Roofing Company Hourly Rates in 2025: What Roofers Charge (NZ, US, UK, AU)

Roofers don’t really sell “an hour.” They sell a safe, insured crew that can work at height without wrecking your home. Still, you want a number. Here’s the quick answer and the context so you don’t get blindsided by call-out fees, crew minimums, or scaffolding that doubles the bill.

TL;DR: Roofers’ Hourly Rates in 2025

• New Zealand (2025): $110-$160 NZD per hour per roofer; lead/foreman $140-$190; 2-person crew $190-$300/hr. Call-out often $80-$150. GST extra unless stated.
• United States: $75-$150 USD per hour per roofer; lead $100-$180; 2-person crew $140-$280/hr. Trip fee $50-$125.
• United Kingdom: £45-£90 per hour per roofer; lead £65-£110; 2-person crew £90-£170/hr. Call-out £40-£80.
• Australia: $70-$120 AUD per hour per roofer; lead $90-$150; 2-person crew $140-$240/hr. Call-out $70-$120.
• Hourly usually covers labour only. Materials, access (scaffolding/edge protection), disposal, and travel are often extra.

Use hourly for small repairs and diagnostics. For re-roofs, ask for a fixed price. If you only remember one thing: total job cost = crew hours × rate + extras (access, materials, waste, travel, tax). Looking for the phrase you’d search? Here it is: roofing hourly rates.

How Roofers Price: What’s Inside the Hourly Rate

That $120-$160/hr (NZ) isn’t a roofer’s wage. It’s the business’s charge-out rate. It bundles direct labour, compliance, gear, and profit so they’re still around next winter when you need a warranty fix. Here’s the anatomy.

• Direct wage: What the roofer takes home before tax. In NZ, an experienced roofer might earn $30-$45/hr; leads can be higher. In the US, the Bureau of Labor Statistics put median roofer pay in the low-to-mid $20s USD/hr in 2024; company charge-out is higher.
• Labour burden: Holiday pay, sick leave, ACC/insurance, KiwiSaver/Super, payroll tax. Roughly 20-35% of wage in many markets.
• Overheads: Vehicles, fuel, ladders, harnesses, training (Site Safe in NZ), liability insurance, admin, quoting time, slow days. Often 25-40% of total.
• Profit: 8-20% is common for trades. Lower margins sink companies; higher margins may reflect risk, warranty coverage, or backlog.

Simple rule of thumb many contractors use: billable rate ≈ 2.5-3.5× the roofer’s wage. If the lead roofer earns $40/hr, the charge-out could land around $120-$160/hr in NZ-right where you see the market.

What’s not in the hourly:

• Access and safety: WorkSafe NZ expects edge protection or fall arrest for roof work; similar requirements exist in AU/UK/US. Small jobs may use temporary edge protection; big ones may need full scaffolding. That’s a separate line item.
• Materials and consumables: Flashings, underlay, sealants, fasteners. Some firms add a 10-20% handling margin. Ask upfront.
• Waste and recycling: Old iron, tiles, underlay. Charged per load or skip.
• Travel/time to site: Often a call-out fee or first-hour minimum, especially for diagnostics.
• GST/VAT/sales tax: Confirm if the quoted rate is inclusive.

One more wrinkle: Many tasks require two people even if only one is “on the tools.” Spotter/safety, carrying sheets, or handling ladders at height often force a two-person minimum. That doubles hourly labour but keeps people safe and moves the job faster.

Real-World Rates by Region + What You’ll Likely Pay

Rates move with cost of living, weather windows, and demand. Wellington after a week of storms? Expect tight schedules and surge pricing. Rural areas may run cheaper but add travel. Here’s a grounded snapshot for 2025.

Why the spread? Crew experience, roof pitch, material type (tile vs metal vs membrane), access complexity, and whether the company runs big warranties and full-time admin. The cheapest hourly rate can cost you more if the team is slow, under-equipped, or learning on your roof.

Estimating Your Job: Crew Sizes, Time, and Example Costs

Here’s how to translate hourly rates into a realistic job total. You don’t need to be a builder-just estimate time and crew.

Quick heuristic

• Leak diagnosis: 0.5-2 hours onsite, often two people for safety. If your roofer’s call-out includes the first hour, that may cover it.
• Small flashing replacement (metal roof): 2-4 hours (two people). Add material ($60-$200 NZD) and sealants.
• Valley iron swap (single valley): 4-8 hours (two people). Material $150-$350 NZD.
• Tile replacement (10-20 tiles): 1-3 hours (two people) plus tile cost.
• Membrane patch on a flat roof: 3-6 hours (two people) plus primer/patch kit.
• Skylight re-flash: 4-8 hours (two people) plus flashing kit. May need temporary cover if rain threatens.

If edge protection or scaffolding is required, small residential setups can add $800-$2,500 NZD for a week in NZ cities. Short jobs get hit worst by fixed access costs. Always ask if your roof can be done with temporary edge protection instead of full scaffold-your roofer will decide based on safety rules and pitch.

