Tile Roof Cost
A tile roof costs $700 to $2,500 per roofing square installed, or $10,500 to $62,500 for a typical 1,500 to 2,500 square foot roof. Concrete tile is the cheapest at $700 to $1,900 per square, clay runs $800 to $2,500, and slate tile tops the range. Tile lasts far longer than asphalt, but it is heavy, and the structure under it can add to the bill. This page prices each tile material and style, shows what a tile replacement adds, and works out whether tile pays for itself.
These are national estimates, not quotes. They come from published cost surveys, not from bids on your roof. What you pay depends on your region, your roof, the tile you choose and whether your house needs reinforcing. Get at least three written estimates. The methodology page lists every source used and the rounding rules applied here.
per square · lasts 30 to 50+ years
per square · lasts 50 to 100+ years
1,500 to 2,500 sq ft of roof
only if your roof needs it
Multiply any per-square figure by your square count. Don’t know it? Measure your pitch with the roof pitch calculator, then turn your footprint into surface area with the roof area calculator. The roof replacement cost calculator also has a tile option.
Put a number on your own roof
Run your roof through the calculator with tile selected, and see how long tile lasts against other materials.
Tile roof cost by material
Four materials are sold as roof tile. Per-square figures are converted from cost per square foot and rounded to the nearest $5; every conversion here is exact.
| Material | Tile only, per square | Installed, per square | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Concrete | $300 to $500 | $700 to $1,900 | 30 to 50+ years |
| Clay | $300 to $1,100 | $800 to $2,500 | 50 to 100+ years |
| Terracotta | $400 to $1,300 | $900 to $2,600 | Not published separately |
| Slate | $600 to $1,600 | $1,000 to $3,000 | 75 to 200 years hard, 50 to 125 soft |
A note on dates. These material and style figures come from HomeGuide’s tile roof cost guide, which is dated April 5, 2023. We have kept them because its overall range, $7 to $25 per square foot and $10,500 to $62,500 in total, matches exactly the tile range in HomeGuide’s roof replacement cost guide dated November 7, 2025, which this site already uses. The breakdown by type has not been republished since, so treat it as older than the headline figure.
The same guide quotes slightly different overall figures in different places, $7 to $30 per square foot in one section against $7 to $25 in another. Where that happens we have used its tables rather than its running text.
Concrete or clay
Concrete is the budget option. It is also easier to install than other tile, but its higher porosity makes it more prone to mildew staining, it may need sealing, and its color can fade. HomeGuide lists cleaning every three to seven years among its drawbacks.
Clay costs more and lasts longer, with a color that typically starts to fade only at 50 to 70 years. It is best suited to warm climates, because cold temperatures and the freeze-thaw cycle cause clay tile to crack. Terracotta is a clay tile with a fade-proof reddish-brown or orange color, and it needs a skilled installer to get the overlap and angles right.
Slate is covered here because it is sold in tile form, but it is a different decision on weight and price. It has its own row in the material comparison on the roof replacement cost guide.
Tile roof cost by roof size
These totals are for roof surface area, not the floor area of the house. A sloped roof is larger than the footprint under it, so work out your roof area first.
| Roof area | Squares | Installed cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 10 | $7,000 to $25,000 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 15 | $10,500 to $37,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 20 | $14,000 to $50,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 25 | $17,500 to $62,500 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 30 | $21,000 to $75,000 |
Each row is the roof area multiplied by $7 to $25 per square foot, so you can check any of them, or apply the material rows above to your own square count instead.
Tile roof cost by style
Tile shape changes the price less than material does. Most profiles start within $50 of each other per square and top out between $2,100 and $2,350. Japanese tile is the exception.
| Style | Installed, per square |
|---|---|
| Spanish / Roman | $700 to $2,100 |
| Riviera | $700 to $2,200 |
| Flat / plain | $700 to $2,150 |
| Double Roman | $725 to $2,300 |
| Pan | $750 to $2,350 |
| Barrel / mission | $750 to $2,350 |
| French | $750 to $2,350 |
| Japanese | $1,450 to $6,700 |
Spanish tiles are interlocking barrel or S-shaped tiles that create a wavy pattern, and are mostly terracotta clay or concrete. Barrel tiles are semi-cylindrical and overlap, and true barrel tiles are called mission tiles. Flat tiles interlock and are more crack resistant than barrel tiles, but HomeGuide notes that flat shingle-style tiles take more time to install than interlocking ones.
What a tile roof replacement adds
The installed figures above cover the tile and the labor to lay it. A replacement can include several other lines, and on an older house some of them are large.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Old roof removal and disposal | $100 to $300 per square |
| New tile, materials only | $200 to $1,200 per square |
| Installation labor | $500 to $1,700 per square |
| Underlayment | $10 to $90 per square |
| Roof decking, where replaced | $200 to $500 per square |
| Roof trusses, where replaced | $500 to $1,400 per square |
| Structural engineer | $100 to $220 per hour |
| Reinforcing the roof | $1,000 to $10,000 |
| Ice and water shield in cold, wet climates | $200 to $500 per square |
| Delivery, if not included | $600 to $1,500 |
| Permit | $150 to $500 |
Weight is the item that surprises people. HomeGuide advises having a structural engineer check whether the roof needs support before tiling, and says most building codes require reinforcement for tiles heavier than 6 pounds per square foot. Check with your local building department, because codes vary. Installing tile over existing asphalt shingles adds weight and reduces the tile roof’s lifespan.
