We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
Selecting a roof color is an impactful decision that more than 40 percent of homeowners will be facing in the next 5 years, according to Today’s Homeowner. “The roof of your house is one of the longer lasting materials you will use on a house, one of the most visible, and one of the least fun to spend money on,” says Casey Aboulafia, real estate agent and executive VP, Your P&rtners at Compass. “It’s also a major factor in curb appeal, and replacing a roof of any material is not cheap.” Depending on the material and size of the roof, a new roof can cost an average of about $10,000.
“I would not go trendy with a roof for that reason, so I don’t recommend going wild with a color choice,” warns Aboulafia. “The most versatile colors will be a dark or light gray or brown, and they match almost any paint color you could choose.” But there are other factors like climate and architectural style that can steer the roof decision process. “When selecting a roof, you need to take the whole home into consideration,” says James Dainard, real estate investor and host of Million Dollar Zombie Flips on A&E. “Window color, siding, trim, and paint should all be factored in so that the end product feels cohesive and eye-catching.”
Keep reading to find out how to choose a roof color and discover some of the best house and roof color combinations for your home.
The Importance of Roof Color in Exterior Design
When selecting roof color, it’s essential to look at the fixed features of a house to help lead the direction of color selection. The fixed features are those elements that aren’t easily changed, like brick or stone. However, some aspects of a home can be more easily updated to suit a new roof or house color like porch decor and plants. It’s also important to look at the architectural style and neighborhood when selecting a roof color.
“Roof color should be consistent with the style and setting of a house. If it looks out of character for the neighborhood or surrounding foliage, it could stick out, and not necessarily in a good way,” says Aboulafia. “It also depends on the material you use.”
While you can choose asphalt, slate, tile, or shake roofing, there’s also metal roofing that can mimic the look of all of them. “With metal roofing, the color choices are virtually limitless, meaning you can select from a wide variety of options or work with your installer on a custom-designed look,” states the Metal Roofing Alliance.
“For exterior projects, the trend is less about dramatic color shifts and more about creating curb appeal with grounded neutrals, nature-inspired shades and thoughtful contrast,” says Lisbeth Parada, color marketing manager, Dutch Boy Paints. “Homeowners still want their homes to feel current, but they also want exterior colors that feel lasting, livable and connected to the materials already on the home.”
But beyond aesthetics, climate is also a compelling factor when selecting both the roof material and color of a roof. Darker colors tend to absorb heat, which can be great in a cold climate but not-so-great in a hot climate.
6 Classic Roof Colors and the House Hues That Go Best With Them
If you have the opportunity to update both your house color and your roof, you’ll have more flexibility with the color options. Still, since the roof is a long-term investment, roof color is a major consideration when selecting exterior colors. “When choosing an exterior color palette, the roof should be treated as one of the home’s most important fixed design elements,” says Parada. “Unlike a front door or shutters, the roof is not something homeowners change often, so the exterior paint colors should work with its undertone, not against it.”
And if you are risk-adverse and want to leave your options flexible for changing tastes, James White, senior product and market manager, CertainTeed, recommends: “To keep your options open for future house painting or new siding, I recommend a more neutral tone that can easily complement many palettes.”
When it comes to popular roofing color options that pair well with house colors, the following stand out among the pack:
1. Gray
A gray roof is a neutral that can range from light to dark, and pairs well with many colors, but especially a rich blue or light gray house color. “A light gray or dark gray are the most versatile colors and they typically go with any color you might want to paint your house,” says Aboulafia. “That’s what I recommend to my clients when they ask about replacement with resale as an eventual end-goal.”
Carrying the roof color through to other exterior features can make the house feel more intentional and polished. “For example, on a high-end renovation we’re doing in Newport Beach, we used warm gray metal windows and matched that with a warm gray roof. It pulls everything together and makes the house feel intentional,” says Dainard.
House color pick: Grayed Navy
2. Black
A white house with a black roof is classic and elegant, but a black roof can also pair well with a range of house colors. “If you want flexibility, go black. Black is the most universal roof color and it works with almost any future paint or siding choice. It also gives the home a richer look and helps define the roofline,” says Dainard.
