Should you roof it yourself or hire a roofer?
On the defaults — $200.00 of materials, 10 hours of your time at $30.00 an hour, a roofer at $75.00 an hour for 6 hours, and a $150.00 disposal fee — the DIY cost is $500.00 ($200.00 + 10 × $30.00) and the hiring cost is $600.00 ($75.00 × 6 + $150.00), so DIY wins by $100.00. Roofing is not a small job — it is the one DIY job where the disposal fee is a line of its own, and where a wrong step costs more than the saving.
Five things about the model are worth stating plainly. First, the DIY cost is the materials plus the hours times what your time is worth — $200.00 + 10 × $30.00 = $500.00. Second, the hiring cost is the roofer’s rate times the labor hours plus the disposal fee — $75.00 × 6 + $150.00 = $600.00. Third, the gap is the hiring cost minus the DIY cost — $600.00 − $500.00 = +$100.00, so DIY wins. Fourth, the disposal fee is doing real work in the default: without it the hiring cost is $450.00 and DIY wins by only $50.00. And fifth, your time is the lever: value it at $50.00 an hour and the DIY cost is $700.00 — hiring wins by $100.00; all listed in Accuracy & limitations.
The worked example, line by line
Setup: $200.00 of materials, 10 DIY hours at $30.00 an hour, a roofer at $75.00 an hour for 6 hours, a $150.00 disposal fee.
Line 1 — the DIY cost. The DIY cost is $200.00 + 10 × $30.00 = $500.00.
Line 2 — the hiring cost. The hiring cost is $75.00 × 6 + $150.00 = $600.00.
Line 3 — the gap. The gap is $600.00 − $500.00 = +$100.00, so DIY wins by $100.00.
Line 4 — the disposal fee. Without the $150.00 disposal fee the hiring cost is $450.00 and DIY wins by only $50.00.
Line 5 — the flip. Value your time at $50.00 an hour and the DIY cost is $200.00 + 10 × $50.00 = $700.00, so the gap is $600.00 − $700.00 = −$100.00 and hiring wins by $100.00.
What the roofer’s quote usually covers
A roofer’s quote is not one number — it is labor, materials, disposal, and the warranty, and the disposal fee is the line most homeowners forget to ask about. On the defaults the labor is $75.00 × 6 = $450.00 and the disposal is $150.00, so the quote is $600.00 and the disposal is a quarter of it. A roofer also brings the crew, the safety gear, and the warranty on the work — the DIY side has to buy or rent those, and a DIY roof has no warranty to fall back on. Get two or three quotes, and check whether each one includes the tear-off, the haul-away, and the permit.
Every branch, checked
materials $400: DIY $700.00 (materials $400.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $100.00 — At $400.00 of materials the DIY cost is $700.00 — hiring wins by $100.00; materials are the line that decides close jobs.
roofer $95/hr: DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $720.00 ($95.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $220.00 — At a $95.00 roofer the hiring cost is $720.00 — DIY wins by $220.00; the roofer’s rate is the lever.
DIY 16 hours: DIY $680.00 (materials $200.00 + 16 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $80.00 — At 16 DIY hours the DIY cost is $680.00 — hiring wins by $80.00; your time is the lever.
roofer 10 labor hours: DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $900.00 ($75.00/hr × 10 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $400.00 — At 10 roofer labor hours the hiring cost is $900.00 — DIY wins by $400.00; a slow crew costs you.
your time $50/hr: DIY $700.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $50.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $100.00 — Value your time at $50.00 an hour and the DIY cost is $700.00 — hiring wins by $100.00.
disposal $0: DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $450.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $0.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $50.00 — With a $0.00 disposal fee the hiring cost is $450.00 — DIY wins by $50.00; the fee is doing real work in the default.
disposal $300: DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $750.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $300.00 disposal): DIY wins by $250.00 — With a $300.00 disposal fee the hiring cost is $750.00 — DIY wins by $250.00.
The reverses, worked backwards
smallest roofer rate for the hiring cost to reach $500: The smallest roofer rate for the hiring cost to reach $500 is $58.34/hr (exact 58.3333). At $58.34/hr the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $500.04 ($58.34/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $0.04. At the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $499.98 ($58.33/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $0.02; at the upper neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $500.10 ($58.35/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $0.10.
smallest DIY hours for the DIY cost to reach $600: The smallest DIY hours for the DIY cost to reach $600 is 13.34 hours (exact 13.3333). At 13.34 hours the figures are DIY $600.20 (materials $200.00 + 13.34 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $0.20. At the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $599.90 (materials $200.00 + 13.33 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $0.10; at the upper neighbor the figures are DIY $600.50 (materials $200.00 + 13.35 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $0.50.