Slope matters too. According to HomeGuide, most roofing tiles need a minimum slope of 2.5:12, so most flat roofs cannot be tiled. Single-story homes with a pitch under 6:12 are the cheapest to re-roof, and steep roofs usually need battens, which cost more. If you are not sure of your pitch, measure it with the roof pitch calculator.
The underlayment usually wears out before the tiles. Replacing it on its own, by lifting the tiles and relaying them, costs $75 to $400 per square.
Is tile worth it against asphalt?
Tile costs roughly two to four times as much per square as asphalt, and the case for it rests on lifespan. The fair comparison is cost per year of service: the installed price divided by how long the roof lasts. Dividing the low price by the long lifespan and the high price by the short one gives a range for each material, rounded to the nearest $5.
| Roof | Installed, per square | Lifespan | Per square, per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-tab asphalt | $300 to $500 | 15 to 20 years | $15 to $35 |
| Architectural asphalt | $400 to $600 | 20 to 30 years | $15 to $30 |
| Concrete tile | $700 to $1,900 | 30 to 50+ years | $15 to $65 |
| Clay tile | $800 to $2,500 | 50 to 100+ years | $10 to $50 |
The working is short enough to check: concrete is $700 ÷ 50 = $14, rounded to $15, up to $1,900 ÷ 30 = $63, rounded to $65. Clay is $800 ÷ 100 = $8, rounded to $10, up to $2,500 ÷ 50 = $50. Architectural asphalt is $400 ÷ 30 = $13, rounded to $15, up to $600 ÷ 20 = $30.
At the cheap end, concrete tile costs the same per year as architectural asphalt and clay costs less, because they last so much longer. At the expensive end, both cost more per year than asphalt. Clay’s best case, $10 a year per square, depends on the tile reaching 100 years, which only matters if you own the house that long. Add any reinforcement cost to the tile side before you compare, since an asphalt roof would not need it.
For the same comparison across metal, slate and wood, see how long a roof lasts. HomeGuide also notes that most manufacturers warranty roof tiles for at least 50 years; our roof warranty guide explains what a long warranty does and does not pay for.
Repair or replace a tile roof
Tile roof repairs cost $500 to $2,500, or $5 to $25 per square foot, depending on the material and the extent of the damage. HomeGuide suggests considering replacement when:
- repairs would cost more than 20 to 30 percent of a new roof,
- the house has several leaks,
- more than half of the tile is damaged, or
- the roof is more than 20 years old.
Age alone is a weak signal on a material that can last 50 years or more. Get the roof inspected, at $100 to $400, before deciding. Tile is fragile to walk on, so leave the inspection to a professional. For repair costs on other roof types, see the roof repair cost guide.
Sources used on this page
- HomeGuide tile roof cost guide, dated April 5, 2023 and checked September 15, 2026. Cost by roof size, material and installed cost per square foot by tile material and style, the replacement cost breakdown, reinforcement and slope requirements, lifespan by tile material, repair cost and replacement guidance.
- HomeGuide roof replacement cost guide, dated November 7, 2025. The national tile range and lifespan used across this site, and the asphalt shingle costs and lifespans in the comparison table.
The per-square conversions and the cost-per-year figures are our own arithmetic, shown on the page so you can check them. The methodology page explains how sources are used across the site and how often figures are reviewed.
Related guides and calculators
- Roof Replacement Cost: every roofing material compared, by size and per square.
- Roof Replacement Cost Calculator: a cost range for your own roof size, including tile.
- Metal Roof Cost: the other long-lived alternative to asphalt.
- How Long Does a Roof Last?: lifespan by material, with a roof age check.
- Roof Area Calculator: true roof surface area from footprint, pitch and overhang.
Tile roof cost FAQ
How much does a tile roof cost?
A tile roof costs $700 to $2,500 per roofing square installed, or $7 to $25 per square foot. For a typical 1,500 to 2,500 square foot roof that is $10,500 to $62,500, before any structural reinforcement.
Is clay or concrete tile cheaper?
Concrete. It costs $700 to $1,900 per square installed against $800 to $2,500 for clay. Clay lasts longer, 50 to 100 years or more against 30 to 50 or more for concrete, and suits warm climates better, since freeze-thaw cycles crack it.
How long does a tile roof last?
Concrete tile lasts 30 to 50 years or more and clay 50 to 100 years or more. Hard slate lasts 75 to 200 years and soft slate 50 to 125. The underlayment beneath the tile usually wears out first and can be replaced without replacing the tile.
Is a tile roof worth the cost?
It can be, if you stay long enough. Per square, per year of service, concrete tile costs $15 to $65 and clay $10 to $50, against $15 to $30 for architectural asphalt. Tile matches or beats asphalt at the cheap end and costs more at the expensive end, before any reinforcement.
Does my roof need reinforcing for tile?
Possibly. Tile is heavy, and HomeGuide says most building codes require reinforcement for tiles heavier than 6 pounds per square foot. A structural engineer charges $100 to $220 an hour to check, and reinforcing a roof costs $1,000 to $10,000.
Can you put tile on a flat or low-slope roof?
Usually not. Most roofing tiles need a minimum slope of 2.5:12 to drain properly, so most flat roofs cannot be tiled. Measure your pitch before pricing tile.
How much does it cost to repair a tile roof?
Tile roof repair costs $500 to $2,500, or $5 to $25 per square foot, depending on the material and the extent of the damage. Replacement becomes worth considering when repairs pass 20 to 30 percent of the cost of a new roof or more than half the tile is damaged.