,000 Sq. Ft. Roof |
| Asphalt Roll Roofing | $2.50 – $3.50 | $5,000 – $7,000 |
| 3-tab Asphalt Shingles | $5.00 – $8.50 | $10,000 – $17,000 |
| Dimensional Shingles | $6.00 – $10.00 | $12,000 – $20,000 |
| Corrugated Steel Roofing | $7.50 – $12.50 | $15,000 – $25,000 |
New Shingle Roof
$7,500 Average price |
New Metal Roof
$14,500 Average price |
New Flat Roof
$8,225 Average price |
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3-tab Asphalt Shingles
The most popular cheap roofing material for residential use is 3-tab shingles, also called strip shingles.
These shingles are a single piece of material, a fiberglass mesh core coated with asphalt and topped with tinted ceramic granules. The granules give the shingle its color and reflect sunlight to help limit how hot the roof gets.
The lower half of the shingle is cut to create three separate tabs, and hence the name.
The installed cost of 3-tab asphalt shingles is $5.00 to $8.50 per square foot or $500 to $850 per roofing square (100 square feet). For most homes measuring 1,500 to 2,500 square feet, the total cost will range from $7,000 to $17,000, depending on the roof shape, accessibility, and location.
Cost Factors: The cost of a 3-tab asphalt shingle roof depends on whether you tear off the old roofing material or install the new shingles over the existing shingles. In most cases, you can add a second layer of asphalt shingles before having to do a tear off.
If starting with a bare roof deck, your choice of underlayment, water/ice barrier, ridge vent, and other accessories have a minor impact on the total cost. The largest potential cost factor is DIY installation, which could save you anywhere from $3.00 to $5.00 per square foot. However, before you go the DIY route, consider any local building code requirements, permitting and job inspection requirements, OSHA safety requirements, product warranty considerations, etc.
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