Back-of-the-napkin formula (NZ example)

Job total (ex. GST) ≈ (crew hourly rate × hours onsite) + materials + access + waste + travel.

Example: Flashing replacement

• Crew: Two roofers at $220/hr combined.
• Time: 3.5 hours onsite.
• Materials: $140.
• Access: Temporary edge protection included in labour (no scaffold).
• Waste/travel: $50.

Total ≈ (220 × 3.5) + 140 + 0 + 50 = $965 NZD + GST.

Example: Valley iron replacement (one valley)

• Crew: Two roofers at $240/hr combined.
• Time: 6.0 hours.
• Materials: $260.
• Access: Light edge protection $250.
• Waste/travel: $80.

Total ≈ (240 × 6) + 260 + 250 + 80 = $2,020 NZD + GST.

Example: Leak find and patch

• Call-out: $120 includes first 60 minutes.
• Extra time: 45 minutes at $220/hr (two-person crew) = $165.
• Materials: $35.

Total ≈ $320 NZD + GST. If rain forces a return visit, expect a second minimum charge.

Production rates for context (very rough; installer skill and site setup dominate):

• Metal longrun install (open, single-storey): 8-12 m² per person per hour when flying; repairs are slower.
• Tile replacement: 10-30 tiles per person per hour once set up.
• Membrane patch: 1-2 patches per hour including prep, if areas are small.

These aren’t promises; they’re a sanity check so you can ballpark. If a quote looks way off, ask how many hours and people it’s based on.

Checklist, Pro Tips, and FAQ

Hiring checklist (copy/paste)

• Ask for their hourly rate per person and what’s included. Is GST/VAT included? Is there a minimum charge?
• Confirm crew size and why: one or two people? Safety and speed both matter.
• Clarify call-out/travel fees and whether the first hour is included.
• Get access costs in writing: temporary edge protection vs full scaffold, and who supplies it.
• Pin down materials policy: supply by homeowner vs contractor, and any handling margin.
• Weather policy: if it rains, do you pay wait time or a second visit?
• Warranty: labour warranty length and response time for call-backs.
• Credentials and insurance: public liability, training (e.g., Site Safe in NZ). For larger weathertightness work, ask about LBP involvement if needed.
• Photos: before/after photos included in the price.

Pro tips to spend less

• Batch small fixes. One visit to do three items beats three call-outs.
• Clear access. Move cars, garden pots, and furniture so setup is quick.
• Share context. Leak shows at the hallway light after southerly rain? That clue saves time.
• Choose timing. Demand and rates spike after storms. If it’s not urgent, schedule off-peak.
• Fixed price for bigger scope. Re-roofs and major flashing packages are better as fixed bids.
• Ask for a cap. For hourly troubleshooting, set a “not-to-exceed” limit before work starts.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Chasing the lowest hourly price. A slow crew at $95/hr can cost more than a sharp crew at $140/hr.
• Ignoring access. Scaffold can dwarf the labour on tiny jobs.
• Surprise tax. Always confirm if GST/VAT is included.
• No photos/no paper trail. Makes warranty arguments messy.
• Vague scopes. “Fix leak” is not a scope. “Replace apron flashing at chimney; reseal screws on upper bay” is.

FAQ

• Is hourly or fixed better? Hourly is fine for diagnostics and small, uncertain repairs. Fixed is safer for defined scope (re-roofs, known flashing packages).
• Does hourly include materials? Usually not. Expect a separate line and sometimes a 10-20% handling margin.
• Do I pay for two people if only one is working? On roofs, a second person often covers safety/handling. That’s normal and faster overall.
• Will I be charged if it rains? Many firms pause the clock if they can’t work, but trip fees and setup time may still apply. Ask their weather policy.
• Do weekends cost more? Often yes (time-and-a-half or a higher call-out). If it can wait, book weekdays.
• Do I need an LBP (NZ) or a permit? Small like-for-like repairs often don’t. Bigger weathertightness work or structural tie-ins can trigger LBP sign-off or consent. Check local council/MBIE guidance.
• Why do rates keep rising? Insurance, compliance, and material costs have climbed since 2020. Statistics agencies (Stats NZ, BLS in the US, ONS in the UK) show steady construction cost inflation.

Next steps

• If you have a fresh leak: Book a diagnostic call-out. Send photos, roof age/material, and when leaks occur. Ask for a not-to-exceed cap.
• If you have a short fix list: Bundle items into one visit. Request an hourly estimate with a materials cap and confirmation of crew size.
• If you’re considering a re-roof: Ask for a fixed-price quote with a clear scope, access plan, material spec, and timeline. Compare at least two quotes.
• For any job: Get the hourly rate, call-out fee, and what’s included in writing. Confirm GST/VAT and warranty terms.

Notes on credibility: Figures reflect 2025 trade pricing observed across NZ/AU/UK/US markets and align with wage data and compliance costs reported by national agencies (e.g., Stats NZ, MBIE guidance on building work and safety expectations; WorkSafe NZ on fall protection; US Bureau of Labor Statistics roofer pay; UK ONS; Fair Work Ombudsman AU). Always verify your local requirements and taxes.