disposal fee for DIY to win by $50: The disposal fee for DIY to win by $50 is $100.00 (exact 100.0000). At $100.00 the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $550.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $100.00 disposal): DIY wins by $50.00. At the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $549.99 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $99.99 disposal): DIY wins by $49.99; at the upper neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $550.01 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $100.01 disposal): DIY wins by $50.01.
your hourly rate for DIY to win by $200: The your hourly rate for DIY to win by $200 is $20.00/hr (exact 20.0000). At $20.00/hr the figures are DIY $400.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $20.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $200.00. At the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $399.90 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $19.99) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $200.10; at the upper neighbor the figures are DIY $400.10 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $20.01) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $199.90.
smallest roofer labor hours for the hiring cost to reach $700: The smallest roofer labor hours for the hiring cost to reach $700 is 7.34 hours (exact 7.3333). At 7.34 hours the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $700.50 ($75.00/hr × 7.34 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $200.50. At the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $699.75 ($75.00/hr × 7.33 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $199.75; at the upper neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $701.25 ($75.00/hr × 7.35 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $201.25.
materials for DIY to win by $150: The materials for DIY to win by $150 is $150.00 (exact 150.0000). At $150.00 the figures are DIY $450.00 (materials $150.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $150.00. At the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $449.99 (materials $149.99 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $150.01; at the upper neighbor the figures are DIY $450.01 (materials $150.01 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $149.99.
What the defaults assume
The defaults are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $100.00. With materials $400, DIY $700.00 (materials $400.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $100.00 — At $400.00 of materials the DIY cost is $700.00 — hiring wins by $100.00; materials are the line that decides close jobs.. With roofer $95/hr, DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $720.00 ($95.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $220.00 — At a $95.00 roofer the hiring cost is $720.00 — DIY wins by $220.00; the roofer’s rate is the lever.. With DIY 16 hours, DIY $680.00 (materials $200.00 + 16 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $80.00 — At 16 DIY hours the DIY cost is $680.00 — hiring wins by $80.00; your time is the lever.. With roofer 10 labor hours, DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $900.00 ($75.00/hr × 10 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $400.00 — At 10 roofer labor hours the hiring cost is $900.00 — DIY wins by $400.00; a slow crew costs you.. With your time $50/hr, DIY $700.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $50.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $100.00 — Value your time at $50.00 an hour and the DIY cost is $700.00 — hiring wins by $100.00.. With disposal $0, DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $450.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $0.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $50.00 — With a $0.00 disposal fee the hiring cost is $450.00 — DIY wins by $50.00; the fee is doing real work in the default.. With disposal $300, DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $750.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $300.00 disposal): DIY wins by $250.00 — With a $300.00 disposal fee the hiring cost is $750.00 — DIY wins by $250.00.. With smallest roofer rate for the hiring cost to reach $500, $58.34/hr (exact 58.3333) — at $58.34/hr the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $500.04 ($58.34/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $0.04; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $499.98 ($58.33/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $0.02. With smallest DIY hours for the DIY cost to reach $600, 13.34 hours (exact 13.3333) — at 13.34 hours the figures are DIY $600.20 (materials $200.00 + 13.34 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $0.20; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $599.90 (materials $200.00 + 13.33 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $0.10. With disposal fee for DIY to win by $50, $100.00 (exact 100.0000) — at $100.00 the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $550.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $100.00 disposal): DIY wins by $50.00; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $549.99 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $99.99 disposal): DIY wins by $49.99. With your hourly rate for DIY to win by $200, $20.00/hr (exact 20.0000) — at $20.00/hr the figures are DIY $400.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $20.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $200.00; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $399.90 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $19.99) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $200.10. With smallest roofer labor hours for the hiring cost to reach $700, 7.34 hours (exact 7.3333) — at 7.34 hours the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $700.50 ($75.00/hr × 7.34 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $200.50; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $699.75 ($75.00/hr × 7.33 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $199.75. With materials for DIY to win by $150, $150.00 (exact 150.0000) — at $150.00 the figures are DIY $450.00 (materials $150.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $150.00; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $449.99 (materials $149.99 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $150.01. With $0 of materials, DIY $300.00 (materials $0.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $300.00 — With $0.00 of materials the DIY cost is just the $300.00 of your time — DIY wins by $300.00.. With 0 DIY hours, DIY $200.00 (materials $200.00 + 0 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $400.00 — With 0 DIY hours the DIY cost is just the $200.00 of materials — DIY wins by $400.00.. With a $0/hr hourly rate, DIY $200.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $0.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $400.00 — Value your time at $0.00 an hour and the DIY cost is $200.00 — DIY wins by $400.00.. With a $0/hr roofer rate, DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $150.00 ($0.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $350.00 — At a $0.00 roofer rate the hiring cost is just the $150.00 disposal fee — hiring wins by $350.00.. With 0 roofer labor hours, DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $150.00 ($75.00/hr × 0 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $350.00 — With 0 roofer labor hours the hiring cost is just the $150.00 disposal fee — hiring wins by $350.00.. With a $500 disposal fee, DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $950.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $500.00 disposal): DIY wins by $450.00 — At a $500.00 disposal fee the hiring cost is $950.00 — DIY wins by $450.00.. With a $100/hr hourly rate, DIY $1,200.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $100.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $600.00 — Value your time at $100.00 an hour and the DIY cost is $1,200.00 — hiring wins by $600.00..
