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General

How much does a roofer cost?

A small roof repair usually costs about $250 to $500, a full tile roof restoration about $4,500 to $11,000, and a Colorbond re-roof about $80 to $100 per square metre. Gutters and downpipes for a single-storey house sit around $2,200 to $3,500.

Small roof repair, such as replacing a few broken tiles:$250–$500 per job

Updated 19 October 2026 · 2 min read · GST basis not confirmed by sources. Check GST on every quote.

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On this page
  1. How a roofer works out the price
  2. What it costs, by scenario
  3. What changes the price
  4. What's usually included, and what isn't
  5. Metro and regional differences
  6. Licensing and compliance
  7. Before you accept a quote, check
  8. Frequently asked questions
  9. Sources and method

How a roofer works out the price

A roofer usually prices repairs as a fixed amount for the job, and larger work by the square metre of roof. Restoration and re-roofing are quoted after someone has looked at the roof, because pitch, height, access and the condition of the roof change the work. The hourly cost has to cover more than wages. The Fair Work Building and Construction General On-site Award sets minimum hourly rates from $26.67 to $30.38 for levels 1 to 4 (rates marked 1 July 2026), and the price also pays for insurance, scaffolding or edge protection, tools and the licence.

  1. Inspection of the roof, and a report if one is needed
  2. Repairs, such as replacing broken tiles or re-bedding and re-pointing ridge capping
  3. Cleaning, preparation and recoating for a restoration, priced per square metre or as a whole-roof amount
  4. New roofing and labour for a re-roof, priced per square metre, with old roofing removed first
  5. Gutters, downpipes and flashings, priced per metre or per house
  6. Removal and disposal of waste, and extra safety work if the roofing contains asbestos
  7. GST on the total

Worked example: New gutters and downpipes on a single-storey house, a small roof repair and an inspection (illustrative, not a quote)

Roof inspection and report
$350
Small roof repair (broken tiles replaced)
$375
Gutters and downpipes replaced, single-storey house
$2,700
Total
$3,425 total (illustrative)

What it costs, by scenario

Low, typical and high prices. Built on 19 October 2026 from Airtasker pages, a Canstar guide that cites hipages estimates, two compiled cost guides from What's The Damage, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Where sources disagree we use the range they share, and the sources do not state a GST basis. Several figures rest on a single publisher and are marked in the notes.

  • Small roof repair, such as replacing a few broken tiles (per job)

    Sits inside what a compiled guide ($250 to $800) and a Canstar guide citing hipages ($200 to $500) share. Airtasker's 2024 guide puts minor repairs much higher, at $1,000 to $2,500, so a roof in poor condition can cost more.

    Low
    $250
    Typical
    $375
    High
    $500

  • Roof inspection to find where water is getting in (per visit)

    One source only (a compiled guide). The other sources do not price inspections separately, so ask whether the fee is credited if you go ahead with the repair.

    Low
    $200
    Typical
    $350
    High
    $500

  • Tile roof restoration (clean, repair, recoat), by roof area (per m²)

    The Canstar guide gives $17 to $38 depending on roof size, with larger roofs cheaper per square metre. A compiled Sydney guide gives $22 to $42 for concrete tiles. We keep to where they overlap.

    Low
    $22
    Typical
    $30
    High
    $38

  • Tile roof restoration, whole roof (per job)

    Canstar (citing hipages) gives $4,500 to $11,000. A compiled guide gives $4,000 to $11,000 with $7,500 typical. Terracotta, a steep or two-storey roof, or heavy repairs push towards the top.

    Low
    $4,500
    Typical
    $7,500
    High
    $11,000

  • Ridge capping re-bed and re-point, full roof (per job)

    One publisher only, so treat it as a guide. The same publisher puts a few caps or one section at $400 to $1,200. It is normally part of a tile restoration, not an extra on top.

    Low
    $800
    Typical
    $2,200
    High
    $3,500

  • Re-roof with Colorbond (metal) sheeting (per m²)

    Sources disagree. Airtasker gives $45 to $100 and a compiled guide gives $80 to $180. We use the overlap, so complex roofs and higher-end profiles can cost more than this.

    Low
    $80
    Typical
    $90
    High
    $100

  • Re-roof with concrete or terracotta tiles, including stripping off the old roof (per m²)

    Airtasker gives $45 to $80 for concrete and $75 to $140 for terracotta tiles, and a compiled guide gives $100 to $220 including strip-off. We use the overlap. Sarking and structural repairs are extra.

