How do I bid a roofing job step by step?

1) Measure roof area in squares and adjust for pitch. 2) Count tear-off layers and calculate disposal. 3) List materials: shingles, underlayment, ice-and-water, drip edge, vents, flashing, boots. 4) Price labor per square by pitch and access. 5) Add overhead percentage. 6) Apply your target true margin using bid = cost ÷ (1 − margin). Bid Buddy's calculator automates the math.

How much should I mark up a roofing job?

Independent roofers typically mark up materials 35–50% on shingle work and 40–60% on metal or flat roofs to hit a 20–25% true profit margin after overhead, insurance, and callback reserves.

Do I need to include tear-off in my bid?

Yes. Tear-off, dumpster, and disposal are 15–25% of most re-roof costs. Bid Buddy prompts you to add these as separate line items so they never come out of profit.

What is a roofing square?

One roofing square equals 100 square feet of roof area. A 2,000 sq ft roof is 20 squares. Always use the pitch-adjusted area, not the footprint of the house, or you'll underbid labor and materials.

How do I price a steep roof?

Steep roofs take more time, staging, and safety gear. Add a pitch multiplier to your labor per square: roughly 1.1× for 6:12, 1.25× for 8:12, and 1.5× or more for 10:12 and steeper.

Should I bid metal roofing differently than shingles?

Yes. Metal panels, trim, underlayment, and flashing cost more, and installation is slower and more specialized. Most metal roofs need 40–60% markup to reach the same net margin as a shingle job.

How to bid a roofing job without leaving profit on the table

Roofing bids live and die on the details most estimators skip: tear-off layers, dump fees, underlayment, steep-pitch labor, and the callback reserve that keeps one leak from wiping out the job. This guide walks you through how to bid a roofing job from measurement to final price, and the calculator below does the true-margin math so the number you hand the customer is the number that actually protects your profit.

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Your bid

Target profit margin

Your bid is calculated as total cost ÷ (1 − margin) for a true margin.

Total job cost

$23,000.00

Recommended bid

$28,750.00

Profit

$5,750.00

Margin

20%

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Measure squares & pitch correctly

A 'square' is 100 sq ft of roof area. Measure each plane, add overhangs, then multiply by the pitch factor (1.06 for 4:12, 1.25 for 8:12, 1.42 for 12:12). Steeper pitches mean slower work, more staging, and higher labor per square.

Count tear-off layers & disposal

One layer of shingles weighs roughly 250 lb per square; two layers double it. Dump fees and dumpster rental can be 15–25% of a re-roof. Always line-item tear-off and disposal separately.

Price underlayment, flashing & accessories

Synthetic underlayment, ice-and-water shield, drip edge, ridge vent, pipe boots, step flashing, and counter flashing are pennies per foot but thousands on a full roof. Don't bury them in 'materials.'

Add a warranty & callback reserve

Bake 2–4% into every bid for warranty calls and leak callbacks. One service visit on a small job can erase the entire profit margin.

Account for steep-roof labor & safety

Labor per square rises with pitch and access difficulty. A 12:12 roof with a long walk from the driveway costs more per square than a 4:12 roof you can back a trailer under.

Markup & margin for roofing

For shingle re-roofs, independent roofers usually need a 35–50% markup to net a 20–25% true profit margin after overhead, insurance, warranty, and callbacks. Metal roofing and flat/low-slope membrane work typically justify 40–60% markup because of specialty labor, longer install times, and higher callback risk. Always verify the true margin in the calculator before you sign the proposal.

Line items to include in every roofing bid

Initial inspection & photos
Tear-off (per layer, per square)
Dumpster rental & disposal
Deck repair / sheathing replacement
Synthetic underlayment
Ice-and-water shield (valleys, eaves, penetrations)
Shingles / metal panels / TPO or EPDM membrane
Drip edge (eaves and rakes)
Ridge vent & exhaust vents
Pipe boots & flashing
Step flashing & counter flashing
Chimney / skylight flashing
Labor (by pitch and access)
Cleanup, magnet sweep & final inspection
Warranty / callback reserve

Frequently asked questions

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