Output · formula · meaning
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|
| Materials | input | $200.00. |
| Your DIY hours | input | 10 hours. |
| Your hourly rate | input | $30.00/hour. |
| Roofer rate | input | $75.00/hour. |
| Roofer labor hours | input | 6 hours. |
| Disposal fee | input | $150.00. |
| DIY cost | materials + DIY hours × your hourly rate | $500.00. |
| Hiring cost | roofer rate × roofer labor hours + disposal fee | $600.00. |
| Gap | hiring cost − DIY cost | +$100.00. |
| Winner | DIY wins if the gap is positive, HIRING wins if it is negative, Tie at $0.00 | DIY wins by $100.00. |
| smallest roofer rate for the hiring cost to reach $500 | exact 58.3333 | $58.34/hr → $58.34/hr. |
| Below the smallest roofer rate for the hiring cost to reach $500 star | neighbor | DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $499.98 ($58.33/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $0.02. |
| Above the smallest roofer rate for the hiring cost to reach $500 star | neighbor | DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $500.10 ($58.35/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $0.10. |
| smallest DIY hours for the DIY cost to reach $600 | exact 13.3333 | 13.34 hours → 13.34 hours. |
| Below the smallest DIY hours for the DIY cost to reach $600 star | neighbor | DIY $599.90 (materials $200.00 + 13.33 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $0.10. |
| Above the smallest DIY hours for the DIY cost to reach $600 star | neighbor | DIY $600.50 (materials $200.00 + 13.35 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $0.50. |
| disposal fee for DIY to win by $50 | exact 100.0000 | $100.00 → $100.00. |
| Below the disposal fee for DIY to win by $50 star | neighbor | DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $549.99 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $99.99 disposal): DIY wins by $49.99. |
| Above the disposal fee for DIY to win by $50 star | neighbor | DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $550.01 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $100.01 disposal): DIY wins by $50.01. |
| your hourly rate for DIY to win by $200 | exact 20.0000 | $20.00/hr → $20.00/hr. |
| Below the your hourly rate for DIY to win by $200 star | neighbor | DIY $399.90 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $19.99) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $200.10. |
| Above the your hourly rate for DIY to win by $200 star | neighbor | DIY $400.10 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $20.01) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $199.90. |
| smallest roofer labor hours for the hiring cost to reach $700 | exact 7.3333 | 7.34 hours → 7.34 hours. |
| Below the smallest roofer labor hours for the hiring cost to reach $700 star | neighbor | DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $699.75 ($75.00/hr × 7.33 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $199.75. |
| Above the smallest roofer labor hours for the hiring cost to reach $700 star | neighbor | DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $701.25 ($75.00/hr × 7.35 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $201.25. |
| materials for DIY to win by $150 | exact 150.0000 | $150.00 → $150.00. |
| Below the materials for DIY to win by $150 star | neighbor | DIY $449.99 (materials $149.99 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $150.01. |
| Above the materials for DIY to win by $150 star | neighbor | DIY $450.01 (materials $150.01 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $149.99. |
Who uses this
- The homeowner patching a small roof: they learn doing it themselves costs $500.00 against $600.00 to hire — and they check the $400.00-materials branch to see when hiring wins.
- The landlord getting a roofer’s quote: they learn a $95.00 roofer makes hiring $720.00 — and they check the $58.34/hr reverse to see the cheapest rate that still costs $500.00.
- The weekend DIYer pricing their own time: they learn at $50.00 an hour hiring wins by $100.00 — and they check the 13.34-hour reverse to see how long the job can take before DIY loses.
- The homeowner comparing two quotes: they learn a $300.00 disposal fee makes hiring $750.00 — and they check the $100.00 reverse to see the fee that leaves DIY ahead by $50.00.
