How Much Does a Leaky Roof Cost to Fix? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $700 - $3,000
The average leaky roof repair costs $900 and ranges between $700 and $3,000. Costs depend on the type of damage and materials required to fix it.
Fixing a leaky roof costs homeowners an average of $900, though it can range anywhere from $400 for minor leaks to $24,000 if you need to replace the entire roof.
Water is one of the most powerful forces on the planet. Even a small leak can quickly cause serious damage if left unchecked and unfixed. Learn what influences the total cost of a leaky roof repair so you can decide how to budget for an immediate fix.
- Average
- $900
- Low end
- $400
- high end
- $24,000
Leaky Roof Fix Cost Factors
There are several factors that will influence the price of your leaky roof repair—the main being the type of repair needed. Other factors include your roofing materials and the overall size of the leak.
Type of Repair
You need to find the problem first—commonly via roof inspections—and then determine the type and extent of the damage. Best-case scenarios include one or two damaged shingles or a few feet of degraded seals. Worst case? The sky’s the limit really as some problems will require a full-on replacement of the entire roof.
| Leaky Roof Problem | Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| Damaged shingles | $80–$1700 |
| Cracked flashing | $200–$900 |
| Clogged gutters | $30–$200 |
| Faulty seals | $40–$650 |
| Physical damage | $150–$13,000 |
| Ice damming | $300–$4,000 |
| Aging materials | $1,000–$22,000 |
| Chimney cracks | $800–$9,000 |
Damaged Shingles
The type of roof shingle matters, but a few damaged shingles shouldn’t be a cause for much worry. Ideally, you have some spares from when the roof was constructed and either you or a roofing professional (we wouldn’t do this ourselves) can tackle this job in a few hours. If more than 30% of the shingles are damaged though, you may want to start considering replacing them all.
Cracked Flashing
If roof flashing is installed correctly, it shouldn’t leak, but sometimes external factors like extreme weather or even falling tree branches can damage it. The good news is that flashing is mass-produced, so it’s rather inexpensive. On top of that, it isn’t too hard to install. For fixes like this, most of the cost will be labor.
Clogged Gutters
A clogged gutter might not sound too bad, but a roof leak isn’t the only damage a clogged gutter can cause. While some of the problems here require professional expertise, unclogging gutters can be a great DIY project. You can get a better look at your roof while saving quite a few dollars by performing the work yourself.
Faulty Seals
Seals can crack and degrade over time—that’s normal. UV light, weather, and other factors can cause these seals to lose their waterproofing effect, and they’ll need to be replaced. Like flashing, the materials aren’t very expensive, and if you’re handy, you can DIY roof sealing.
Ice Damming
Ice damming is common in colder climates. Essentially, ice forms on the edge of your roof, and the resulting melting water only adds to the blockage. With nowhere to go, the water often enters—or creates—small gaps in the roof. Ice damming removal costs an average of $1,200 to fix if there isn’t serious damage. Applying steam, chipping the ice, salting it, and pressure washing away the ice are all possible fixes.
Aging Materials
A leaky roof could be one of the warning signs you need a new roof if it’s past its life span. These materials are well-made, and quality control is high, which means they tend to age at the same rate. While this is good for planning a replacement, you usually can’t just fix some of the aging materials—you usually need to fix them all.
Chimney Cracks
Chimney cracks can result in a leaky roof but they can also be a significant safety hazard. You need to fix this immediately with the guidance of a professional. The cost varies, but for the most simple repairs, expect to pay around $400. More complicated repairs can cost up to the price of a new chimney (and possibly more).
Size
Roofing pros will often quote repairs in what they call squares. A square is a 10-foot by 10-foot section, or 100 square feet. However, many leaky roof issues are considerably smaller than that. Some pros will just quote you a single price for the project, but you can expect basic fixes to cost close to the estimates below.
| Roof Size in Square Feet | Average Repair Cost |
|---|---|
| 50 | $150–$1,000 |
| 100 | $200–$1,200 |
| 300 | $500–$2,800 |
| 500 | $1,900–$6,300 |
| 1,000 | $3,000–$12,000 |
| 1,500 | $4,200–$19,000 |
Materials
The materials you choose will greatly affect the cost of fixing a leaky roof. Labor takes a much larger percentage of the project’s total cost (around 70%), but it’s still a good idea to know your material costs. Remember that these are rough guidelines and do not include the cost of installing the material. If you can, find the exact same brand and model of the replacement material, as it will make any future work much easier.
