Choosing the Perfect Metal Roof Color for Your Home
While metal roofing is well known for its durability and resilience to the elements, it is also a major design feature that can boost curb appeal, energy efficiency, and your home’s overall aesthetic.
Now, if you’ve decided to go with a metal roofing option, I’m sure you have seen the wide range of colors available.
Picking the perfect one can feel overwhelming, so we’ve gone ahead and broken down the most popular metal roof colors and laid out a couple of tips on the best way to choose one that complements your home style, siding, and regional considerations.
Black Metal Roofs
Aesthetics & Design
Black metal is sleek, bold, and timeless.
It adds a modern edge to homes and pairs well with lighter siding, brick, and mixed-material exteriors. The black metal roof has also become a staple of the modern farmhouse style and suits both contemporary and traditional architecture.
How Popular are Black Metal Roofs?
Black is tied as the #1 most popular metal roof color nationwide.
It’s especially trendy in the Midwest and Southeast, and thanks to reflective coatings, even dark colors like black can meet modern energy and efficiency standards.
Best Pairings for Black Metal Roofs
While the obvious preference is white, black metal roofs also work well with cream, gray, or pastel exteriors.
They also work with darker homes like log cabins for a dramatic look. To tie everything together, you can use black accents like shutters and doors.
Energy & Maintenance
With a reflective finish, black metal can still be almost as energy efficient as its alternatives.
It hides dirt well and resists staining as well, which is always a plus. Just make sure you go with a high-quality coating to prevent any sort of fading.
Gray Metal Roofs
Aesthetics & Design
Gray is a very versatile option, ranging from soft dove to deep charcoal.
It’s a sleek option for metal roofing that is not overpowering and works on everything from modern homes to classic colonials.
How Popular are Gray Metal Roofs?
Tied with black for the most popular metal roof color in the U.S., charcoal gray is a best-seller nationwide, especially in the Midwest.
Best Pairings for Gray Metal Roofs
Gray metal roofs work well with white, brick, stone, and especially wood siding.
Charcoal contrasts nicely with pale exteriors as well and does a great job blending into earthy tones for a cohesive look.
Energy & Maintenance
Lighter grays reflect sunlight well, but dark grays, similar to black metal, could gain a lot from strong roof coatings.
Grays do age gracefully, though, showing less dirt and fading than intense colors.
White Metal Roofs
Aesthetics & Design
White roofs give a bright, clean, and breezy look, sometimes even appearing silver.
Common in coastal and Southern architecture, white metal roofers offer a fresh visual pop and boost curb appeal.
When it comes to metal roof cost per square foot, white or unpianted metal roofing options tend to be more cost-effective, with the colored options typically being listed as “premium” color options.
How Popular are White Metal Roofs?
Among the top five metal roof colors nationwide, white metal is particularly common in Florida and the Midwest for its cooling effect and crisp look, with those states obviously being much hotter throughout the year.
Best Pairings for White Metal Roofs
White metal roofs pair beautifully with white, pastel, beige, or even dark exteriors for contrast.
As mentioned, they are popular in beach homes and Southern farmhouses where heat can get intense.
Energy & Maintenance
White is the most reflective color, keeping homes cool and feeding into the popularity down south.
It does a poor job hiding dirt and may require occasional cleaning to stay bright.
Brown Metal Roofs
Aesthetics & Design
Brown offers a sort of warmth and a natural feel, which is the perfect vibe for Craftsman, rustic, and cottage-style homes.
When it comes to shades of brown, they range from taupe to rich bronze.
How Popular are Brown Metal Roofs?
Being the third most popular roof color nationwide, brown metal roofs are especially popular in forested, rural, and mountainous areas.
Best Pairings for Brown Metal Roofs
This color option, surprisingly, pairs well with wood, tan, green, beige, and red brick siding.
It also works well with earth-toned palettes for a cozy and traditional aesthetic.
Energy & Maintenance
While it might seem obvious, lighter browns reflect better, whereas dark browns absorb more heat.
