Slate roof cost
Slate roof cost depends on your roof's size, slope and the crew that climbs it, so the range on this page is a start, not a bid. Call (855) 812-6217 during business hours with your ZIP code and ask for slate roof cost quotes, and licensed roofers near you price it. Quotes cost nothing and you hire only if you want to.
A slate roof costs $10 to $30 per sq ft for natural slate and $4 to $12 for synthetic, per This Old House in 2026. On Walter's 1,500 sq ft roof that is about $7,500 to $45,000.
Walter owns a 1920s house that still has its first slate roof. Some tiles are cracked. He is deciding between fixing it, re-slating it, or switching to a look-alike.
Slate roof cost per square
| Type | Range per sq ft | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Natural slate | $10 to $30 | $20 |
| Hybrid | $9 to $16 | $13 |
| Synthetic | $4 to $12 | $8 |
Labor makes up 50% to 60% of a slate job, because each piece is hung by hand with copper nails. Prices are from the This Old House slate cost guide.
Can your house hold it
Natural slate is far heavier than asphalt. A house built for shingles may need extra rafters before slate goes on. That framing work is an extra line on the quote, and it needs a permit.
Walter's house was built for slate, so his rafters are already sized for it. A newer house switching to slate needs an engineer's letter first. Synthetic slate weighs about what asphalt weighs and skips that step.
How long it lasts
Hard slate can last 150 to 200 years, and soft slate 50 to 100, by This Old House's count. Most old slate roofs fail at the nails and flashing first. A slate roofer can often strip, reuse the good stone and re-hang it.
Find a crew that has done slate before. Walking on slate cracks it, and a general roofer may break more than he fixes.
Cheaper look-alikes
- Synthetic slate. Rubber or plastic tiles molded from real slate, $4 to $12 per sq ft.
- Hybrid. A mix of materials at $9 to $16.
- Designer asphalt. Thick shingles cut to look like slate. Asphalt runs $3.44 to $12 per sq ft on the This Old House shingle guide.
The look-alikes last decades, not centuries. For a closer look at heavy roofs, see tile roof cost. Our roofing calculator covers asphalt, metal, tile and flat roofs.
Before you hire, the FTC says to check the license and insurance and get three written estimates. That advice is on its home repair scams page.
Questions people ask
Are slate roofs worth it?
On a house that already has slate, repair usually beats replacement. On a new roof, natural slate pays off only if you stay for decades. Synthetic slate gives the look for far less.
How much does a slate roof cost?
This Old House lists natural slate at $10 to $30 per sq ft and synthetic at $4 to $12. A 1,500 sq ft home runs about $7,500 synthetic to $45,000 or more natural.
Can a slate roof last 200 years?
Hard slate can. This Old House says real slate lasts 150 to 200 years, and soft slate 50 to 100. The nails and flashing usually fail before the stone does.
Slate roof cost vs shingles?
Natural slate costs roughly two to three times asphalt per sq ft. Asphalt runs $3.44 to $12 on the same source.
Sources
- This Old House, How Much Does a Slate Roof Cost? (2026), checked October 2026
- This Old House, How Much Does a Shingle Roof Cost? (updated March 2026), checked October 2026
- Federal Trade Commission, Home Repair Scams, consumer.ftc.gov, checked October 2026
Last checked October 2026
What to do now
- Run the calculator with your own footprint, slope and material, and write down low, likely and high.
- Call (855) 812-6217 with your ZIP code and the likely number, or send the job below. The Roof Cost Guide team answers during business hours and matches it with licensed roofers near you.
- Compare three written quotes line by line against your band before you sign anything.
Talk to a local roofer
Slate roof cost depends on your roof's size, slope and the crew that climbs it, so the range on this page is a start, not a bid. Call (855) 812-6217 during business hours with your ZIP code and ask for slate roof cost quotes, and licensed roofers near you price it. Quotes cost nothing and you hire only if you want to.
Call (855) 812-6217 Call (855) 812-6217Outside business hours, send the quote form and a roofer calls you back.
Three local quotes, one request
Send the slate roof cost job with your ZIP code, roof size and the material you want. Up to three licensed roofers near you quote the same job, and we send your details to them and no one else. Quotes cost nothing and you hire only if you want to.