Roofer Insurance Cost Australia: From $42/Month (2026 Data)

Public liability insurance for roofers starts from around $417 a year, with a typical cost of around $541. On a monthly instalment plan, that works out around $42 a month. Figures come from upcover's own policy premium study, covering policies arranged between 2022 and 2026.

Without public liability cover, a roofer is personally at risk if a tile falls on a car or debris injures someone below. Most builders and commercial sites will not let you start without proof of cover. The figures below are for public liability specifically, which is the core and usually the largest cost for most roofers.

How much does roofer insurance cost in Australia?

Each row describes a different group of roofing businesses, not the same policy priced three ways. The monthly instalment figure is not the annual figure divided by twelve. Figures are the total amount payable, so stamp duty, goods and services tax and fees are already included. All figures are indicative only and not a quote.

Key points before the detail:

• Cover starts from around $417 a year, with a typical cost of around $541.
• Roofing costs less to insure than many roofers expect. Mechanics and automotive businesses pay roughly three times as much.
• Roofing is not one licence. Roof tiling, roof slating, roof plumbing and metal roofing are separate licence categories with their own qualifications.
• Licence thresholds vary by state: $3,300 in Queensland, $5,000 in New South Wales and $10,000 in Victoria.
• Working unlicensed carries real penalties, up to $22,000 for an individual and $110,000 for a company in New South Wales.

How much is public liability insurance for roofers?

Cover starts from around $417 a year paid upfront, with a typical cost of around $541. A small number of larger operations pay considerably more, with the highest in the study sitting around $4,167. The monthly instalment sits around $42-$54 for a typical roofing business.

A very small number of large roofing operations sit well outside these ranges. Those are single large commercial policies rather than anything a typical roofing business would encounter.

The businesses on each payment plan are not the same group. Roofers choosing monthly plans in this study tended to be smaller operations, which is why the monthly totals sit lower. That does not mean a monthly plan is cheaper for any given policy. Ask for both options on the same quote to compare properly.

These figures come from policies reviewed between 2022 and 2026. Your own cost depends on turnover, work type, claims history and cover level.

Why is roofer insurance cheaper than expected?

Roofing is one of the higher risk trades on site, so many roofers assume the cost will reflect that. In practice, the typical roofer sits close to the trades and construction average, and well below what automotive businesses pay.

The reason is that public liability prices the third party claim, not the danger to you. Falls from height are primarily a workers compensation and work health and safety matter. What public liability is designed to respond to is the tile that lands on a car, or water damage inside a building after a job. Those claims happen, but they are less frequent and less costly on average than the vehicle damage exposure a mechanic carries every day.

That said, height still matters for your cover. Some entry level policies include a height limit. Work above it may sit outside standard cover unless the policy is extended.

Roofer public liability insurance cost by cover limit

The most common public liability limits for roofers are $5 million, $10 million and $20 million.

Moving up a limit does not multiply your cost the same way. Across the entry level quotes upcover has published for other trades, each step up added a roughly flat amount of around $60 to $70 a year. It is not a percentage of what you already pay. So the step from $10 million to $20 million costs a similar dollar amount to the step from $5 million to $10 million.

$20 million is common on larger sites. Head contractors on major builds frequently specify it before a subcontractor can start. The limit is often set by the job rather than by preference.

What drives the cost of roofer insurance?

1. The type of roofing you do. Metal roofing, tiling, slating and roof plumbing carry different risk profiles. Commercial and multi storey work is priced higher than single storey residential.
2. Working at height. Height does not drive public liability pricing as much as roofers expect, but it does affect what your policy covers. Check whether your policy includes a height limit before taking on multi storey work.
3. Water ingress risk. A roof that leaks after the job is finished can cause significant internal damage. This is one of the more common and more expensive roofing claims.
4. Your turnover. Higher revenue generally means more jobs and more potential claims exposure. Cost scales with turnover as a result.
5. Your claims history. A clean claims history is one factor insurers weigh. Frequent or large claims tend to push your cost up at renewal.
6. Cover limit and employees. Higher limits cost more. If you employ staff, workers compensation applies where those workers fall within your state or territory scheme.

Solo roofer vs roofing business

Solo roofers and subbies working on single storey residential jobs tend to sit toward the lower end of the range, particularly where turnover is modest.

Roofing businesses with staff face a different cost structure. So do those taking on commercial and multi storey work. Workers compensation applies once you employ anyone who falls within your state or territory scheme. This matters more in roofing than most trades, given the injury risk.

Your public liability cost also tends to scale with staff numbers and combined turnover. Tools of trade cover and commercial motor insurance for a fleet become relevant at this stage too.

Roofing is not one licence: what you actually need

This catches more roofers out than the insurance does. Roofing is not a single licence category in Australia. Roof tiling, roof slating, roof plumbing and metal roofing are treated as separate trades, each with its own qualification and licence.

