Is homeowners insurance cheaper with a metal roof, and do the savings pay off?
Short answer. With some insurers, yes: a metal roof, especially one with a Class 4 impact rating, can earn a lower premium. But the savings are usually a small fraction of the extra cost of metal over architectural shingles, so insurance savings alone rarely justify the switch. Choose metal for its lifespan and look, and treat any premium credit as a bonus.
How to run the comparison
- Price both roofs on your house: architectural shingles, impact rated shingles and metal.
- Get premium quotes for each in writing, from your agent and one or two others.
- Divide the extra cost of metal by the yearly savings to see how many years the savings take to cover it.
- Adjust for lifespan. If the metal roof would outlast two asphalt roofs, that matters more than the premium.
- Factor in claim terms. A cosmetic exclusion on metal can mean hail dents are never paid.
An example with round numbers
If metal costs $12,000 more than shingles on your house and saves $300 a year in premium, the premium savings alone take 40 years to cover the difference. A larger credit, or a metal roof that avoids a future replacement, improves the math. Use your own quotes, since credits vary widely by insurer.
Middle options
- Class 4 impact rated asphalt shingles may earn a similar credit with some carriers for much less money.
- A higher all other perils deductible can lower premiums without changing the roof.