Price guide

How much does a Cotswold stone roof cost?

Short answer

A Cotswold stone roof costs more than most roofs. One Little Rissington yard sells reclaimed stone slates from £4.50 to £71 each plus VAT, by size. Labour, scaffolding and listed building rules add to that. We found no published local price per square metre. Prices vary; get at least three written quotes.

Updated 9 October 2026 · 3 min read · 7 sources

What reclaimed Cotswold stone slates cost

Reclaimed stone slates cost from a few pounds to over £70 each. The price depends on the length of the slate. The Cotswold Reclamation Company at Little Rissington publishes a price for each size, from 6 inches to 26 inches.

A Cotswold roof uses many sizes. The roofer lays the largest slates at the eaves and the smallest at the ridge. This is called diminishing courses. So the cost of a square metre depends on the mix of sizes your roof needs.

The same yard said it had about 250 square metres of reclaimed stone slates from two roofs in stock. Stock changes, so ask before you plan around it.

Reclaimed natural stone slates, price per slate (local yard)
Slate length	Price each, plus VAT	Price range chart
6 inches	£4.50
8 inches	£7.10
10 inches	£10.00
12 inches	£15.50
14 inches	£21.30
16 inches	£30.00
18 inches	£41.20
20 inches	£49.00
22 inches	£54.00
24 inches	£60.50
26 inches	£71.00
27 inches and over	Price on application

Published price list of The Cotswold Reclamation Company, Little Rissington, checked 9 October 2026. Supply only. These are not fitted prices. We show a selection of sizes from the full list. Sources: The Cotswold Reclamation Company, Little Rissington: natural stone slates price list, The Cotswold Reclamation Company: current stock.

How the cost compares with other slate roofs

We found no published fitted price per square metre for Cotswold stone. National guides give figures for Welsh slate. Use them only as a point of comparison. They are not Cotswold stone prices.

Stone slates are thicker and heavier than Welsh slate. They also come in mixed sizes, so the roofer must sort and grade them. That takes more time than laying slates of one size.

National guide prices for natural slate (not Cotswold stone)
Item	National guide price	Source
Welsh or UK natural slate, fitted, simple roof	£100 to £130 per m²	MyJobQuote
Welsh or UK natural slate, fitted, complex roof	£120 to £150 per m²	MyJobQuote
Welsh slate, supply only	About £185 per m²	Homebuilding & Renovating
Reclaimed Welsh slate, supply only	About £90 per m²	Homebuilding & Renovating

National guide prices from MyJobQuote (page updated 6 October 2026) and Homebuilding & Renovating (page updated 30 September 2025), checked 9 October 2026. They are for slate in general, not Cotswold stone, and are not local quotes. Sources: MyJobQuote: slate roof cost (national guide), Homebuilding & Renovating: how much does a new roof cost (national guide).

Why stone slate costs more in the Cotswolds

Stone slate costs more because supply is small and the work is slow. A 2000 Cotswold District Council guide says few quarries make new stone slates. It also says the demand for reclaimed slate has led to old roofs being stripped, and sometimes to theft.

Other things that change the price:

Listed building consent. Many stone roofs are on listed buildings. The council may ask for new stone slates that match the old ones.
Scaffolding. Narrow streets, steep lanes and roofs that face the pavement make scaffolding harder. A scaffold on the road can need a highways licence.
Access. A roof over a conservatory, a river or a neighbour’s land takes more time.
Hidden damage. The council guide says that about half the slates on a failing roof are often perished. The roofer cannot know the real number until the roof is stripped.
Protected species. Bats often roost in old roofs. A survey may be needed before work starts.

Reclaimed or new stone slates

New stone slates are often the better choice on a listed building. The council guide quotes English Heritage policy. It says new stone slates should be used where possible, and reclaimed slates only on the building they came from.

Ask your roofer where the slates come from. Ask for a receipt or a delivery note. This protects you from buying stolen slates.

Many roofers re-use the sound slates from your own roof. They then add new or reclaimed slates to make up the shortfall. This can cut the cost.

How to get a fair quote

Ask each roofer to quote for the same work. Prices vary; get at least three written quotes.

A good quote says how many slates the roofer will re-use, how many they will buy and where from. It shows the scaffolding cost, the waste cost and VAT as separate lines.

Ask for a price per square metre for any extra slates. Then you know the cost if more slates are perished than the roofer expected.

Questions

How much is a reclaimed Cotswold stone slate?

One Little Rissington yard sells reclaimed stone slates from £4.50 for a 6 inch slate to £71 for a 26 inch slate, plus VAT. We checked the list in October 2026.

Do I need consent to repair a stone roof on a listed building?

You may. Listed building consent covers changes to the outside of a listed building. Ask the council conservation officer before work starts. There is no application fee for listed building consent.

Can I use artificial stone slates?

Not on a listed building in most cases. The council guide says substitute materials such as concrete or reconstituted stone are not suitable for historic buildings. Check with your council.