How Much Does a New Roof Truss Cost?

What Is a Roof Truss?

A roof truss is a pre-constructed frame support for a roof. Prefabricated wooden trusses manufactured with steel plates joining individual lengths of lumber at the joints are most common. Steel-framed trusses are also available but aren’t common in residential settings. The manufacturing process increases initial truss prices but lowers the overall labor cost due to reduced on-site framing labor needs. This guide covers the costs of roof truss systems (not stick-framed trusses). There are three main components in trusses:

1. Bottom chord: A horizontal beam, also called a runner or tie beam

2. Top chord: Two boards angled up from the ends, sometimes called rafters

3. Webbing: A series of bracing boards or runners (webbing may be as simple as a single vertical member)

How to Calculate Roof Truss Costs

Trusses cost between $35 and $400 each in most cases. If you can determine the total board feet, estimate the cost between $0.60 to $1.50 per board foot. Complex or extensive roofs typically need specialized and higher-priced trusses.

Installation equipment costs are limited to hiring a crane which can run from $300 to $1,000 depending on how much time the installation requires. 

Labor costs are generally $20 to $30 per hour but can be up to $75 per hour in some areas. Due to the pre-assembly process involved with roof trusses, there is little waste left over for disposal. Estimated disposal costs run between $100 and $200.

Roof Truss Price Factors

Numerous variables determine roof truss pricing. Trusses start at a price point of $3 to $5 per foot of span, and prices increase as the trusses get larger and more complex. The following factors affect truss pricing:

Size

The most basic pricing factor to consider is size. Also called the span, the size of a roof truss is the length of the bottom chord from end to end. In general, larger trusses equals larger prices. However, the overall size isn’t as important as the length of individual boards and whether or not cutting and extensive waste occurs during installation.  

Labor

Installing new trusses and repairing or replacing existing trusses costs $20 to $75 per hour. New construction bids often include labor pricing per square foot rather than per hour. Per-square-foot pricing for installing or repairing roof trusses ranges from $4 to $10. Disposal fees for new construction truss installation or for truss repairs are minimal, while disposal costs for replacing trusses are between $300 and $1,800. Demolition for repair work is $4 to $5 per square foot. Labor costs are generally higher in urban areas than rural areas, where job site access is easier. 

Overall Weight Load

The overall weight load that roof trusses must support includes the weight of the building materials along with local snow-load averages. Areas prone to high snow-load weights require roof trusses capable of handling them. Truss construction in these areas often requires a truss design that is bulkier or of a different style and will cost up to 25% more to build and purchase. 

Material

Wood trusses and steel trusses are both available. Wood trusses are the most common material used for trusses in residential applications and cost about half as much as steel trusses. 

Steel trusses are mainly used for commercial, light industrial, and agricultural building construction, such as pole barns, commercial garages, and prefabricated metal sheds. Steel roof framing for the residential market is possible but is cost-prohibitive against the lower cost of wood trusses. 

Pitch

Steep roofs require roof trusses with a higher pitch. A gently sloping roof may be called a 4/12 pitch, while a 12/12 pitch roof is steep at a 45-degree angle. Higher pitches require more lumber in trusses which increases their cost. 

Spacing

While most trusses are installed with 2-foot spacing, in rare cases, roof trusses are installed at 16-inch intervals. The length of the roof and truss spacing determines the number of trusses your building needs. 

Span

The span (or width of a roof truss) is equal to the length of its bottom chord or a line from one end to the other end in the case of scissor and other truss styles. This width must be adequate to span the distance between anchoring points on the building. Larger spans require larger, more expensive trusses.  

Average Roof Truss Price by Material 

There are two common materials used in the roof truss construction. Wooden trusses are used mainly in residential construction, while steel trusses are found mostly in the commercial, pole-barn, metal shed, and light industrial markets. Steel trusses cost between $150 and $600 each, making them at least twice as costly as wooden trusses, which cost between $35 to $400 per truss.

Average Roof Truss Price by Size and Pitch

Average roof truss pricing depends heavily on the number of boards required for their construction. Therefore, the span and pitch of the truss are only important for determining how much material and waste is necessary for construction. In general, larger trusses will cost more than smaller ones. However, that’s just a guideline. For example, a 10-foot span may need just as many boards as a 12-foot span but will require more cuts and more waste, so the cost difference is minimal. 

While there are too many variables in truss engineering and lumber market fluctuations to pinpoint an exact price, the table below shows only average ranges for popular common truss types. Your specific project will vary, so talk to a licensed contractor to get accurate pricing for your project.

* For gable and end trusses add 25%.

Framing by Building Type 

Rough carpentry costs include roof truss installation. Typically, you'll spend anywhere from $7 to $16 per square foot for framing alone. When you add in sheathing and insulation, and shingles, roof framing can run upwards of $30 per square foot or more.

