RoofRangeBaseRoof tear off cost
On a replacement bid, tear-off is often its own line: strip the old field, haul it off, expose the deck. That work has a cost band separate from new shingles or metal. This page foregrounds removal only — enter roof squares, read low / mid / high from the tear-off table (about $100 / $150 / $250 per square as of 2026-07), then add material on the replacement pages when you want a full redo total. Two layers of stubborn asphalt, steep access, or a dumpster that fills twice can shove you toward the high band. The calculator cannot count layers for you; use the high end or keep contingency when the attic history is messy.
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Tear-off
Remove existing roof before install
Low
$9,000
Mid
$13,000
High
$19,000
When to use — and when not to
When to use
A written bid separated tear-off from new covering and you want to sanity-check that line. Estimating dumpster-heavy multi-layer strips before you sign. Checking whether a teaser price quietly omitted removal.
When not to
You want installed shingles plus haul-off in one number → roof replacement cost. Brand-new framing with nothing to remove → tear-off should stay off on new roof cost.
Assumptions
Tear-off band only in the default story; material reinstall is a separate table. National coarse band as of 2026-07. Asbestos abatement, specialty hazmat, and structural deck rebuild are outside the default mid.
Worked examples
20 squares, tear-off mid
Mid ≈ 20 × $150 = $3,000
Many bids bundle this inside an all-in $/square — ask how they split it.
20 squares, tear-off high (two layers, tight access)
High ≈ 20 × $250 = $5,000
Deck repair discovered after strip is still a separate conversation.
How it calculates
tearoff_total ≈ squares × tearoff_$ (100 / 150 / 250 per square)
Isolate the removal line — do not mix in new covering until you deliberately add it elsewhere.
- Enter roof squares (100 sq ft each) or convert sq ft ÷ 100.
- Read tear-off low / mid / high from the scene band (~$100 / $150 / $250 per square as of 2026-07).
- Bias toward mid/high when you know there are two layers, heavy tile underlayment, or stubborn ice dams.
- Add a material reinstall band on roof replacement cost when you want the full project span, not just the strip.
Common traps
- Layer count is not a field here — two layers usually means mid/high, not low.
- Asbestos or old built-up roofing may need abatement crews; that is not in the national band.
- Rot found after tear-off becomes plywood and labor extras — not hidden inside removal.
- Teaser bids that say “starting at” often assume one layer and a single dumpster.
Next tool
Full redo with new covering → roof replacement cost.
Asphalt field path → asphalt roof replacement cost.
Toggle tear-off inside the main tool → roof cost calculator.
FAQ
In our 2026-07 table, plan roughly $100 low, $150 mid, and $250 high per roofing square for a typical residential strip and haul-off. Multiply by your squares for a band — a 20-square house lands near $3,000 mid before deck repairs or a second dumpster.