By The Roofing Brief Team | Last reviewed: October 2026
25 year shingles in 2026 are almost always 3-tab strip shingles: GAF Royal Sovereign, Owens Corning Supreme, CertainTeed XT 25, IKO Marathon Plus AR and TAMKO Elite Glass-Seal. The “25” is the length of a limited, prorated warranty against manufacturing defects, not a service-life promise. Every one of those five warranties gives full coverage for only the first 5 years, covers wind blow-off to 60 mph for only 5 years, and pays a shrinking share of shingle material, with no labor, after that.
We read the current warranty documents from all five manufacturers to build the tables below. If you want the shingle style itself (sizes, look, install steps), our 3-tab shingles guide covers it. This page answers a narrower question: what a 20 or 25-year shingle warranty is actually worth, how long the roof really lasts, and when buying one still makes sense.
Key numbers at a glance
The figures below are what most people searching for 25 year shingles need first. Each row comes from a manufacturer warranty, a published inspection standard, or the site’s cost report, and real results vary with climate, ventilation, installation and the warranty version in effect when your shingles were bought or installed.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Warranty term on current 25-year lines | 25 years (300 months) | GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, IKO and TAMKO warranty tables, 2025 to 2026 editions |
| Full (non-prorated) coverage window | 5 years on all five lines | Same five warranties (Smart Choice, TRU PROtection, SureStart, Iron Clad, Full Start) |
| Wind blow-off coverage | 60 mph, first 5 years only | Same five warranties; CertainTeed lists 90 mph for XT 25 in Alaska |
| Algae staining coverage | 5 to 10 years, depending on brand and AR version | Same five warranties |
| Typical life expectancy of a 3-tab roof | About 20 years (architectural: about 30) | InterNACHI Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes |
| Installed cost, 3-tab vs architectural | $4 to $6 vs $5 to $8 per sq ft | The Roofing Brief 2026 Roofing Cost Report |
| Retail price per bundle, 25-year 3-tab | About $30 to $48 (3 bundles per square) | Retailer listings seen October 9, 2026 (table below) |
What is a 25 year shingle?
A 25 year shingle is an asphalt shingle sold with a 25-year limited warranty against manufacturing defects. In 2026 that label sits almost entirely on 3-tab (single-layer strip) shingles, because the five large North American manufacturers moved their laminated architectural lines to “Limited Lifetime” warranties. The year number names a warranty tier, not a measured lifespan.
The current warranty tables make the split plain. GAF’s Shingle and Accessory Limited Warranty (effective for products installed after January 1, 2025, document RESWT160L, 2026 printing) lists Royal Sovereign at 25 years, Marquis WeatherMax at 30 years, and every other GAF shingle at Lifetime. Owens Corning’s January 2026 standard warranty (Pub. No. 10023873-H) lists Supreme as its only shingle with a fixed 25-year term; Woodcrest, Woodmoor, Duration and Oakridge are Limited Lifetime. CertainTeed’s 2025 warranty has one “25 Year Product,” XT 25. IKO’s February 2025 U.S. warranty gives Marathon Plus AR a 300-month term and its other shingles Limited Lifetime. TAMKO’s warranty for shingles sold on or after January 1, 2025 lists Elite Glass-Seal at 300 months and everything else at Limited Lifetime.
The manufacturers say outright that the term is not a life prediction. TAMKO’s warranty states that “it is difficult to accurately predict the period of time your Shingles will last,” and IKO’s says its warranty periods “are not guarantees of the useful lifetime of the Shingles.”
Availability is also narrowing. In a January 15, 2025 customer letter, Owens Corning said it was discontinuing Supreme in seven plant service areas (Brookville, Indiana; Denver; Kearny, New Jersey; Medina, Ohio; Minneapolis; Portland, Oregon; and Summit, Illinois), keeping it in the Atlanta, Irving, Jacksonville, Memphis and Savannah service areas. Check local stock before you plan a repair that has to match.
Are there 25 year architectural shingles?