New Houses or Structures

Home framing costs for an average 2,000-square-foot home runs between $14,000 to $32,000 or more. It costs half of that, or about $7,200 to $12,000, for a truss roof. A new roof costs$10,000 to $20,000 on average.

Pole Barn Buildings

Pole barn roofs cost between $5,000 to $10,000. They are typically less expensive than residential ones because they don't need to support a ceiling or insulation. Pole barns are excellent candidates for steel trusses due to the large, open areas. These trusses are between $250 to $500 each.

Garages

Adding a detached garage roof costs an average of $7 to $16 per square foot or more, depending on whether the garage is finished and the type of roofing. Detached garages tend to cost slightly less than an attached garage because no home tie-ins are necessary. Actual attached garage pricing will vary depending on your location but can be as high as $30 per square foot.

Lean-To & Home Additions

Most additions cost between $21,000 and $72,000, with the framing costing anywhere from $10 to $30 per square foot, including sheathing. Additions, like a lean-to, use mono truss systems with a single slope.

Common Premade Truss Types & Shapes

Classification and naming is based on two factors:

1. The exterior shape of the top and bottom chords

2. The shape of the interior supports or webbing

Any combination of the external shape and internal webbing is possible.

Popular Web Styles

Common trusses and their derivatives—fink, fan, Howe, and queen—make up the most popular types used in residential construction. The variations are all due to the various styles of supports, or webbing, inside the triangle structure. The various names come from the variety of web configurations needed for larger roofs and different load-bearing needs. The longer the bottom chord, the more webbing is needed.

1. King Post: Simplest type with a single post placed vertically in the middle.

2. Queen: Three posts originating at the center point of the bottom chord and fan upward with one vertical center post like a king post.

3. Fan: Similar to a queen but with two fans originating at two points along the bottom chord.

4. Howe: Three spaced vertical supports with two angled cross supports between them.

5. Fink: Two supports both starting at the peak and angled down and away from each. other. Modified finks create a "W" shape. Used extensively in long configurations.

6. Attic: Creates usable space in the attic for storage or additional living space.

7. Gable or End Truss: Use vertical webbing for capping the ends of a roof.

Hip, Mono, & Other Basic Styles of Shapes & Pitches

Exterior shapes denote the style and have different names and uses:

1. Common: All perfect triangles with equal length top chords

2. Hip: Any type with a small flat portion on top

3. Mono: Any type with only one pitch; looks like half of a truss

4. Gambrel: Any type with two pitches to a side like a barn roof

5. Flat: Uses parallel top and bottom chords with "W" shaped supports; used for flat roofs

6. Scissor: A special type that uses a modified bottom chord

Cathedral & Scissor Truss Prices

Scissor trusses cost 15% to 30% more than a common truss. Scissor styles are unique in that they only refer to the shape of the bottom chord. By splitting the bottom chord and angling the two sections upward it creates a vaulted ceiling. Another term for vaulted is cathedral. It's usually a modified Howe or fink truss.

Gable or End Truss

Gables cost about 25% to 50% more than a standard truss. Gables, also known as end trusses, cap the ends of a roof with perfectly vertical supports. No matter the styles used throughout, almost all residential roofs use gable trusses to cap the ends.

DIY Building vs. Hiring a Roofer

This is not a DIY job. Hiring a competent and experienced architect or engineer is the only way to guarantee proper installation. Roof trusses can be purchased from home centers for DIY installation; however, DIY jobs often void the manufacturer's warranty and improperly installed trusses can lead to roof and interior wall damage. Plus, there are dozens of varieties of trusses often used in combination with each other for various interior and exterior design and engineering needs. Professionals know the right combination to use and how to install them properly.

FAQs

How much does truss installation cost vs stick-framed rafter installation?

A typical 2,000-square-foot home framing costs between $7,200 and $12,000 for a truss roof. Stick framing roofs are slightly more because of increased labor. Expect to pay between $7 and $16 a square foot for rafter framing.

How many trusses do I need?

You will usually need a roof truss every 24 inches on center. To determine how many you'll need, measure the roof lengthwise along the slope (in feet), divide by two, and round up to the nearest whole number.

How do you measure trusses?

Measuring trusses depends on how much overhang you want, length and pitch of the roof. The pitch (or angle) is calculated by the number of inches it rises vertically for every 12 inches it extends horizontally. A 4/12 pitch would rise four inches for every twelve inches of roof width.

How do you secure a truss?

Secure trusses to the exterior walls and almost never to the interior walls. It will vary by manufacturer, type of wood and overall size. Only attach them where the manufacturer has specified, or it voids the manufacturer's warranty and can cause damage to your home and the roof.