Accuracy & limitations
The model is the two totals: DIY = materials + DIY hours × your hourly rate; hiring = roofer rate × roofer labor hours + disposal/tear-off fee; the gap is hiring − DIY, from the rounded totals. What the calculator cannot do is price your roof: a roof replacement in the US typically runs about $8,000–$15,000 for a standard home, moving with the size of the roof, the material, and the region, and the disposal and tear-off fee alone usually runs $150–$500. The DIY total counts your time at the hourly rate you enter — use your after-tax hourly wage for the honest number — and it does not count the permit, the safety gear, the tools you have to buy or rent, or the warranty a roofer’s work carries. Roofing is dangerous work at height; if the job is more than a small patch, get two or three quotes before you decide, and check whether each quote includes the tear-off, the haul-away, and the permit.
Cite this calculatorBright Side Kit. “DIY vs Hire a Roofer Calculator: Which Costs Less?” brightoolbox.com, 2026. Method: DIY cost = materials + DIY hours × your hourly rate; hiring cost = roofer rate × roofer labor hours + disposal/tear-off fee; the gap is hiring − DIY. Reverses: smallest roofer rate for the hiring cost to reach $500 is $58.34/hr (at $58.34/hr the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $500.04 ($58.34/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $0.04; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $499.98 ($58.33/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $0.02); smallest DIY hours for the DIY cost to reach $600 is 13.34 hours (at 13.34 hours the figures are DIY $600.20 (materials $200.00 + 13.34 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): HIRING wins by $0.20; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $599.90 (materials $200.00 + 13.33 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $0.10); disposal fee for DIY to win by $50 is $100.00 (at $100.00 the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $550.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $100.00 disposal): DIY wins by $50.00; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $549.99 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $99.99 disposal): DIY wins by $49.99); your hourly rate for DIY to win by $200 is $20.00/hr (at $20.00/hr the figures are DIY $400.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $20.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $200.00; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $399.90 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $19.99) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $200.10); smallest roofer labor hours for the hiring cost to reach $700 is 7.34 hours (at 7.34 hours the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $700.50 ($75.00/hr × 7.34 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $200.50; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $500.00 (materials $200.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $699.75 ($75.00/hr × 7.33 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $199.75); materials for DIY to win by $150 is $150.00 (at $150.00 the figures are DIY $450.00 (materials $150.00 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $150.00; at the lower neighbor the figures are DIY $449.99 (materials $149.99 + 10 hours × $30.00) vs hiring $600.00 ($75.00/hr × 6 hours + $150.00 disposal): DIY wins by $150.01) Bright Side Kit. "DIY vs Hire a Roofer Calculator: Which Costs Less?" https://brightoolbox.com/diy-vs-hire-roofer/ Accessed October 26, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Should I DIY my roof or hire a roofer?
It depends on what your time is worth. Doing it yourself costs $500.00 — $200.00 of materials plus 10 hours at $30.00 an hour — against $600.00 to hire, so DIY wins by $100.00. Value your time at $50.00 an hour instead and the same job costs $700.00 yourself — hiring wins by $100.00.
How much does a roofer charge per hour?
$75.00 an hour on the defaults. At $95.00 an hour the hiring cost is $720.00 and DIY wins by $220.00; at $58.34 an hour the hiring cost is $500.04 and DIY wins by only $0.04.
What does the disposal fee cover?
The tear-off and haul-away of the old roof. The default is $150.00; at $300.00 the hiring cost is $750.00 and DIY wins by $250.00 — the fee is a quarter of the default quote, so always check whether it is included.
When does hiring a roofer win?
When your time is dear or the job is slow. At $50.00 an hour the DIY cost is $700.00 and hiring wins by $100.00; at 16 DIY hours the DIY cost is $680.00 and hiring wins by $80.00.
What roofer rate makes the hiring cost $500?
$58.34 an hour. At $58.34 an hour the hiring cost is $500.04; at $58.33 it is $499.98 and hiring wins by $0.02.
How many DIY hours make the DIY cost $600?
13.34 hours. At 13.34 hours the DIY cost is $600.20; at 13.33 hours it is $599.90 and DIY wins by $0.10.
Does DIY roofing save money on a small repair?
Yes — the smaller the job, the bigger the saving. With $0.00 of materials the DIY cost is $300.00 and DIY wins by $300.00; with 0 DIY hours it is $200.00 and DIY wins by $400.00.
What if the roofer’s quote has no disposal fee?
Then hiring is much closer. With a $0.00 disposal fee the hiring cost is $450.00 and DIY wins by only $50.00 — so ask whether the fee is in the quote before you compare.