| Roofing Material | Average Cost per Square Foot |
|---|---|
| Asphalt shingles | $1–$4 |
| Metal shingles | $5–$18 |
| Wood shingles | $3–$30 |
| Underlayment | $3–$6 |
| Flashing | $2–$7 |
| Sealant | $3–$12 |
Warranties
Many new roofs come with roof warranties, so check them before hiring a pro as the work may be covered. Another item of note—consider how any DIY fixes might affect the warranty for the rest of the roof. The last thing you want is to save a few bucks doing your own work only to invalidate a powerful warranty.
Labor
Labor for roof repair costs between $45 and $80 per hour. You’re not only paying for the work itself but for the years of experience and expertise that come along with it. All things considered, you’re getting a lot for what you pay for, and considering how integral a sound roof is, you can consider any professional labor costs a worthy investment.
"Some things to look for that may indicate you should opt for emergency tarping or roof repair include missing or damaged shingles, interior water leaks, visible damage to the components of the roof, or signs of large debris, like tree branches, on your roof."
— Niki O'Brien, Operations Manager at Custom Exteriors LLC, Berthoud, CO
Underlayment Repair
A full roof underlayment costs around $3,200 on average. Hopefully, your damage is minor. Sections of underlayment may need to be removed and replaced. The labor is the same as above and since underlayment isn’t expensive, this additional repair is recommended if necessary.
Demolition Cost
Leaky roof demo work isn’t like tearing down walls. This cost is often rolled into the total repair bill, but if you decide to separate it out, you can expect to pay $30 to $80 per worker per hour. Disposal fees are usually extra and based on weight, but they shouldn’t be much more than $50 to $200.
Leaky Roof Repair vs. Replace
There are two general rules when deciding whether to repair or replace a leaking roof:
If the repair costs more than 50% of a new roof, go for the new roof.
If the repair significantly alters the look of only part of the roof, replace it.
However, most leaky roof issues are fixable, and you shouldn’t need to consider a roof replacement over a repair. The two times you absolutely need to gut and reinstall a roof are when there are safety hazards or when the leaking has gotten so bad that there is structural damage. Otherwise, you can likely repair the problem.
DIY Fixing a Leaky Roof vs. Hiring a Pro
You can DIY a leaky seal around a skylight or nail on some new flashing, but there are many instances where you should hire a local roof leak professional. A roof isn’t a DIY project you want to take a chance on as even a small drip can wreak havoc on your home’s insulation, foundation, and structural framework. There are plenty of other more appropriate home DIY projects if you’re looking to flex your screwdriver muscles.
Tips to Reduce Cost While Fixing a Leaky Roof
Labor makes up the largest portion of a leaky roof fix, and it’s hard to negotiate billable hours. There are savings to be had when shopping for materials but unless you’re replacing a large section of the roof, you won’t see any significant savings. The single best way to save money when fixing a leaky roof is by making sure it never leaks in the first place. This means:
Routine maintenance.
Have a pro inspect the roof once a year.
Trim any large branches over the roof.
Regularly clean the gutters.
Repair missing or damaged shingles immediately.
As long as you perform regular maintenance and look for troubling symptoms, your roof should last many years.
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
Roof leaks develop quickly and can cause serious damage to your house and in extreme cases, quite nearly ruin it. Roof leaks have been known to affect even the foundations of a home, so taking care of any issues as soon as they pop up—or even before—is of the utmost importance.
Most roof leaks occur where shingles meet or where there are sealants or seams in the materials. This is common around skylights and at any point there is a break in the roof such as corners and edges. Roofing materials are incredibly strong and resistant when overlapping, but any change in that can cause gaps where water can enter.
If it’s still raining, the quickest fix is throwing some plastic sheeting on the problem area. However, this isn’t really feasible in the middle of a storm. It’s better to manage the issue from inside as best as you can. After the roof is dry, find the cause of the leak and seal it with sealant or caulk, then call a pro to properly fix the problem.