How Much Does Roof Sheathing Cost? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $2,600 - $9,000
The cost of roof sheathing ranges from $2,600 to $9,000, with an average of $6,400 depending on roof size and material.
When you think of a roof, you imagine overlapping tiles or sleek metal sheets—rarely does anyone think of what’s underneath. Roof sheathing is the integral layer of thick wooden boards that are attached to the skeleton of the roof and provide both an important barrier between your home and outside and a solid foundation on which to attach underlayment and roofing tiles.
Roof sheathing installation costs $6,400 on average, though it ranges from $1,900 for small, simple roofs to $17,000 for large, high-pitched roofs.
- Average
- $6,400
- Low end
- $1,900
- high end
- $17,000
Type of Roof Sheathing
There are a few types of roof sheathing to choose from: solid, open, or plank. Solid sheathing is the most common choice because it provides a continuous layer without gaps. Plank is rare because it’s more labor-intensive and the material cost is higher. Open roof sheathing requires large tiles—commonly sheet metal—to cover the gaps in the sheathing.
| Roof Sheathing Type | Average Cost per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Solid | $2–$5 |
| Open | $1–$3 |
| Plank | $3–$7 |
Roof Sheathing Material
There are two primary materials used when constructing solid roof sheathing: oriented strand board (OSB) and plywood. While they are hard to tell apart, OSB is more popular due to its lower cost and similar application. However, plywood is stronger than OSB, so if you have a particularly heavy roofing material, it’s the better choice.
Size of Roof Sheathing
The size of your roof significantly affects the total cost of installing sheathing. The table below can help you get a rough idea of what an installation costs. Prices vary, but roof sheathing often costs between $2 and $6 per square foot.
| Roof Size in Square Feet | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| 500 | $1,900–$2,400 |
| 900 | $3,200–$3,900 |
| 1,200 | $4,400–$5,300 |
| 1,600 | $5,100–$6,800 |
| 1,800 | $7,000–$8,100 |
| 2,500 | $9,400–$10,900 |
| 3,200 | $11,600–$13,000 |
Roofing Professional Cost
A local roofing professional will cost between $30 and $90 per hour to perform the work. If they charge a project-based fee, it’s often between 20% and 50% depending on whether special equipment is required or if your roof has difficult access. These pros work day in and day out on roofs specifically, so we consider them a better option than general contractors if you’re only performing roof work.
General Contractor Cost
General contractors will give a roofing estimate at the same price ballpark as a roofing professional or even slightly less. But unless you’re bundling other work into a roof sheath install, go with the roofing pro. There are other ways contractors price their work but they often charge for time and materials or as a percentage, called lump-sum contracts.
Cost by Location
Roof sheathing costs vary significantly across the nation as transportation fees, local labor markets, and ease of working access all influence the total project cost. Cities like San Francisco and New York are some of the most expensive building markets while markets like the Midwest are less expensive. Areas close to wood mills, like the Pacific Northwest and deep South, may have lower costs as transport fees are low due to their proximity to the forests and factories.
| Location | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| San Fransisco, CA | $6,200–$7,900 |
| New York, NY | $6,300–$7,800 |
| Cleveland, OH | $4,200–$5,700 |
| Chicago, IL | $4,900–$6,300 |
| Orlando, FL | $4,700–$6,100 |
| Atlanta, GA | $4,300–$5,900 |
| Seattle, WA | $6,100–$7,500 |
| Charlotte, NC | $5,000–$6,400 |
| Houston, TX | $5,600–$6,900 |
Additional Cost Factors
Demolition and Prep
Demolition work costs between $25 and $80 per worker per hour, while prep work requires roofing expertise which drives the cost up to $35 to $110 per worker per hour.
Permits
In most cases, you need a permit to install sheathing because it’s a fairly substantial project that supports an integral part of your house (the roof). Expect to pay between $400 and $1,500 for the cost of a permit.
Repairs
Roof repairs are expensive and sheathing is no exception. It can actually be fairly expensive to repair sheathing as it’s sandwiched between roofing layers, so you’ll need to remove the top roofing material to have access. While normal repairs cost an average of around $1,200, expect sheathing repairs (if the roof is already installed) to cost a bit more.
DIY Roof Sheathing vs. Hiring a Pro
The weight of roof sheathing sheets combined with the inherently dangerous environment of roof work means that while tempting, you shouldn’t perform this work yourself. The labor cost savings aren’t worth the potential for injury and since the sheets are heavy enough on their own—let alone getting them in place—you can’t fully DIY the job without help.
However, there are some aspects of the job you may be able to DIY, including:
Cutting sheets
Helping to raise sheets to the workers on the roof
Doing disposal work
Roof Sheathing Replacement vs. Repair
Roof sheathing is unique in that it’s underneath your roofing material. It’s only in very rare cases that sections of the roof are removed just to access the sheathing and in most cases, the sheathing itself is protected from physical damage from the roofing itself. If there is damage to the sheathing, it likely damages all of it in the form of water damage.
So, when it comes to deciding whether to replace or repair, it often makes sense to replace the entire roof sheathing. Repair options commonly exceed the 50% rule of repairs which states that if a repair costs more than 50% of the project cost, you're better off just replacing it.
Tips to Reduce Cost While Installing Roof Sheathing
Both plywood and OSB boards are cost-effective materials and labor isn’t something that you can negotiate much, so there aren't many ways to reduce cost with this project. As we mentioned before, you can help with some of the more physical aspects but it's better to stay off the roof and let the professionals work. The best way to reduce cost is to perform regular inspections so no large issues grow over time which end up costing far more in the end. Even if some parts of the roof aren’t expensive, the labor most certainly will be.
Does Roof Sheathing Increase Home Value?
Roof sheathing isn't something a buyer sees and if your roof is in good condition it's probably because there's solid sheathing underneath. When considering the effect on home value it's more about how not having sheathing will severely drop the value of the home more than the presence of it will raise its value. If the shooting is new that may result in an increased return on investment but at most, you can expect to see a 50% recoup of the cost. An alternative gain is in the form of increased energy efficiency.
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.
Want to help us improve our cost data? Send us a recent project quote to costquotes@angi.com. Quotes and personal information will not be shared publicly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best material to sheath a roof will depend on your budget and if you require the strength of more robust materials. For most homes, the added strength is unnecessary, and oriented strand board, or OSB, makes sense. It’s inexpensive and robust enough for most roof types. Another popular but slightly more expensive option is plywood.
The four types of roof sheathing are plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), planks, and tone-and-groove boards. The overwhelming majority of homes use the first two (especially OSB) and the other two are not often seen outside of special use cases. Methods of sheathing include solid sheathing, open sheathing where there are gaps, and plank sheathing. Most roofs are solid sheathing.
You can technically put new roof sheathing over old, but it isn’t recommended. Firstly, it isn’t hard to remove sheathing. Secondly, when you install new over old, you trap whatever moisture is in the older layer. This can cause problems later on, especially if you have a humid house. Another reason not to add new over old is the weight factor. Finally, when you cover an old layer, you lose the ability to inspect it for damage, rot, or mold.
If we’re not discussing alternative roofing materials, common materials include asphalt, metal shingles, wooden shingles and shake, clay tiles, rolled roofing, and EPDM roofing. Most households use asphalt tiles or wood, but in certain climates stronger materials like stainless steel make sense. Ultimately, your choice of roofing materials comes down to budget and desired aesthetic.