Not from the five major brands in 2026. None of the current GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, IKO or TAMKO warranty tables lists a laminated (architectural) shingle with a 25-year term; their laminated lines carry Limited Lifetime warranties instead. A quote or listing that says “25 year architectural” is usually older stock, a regional or private-label product, or shorthand, so ask for the exact product name and its warranty document.
What happened to 20 year shingles?
20 year shingles were the entry tier below 25-year 3-tab, and the major brands have dropped them from their current warranty tables. Owens Corning’s 2002 warranty listed Classic at 20 years with a 3-year TRU PROtection period, and IKO’s Marathon 20 sell sheet (2007) listed a 20-year limited warranty with 3-year Iron Clad protection. Neither product appears in the 2025 or 2026 warranty tables reviewed for this page.
If your roof carries 20-year shingles, they were probably installed many years ago, and an exact color and size match may no longer exist. Some retail product pages for 20-year lines are still indexed online but marked “no longer sold,” so confirm stock before planning a patch.
What a 25-year shingle warranty actually covers
A 25-year shingle warranty covers manufacturing defects only. For the first 5 years each brand pays for replacement shingles plus the labor to install them (never tear-off or disposal). After year 5 the remedy shrinks to a prorated share of replacement shingle material, with no labor at all. Hail, wind above 60 mph, poor ventilation and installation errors are excluded.
The table below is built from each manufacturer’s own warranty document. Terms change between editions, and the version in effect on your purchase or installation date governs, so keep the paperwork from your job.
| Product (maker) | Term | Full-coverage period | After the full period | Wind warranty | Algae warranty | Transfer | Source document |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Sovereign (GAF) | 25 years | 5 years Smart Choice: labor to repair or re-cover plus replacement shingles | Material only, reduced by months elapsed divided by 300 | 60 mph, 5 years | 10 years StainGuard (1 year non-prorated) | Once; new owner must notify GAF within 1 year. After year 5, coverage drops to 2 years from the sale | GAF Shingle and Accessory Limited Warranty, RESWT160L (installed after Jan 1, 2025) |
| Supreme (Owens Corning) | 25 years | 5 years TRU PROtection: shingles plus labor directly required | Prorated material only, based on full years of use | 60 mph, 5 years | 10 years (AR versions, regional) | Once, any time; new owner contacts OC within 60 days. After year 5, coverage drops to 2 years from the sale | OC Standard Product Limited Warranty, Pub. 10023873-H (shingles bought after Jan 1, 2026) |
| XT 25 (CertainTeed) | 25 years | 5 years SureStart: replacement shingles and labor | Material only, minus 1/300 per month | 60 mph, 5 years (90 mph in Alaska) | 10 years (AR versions) | Once; after SureStart, coverage drops to 2 years from the transfer. A foreclosure counts as a transfer | CertainTeed Asphalt Shingle Residential Products 2025 Limited Warranty |
| Marathon Plus AR (IKO) | 300 months | 60 months Iron Clad: replacement shingles plus an installation allowance | Material only, reduced by months elapsed divided by 225 (months 61 to 180), then a second Chart B figure | 60 mph, 5 years | 60 months | Once, within the first 10 years; new owner covered to month 120 at most | IKO Limited Warranty, U.S., installed on or after Feb 1, 2025 |
| Elite Glass-Seal (TAMKO) | 300 months | 5 years Full Start: replacement shingles plus labor to install them | Material only, multiplied by months remaining divided by 300 | 60 mph, 5 years | 120-month algae cleaning (capped at $15 per 100 sq ft in year 1) | Once, and only within the first 2 years; written notice within 30 days | TAMKO Fiberglass-Asphalt Shingle Limited Warranty, sold on or after Jan 1, 2025 (rev. 03/16/2026) |
For the lifetime-warranty side of each brand, see our roofing warranty comparison database. For GAF’s 3-tab line in depth, read our GAF Royal Sovereign review.
What the warranty never covers
All five 25-year warranties exclude the same big-ticket items: tear-off and disposal, flashing and metal work, damage from hail or from wind above the listed speed, problems traced to inadequate attic ventilation, and installation that does not follow the wrapper instructions. GAF, TAMKO and IKO also exclude interior water damage and other consequential losses.
