How Much Does TPO Roofing Cost? [2024 Data]

TPO Roofing Cost Factors

You can break down the price of your new TPO roof into a handful of key parts and services. The following factors are the most significant: 

Roof Size

In 2020, the United States Census Bureau found that the average new home was 2,200 square feet, but your home may be much smaller or much larger, so factor in the total square feet of your home while calculating total costs rather than look at the average cost, as general estimates will likely be inaccurate. Smaller roofs cost slightly more per square foot than larger ones.

Material Makeup

TPO is a newer rubber roofing material comprised of a mixture of synthetic rubber and fillers such as talc and fiberglass—in short, each brand is different, so prices per square foot can vary drastically depending on the manufacturer. To provide some context, a rubber roof installation typically costs between $6,000 and $18,000.

Roll Size

TPO membranes are manufactured and sold in various widths and thicknesses, each with its own price point. Common TPO roll widths are 4, 6, 10, and 12 feet and with thicknesses of 45, 60, and 90 mils. The longer and thicker the roll size, the more they’ll cost.

Insulation Material

Insulation takes up a large portion of the installation, accounting for about 25% of the total cost. There are four types of insulation material for TPO roofs, and each one comes with its own average costs:

PolyISO is the most popular choice for insulating a flat-top roof. Prices vary based on thickness (either 1 or 4 inches thick, generally speaking) and the R-value—the material’s ability to resist heat flow.

Flashing 

Not unlike other low-slope roof types, such as torch-down roofs, TPO roof flashing is a specialty product consisting of metal pieces with a TPO exterior or form-specific TPO material. The flashing creates a seal by bonding with the roofing material during installation.

Your TPO roof will require flashing at roof junctions, where walls intersect the roof plane—or there's a penetration in the roof for things like plumbing, air vents, or chimneys. Flashing costs are over and above the cost of the rest of the roof and range from a few dollars each to $50 per item. 

Installation Method

The attachment method you choose also plays a role in your TPO roofing’s cost. There are three attachment methods to consider, including ballasted, fastened, and fully-adhered attachments:

The prices of these options can vary based on the thickness of the membrane, with most membranes measuring at 45 mils or 65 mils. For reference, one mil is 0.001 inches. Membranes that are 65 mils will fall at the higher end of the price range, while 45-mil membranes will fall on the lower end.

Labor

Labor for installing TPO roofing material costs anywhere between $3 to $7 per square foot on average. If the installer needs to remove and dispose of the old roofing or add insulation, you’ll pay closer to the $7 mark, but if your old roof is in good enough condition, expect to pay closer to the lower end of the price range. 

Customizations

Your installation might require customizations—or you might simply want a nice feature like skylights—that can increase the cost of the TPO roofing. Such customizations include roof penetrations for roof vents, electrical conduits, piping, chimneys, and skylights, which can add $5 to $50 each depending on the complexity of the project.

Location  

A TPO roofing system requires specialized application skills and can only be applied to flat-pitched roofs; therefore, regions that have high-pitched roofs, such as the upper east part of the U.S., may have fewer supply stores and professionals who can do the job. 

This may mean up to about 30% higher prices in the north compared to regions where flat-pitched roofs are the norm, like Arizona and New Mexico, where there’s low precipitation and lots of sunlight, making it a more popular roofing style.

Pros and Cons of Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO) Roofing 

TPO roofing comes with its own pros and cons that require consideration before making an investment.

Pros of TPO Roofing

• Durability: TPO roofing is impact and puncture resistant under normal conditions and weather. Hail, wind, and light foot traffic are generally not major concerns with TPO roofs.

• Low-Maintenance: Besides regular inspections and keeping tree branches and similar things away from it, TPO roofing requires very little in the way of maintenance.

• Long-Lasting: Due to the material's reflectivity, UV resistance, and ability to withstand relatively harsh storms and normal wear and tear, you can expect about 20 to 30 years of life out of your TPO roof. 

• Versatility: TPO roofing is appropriate for commercial or residential applications. It’s relatively lightweight and offers a large product selection and easy professional installation, making it a good match in many situations. Because TPO requires adding heat during installation, installation can even occur in winter, while you may have to wait for warmer weather before installing other products. 

Cons of TPO Roofing 

• High Cost: TPO roofing and installation is costlier than other low-slope materials, including EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) and PVC. 

• Requires Professional Installation: Because TPO roofing installation requires specialized knowledge and skills, it’s best left to a professional roofer to handle.

• Requires Professional Repairs: If a TPO roof suffers minor damage, such as a tear, repairing the spot requires professional attention with the proper tools.

TPO Pricing vs. Other Roofing Membrane Types 

While TPO roofing costs are somewhat higher than the cost of other roofing types, the gap is decreasing, and TPO still maintains a longer life span than many other roof types.

On average, EPDM roofing costs between $4.25 and $12 per square foot, including installation. While EPDM's low-end price is similar to TPO, the higher-end cost is significantly less. However, consumers can only expect about 15 years of life span from an EPDM roof.

Another option is PVC roofs, which can last up to 20 years. While slightly more costly than EPDM, the high-end costs for the material and installation are still between $2 and $5 less per square foot than a TPO roof.

Installing TPO Roofing Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

Photo: Doralin / Adobe Stock

Installing a TPO roof yourself will save about $3 per square foot. Though you can potentially save thousands on labor expenses, the time and research that goes into doing the job right will definitely add up—especially if you need to replace your old roof first. Unless you have lots of experience installing new roofs, we don’t recommend DIYing a TPO roof.

Also, you need to confirm that your roof has the correct slope for TPO roofing, as installing the wrong roof on your home could cause leaks and other costly issues. Then, you must know the best brands because TPO roofing is relatively new to the market, and quality matters. Lastly, you must also know the best ways to install the insulation and TPO membrane for a long-lasting roof.

But if you’ve got the necessary experience and tools, you’d spend between $1.50 and $11 per square foot if you install TPO roofing yourself, compared to $4.50 and $16 per square foot when you hire a roofing contractor near you to do the job. 

How You Can Save Money on Installing TPO Roofing

Though you can save money by DIYing it or buying the most budget-friendly TPO material, both of these options can significantly reduce the life span of your roof. It’s best to take the plunge and invest in quality material to save yourself the painstaking cost of frequent repairs that can befall a project of this nature if done incorrectly or with low-quality materials.

Also, it’s a good idea to get quotes from at least three different roofing pros. That way you can see what the going price is and whether different pros package their services differently. When hiring a roofing contractor, remember to ask for references and whether the work is warrantied. You may also be able to save by scheduling the work during the offseason.