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City comparison

Metal Roof Installation cost: Jackson vs Memphis (2026)

In 2026, metal roof installation is about 4% less expensive in Jackson than in Memphis. Most homeowners pay around $20,100 in Jackson versus $20,850 in Memphis — a gap of roughly $750.

Jackson TN

Lower cost
$12,250 $27,900

Typically around $20,100

Memphis TN

$12,700 $29,000

Typically around $20,850

Memphis costs about $750 (4%) more than Jackson for metal roof installation, largely because of the local labor rate gap.
Side by side

Jackson vs Memphis: full breakdown

FactorJacksonMemphis
Typical 2026 cost$20,100$20,850
Estimated range$12,250–$27,900$12,700–$29,000
Labor index (vs US)×0.92×0.96
Climate zoneMixedMixed
Climate factor×1×1
Local permit$250$250
Labor share$12,050$12,500
Materials/equipment$8,050$8,350

All figures are 2026 localized planning estimates for metal roof installation — get an actual quote before you commit.

The verdict

Is the gap worth worrying about?

4% is within noise for metal roof installation — contractor selection and timing move the price more than which of these two metros you're in.

By type

Metal roof installation by type: Jackson vs Memphis

We localize each metal roof installation type separately for both metros, applying the same labor, climate and permit adjustments each time, so you're comparing like for like.

TypeJacksonMemphis
Corrugated steel (exposed fastener)$8,550$16,850$8,900$17,500
Standing-seam steel$16,850$32,500$17,500$33,800
Aluminum$13,150$26,050$13,650$27,100
Copper$27,900$55,550$29,000$57,750
Zinc$26,050$50,950$27,100$52,950

These are 2026 planning figures for metal roof installation, localized to each city — not formal quotes.

By size

Metal roof installation by roof size: Jackson vs Memphis

Metal roofing is priced per square (100 sq ft) and costs roughly $6–$14 per sq ft installed — two to three times asphalt, but it lasts decades longer. Standing-seam costs more than exposed-fastener panels.

SizeJacksonMemphis
1,000 sq ft (10 squares)$7,650$15,000$7,900$15,600
1,500 sq ft (15 squares)$10,400$21,450$10,800$22,300
2,000 sq ft (20 squares)$12,250$27,900$12,700$29,000
2,500 sq ft (25 squares)$15,000$33,450$15,600$34,750
3,000+ sq ft (30 squares)$17,750$38,950$18,450$40,500

These are 2026 planning figures for metal roof installation, localized to each city — not formal quotes.

Local labor reality

What roofing pros earn in each metro

Roughly 60% of what you pay for metal roof installation is labor, which is why local wages explain most of the price gap. The numbers below are actual metro wages for skilled installers, sourced from BLS OEWS — not guesses.

Jackson, TN
Modeled from state data

No BLS metro wage series for Jackson; we use Tennessee regional price parity instead.

Memphis, TN
$29/hr

Memphis metro · about 7% below the US average installer wage.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metro wages for HVAC installers (used as a trade-labor index).

Best time to buy

Cheapest time for metal roof installation in either city

Shingles need warm, dry weather to seal, and demand peaks after summer storms. Booking in the slow late-fall/winter window for a spring install often earns you off-season pricing.

Best window
Late spring to early fall (dry, 45–85°F)
Avoid
Mid-winter and the post-storm rush
Off-peak savings
5–10%
Editors' roundtable

Where does a smart roofing budget go in 2026?

Two roofs of the same square footage can price hundreds apart because of something you can't see from the ground — the deck under the old shingles. Add the tear-off-versus-overlay call and the shingle grade, and you have the decisions that actually move the number.

The risk case

The surprise that wrecks a roofing budget is rot in the decking, and you rarely see it until the old shingles come off. Fix the price per replacement sheet in the contract before the crew starts, so a low bid can't quietly climb once the deck is open.

The value case

For a typical home, the architectural shingle is the default that makes sense. It outlasts 3-tab by a wide margin at a modest premium, and it spares you the cost of metal or tile that most roofs never need to justify.

The do-it-right case

Skipping the tear-off means burying whatever's failing underneath, and a second layer bakes the shingles from below until they curl early. Doing it properly means stripping to the deck, then paying for real underlayment, flashing and airflow — the work that sets how long the roof lasts, not just how it looks the first week.

Our take

The two things that actually protect a roofing budget are a real tear-off and a written rate for any deck repairs found along the way. The cheapest post-storm bid usually isn't the cheapest roof, long-term.

FAQ

Jackson vs Memphis

Is metal roof installation cheaper in Jackson or Memphis?

Jackson wins on price: metal roof installation runs about $20,100 there versus $20,850 in Memphis, a gap of roughly $750 (4%) as of 2026.

Why does metal roof installation cost more in Memphis than Jackson?

It comes down to labor: Memphis indexes at 0.96 against Jackson's 0.92. The mixed-vs-mixed climate difference adds to the gap.

How much is metal roof installation in Jackson, TN?

Expect to pay $12,250 to $27,900 for metal roof installation in Jackson in 2026, averaging around $20,100.

When is the cheapest time to buy metal roof installation — and does it differ by city?

It doesn't vary by location — Late spring to early fall (dry, 45–85°F) is the discount window in both Jackson and Memphis (roughly 5–10% off), while mid-winter and the post-storm rush tends to be the most expensive in either city.

Should I choose where to live based on metal roof installation cost?

That would be a stretch. $750 is a one-time difference, not an ongoing one, and off-season buying plus apples-to-apples bids in Memphis can close a good chunk of it. What matters more long-term is energy costs, climate and the condition of the home.

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Updated June 2026 · By Serhat Özçelik