Two conditions catch owners off guard. First, the wind warranty assumes the self-sealing strips have sealed. GAF, Owens Corning, IKO and TAMKO exclude blow-offs that happen before sealing, which is common after a cold-weather install; CertainTeed supplies replacement shingles in that case but pays no labor. Second, IKO limits shingles installed on slopes below 4 in 12 (down to the 2 in 12 minimum) to a 12-year, material-only warranty with no Iron Clad period, unless the wrapper’s low-slope application steps are followed on a slope between 3 in 12 and 4 in 12.
What a 25-year warranty claim pays: worked example
A defect claim on a 25-year shingle in year 12 pays roughly a third to a half of the shingle material cost and nothing toward labor, which on a typical roof works out to about 7 to 15 percent of what a new roof costs. The example below shows the arithmetic using each manufacturer’s published proration formula.
Assumptions (Roofing Brief estimate): a 20-square roof (2,000 sq ft of roof surface), replacement shingles priced at $118.41 per square (three bundles at the $39.47 Home Depot listing price for Royal Sovereign seen October 9, 2026), so $2,368 of shingles, and a manufacturing defect affecting the whole roof. Labor is excluded after year 5 under all five warranties.
| Claim timing | GAF, CertainTeed, TAMKO formula | Payout on $2,368 of shingles | IKO Marathon Plus AR formula | Payout on $2,368 of shingles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 48 (year 4) | Full coverage period: shingles plus install labor | $2,368 plus labor to install | Iron Clad: shingles plus install allowance | $2,368 plus allowance |
| Month 120 (year 10) | 120/300 used, 60 percent paid | About $1,421 | 120/225 deducted, about 47 percent paid | About $1,105 |
| Month 144 (year 12) | 144/300 used, 52 percent paid | About $1,231 | 144/225 deducted, 36 percent paid | About $853 |
| Month 180 (year 15) | 180/300 used, 40 percent paid | About $947 | 180/225 deducted, 20 percent paid | About $474 |
| Month 240 (year 20) | 240/300 used, 20 percent paid | About $474 | Chart B second-stage figure applies | See IKO Chart B |
Owens Corning prorates on full years of use rather than months, so a Supreme claim lands close to the GAF column. For scale, the same 2,000 sq ft roof costs $8,000 to $12,000 to replace with 3-tab at the cost report’s $4 to $6 per sq ft, so a year-12 payout of $853 to $1,231 covers about 7 to 15 percent of a new roof. The proration math for lifetime shingles is in our report on roof warranty transfer and proration.
How to check your own 25-year warranty and file a claim
Filing a 25-year shingle warranty claim is mostly paperwork and timing. The manufacturers put short notice windows in their warranties, ask for proof of purchase and installation date, and can deny claims where the roof was repaired before they inspected it, so the order of these steps matters.
- Identify the exact product. Look for a leftover bundle wrapper, the contractor invoice, or the manufacturer name printed on the shingle back. “25 year” alone is not enough; the warranty is product-specific.
- Find the governing warranty version. GAF and IKO tie it to the installation date, TAMKO and Owens Corning to the purchase date. Download that edition from the manufacturer.
- Count the months since installation. Under 60 months, you are in the full-coverage period. Over 60, multiply the shingle cost by the formula in the table above to see the most you could recover.
- Notify the manufacturer directly. GAF, IKO and TAMKO require notice within 30 days of discovering the problem, and GAF and TAMKO both state that telling your contractor is not notice to the manufacturer.
- Gather proof: purchase receipt or invoice, installation date, photos, and ownership records if the house has changed hands.
- Hold off on permanent repairs until the manufacturer has inspected or authorized work, or give written notice first. GAF and TAMKO both say early repairs can lead to a denied claim.
- Check whether your homeowners policy, not the shingle warranty, is the right channel. Storm damage from hail or high wind is excluded by all five shingle warranties.
How long do 25 year shingles really last?