    Low
    $100
    Typical
    $120
    High
    $140

  • Replace all gutters and downpipes, single-storey house (per job)

    A compiled guide gives $2,200 to $5,000 and Airtasker (December 2023) gives $2,000 to $3,500 with a $2,700 median. We use the overlap. Per metre, the compiled guide gives $40 to $110 for gutters and $35 to $90 for downpipes.

    Low
    $2,200
    Typical
    $2,700
    High
    $3,500
Low, typical and high prices by scenario
ScenarioLowTypicalHigh
Small roof repair, such as replacing a few broken tiles (per job)Sits inside what a compiled guide ($250 to $800) and a Canstar guide citing hipages ($200 to $500) share. Airtasker's 2024 guide puts minor repairs much higher, at $1,000 to $2,500, so a roof in poor condition can cost more.$250$375$500
Roof inspection to find where water is getting in (per visit)One source only (a compiled guide). The other sources do not price inspections separately, so ask whether the fee is credited if you go ahead with the repair.$200$350$500
Tile roof restoration (clean, repair, recoat), by roof area (per m²)The Canstar guide gives $17 to $38 depending on roof size, with larger roofs cheaper per square metre. A compiled Sydney guide gives $22 to $42 for concrete tiles. We keep to where they overlap.$22$30$38
Tile roof restoration, whole roof (per job)Canstar (citing hipages) gives $4,500 to $11,000. A compiled guide gives $4,000 to $11,000 with $7,500 typical. Terracotta, a steep or two-storey roof, or heavy repairs push towards the top.$4,500$7,500$11,000
Ridge capping re-bed and re-point, full roof (per job)One publisher only, so treat it as a guide. The same publisher puts a few caps or one section at $400 to $1,200. It is normally part of a tile restoration, not an extra on top.$800$2,200$3,500
Re-roof with Colorbond (metal) sheeting (per m²)Sources disagree. Airtasker gives $45 to $100 and a compiled guide gives $80 to $180. We use the overlap, so complex roofs and higher-end profiles can cost more than this.$80$90$100
Re-roof with concrete or terracotta tiles, including stripping off the old roof (per m²)Airtasker gives $45 to $80 for concrete and $75 to $140 for terracotta tiles, and a compiled guide gives $100 to $220 including strip-off. We use the overlap. Sarking and structural repairs are extra.$100$120$140
Replace all gutters and downpipes, single-storey house (per job)A compiled guide gives $2,200 to $5,000 and Airtasker (December 2023) gives $2,000 to $3,500 with a $2,700 median. We use the overlap. Per metre, the compiled guide gives $40 to $110 for gutters and $35 to $90 for downpipes.$2,200$2,700$3,500

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What changes the price

  • Roof size, pitch and height. A steep or two-storey roof needs more safety equipment and time, and the per square metre rate usually falls as the roof gets larger.
  • Roof material. Terracotta and slate cost more to restore or replace than concrete tiles or Colorbond, and matching old tile profiles can be difficult.
  • Condition of the roof. Cracked mortar, rusted sheets or rotten battens add repairs before any recoating can happen.
  • Asbestos in the roofing. Older roof sheeting can contain asbestos cement. Removal by a licensed removalist is one of the biggest extras, and one compiled guide puts it at $50 to $130 per square metre for removal alone.
  • Solar panels and other fittings. Panels, skylights and antennas may need to be removed and refitted. Canstar cites $700 to $2,000 as an extra for removing and replacing solar panels.
  • Gutters and fascias. Replacing gutters, fascias or valley iron during a restoration adds to the total, and is often quoted as a separate line.
  • Location. Travel, local wages and demand all move prices. See the metro and regional note below.

What's usually included, and what isn't

Usually included

  • An inspection and a written quote for the work
  • Labour for the agreed repairs, restoration or re-roof
  • The materials listed in the quote, such as replacement tiles, mortar, paint or sheeting
  • Cleaning up and removing waste from the roof work, where the quote says so
  • A written warranty or workmanship guarantee, where the roofer offers one

Often extra

  • Removal of asbestos roofing, which needs a licensed removalist above small areas
  • Removing and refitting solar panels, skylights or aerials
  • Structural repairs to rafters, battens or sarking found once the old roof comes off
  • Scaffolding, skip bins and council permits, unless the quote lists them
  • Interior repairs such as ceiling plaster and paint where water has got in

Metro and regional differences

Metro: Capital cities have more roofers, so there is more competition for repairs, but higher wages, scaffold hire and parking and traffic time push prices up. Per square metre rates for new roofs were higher in Sydney than in some other capitals in the Airtasker guide, though that guide's own figures disagree between pages.

