How Much Does It Cost to Tarp a Roof? [2026 Data]

The average cost to tarp a roof is $450, but you can expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $3,300 depending on several factors, like the size of the damaged area and whether or not you need an emergency service. Let's walk through your DIY and professional options when installing a tarp across a small or large section of your roof.

Cost Factors to Tarp a Roof

There are a few key factors that affect how much you’ll end up paying to tarp your roof.

Roof and Area Size

The cost to tarp a roof depends largely on the square footage you need to cover. Professionals almost always use a per-square-foot price to determine the cost while also considering the other factors below. You can expect to pay between $0.70 and $2.80 per square foot to tarp a roof.

The lower end of this range—between $0.70 and $2.00 per square foot—accounts for standard professional jobs and larger jobs, where the per-square-foot price is often discounted a bit due to the size of the job. You'll pay between $1.00 and $2.80 for last-minute emergency services, as well as for smaller jobs. Keep in mind that these prices include professional labor costs.

Standard vs. Emergency Tarping

Roofers will charge rush and emergency fees for tarping a roof in extreme scenarios. If a branch, snow, or strong winds damage your roof in a storm, you will need to tarp the roof as soon as it’s safe to do so. Emergency roofing professionals will charge between $1.00 and $2.80 per square foot for rush services. Whenever possible, be sure to take photos of roof damage before tarping the roof—and after the storm has passed—for insurance purposes.

Tarp Thickness

Tarps come in a range of materials and thicknesses measured in mils, or one-thousandth of an inch. Tarps used for covering openings in roofs often fall between 10 and 25 mils.

Thinner tarps between 10 and 15 mils may be suitable for tarping roofs in areas that don’t see a lot of extreme weather and aren’t at risk of fallen tree limbs or sharp tree debris. They’re more affordable, but they won’t last as long, so they’re better as short-term solutions. Thicker tarps between 15 and 25 mils are better if you expect a delay between tarping and when you can carry out a more permanent solution, or in areas prone to severe weather.

Roof Design

Whenever you hire a professional to repair your roof, they will adjust their price based on your roof’s slope, accessibility, and other design details. Roofs with steep pitches, dormer windows, or multiple ridges may cost more to tarp, in large part because working around bumpouts and other design features will take longer and use more materials. Contractors will need to trim and shape the tarp to accommodate features such as chimneys and vents.

Labor

Professional roofers charge between $45 and $75 an hour whether they’re tarping or installing new roofing. Between $0.60 and $2.50 of the per-square-foot cost will account for labor prices. Since this is a large percentage of your bottom line, it might be tempting to tarp the roof yourself, but hiring a professional who can tarp your roof properly could actually save you money by ensuring no water gets through.

Materials

Labor aside, you'll pay between $0.10 and $0.30 per square foot for the tarp itself, depending on the thickness and square footage. Prices will also depend on the materials needed to secure your tarp. Your professional may need cap nails, wooden battens, or waterproof tape to keep the tarp in place. The extent of the materials needed to secure the tarp depends on the roof's slope and your local weather. Areas with high winds and rains require more extensive installation than areas without expected storms.

Accessibility

Your roof’s accessibility will play a crucial role in your costs, as well, as roofs that are very steep or harder to access will require special equipment or safety gear to navigate safely, which can drive up your labor costs. Your roof material can also affect accessibility, as asphalt roofs offer good grip and can be safe to walk on even with a steeper pitch. Slick metal roofs don’t offer the same level of safety, so you may pay more for tarp installation on a steep metal roof.

Common Roof Tarping Add-Ons

Tarping a roof often means that related repairs are on the docket. Damaged shingles, holes from storm damage, or fun renovations such as bringing in the pros to install a skylight are just a few jobs you should consider if you’re already having someone tarp your roof.

• Tree removal cost: $200–$2,000

• Roof inspection cost: $125–360

• Cost of roof repairs: $390–$1,930

• Roof replacement cost: $5,900–$13,200

• Cost to remediate water damage: $1,400–$6,300

How to Save Money on the Cost to Tarp a Roof

Roof tarping can be an expensive project, costing as much as $8,400 in some cases. There are a few things you can do to keep costs to a minimum, though.

• Buy materials yourself. Purchasing a tarp from a local hardware store yourself before calling a professional can avoid upcharges for materials from your expert. Purchase all necessary hardware to secure the tarp ahead of time, too.

• Avoid roof tarping in the first place. Have a roof inspection done once a year to avoid emergency roof tarping services. The inspection will cost around $230, on average, but that can pale in comparison to the cost of emergency tarping and repair costs.

• Avoid emergencies. Whenever possible, schedule roof tarping in advance rather than calling for emergency services. If you’re able to implement another temporary solution while you wait for tarping, you could save an average of $500.

• Shop around for the best deal. Meet with at least three local roofers to compare prices and add-ons before signing a contract.

Why You Should Hire a Roof Tarping Pro

Buying a tarp and DIYing may cost $100 to $450, but mistakes can be costly and even dangerous. If you don’t install the tarp correctly, you risk worsening the water damage to your home. Plus, working on a roof can be steep, slippery, or both, and you’re at a high risk of falling. 

Instead, leave this project to an emergency roofing pro near you.

Here’s why it’s ideal to hire a roof tarping pro

Hiring a pro is the safest, fastest, and most cost-effective option for tarping a roof because:

• Roofing pros are licensed and experienced in installing tarps and repairing roof damage.

• Pros can arrive on the scene quickly to cover damaged areas, even during an emergency.

• Pros already own the costly tools and equipment needed to safely access, tarp, and repair the roof, so you don’t have to buy or rent these items yourself.

• An experienced crew can tarp your roof quickly and minimize any water damage or other damage to the roof and your home.

• DIY mistakes could lead to costly water damage or even a trip to the hospital.

• Experts can identify and protect all potential damaged areas on the roof, even if you weren’t able to see them.

If you want to DIY roof tarping

We don’t recommend tarping a roof yourself since this is a dangerous job where a mistake could lead to serious injury or death. However, you can prepare for the pros to come tarp by:

• Removing any objects or debris around the house where a pro will need to set up ladders, tools, and other supplies.

• Checking the attic or upstairs rooms for signs of leaks.

• Removing any furniture or other objects from nearby leaking spots.

• Taking photos of the damage and contacting your home insurance provider.

How Angi Gets Its Cost Data

Home is the most important place on earth, which is why Angi has helped more than 150 million homeowners transform their houses into homes they adore. To help homeowners with their next project, Angi provides readers with the most accurate cost data and upholds strict editorial standards. We extensively research project costs to develop the pricing data you see, so you can make the best decisions for you and your home. We rely on reputable sources, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, academic journals, market studies, and interviews with industry experts—all to ensure our prices reflect real-world projects. 

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