25 year shingles typically last about 20 years, and less in hot, high-UV or poorly ventilated conditions. InterNACHI’s Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes puts 3-tab asphalt shingles at 20 years and architectural asphalt at 30. The 25-year warranty term outlasts the typical service life, which is one reason late-term claims pay so little.
The warranties themselves list what shortens shingle life: inadequate ventilation, ice damming, tree debris, chemicals and storm damage, all excluded from coverage. For a slope-by-slope view of how asphalt roofs age, see our asphalt shingle roof lifespan guide.
| Warranty label | What it is in 2026 | Typical life expectancy | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 year | Legacy 3-tab tier, dropped from current major-brand warranty tables | About 20 years for 3-tab | OC 2002 warranty; IKO Marathon 20 sell sheet; InterNACHI chart |
| 25 year | Current 3-tab lines from all five major brands | About 20 years for 3-tab | 2025 to 2026 warranties; InterNACHI chart |
| 30 year | GAF Marquis WeatherMax (3-tab, 80 mph wind); older name for basic architectural | About 30 years for architectural | GAF RESWT160L; InterNACHI chart |
| 40 and 50 year | Older names for mid and premium laminated tiers, now sold as Limited Lifetime | About 30 years for architectural | InterNACHI chart; see our 40 and 50 year guides |
The higher tiers are covered in our guides to 40 year shingles and 50 year shingles.
Does a 60 mph wind warranty mean the shingle fails code in windy areas?
No. Code compliance and the wind warranty are separate things. Section R905.2.4.1 of the 2021 IRC says asphalt shingles “shall meet the classification requirements of Table R905.2.4.1 for the appropriate ultimate design wind speed,” and that table accepts ASTM D7158 Class H or ASTM D3161 Class F in every row, up to a 194 mph ultimate design wind speed. Several 25-year 3-tab lines carry those classes.
Owens Corning’s Supreme brochure lists ASTM D3161 Class F and ASTM D7158 Class H. CertainTeed’s XT 25 technical data sheet and IKO’s Marathon Plus AR data sheet (October 2025) list the same two classes, and GAF’s Royal Sovereign product information sheet lists them too. The gap is in the warranty: each maker promises blow-off coverage only to 60 mph and only for 5 years, while its laminated lifetime lines carry 110 mph or more for 15 years. Check the wrapper label for the class your local code requires. Brand-by-brand wind terms are in our shingle wind warranty comparison.
How much do 25 year shingles cost?
25 year shingles cost about $30 to $48 per bundle at retail in October 2026, or roughly $90 to $145 per square of material, and about $4 to $6 per square foot installed. Architectural shingles run $5 to $8 per square foot installed in the same 2026 Roofing Cost Report, so the 2,000 sq ft roof goes from $8,000 to $12,000 with 3-tab to $10,000 to $16,000 with architectural.
Shelf prices below were read from Google Shopping listings on October 9, 2026. They vary by region, color, AR version and supplier, and contractor pricing by the pallet is usually lower.
| Product | Type | Listed price per bundle | Seller (October 9, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAF Royal Sovereign | 25-year 3-tab | $34.00 to $39.47 | Orange County Building Materials; Home Depot |
| Owens Corning Supreme | 25-year 3-tab | $30.79 to $41.79 | Matt’s Building Materials; ASO Roofing Supply; Gabriel Building Supply |
| CertainTeed XT 25 | 25-year 3-tab | $32.00 to $47.96 | ASO Roofing Supply; Hill’s ACE; S.W. Collins |
| IKO Marathon Plus AR | 25-year 3-tab (32.3 sq ft bundle) | $38.68 | Doug Ashy Building Materials |
| TAMKO Elite Glass-Seal | 25-year 3-tab | $30.00 to $39.98 | ASO Roofing Supply; Doug Ashy Building Materials |
| GAF Timberline HDZ (for comparison) | Lifetime architectural | $37.00 to $51.98 | ASO Roofing Supply; Lowe’s |
| GAF Timberline Natural Shadow (for comparison) | Lifetime architectural | $41.47 | Home Depot |
The shelf gap is smaller than many buyers expect. At Home Depot, Royal Sovereign ($39.47) and Timberline Natural Shadow ($41.47) were $2 apart per bundle, or $6 per square, which is $120 across a 20-square roof. At ASO Roofing Supply, 3-tab lines listed at $30 to $32 against $37 for Timberline HDZ, a $15 to $21 per-square gap. If two contractor quotes differ by far more than that on the same scope, ask what else changed between them.