“Soft whites, warm ivories, greiges, taupes and deep navies can all work beautifully, depending on the overall style of the home,” says Parada. “A black roof can also support higher-contrast combinations, such as a warm white body color paired with deeper accents like Grayed Navy 431-5DB or Ocean’s Depth 337-7DB.”
House color pick: Birched White
3. Brown
Brown is another classic roof color, which can range from light to dark. “I would be looking at weathered wood from GAF. I think it’s a great color when I’m looking at things or even their carbon, which is gorgeous just because it’s either black or brown. That’s always been their tried and true,” says Colleen Bute Bennett, CBB Design Firm
While red homes pair well with brown roof shingle colors for a classic look, there’s also a more muted nature-inspired direction that works well for a color scheme. “Brown roofs tend to pair best with warmer, nature-inspired colors,” says Parada. “Creamy neutrals, mushroom tones, taupes, soft sages and muted clay-inspired shades help the home feel grounded and cohesive. The key is to avoid colors that feel too cool or stark, which can create a disconnect with the warmth of the roof.”
House color pick: Cypress Garden
4. Zinc
Warm grays pair well with zinc roofs. “Zinc roofs often have a soft, weathered gray quality, so they work well with layered neutrals, warm grays, off-whites and earthy greens,” says Parada. “These combinations feel timeless and connected to the surrounding landscape without becoming too flat or one-note.”
The benefit of a zinc roof is that it changes color from a dark gray to a blue-gray over time, which is an important consideration when choosing an exterior color scheme. “Unpainted options such as zinc and copper can result in a unique aesthetic over time,” says the Metal Roofing Alliance.
House color pick: Silvered Pearl
5. Painted Metal
Painted metal can be any color, so the best house color pair depends on what you choose for the roof color. Aboulafia says: “You can have a little fun with metal roofing, often associated a bit more with the barn or country house style.” And painting helps with extending the longevity of your investment, too.
“Painting adds a protective layer to the metal roof which can help prohibit rust, corrosion, UV damage, and weather damage, ultimately extending the lifespan of the roof,” according to the Metal Roofing Alliance. “Additionally, paint can help reflect sunlight, reducing heat absorption and potentially lowering cooling costs.”
House color pick: Creamed Vanilla
6. Terra-Cotta
Creamy warm white is a classic pairing with terra-cotta roofs. “Terra-cotta roofs make a strong color statement on their own, so the rest of the exterior palette should support that warmth,” says Parada. “Warm whites, sandy neutrals, soft taupes, muted olive greens and clay-adjacent tones can complement terra-cotta without competing with it.”
House color pick: Melodious Ivory
What to Consider When Choosing a Roof Color
Beyond personal preferences and what colors look pleasing to most people when paired, there’s a lot to consider when selecting your best roof color. Consider key factors such as curb appeal, architectural style, resale value, climate, region, and homeowners associations (HOAs).
Curb Appeal
Whether or not you plan to eventually sell your home, curb appeal can be an important factor when picking a roof color. For those who just want their home to look appealing and represent their family, thoughtful curb appeal is an inviting way to greet family and friends. And for those who want to grab potential buyers’ attention, the decision about curb appeal can be very different.
“For the majority of our flip projects, our emphasis is broad appeal,” says Dainard. “For this reason we usually stick with a more traditional black or gray roof. If a buyer pulls up and hates the roof color, we have already lost them. Our goal is broad appeal, not a strong opinion.”
If you want to choose a color that delights your family and best represents you, then choosing a broad appealing color may not be as important. “The decision to go trendy or unique really depends on the house. On the right property, a bold roof can really create visual appeal,” says Dainard. “For example, a green roof on a cabin can bring out the natural surroundings and make the home feel more custom. Likewise some style homes lend themselves to red roofs or other specific colors.”
Architectural Style
Another method that helps narrow the field of choice is architectural style. “Architectural style and materials should play a role in roof color choice, even when working with ‘classic’ finishes,” says White. “A color that feels timeless on one home can look mismatched on another if it doesn’t align with the home’s proportions, detailing, or style.”
