Best Workers Comp Insurance for Roofers in 2026

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Roofing consistently ranks among the highest-rated workers comp classifications in the US. Falls from height, equipment injuries, and heat exposure generate a loss rate that most standard market carriers price extremely high or decline entirely. A roofing business with 5 employees can pay $15,000 to $30,000 per year in workers comp premium depending on state and loss history.

Finding a carrier that actively writes roofing workers comp at a fair rate requires targeting carriers that specialize in elevated-hazard trade classifications rather than digital generalists designed for lower-risk businesses.

Quick Summary

Provider	Best For	Avg Annual Cost (5 employees)
Pie Insurance	Roofers declined or overpriced by standard markets	$14,000/yr
Next Insurance	Smaller roofing businesses where Pie is not available	$16,000/yr
Employers Holdings	Established roofing businesses with clean loss histories	$13,500/yr
The Hartford	Roofing businesses wanting multi-line bundling	$17,000/yr
Simply Business	Comparing roofing workers comp quotes from multiple carriers	Varies

Cost estimates for a 5-employee residential roofing company in Texas with $350,000 payroll. Roofing workers comp is the most expensive trade classification in most states. Actual rates vary significantly by state and loss history.

Why We Picked These Providers

Most standard market digital carriers (biBerk, many others) do not write roofing workers comp at all or only write low-hazard roofing operations. These five represent carriers that actively write and compete for roofing accounts.

Provider Reviews

Pie Insurance

Pie Insurance was built specifically to provide workers comp to small businesses in elevated-hazard trade classifications that standard markets decline or overprice. Roofing is one of their strongest classifications.

Best for: Residential and light commercial roofers with 1 to 25 employees. Operations that have been declined by other carriers or quoted rates that make the business uncompetitive. Roofers entering the market for the first time without loss history.

What it costs: $12,000 to $18,000 per year for a 5-employee residential roofing operation. Pie often provides the most competitive pricing among the carriers that actively write roofing workers comp.

One thing to watch: Pie is a newer carrier without the claims infrastructure depth of The Hartford or Employers Holdings. For larger claims involving hospitalization, long-term disability, or complex subrogation, the difference in claims handling experience between Pie and established carriers matters.

Affiliate link: Get a workers comp quote from Next Insurance

Next Insurance

Next Insurance writes workers comp for some roofing classifications through their digital platform, though availability varies by state and roofing type (residential vs. commercial, low-slope vs. steep-slope).

Best for: Small roofing businesses in states where Next Insurance writes the classification. Operations that prioritize digital access and pay-as-you-go billing. Roofers who already use Next Insurance for GL and want the same carrier for workers comp.

What it costs: $14,000 to $20,000 per year for a 5-employee roofing operation where Next Insurance writes the classification. Pricing is higher than Pie for most roofing classes because Next Insurance is a generalist carrier pricing a specialty risk.

One thing to watch: Next Insurance does not write all roofing classifications in all states. Check availability for your specific roofing type and state before relying on them for workers comp. High-rise commercial roofing is typically outside their appetite.

Employers Holdings

Employers Holdings has deep experience in small and mid-sized business workers comp, including elevated-hazard trades like roofing. They work through independent agents and have strong pricing programs for roofing businesses with good loss histories.

Best for: Roofing businesses with 5 or more employees and 3 or more years of loss history. Operations that have demonstrated a strong safety culture and want it reflected in their pricing. Roofers who already have an independent insurance broker.

What it costs: $12,000 to $17,000 per year for a 5-employee roofing operation with a good experience modifier. Employers Holdings is competitive with Pie for established businesses with clean records.

One thing to watch: Employers Holdings works through brokers, not directly. Getting their best pricing requires working with an independent commercial insurance agent who has access to their programs.

The Hartford

The Hartford writes roofing workers comp and has the infrastructure to handle complex roofing claims. Their strength is in bundled programs for roofing businesses that also need GL, commercial auto, and a surety bond.

