How Much Does Roofing Contractor Insurance Cost in 2026?

What is roofing contractor insurance, and who needs it?

"Roofing insurance" is not one policy. It is a package built around the risk of working at height, on steep and wet surfaces, with crews that move between job sites and carry ladders, nail guns, and torches for flat-roof work. Most roofing contractors carry general liability, workers compensation once they have employees, commercial auto for trucks and trailers, and a tools and equipment policy.

Solo roofers, small residential crews, and larger commercial and industrial roofing contractors all need some version of this package. General contractors, property managers, and homeowners' insurance adjusters routinely ask for a certificate of insurance before a roofing crew starts work, so carrying the right coverage is often a condition of winning the job, not just protection against a loss.

How much does roofing contractor insurance cost?

Insureon's data puts general liability for roofing contractors at a median of $317 a month ($3,808 a year), with $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate limits typical. NextInsurance's active-customer data shows a lower average of $125 a month, with most roofing contractors paying between $63 and $665 a month for general liability. Workers compensation runs $175 a month ($2,101 a year) by Insureon's figures. The gap between the two sources is wide because roofing risk varies enormously by roof pitch, height, and whether a contractor does steep residential tear-offs or flat commercial work.

Estimates only, based on Insureon (updated August 10, 2026) and NextInsurance (updated October 2026) published cost data. Your exact premium depends on crew size, payroll, roof types worked, coverage limits, deductibles, and claims history, and is confirmed by a producer during quoting.

Put together, a solo roofer carrying general liability and tools coverage is often looking at $340 to $535 a month, while a small crew that adds workers compensation and a service truck more commonly lands in the $600 to $900-plus range.

What does roofing contractor insurance actually cover?

General liability covers third-party injuries and property damage, such as a homeowner tripping over debris or a tear-off that damages a client's siding or landscaping. Workers compensation covers medical costs and lost wages for an employee hurt on the job, which for roofing most often means a fall. Tools and equipment coverage (inland marine) protects nail guns, compressors, and torches that move between job sites and ride in a truck overnight, which a standard property policy usually will not cover away from a fixed location. Larger commercial re-roofing jobs often call for a commercial umbrella policy once a general contractor's contract requires higher limits than a standard general liability policy provides.

Roofing contractors who also handle insurance restoration work (storm and hail claims) should ask about coverage for that specific exposure, since working directly with a homeowner's insurance claim can carry different liability and licensing considerations than a standard install or repair.

Illinois sets a specific insurance minimum for a roofing license

Most states leave coverage amounts up to the contract or the job. Illinois does not. Under the Illinois Roofing Industry Licensing Act, 225 ILCS 335, every roofing contractor applying for or renewing an IDFPR license must file and keep in force a continuous surety bond: $10,000 for a Limited license (residential roofs of eight units or fewer) or $25,000 for an Unlimited license. The Illinois Administrative Code sets the companion insurance minimum at 68 Ill. Adm. Code 1460.20: $500,000 per occurrence for personal injury or bodily harm, and $250,000 per occurrence for property damage, on a policy that bars cancellation without 30 days' written notice to the Department.

The Act was originally set to expire January 1, 2026; Public Act 104-0427 extended it to January 1, 2031, so it is active and enforced for the full life of this post. An Unlimited license also requires workers compensation coverage, with one exemption: a sole proprietorship or partnership with no employees. A policy written only to a generic "$300,000 occurrence" quote will not meet the state minimum; confirm the exact limits with your producer before renewing a license.

Do roofing contractors need workers compensation insurance in Illinois?

In almost every case, yes. The Illinois Workers' Compensation Act (820 ILCS 305) requires coverage for any business with employees, and construction trades, roofing included, generally do not get the sole-proprietor exemption available in other industries. If you run a one or two person roofing crew, do not assume you are exempt just because the crew is small; confirm your status with the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission or your producer before skipping coverage, and remember an Unlimited roofing license requires it outright unless you are a true no-employee sole proprietor or partnership.

What actually causes roofing insurance claims?

Falls are the single biggest driver. OSHA's guidance on protecting roofing workers found that falls were the leading cause of death in construction from 2003 to 2013, with more than 3,500 construction fall fatalities in that period and falls from roofs alone accounting for roughly 1,200 of them, about one in three. Ladder-related citations were also among the most frequently issued against roofing contractors in OSHA's own enforcement data, and contact with overhead power lines is a recurring cause of serious roofer electrocution claims. None of this is unique to one carrier; it is why workers compensation and a clear jobsite safety program matter as much as the liability limit itself.

How Pro Insurance Group helps

We are an independent brokerage, so we are not selling you one carrier's roofing program. We shop 20+ carriers to build a package that fits your crew size, payroll, and the roof types you actually work, and we can confirm your coverage meets the Illinois license minimums before you renew with IDFPR. There are no broker fees, and we issue certificates of insurance quickly so a certificate holder or additional insured request does not hold up a job start. See our full roofing contractor insurance page or our contractor insurance cost breakdown for how roofing compares to other trades, and our contractor and trades insurance hub for the full program.

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