Cost per year of service
Spread over expected life, a 25-year 3-tab roof often costs as much per year as architectural, or more. Roofing Brief estimate, using the cost report’s installed ranges and InterNACHI’s 20 and 30-year life expectancies: 3-tab works out to $0.20 to $0.30 per sq ft per year ($4 to $6 over 20 years), and architectural to about $0.17 to $0.27 ($5 to $8 over 30 years).
On a 2,000 sq ft roof that is $400 to $600 a year for 3-tab versus about $333 to $533 for architectural.
When does a 25 year shingle still make sense?
A 25 year shingle still makes sense when you will not own the building long enough to need a second roof, when the structure is small or secondary, or when you need to match an existing 3-tab roof. For a home you plan to keep 15 years or more, the per-year math and the 5-year wind warranty usually favor an architectural shingle.
| Situation | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Shed, detached garage, outbuilding | 25-year 3-tab is reasonable | Small area, low stakes, and the dollar gap on a few squares is minor |
| Flip or sale within about 5 to 10 years | 25-year 3-tab can pencil out | You never pay for the second roof; check that the buyer’s lender and insurer accept it |
| Rental owned by an LLC or not owner-occupied | Compare both; the warranty gap narrows | GAF’s lifetime term becomes 40 years when an LLC or other entity owns the building; Owens Corning’s becomes 40 years with a 5-year full-coverage period, the same as Supreme’s, on homes the owner does not live in |
| Repair or partial slope on an existing 3-tab roof | Match with the same 3-tab line if available | Color and profile matching matters more than the warranty tier |
| Long-term home, high-wind or storm area | Lifetime architectural | Wind warranty of 110 mph or more for 15 years versus 60 mph for 5 years |
| Low slope (2 in 12 to under 4 in 12) | Check the specific warranty before buying | IKO limits shingles on these slopes to a 12-year, material-only warranty unless its low-slope application steps are followed |
Selling within the first few years has a warranty wrinkle too. TAMKO lets Elite Glass-Seal coverage transfer only within the first 2 years, and GAF, Owens Corning and CertainTeed cut a post-year-5 transfer to 2 years of coverage. For the full side-by-side on construction and curb appeal, read 3-tab vs architectural shingles.
Will insurance replace a 25 year old roof?
It depends on the policy and the state, not on the shingle warranty. A 25-year-old roof is past its warranty term and past the 20-year life expectancy InterNACHI lists for 3-tab, so a shingle maker will not pay. Whether an insurer pays for storm damage depends on the policy’s roof settlement terms, such as replacement cost or actual cash value, and on state law.
Florida is the clearest example of a state rule. Florida Statute 627.7011(5) says an insurer may not refuse to issue or renew a homeowner’s policy “solely because of the age of the roof” when the roof is under 15 years old. For a roof at least 15 years old, the insurer must allow an inspection by an authorized inspector, and may not refuse coverage solely on age if that inspection shows 5 or more years of useful life remaining. Read your own policy declarations and ask your agent how an older roof would be settled.
Can you sell a house with a 25 year old roof?
Yes, but the buyer’s financing and insurance may push the roof into the negotiation. For FHA-insured loans, HUD Handbook 4000.1 tells the appraiser to flag the roof if it “does not have a remaining physical life of at least two years” or does not keep out moisture. HUD has been revising its appraisal protocols since 2025, so the buyer’s lender should confirm the current rule.
Disclosure duties vary by state, and an older roof can make it harder for the buyer to get insurance. Because the original warranty has run out by year 25, there is nothing left to transfer. Many sellers either price the roof’s age in or replace it before listing.
Frequently asked questions
How long do 25 year shingles really last?
