Roof quote checker: is that bid fair, high, or suspiciously low?
Quote → LOW / FAIR / HIGH
Type in the numbers off your written bid — squares, material, tear-off layers, the decking line — and get the expected 2026 cost band plus a verdict, using the exact per-square ranges from our roof cost guide and estimator. Ranges, not a quote.
A roof total means nothing until it's converted to cost per square and checked for what's inside it — that's the whole argument of our am-I-being-overcharged checklist. This tool just does the arithmetic for you: it reconstructs the expected band for your size, material, stories, tear-off, and decking assumptions, tells you where the quote falls, and hands you the five line-item questions to ask before anyone gets accused of anything. Everything runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Enter your roof size to see the expected range.
The link keeps your inputs in the page address (after the #) — e.g. #squares=22&material=arch&stories=2&tearoff=1"e=10400 — so you can hand the exact scenario to someone else. Nothing leaves your browser.
Reading the verdict honestly
- FAIR means the total lands inside the expected band for the scope you entered. That's a green light to keep talking — still make sure all three bids include the same tear-off, decking, and permit assumptions.
- HIGH is not proof of a rip-off. Steep pitch alone can add 30–60% labor, metro crews price labor differently, and real deck rot is only counted after tear-off. HIGH means: demand the five line items explained, then get two more bids on identical scope.
- LOW is the one to actually worry about. Suspiciously low bids usually mean an overlay instead of a tear-off, an assumed-zero deck line, no permit, or no workers' comp — see DIY vs pro for why roofing is where cheap bids get expensive.
The five line items the verdict leans on
The checklist the tool prints mirrors the full guide, Roof replacement quote too high? Am I being overcharged? — tear-off count, decking replacement, pitch, stories, and permits, with the per-square and per-sheet bands for each. Read that page before your next contractor appointment and print this tool's output to bring with it.
Frequently asked questions
How does the roof quote checker work?
It rebuilds the expected cost band from your inputs — squares, material, stories, tear-off layers, decking line — using the same $/square ranges as our estimator, then marks your quote LOW, FAIR, or HIGH and prints the five-item checklist.
Is a HIGH verdict proof I'm being overcharged?
No — pitch, metro labor, and real deck repair can push honest bids above the band. HIGH means: walk the five line items with the roofer and get two more bids on identical scope.
Why would a LOW roof quote be a warning?
Below-band bids routinely skip something: overlay instead of tear-off, zero deck allowance, no permit, or no workers' comp. The cheapest bid regularly becomes the most expensive roof.
Does this tool store or send my quote?
No. It runs entirely in your browser; your inputs live only in the address after the # so the link can be shared. Nothing is uploaded anywhere.
Ballpark from scratch instead: cost estimator. Units, materials, and the national math: roof replacement cost guide.