Best for: Roofing businesses with 10 or more employees that need multiple commercial lines. Contractors who want the simplicity of a single carrier relationship and are willing to pay a premium for it.

What it costs: $15,000 to $25,000 per year for a 5-employee roofing operation. The Hartford prices on the higher end for roofing but provides strong claims handling and bundling options.

One thing to watch: The Hartford is not the most price-competitive option for roofing workers comp on a standalone basis. The value proposition is the multi-line bundle, not the individual premium.

Simply Business

Simply Business aggregates workers comp quotes from multiple carriers. For roofing, this is useful because the carrier availability in their network for roofing varies significantly.

Best for: Roofers who want to see which carriers in the Simply Business network will write their classification before applying directly.

What it costs: No additional fee. You pay the carrier rate selected.

One thing to watch: Roofing workers comp availability is limited. Simply Business may not have carriers in their network that actively write roofing for your state and classification. Treat their results as a starting point, not a final quote.

How We Evaluated These Providers

Roofing classification availability. Roofing is not a single classification. Residential shingle roofing, commercial flat roofing, metal roofing, and roofing with structural framing carry different class codes and rates. We evaluated which carriers write the widest range of roofing classifications.

Experience modifier handling. Roofing businesses with clean loss histories can earn significant experience modifier credits that dramatically reduce premium. We evaluated which carriers reward good safety records with competitive e-mod pricing.

Financial strength. AM Best ratings: Pie Insurance (A-), Next Insurance (A-), Employers Holdings (A), The Hartford (A+), Simply Business varies.

Safety program credits. Some carriers offer premium credits for roofing businesses that participate in certified safety programs, OSHA 10/30 training, and fall protection certification. We noted which carriers actively reward safety investments.

Pay-as-you-go availability. Roofing businesses often have seasonal payroll. Pay-as-you-go billing avoids the large annual audit that can result in significant additional premium for roofing operations with variable payroll.

How to Get a Quote

Start with Pie Insurance. They are built for exactly this use case and will be the most competitive for most small roofing businesses. If Pie does not write your state or classification, add Next Insurance. If you have an established loss history and an independent broker relationship, get Employers Holdings into the comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is roofing workers comp so expensive?

Roofing has the highest fatality and injury rates of any trade in the US construction industry. Falls from height are the primary cause. OSHA statistics consistently show roofing injury rates multiple times the average for all construction trades. The premium reflects the actual cost of claims in this classification.

Can I lower my roofing workers comp premium?

Yes, through demonstrated safety performance over time (lower experience modifier) and active safety programs. OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 training, formal fall protection programs, documented safety inspections, and participation in carrier safety programs can all contribute to lower premiums. The impact accumulates over 3 to 5 policy years.

Does workers comp cover subcontractors I use on jobs?

Not automatically. If a subcontractor does not carry their own workers comp, you may be responsible for covering them under your policy, and your payroll base may include their compensation. Always require certificates of workers comp insurance from every subcontractor before they work on your jobs. This is both a legal requirement in most states and a direct cost protection.

What happens if I have an uninsured subcontractor and they get injured?

In most states, the primary contractor (you) becomes the employer of record for workers comp purposes when a subcontractor does not have their own coverage. The injured worker can file a workers comp claim against your policy. This is one of the most expensive mistakes in roofing workers comp management.

Is there a minimum premium for roofing workers comp?

Most carriers have a minimum annual premium, typically $500 to $1,500. For very small operations (owner-operator with no employees), the minimum premium may exceed what an actuarially accurate premium would be. Some roofer owners elect to exclude themselves from workers comp to reduce premium (where legally permitted) and address their own injury exposure through health insurance.

Sources

• Pie Insurance roofing workers comp: pieinsurance.com
• National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI): ncci.com
• OSHA construction industry fatality data: osha.gov
• The Hartford workers comp: thehartford.com/workers-compensation
• AM Best ratings: ambest.com
• Bureau of Labor Statistics roofer injury rates: bls.gov/iif