25 year shingles usually last about 20 years. InterNACHI’s Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes lists 3-tab asphalt shingles at 20 years and architectural at 30. Heat, sun exposure, attic ventilation and installation quality move the real number. The 25-year figure is the length of a prorated defect warranty, and manufacturers such as TAMKO and IKO state in the warranty that it does not predict service life.
How much do 25 year shingles cost?
Retail listings in October 2026 showed 25-year 3-tab bundles from about $30 to $48, or roughly $90 to $145 per square of material. Installed, The Roofing Brief’s 2026 Roofing Cost Report puts 3-tab at $4 to $6 per square foot, about $8,000 to $12,000 for a 2,000 sq ft roof. Prices vary by region, supplier and whether the shingle is an algae-resistant version.
Will insurance replace a 25 year old roof?
It depends on your policy and state. Shingle warranties exclude hail and high wind, so storm damage is an insurance question. Policies may settle older roofs at replacement cost or actual cash value. In Florida, Statute 627.7011(5) bars refusing or nonrenewing a policy solely for roof age under 15 years, and for older roofs requires allowing an inspection first.
Can you sell a house with a 25 year old roof?
Yes. There is no general ban on selling a house with an old roof, but the buyer’s lender and insurer may require repairs or replacement. For FHA loans, HUD Handbook 4000.1 asks the appraiser to flag a roof with less than two years of remaining physical life. State disclosure rules also apply, so sellers often price in the roof or replace it before listing.
Are 20 year shingles still made?
Not by the major brands in their current warranty tables. Owens Corning’s Classic (20 years) and IKO’s Marathon 20 were sold in earlier years, but the 2025 and 2026 warranties from GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, IKO and TAMKO list 25 years as the shortest term. A “20 year” quote today is likely old stock, a regional product, or a label used loosely.
Does a 25-year shingle warranty cover labor?
Only during the first 5 years. GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, IKO and TAMKO all include labor to install replacement shingles during their 5-year full-coverage periods, but none pays for tear-off or disposal. After year 5, all five pay only a prorated share of replacement shingle material, and the owner pays the labor.
Sources
- GAF, GAF Shingle and Accessory Limited Warranty, RESWT160L (effective for products installed after January 1, 2025; 2026 printing), gaf.com.
- Owens Corning, Standard Product Limited Lifetime Warranty on Owens Corning Roofing Shingles and Components, Pub. No. 10023873-H (January 2026); Owens Corning Limited Warranty on Roofing Shingles, Pub. No. 16-RR-24767-D (December 2002); Supreme Shingles brochure; customer letter, Discontinuation of Supreme and Supreme Metric Shingles, Multiple Plant Service Areas (January 15, 2025).
- CertainTeed, Asphalt Shingle Residential Products 2025 Limited Warranty; XT 25 Shingles Technical Data Sheet (05/21); XT 25 product page, certainteed.com (October 2026).
- IKO, Limited Warranty Information for Asphalt Shingles, United States (installed on or after February 1, 2025); Marathon Plus AR Technical Data Sheet (10/2025); Marathon 20 sell sheet (2007).
- TAMKO, Fiberglass-Asphalt Shingle Limited Warranty (shingles sold on or after January 1, 2025; rev. 03/16/2026), tamko.com.
- GAF, Royal Sovereign Shingles product information sheet.
- International Code Council, 2021 International Residential Code, Section R905.2.4.1 and Table R905.2.4.1 (as reproduced on UpCodes).
- InterNACHI, Standard Estimated Life Expectancy Chart for Homes, nachi.org.
- Florida Statutes, Section 627.7011(5), leg.state.fl.us (read October 2026).
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Handbook 4000.1, Roof Covering requirement; Mortgagee Letter 2025-18 (June 27, 2025).
- Retail listings seen through Google Shopping on October 9, 2026: Home Depot, Lowe’s, ASO Roofing Supply, Orange County Building Materials, Matt’s Building Materials, Gabriel Building Supply, Hill’s ACE, S.W. Collins, Doug Ashy Building Materials.
- The Roofing Brief, 2026 Roofing Cost Report.