In New South Wales, roof tiling requires a Certificate III in Roof Tiling. Roof slating requires that qualification plus a specific slating unit. Roof plumbing sits under the plumbing qualification framework entirely. A roofer licensed to tile is not automatically licensed to do roof plumbing.

Licence thresholds also vary by state:

The penalties are real. In New South Wales, unlicensed contracting can attract fines up to $22,000 for an individual and $110,000 for a company. Contracts for unlicensed work may also be unenforceable, meaning you cannot recover payment through the courts.

This matters for insurance too. If a claim arises from work that legally required a licence you did not hold, that can affect whether the claim is paid.

How to manage your roofer insurance costs

• Get your risk profile right. Make sure your policy accurately describes tiling, metal roofing, slating or roof plumbing work. Misclassification can affect both price and whether a claim is paid.
• Check your height limits. Confirm your policy covers the heights you actually work at before taking on multi storey jobs.
• Match your cover limit to your contracts. Head contractors often set the minimum, so check before defaulting higher or lower.
• Compare annual and monthly payment. The two groups in this study are not the same businesses, so the totals above cannot tell you which is cheaper for a given policy. Ask for both options on the same quote.
• Consider arranging covers together. Public liability alongside tools of trade or commercial motor cover can be simpler to manage, though it does not always cost less overall.

What do you need for a roofer insurance quote?

Having the following ready makes it faster to get an accurate quote:

• Your state and the type of roofing you do, whether tiling, metal, slating or roof plumbing.
• Whether you work on single storey, multi storey or commercial buildings.
• Your annual turnover.
• Whether you are a sole trader or employ staff.
• Your preferred cover limit, being $5 million, $10 million or $20 million.
• Claims history, if any.

How upcover analysed the data

Figures come from roofer policies reviewed, arranged for Australian businesses between 2022 and 2026. "Starts from" is the lowest cost arranged. "Typical cost" refers to the single midpoint figure which most tiler generally pay with typical cover limit and risks involved.

All figures are the total amount payable, including the base cost, goods and services tax, stamp duty, levies and fees. A small number of large commercial policies sit well above these ranges and are not representative of a typical roofing business.

How upcover can help

upcover arranges public and products liability insurance for roofers across Australia, with access to 80+ insurance partners.

• 70,000+ businesses covered across Australia
• 4.9/5 customer rating
• Instant Certificate of Currency on policy confirmation

If you already know your cover limit, get a quote for roofers insurance.

upcover Pty Ltd ABN 17 628 197 437 is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR 1299211) of Experience Insurance Services Pty Ltd ABN 41 657 596 506, AFSL 539078.

Frequently asked questions

How much does roofer insurance cost a month in Australia?

The monthly instalment sits around $42 for a typical roofing business. On a monthly plan, the total over twelve months starts from around $288, with a typical cost of around $500.

How much does roofer public liability insurance cost a year?

Cover starts from around $417 a year paid upfront, with a typical cost of around $541. Larger operations pay more, with the highest in the study sitting around $4,167.

Why do roofers pay less than mechanics for public liability?

Public liability prices third party claims, not the danger of the work itself. Falls from height sit mainly under workers compensation. Mechanics carry constant exposure to damaging customer vehicles in their care, which drives their cost higher.

Do I need a licence to work as a roofer in Australia?

Yes, above a work value threshold in most states. Queensland requires a licence above $3,300, New South Wales above $5,000 and Victoria above $10,000. Roof tiling, slating and roof plumbing are separate licence categories.

Does public liability cover work at height?

It depends on the policy. Some entry level policies include a height limit, and work above it may not be covered unless the policy is extended. Check this before taking on multi storey work.

Does the cover limit affect how much I pay?

Yes, though the difference between limits is often smaller than expected. Across entry level quotes for other trades, each step up added around $60 to $70 a year. $20 million is common on larger sites, where head contractors frequently specify it.

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_{The information in this article is general in nature and has been prepared without taking into account your individual needs, objectives or financial situation. It should not be relied upon as personal advice. Cost figures are based on roofer policies reviewed, arranged between 2022 and 2026, and are the total amount payable including base cost, goods and services tax, stamp duty, levies and fees. They are indicative only, do not constitute a quote, and may not directly relate to your business. Annual, monthly plan and monthly instalment figures describe different groups of policies. Cover limit step up figures are drawn from illustrative entry level quotes for other trades rather than roofer specific data. Your final cost will be determined based on your specific business requirements and underwriting factors. Licensing requirements, work value thresholds and penalties can change and vary by state. Always check with the relevant licensing authority. All insurance products arranged through upcover are subject to the terms, conditions, limits and exclusions contained in the relevant policy wording and Product Disclosure Statement. upcover Pty Ltd ABN 17 628 197 437 is a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR 1299211) of Experience Insurance Services Pty Ltd ABN 41 657 596 506, AFSL 539078. upcover arranges insurance products with selected insurers and underwriters and does not compare all general insurers or insurance products available in the market.}