What a new roof costs in Little Rock in 2026, by material

Roofers price by the square, which is 100 square feet of roof surface. Roof area is always larger than the floor area of the house, because of slope and overhangs. A 1,800 square foot single story ranch with a moderate pitch often measures 21 to 24 squares, while a two story home with the same floor plan footprint can measure far less.

Every quote also carries a waste allowance, usually around 10 to 15 percent, for cuts at hips, valleys and rakes. A roof with lots of dormers and short runs wastes more material than a simple gable. That is one reason two homes of the same size can land thousands of dollars apart.

Pitch is the other big multiplier. A low 4 in 12 slope is walkable and fast to work on. Once a roof passes about 8 in 12, crews need roof jacks, harnesses and toe boards on every run, and the work slows down. Many older two story homes around Hillcrest and the Heights have steep front gables, while a lot of newer ranch homes have gentler hips that cost less per square to cover.

These are installed prices per square in the Little Rock area, including tear off of one layer, underlayment, flashing, vents and cleanup. They do not include decking replacement or a second tear off layer, which we cover below.

• Three tab asphalt shingles: $365 to $485 per square, though few homeowners still choose them
• Architectural asphalt shingles: $415 to $635 per square
• Class 4 impact-resistant shingles: $510 to $770 per square
• Exposed fastener metal panels: $585 to $890 per square
• Standing seam metal: $985 to $1,560 per square
• Low slope TPO or modified bitumen on porches and additions: $640 to $1,080 per square

A 1,400 square foot brick ranch in a neighborhood like Geyer Springs or Cloverdale, with a simple hip roof around 17 to 19 squares including waste, typically lands between $7,140 and $11,960 in architectural shingles. The same house in Class 4 shingles runs closer to $8,790 and $14,460.

A 2,600 square foot two story home west of I 430, with a cut up roof of 30 to 36 squares, steep sections and a few valleys, often falls between $13,280 and $24,370 in architectural shingles. In standing seam metal, that same roof can climb into the $30,140 to $55,730 range.

Larger homes in Chenal Valley with steep pitches, many intersecting planes and three or four stories of reach on one side can run higher still. Steep work needs more safety setup, slower crews and sometimes extra equipment.

Mobile homes and small additions sit at the other end. A low slope porch roof over a back patio might be only three or four squares, but low slope membranes cost more per square than shingles, and small jobs carry a minimum for setup and haul off. Expect a small porch reroof to start somewhere around $1,940 to $3,860.

When two written prices look far apart, the gap usually sits in one of these items. Ask every roofer to show them on paper so you can compare fairly. Two of them, extra layers and decking, cannot be fully known until tear off begins, which is why a good quote prices them per unit instead of guessing a lump sum.

• Extra shingle layers: removing a second layer adds about $55 to $105 per square
• Decking replacement: rotted or soft plywood or OSB runs about $78 to $118 per sheet
• Steep pitch charges: slopes above about 8 in 12 often add $35 to $95 per square
• Underlayment upgrades: full synthetic plus self adhering membrane in valleys and at eaves
• Ventilation changes: new ridge vent or added intake vents at the soffit
• Chimney and wall flashing: new step and counter flashing instead of reused metal
• Gutters: detaching and resetting versus replacing them during the job

A price that comes in far below the others often reuses old flashing, skips drip edge or covers rotten decking instead of replacing it. Those shortcuts usually show up two or three summers later as leaks around chimneys and walls, which are the most expensive leaks to chase.

Read what a quote leaves out as closely as what it includes. A written price before work starts should list the material brand and line, the underlayment, how decking will be handled and priced, and how the site will be cleaned. Our crews finish every job with a cleanup and a magnet sweep for nails, and that is on the paperwork.

Also ask who will actually do the work. A crew that answers to the company on the contract is easier to reach again if a vent boot leaks the next spring. When the roofer who sold the job is not the one who installs it, small problems tend to fall between the cracks.

Timing helps a little. Late fall and winter are usually less crowded than the weeks right after a spring hail storm, when every crew in central Arkansas is booked. Scheduling outside a storm rush can mean faster start dates, though material prices themselves change more with supply than with season.

Bundling also helps. If your gutters, soffit or fascia need work, doing them while the roof crew and dumpster are already on site often costs less than a separate visit. The same goes for adding attic insulation once the old roof is off and ventilation is being reworked.

Think about the long run, too. A cheaper shingle that needs replacing in 15 years can cost more over time than a metal roof that lasts 40 or more, if you plan to stay in the house. If you expect to sell in five years, the math usually favors a solid architectural shingle and good flashing work.

Finally, ask your insurer whether an impact-resistant roof changes your premium. Some carriers offer a discount, and over several years that can offset part of the extra cost. The answer varies by company, so get it in writing.

A planning range is a starting point, but your roof needs to be measured and walked to price it properly. We check the number of layers, test the decking with our feet, look at the attic for ventilation and stains, and photograph everything we find. If the roof has a few years left and only needs repairs, we will tell you that too, along with what those repairs would cost.

Call (501) 387-1152 any time, day or night, and we will set a visit. You will get a written price that lists each item so you can compare it against any other quote side by side.