Rafters vs. Trusses: Pros, Cons, and Costs

Designing a new home is no easy feat, and every detail matters, right down to the choice of structural components that hold up and support your roof. Roof rafters, a timeless option, provide expansive vaulted ceilings but can be costly. On the other hand, trusses, which are gaining popularity, are prefabricated webbed units that offer a more budget-friendly alternative but may limit how you can use your attic space down the line. By understanding the pros and cons of trusses versus rafters, you can make an informed decision about the ideal choice for your home.

Trusses vs. Rafters: Key Differences

Both rafters and trusses support roof structures, but they do so in different ways. Rafters can easily be built to suit different architectural styles, and are easy to convert into attic spaces if desired. They are also typically built on site, which eliminates the need for tricky transporting and can be a boon for those building in remote locations. 

On the other hand, there are fewer types of trusses than rafters, so they are limited design-wise. However, they’re more affordable and DIY-able than the alternative, but almost always need to be built in advance of the rest of your roof, which means moving them can be a pain. 

What Is a Roof Rafter?

Rafters are used in traditional stick-framed roof architecture. Stick-frame roofs have a series of several rafters that run from the ridge of the roof to the wall plate of the external wall. These rafters are arranged side by side, providing a sturdy framework to support the roof deck, shingles, or other roofing materials.

When opting for roof rafters during home design, a professional company will custom-cut all the necessary lumber directly at the construction site. Ceiling joists are employed to secure the rafters and connect them to the exterior walls, while the ridge board or ridge beam provides additional support at the highest point of the rafters.

While rafters can be made from steel, this material is more commonly used in commercial structures rather than residential homes. Rafter boards tend to be wider compared to trusses, typically using dimensions such as 2x8s, 2x10s, and 2x12s as the most common rafter sizes. In contrast, trusses are typically constructed using 2x4s, though trusses can be constructed in wider spans than rafters.

Pros of Rafters

One of the biggest draws for this roofing option is that it can be built on-site, which means you don't have to worry about shipping a pre-built structure to a remote or difficult-to-access location. By contrast, trusses are often constructed elsewhere and may need to be airlifted by helicopter to reach their final destination. A benefit is that you don't have to do as much planning ahead of time—when your roof is built, your rafters will be, too.

But those aren't the only reasons you may want to choose rafters over trusses. These roof support beams might not have built-in insulation, but it's not hard to add this extra feature. Plus, thanks to their shape, they offer more space within the roof itself, which allows you to convert it into an attic later on.

Cons of Rafters

Although you won't have to worry about the expenses involved in shipping completed rafters to a remote destination, this perk comes with a price—you'll pay more for all the labor and materials involved in building them on-site. What's more, this process will take longer than relying on prefabricated trusses, so you'll need to dedicate at least one extra week of building time to roof construction as a whole. Similarly, this lengthy process puts unfinished rafters at a greater risk of damage from bad weather, so try to plan a project like this when rain or snow is unlikely—but stock up on protective tarps just in case.

Finally, fewer roofing contractors know how to build rafters thanks to trusses' rise in popularity. That means it may take longer to find a roofing contractor near you or local general contractor who is willing to take on the job.

Best for:

• Anyone interested in converting their roof to an attic

• Those building a home in a remote location

What Is a Roof Truss?

Truss-framed roofs are made from pre-fabricated, pre-built truss units. These units are triangular in shape, and form a webbed pattern to support the roof. Roof trusses have three main parts: top chords, bottom chords, and web bracing. The size of the truss depends on the weight it is meant to support, the spacing between the individual trusses, and the span of the truss.

Roof trusses are made from wood, steel, or a combination of both materials.

Pros of Roof Trusses

Trusses offer convenience because they're often sold in prefabricated kits that are relatively easy to put together. This alone can help you save on labor for roof framing costs, but trusses are also simply less expensive than rafters in general—and perform just as well. In some cases, they're even stronger than their competitor because they're built of a webbing structure that provides extra support for heavier roof materials.

Cons of Roof Trusses

The webbing in trusses is great for supporting a heavier roof, but they're bigger and weightier than rafters. Add on the fact that they often come pre-assembled, or need to be constructed away from the building site, and all of this can make them difficult to transport—especially if your new home is in a particularly hard-to-access place, like in the mountains or on the coast. 

Limited design options are another big downside to this roof support option. Unlike rafters, which can be built to suit any kind of setup, prefabricated trusses don’t offer a lot of variety and, in most cases, only work with flat ceilings. There’s also no way to convert them into an attic down the line, so keep that in mind before making your final choice. 

Best for: 

• Those looking for a cost-effective alternative to rafters 

• Anyone looking for a little more convenience for their roof build

Roof Rafters vs. Trusses: Every Characteristic, Compared

Evaluating key factors like cost, ease of installation, and strength can assist you in determining the optimal choice between rafters and trusses for your roof.

Appearance: Rafters

Rafters can be made to suit many different architectural styles, which is why so many people prefer them for aesthetic reasons. They can be built to accommodate everything from high, vaulted ceilings, to more standard flat ceiling setups—the choice is yours with an option like this. 

Conversion Potential: Rafters

Trusses are nearly impossible to convert after they’ve been installed—their complex webbing doesn’t leave much space and makes any that does remain that much more difficult to access. But rafters are designed with future attics in mind. Their characteristic arched wood panels provide plenty of space for creating a cozy hideaway or a place to store all your extra belongings. 

Cost: Trusses

Roof trusses are more wallet-friendly, coming in at $5 to $14 per square foot, installed, while roof rafters are $7 to $30 per square foot, installed. The final price will be determined by a number of factors, including the size of the roof, material, and labor costs where you live—labor costs are usually higher in urban areas. In addition, for trusses, you’ll need to factor in shipping costs as they are prefabricated then delivered to the construction site/home. 

Ease of Installation: Trusses

While it’s true that it’s easier to transport rafters because they’re built on-site, this doesn’t necessarily mean they're easier to install overall. In order to ensure the work is done well and up to code, you’ll need to have very experienced workers at the building location to carry out the assembly and installation. Since most trusses are prefabricated, the work is already done when it arrives at the construction site. That said, they are quite large and might require the assistance of a crane to get to the top of your home. Some, however, are very DIY-friendly—especially if you’re working with a smaller structure—and come with detailed instructions for spacing and fastening.

Time to Install: Tie 

Because the trusses are measured-and-cut before coming to the construction site, you’ll need to factor in the time it takes to place the order and for it to be delivered. It can take anywhere from two to six weeks for your trusses to arrive, but the installation, once they have been delivered, moves rather quickly—sometimes in just one day. Rafters, on the other hand, usually require one week minimum for assembly and installation, but you don’t have to factor in the time for delivery as the construction is done on-site.

Durability and Strength: Trusses

Trusses, with their triangular webbing structure, offer more support than rafters that can support more weight and can keep a structure sound with fewer load-bearing walls than rafters require. This also means they’re a better pick for locations that experience a lot of extreme weather, as they’re less likely to sustain damage from factors like heavy rain or snowfall.

Energy Efficiency: Trusses

Rafters may be the more energy-efficient option during construction because they’re built on-site and don’t need to be transported by excessive fuel-consuming means (like via a wide-load truck or crane). However, rafters don’t offer much insulation on their own, whereas trusses provide plenty plus better ventilation because of how they’re designed. This means that choosing them will reduce what you pay in energy bills without the need for extra work or additional installations. 

C.E. Larusso contributed to this piece.