Cost Calculator
Cedar Shake Roof Cost Calculator
Cedar is a premium natural product with real maintenance obligations. Installed cost sits well above asphalt because the material is graded, hand laid and often requires treatment for fire and rot resistance.
National average, cedar shake
$30,386
on the average 2,588 sq ft roof (26 squares), at $11.74 per square foot installed.
1,021,354
Roofs measured
46,432
Contractors pricing work
1.87x
Versus asphalt shingle
30 to 40
Typical service life
Estimates are based on over 840,000 roof measurements and pricing contractors enter into our roof calculator database , and it is refreshed daily. See cost by home size
Cedar Shake Roof Cost by Home Size
Costs below use the current installed price of $11.74 per square foot from our contractor network. Your own roof surface is larger than your home's footprint because of pitch and overhang, which is exactly what our measurement accounts for.
| Home size | Replacement cost | Value added to home |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | $5,870 | $3,346 |
| 1,000 sq ft | $11,740 | $6,692 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $17,610 | $10,038 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $23,480 | $13,384 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $29,350 | $16,730 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $35,220 | $20,075 |
| 3,500 sq ft | $41,090 | $23,421 |
| 4,000 sq ft | $46,960 | $26,767 |
| 4,500 sq ft | $52,830 | $30,113 |
| 5,000 sq ft | $58,700 | $33,459 |
Data refreshed monthly from the Instant Roofer measurement and pricing feed.
Cedar Shake Compared With Other Roofing Materials
Same measured roof, every material priced against it.
| Material | Per sq ft | Average total | Difference vs cedar shake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Shingle | $11.74 | $30,386 | |
| Asphalt Shingle | $6.28 | $16,261 | - $14,125 |
| Metal | $13.66 | $35,341 | + $4,955 |
| Clay Terra Cotta | $13.28 | $34,372 | + $3,986 |
| Concrete | $9.31 | $24,096 | - $6,290 |
| Flat Roof | $9.18 | $23,755 | - $6,631 |
| Designer Shingle | $8.42 | $21,791 | - $8,595 |
| Solar Roof | $25.74 | $66,615 | + $36,229 |
| Solar Panels | $8.11 | $20,989 | - $9,397 |
Other Roofing Material Types
Price the same roof in a different material.
What drives the price
Why cedar shake quotes differ from house to house
Shake versus shingle
Hand split shakes are thicker and more labor intensive than sawn shingles.
Grade of cedar
Number one blue label material costs noticeably more than lower grades and lasts longer.
Fire treatment
Class A or B treated cedar is required in many jurisdictions and adds material cost.
Craft labor
Fewer crews install cedar well, so labor rates in a given market can vary sharply.
Strengths
- Distinctive natural appearance that ages into a silver patina
- Good insulating value compared with asphalt
- Individual shakes can be replaced without redoing the field
- Strong curb appeal in premium neighborhoods
Trade offs
- Needs periodic cleaning and treatment
- Fire codes restrict untreated cedar in some markets
- Moss and rot risk under heavy shade
- Service life
- 30 to 40 years with maintenance
- Weight
- Moderate weight; most framing handles it, but verify on older homes.
- Best for
- Historic homes, coastal and mountain architecture, high design neighborhoods.
Cedar Shake Roof Cost by State
State figures apply local replacement pricing to the same cedar shake rate, so you can see how much of the spread is regional labor and material cost.
Cedar shakes and cedar shingles are different products
Cedar shakes have a split appearance, while cedar shingles are sawn for a more uniform profile. The choice affects the finished appearance and installation specification. Material grade, thickness and treatment also matter. When comparing proposals, ask the contractor to identify the exact product rather than describe all wood roofing as cedar shake.
The cedar figure on this page is a category-level estimate, not a separate quote for every shake or shingle grade. A contractor should confirm the intended product and installation assembly before ordering. Photographs can help communicate the appearance you want, but they do not establish the grade, treatment or suitability of the material for your roof.
Plan for the conditions around a wood roof
Cedar is a natural material exposed to repeated wetting and drying. Tree cover, trapped debris and persistent shade can affect how quickly a roof dries. Discuss those conditions with a contractor familiar with wood roofing rather than choosing solely by the initial price or the appearance of a newly installed roof.
Ask for a maintenance plan appropriate to the chosen product. Cleaning methods and treatments should follow the manufacturer's guidance; an aggressive cleaning method or an unsuitable coating can create problems rather than prevent them. Have a professional assess debris accumulation, drainage details and damaged pieces instead of assuming a cosmetic change in the wood's color is the same as a roofing failure.
Confirm local fire requirements and the replacement scope
Wood-roofing rules vary by jurisdiction and building conditions. Check whether the selected product and complete roof assembly meet applicable local fire requirements. A treated piece of cedar and a classified roof assembly are not interchangeable descriptions. Ask the installer to identify documentation for the proposed system rather than assume any treatment makes it acceptable everywhere.
A cedar replacement needs a clear plan for the existing covering, supporting base, underlayment and flashing. Historic appearance requirements may affect product choice, but they do not remove the need to address water management. Compare proposals with these items specified, and treat the calculator's total as a starting budget rather than confirmation that a particular wood system can be installed on your home.
Cedar Shake Roof Questions
How much does a cedar shake roof cost?
How long does cedar last?
What maintenance does cedar need?
Is synthetic cedar a good alternative?
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