Regional: None of our sources gives separate regional figures, so treat the ranges as a national guide. Outside the cities, a longer drive adds to the call-out, and materials such as tiles or Colorbond sheeting may be delivered over a distance. Fewer roofers means fewer quotes to compare.

Licensing and compliance

Who may do roofing work depends on the state, the job and the dollar value, and we could not confirm every state.

New South Wales: Fair Trading, part of the NSW Government, requires a contractor licence for residential building work, including general trade work, valued at more than $5,000 in labour and materials including GST, and roof tiling and roof plumbing are both named licence classes on its page.

Victoria: the Building and Plumbing Commission requires registration for domestic building work above $10,000 (its page was last updated on 9 July 2025), and roofing is not named on the page.

We could not open its plumbing pages, so check with the Commission whether gutters and roof drainage need a licensed plumber.

Queensland: the QBCC requires a licence for building work valued over $3,300; its Roof tiling class covers fixing tiles, bedding, pointing and flashing and refurbishing roofs, and its Roof and wall cladding class covers other roof cladding and rainwater goods.

Western Australia: Building and Energy requires a registered building contractor when work needs a building permit and is valued at $20,000 or more (Class 10a buildings $50,000), and its page does not name roofing.

South Australia: Consumer and Business Services requires a building work contractor's licence for building work done for others.

Tasmania: Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS) licenses builders, but we could not open its pages, so we could not confirm whether roofers need a licence; check the register.

The ACT: Access Canberra and the Construction Occupations Registrar license builders, and its page does not mention roofers.

Northern Territory: the Building Practitioners Board requires registration for residential building work valued at $12,000 or more.

Asbestos: in the council guidance we read, homeowners may remove only up to 10 square metres of asbestos themselves, and larger areas of non-friable asbestos, or any friable asbestos, need a licensed removalist.

Check the rules with your state or territory work health and safety regulator before anyone touches an old roof.

Ask any roofer for a licence number and check it on the regulator's register.

Before you accept a quote, check

  • Is the price for repairs only, or does it include cleaning and recoating?
  • Does the quote say whether GST is included?
  • How is old roofing, waste and any asbestos handled and who pays?
  • Are gutters, fascias, valley irons and ridge capping included or listed separately?
  • Who is responsible for removing and refitting solar panels?
  • What happens to the price if rotten battens or other damage turn up during the work?
  • Is the roofer licensed or registered in your state, and is there a written warranty?

Frequently asked questions

How much does roof restoration cost per square metre?

Our sources point to about $22 to $38 per square metre for a tile roof, with larger roofs costing less per square metre. A whole tile roof usually lands between $4,500 and $11,000.

What is the difference between re-bedding and re-pointing?

Re-bedding means lifting the ridge capping tiles and laying them again in fresh mortar. Re-pointing means replacing the pointing, the mortar finish along the joints, without lifting the tiles. A roofer will advise which one the roof needs.

How much does it cost to replace gutters?

For a single-storey house, our sources overlap at about $2,200 to $3,500 for all gutters and downpipes. Per metre, one compiled guide gives $40 to $110 for gutters and $35 to $90 for downpipes.

Is it cheaper to restore or replace a roof?

Restoration is usually much cheaper, with a whole tile roof at about $4,500 to $11,000 against a full re-roof, which a compiled guide puts at $14,000 to $30,000 for a single storey house. Restoration only suits a roof whose tiles and structure are still sound.

My roof may contain asbestos. What should I do?

Do not clean, drill or break the sheets. Ask your state or territory work health and safety regulator who may remove it, and use a licensed removalist where the rules require one. Removal can add thousands of dollars to a re-roof.

How is roof inspection priced?

One compiled guide gives $200 to $500 for an inspection and report. Many roofers include an inspection in the quote for the work, so ask before you pay for one.

Sources and method

Built on 19 October 2026 from Airtasker pages, a Canstar guide that cites hipages estimates, two compiled cost guides from What's The Damage, the Fair Work award and state regulator pages. Where sources disagree we use the range they share, and the sources do not state a GST basis. Several figures rest on a single publisher and are marked in the notes. How we calculate our guides.

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