Dainard agrees: “The wrong roof color can make a beautiful renovation feel off. For example Spanish or Mediterranean-style homes are often seen with warm or red tone roofs while craftsman-style homes often have darker roof colors.”
“While modern homes tend to go black for contrast and grounding, a Mediterranean villa style may have a classic orange terra-cotta, a woodsy house would look good in a cedar shingle or even a green, while coastal houses may trend blue,” says Aboulafia and adds, “though I think that’s a harder one to carry off unless you’re living on a Greek island! A farmhouse style with a metal roof might give you the most flexibility.”
Resale Value
“Roof color is one of the first things buyers notice, particularly in homes with prominent rooflines or steep pitches,” says Dainard. “The tone or style selected can dictate the appeal of the entire exterior of the home.”
Plus, a roof can make a major impact when selling a home. The National Association of Realtors and National Association of Remodeling Industry’s 2025 Remodeling Impact Report found that 37 percent of Realtors recommend that sellers install a new roof before resale. Plus, those local home sales of similar homes can help provide some guidance to what colors are currently attractive to buyers in your area.
But beware of trendy colors. “While considering trends when selecting your roof color can be beneficial for resale value, the key is balancing them with timeless appeal and personal style,” says White.
And Bennett agrees: “No, do not go trendy on roof colors because everybody’s gonna know exactly when you bought your house and exactly when you bought that roof and it’s gonna go out in two seconds and you’re gonna be unhappy with it in five.”
Climate
“Climate change is definitely a factor to think about with both your roofing material and color,” says Aboulafia. “The lighter the color, the more reflective of the sun, which is a helpful feature in warmer climates, so you may want to consider a light gray.”
“In cooler climates like Seattle, darker roofs absorb heat and complement the gray, overcast conditions,” says Dainard. “Alternatively, in warmer climates like Arizona, roof color matters a lot more. A light-colored roof will reflect heat instead of absorbing it. As a result, energy efficiency is improved by lowering the temperature of the home.”
But even if lighter roof shingle colors are better in hotter climates, white isn’t a typical choice. Aboulafia says: “White can be a difficult choice to use with a visible pitched roof—dirt can show more easily over time and limit paint and trim colors on a house, but in areas where the roofing surfaces are flatter and less visible, a white TPO roof is a great choice both for insulation and heat reflection.”
HOA Regulations
Homeowners Associations (HOA) can limit the universe of choice when it comes to any exterior building materials. “Sometimes the color is a point of cohesion in a community and can be mandated in a homeowner’s association,” says Aboulafia. The goal of HOA regulations is to create a set of guidelines that are usually neutral, classic, and uniform.
While those outside of HOAs don’t have to follow those regulations, HOA color picks could be used as a helpful guide to selecting colors that are widely viewed as pleasing to most. For house colors, Sherwin-Williams and Behr offer searchable databases of HOA-approved house colors.
Key Takeaways
Updating a roof is a huge undertaking, both financially and personally. As it’s a project that can be a large investment and be disruptive to your everyday living, it’s important to carefully weigh the pros and cons of your choices. Selecting the material and color that works best for your needs and goals is essential. When in doubt about roof color, consider looking at classic architectural styles, comparable homes that have sold in your area, or HOA guidelines as a point of reference for guiding your choices.
FAQ
What roof colors are the most popular?
While there are some colors popular in specific regions, gray and brown are the most common roof colors.
Should your roof be lighter or darker than the rest of the house?
The color of the roof is a personal choice, so a lighter color or darker color could aesthetically work.
Are colored shingles more expensive?
Color usually isn’t a factor when it comes to the cost of shingles. However, depending on where you live, a dark roof color could help decrease energy costs in a cold climate or increase the amount you’ll need to spend on energy to cool your home in warmer climates.
When is the best time of year to replace a roof?
Late spring and early fall are the best times of year to replace a roof in most regions of the country. Ideally, the temperature should be mild with a low risk of rain.