Overall, brown roofs are quite low-maintenance and disguise dirt very well.
Green Metal Roofs
Aesthetics & Design
One of the most famous and well known colors for metal roof designs is green.
Green roofs bring nature-inspired charm that screams countryside. Sage green feels soft and subtle, whereas forest green is more bold and traditional.
How Popular are Green Metal Roofs?
Green is ranked #1 in the Northeast U.S., where traditional green barn and farmhouse roofs are common.
While it is less popular in the South, it is gaining ground overall among those looking for that midwest barn and farmhouse look.
Best Pairings for Green Metal Roofs
It looks great with white, cream, beige, and wood siding, as well as either light colors.
Green metal roofs complement forest or rural settings and are often used on cabins or cottages.
Energy & Maintenance
Light and medium greens are known for decent reflectivity.
Regardless of shade, coatings are always recommended, as modern coatings help prevent fading, and darker greens require higher-end finishes for longevity and greater roofing efficiency.
Blue Metal Roofs
Aesthetics & Design
Blue roofs are quite unique and eye-catching.
Light blues feel coastal and calm, with navy offering a richer, more traditional option.
How Popular are Blue Metal Roofs?
Not as common nationwide, blue is starting to make headway and is beginning to trend.
Right now, it is more popular in the Pacific Northwest and artsy coastal communities.
Best Pairings for Blue Metal Roofs
Similar to green, blue metal roofs match well with white, cream, tan, or natural wood exteriors.
For bold statements, deep blue roofs can pair with yellow or brick homes if you like that look.
Energy & Maintenance
Lighter blues reflect heat effectively, with the darker you get, the more heat they retain.
Premium paints are great to help reduce fading, and regular rinsing helps maintain their standout color.
Red Metal Roofs
Aesthetics & Design
Red roofs are bold and nostalgic, perfect for farmhouses or homes with that homey country character.
Options here range from barn red to deep terra cotta.
How Popular are Red Metal Roofs?
Ranked #2 in the Northeast, red metal roofs are moderately popular elsewhere. They are often chosen to mimic classic barns or Spanish tile roofs.
Best Pairings for Red Metal Roofs
Continuing the trend with green and blue, red works great with white, beige, and cream exteriors.
Red can also work with tan or neutral siding for a traditional rustic look.
Energy & Maintenance
Reds vary greatly in reflectivity, with brighter reds reflecting more than darker terracotta tones.
Again, invest in premium coatings, as they are a must to prevent fading or chalking.
Copper & Copper-Tone Roofs
- Aesthetics & Design: Lastly, real copper stands in its own class when it comes to color. Copper starts out as shiny and ages into a green patina. It’s luxurious, eye-catching, and grows more beautiful over time. Copper-colored paints can also mimic the effect at a lower cost.
- How Popular are Copper Metal Roofs: Real copper is rare and quite expensive but highly sought after if the price or situation is right. Copper-painted options are becoming more and more common in upscale or rustic areas to avoid the costs of real copper.
- Best Pairings for Copper Metal Roofs: Copper is interesting, as it complements brown, tan, beige, stone, and white exteriors. It also looks great on traditional and high-end custom homes.
- Energy & Maintenance: New copper is highly reflective, but as it patinas, it becomes less so.
The natural patina does work to protect the material, requiring almost no upkeep. With that being said, painted copper finishes behave more like other metal roofs, with similar maintenance needs.
Closing Thoughts
One of the beautiful aspects of metal roofing is that it offers such a wide array of amazing color options to match any style of home.
From bold reds to modern blacks and natural earth tones, there is a little something for everyone.
Now, to find YOUR best color option, think about your siding, home architecture, climate, and regional trends when choosing a color.
Lighter roofs reflect heat better in hot climates, whereas darker ones can offer warmth and dramatic contrast in colder areas.
Make sure that you don’t rush. Use color visualizers from manufacturers and talk to local roofers to find the perfect fit. The right metal roof color will protect your home for decades and add a beautiful finishing touch that you’ll enjoy every time you pull into the driveway.
