GAF Slateline comes in seven colors: Antique Slate, Weathered Slate, English Gray Slate, Royal Slate, Emerald Green Slate, Mariner Blue Slate, and Slate Red Blend. Slateline is GAF’s designer, slate-look asphalt shingle, built with tapered cut-outs and oversized tabs that mimic quarried slate for a fraction of the price. Not every distributor stocks all seven. Antique Slate and Weathered Slate are the two carried almost everywhere, while the blue, green, and red blends are regional.
The full GAF Slateline color palette (2026)
Slateline ships in seven factory color blends, each a variegated mix of tones rather than a single flat shade, which is what sells the slate illusion from the street. The table below breaks down the dominant hue of each color and the siding and trim it tends to pair with. Regional stocking varies, so confirm the exact blend with your local distributor before you commit.
| Slateline color | Dominant tone | Reads like | Pairs well with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antique Slate | Charcoal gray with brown and tan flecks | Weathered natural slate | Almost any siding: brick, tan, cream, gray, white |
| Weathered Slate | Mixed cool grays, lighter overall | Aged gray slate | White, light gray, blue, and stone |
| English Gray Slate | Medium gray, slightly warm | Quarried English slate | Lighter homes, beige, sage, muted blue |
| Royal Slate | Deep, near-black charcoal | Formal black slate | White trim, red brick, high-contrast facades |
| Emerald Green Slate | Muted slate green | Vermont green slate | Tan, cream, stone, Tudor and cottage styles |
| Mariner Blue Slate | Blue-gray blend | Sea-green Vermont slate | White and gray coastal homes (regional stock) |
| Slate Red Blend | Muted brick red and burgundy | Red Vermont slate | Tan, cream, historic and Colonial homes (regional stock) |
Antique Slate is the flagship and the most-specified color in the line, because its charcoal-with-brown variegation flatters the widest range of exteriors. The green, blue, and red blends copy the naturally colored slates historically quarried in Vermont, and they carry the strongest period-home look. They are also the hardest to source, so treat them as special-order rather than shelf stock.
What GAF Slateline actually is
Slateline is a laminated (architectural) asphalt shingle in GAF’s Designer tier, engineered to imitate a slate roof. The tab shapes are tapered and oversized, the shadow lines are exaggerated, and the color blends are variegated, so the finished roof reads as individual slate tiles rather than a flat sheet. It sits above standard Timberline architectural shingles and below true synthetic slate in both look and price.
It is a fiberglass-mat asphalt shingle, not a composite or rubber tile. That keeps it light enough to install over a normal deck without extra framing, unlike real slate, which can weigh 800 to 1,500 pounds per square and often needs a reinforced structure. For the trade-offs between the two, see our breakdown of real slate versus asphalt shingles.
How to pick a Slateline color for your house
Match the color to your fixed exterior materials first (brick, stone, and siding you are not changing), then to your home’s architectural period. Slate-look roofs read best when the roof either disappears into a monochrome scheme or sets up a deliberate contrast with white or brick. Use these pairings as a starting point:
- Neutral, resale-safe pick: Antique Slate or Weathered Slate. Both work on nearly any siding and are the easiest to sell to a future buyer.
- High-contrast modern or formal look: Royal Slate against white siding, white trim, or red brick.
- Warm or lighter homes: English Gray Slate, which avoids the heaviness of near-black on a smaller or lighter-colored house.
- Tudor, cottage, or stone facades: Emerald Green Slate for a traditional, period-correct roof.
- Historic, Colonial, or coastal homes: Slate Red Blend or Mariner Blue Slate, if your distributor can source them.
Order a physical sample or view an installed roof before deciding. Digital swatches and printed brochures shift the tone, and a variegated blend looks different across a full roof plane than it does on a single shingle.
GAF Slateline specs at a glance
Slateline is a large-format shingle covered by GAF’s homeowner warranties. The figures below come from GAF’s Slateline data sheet and current retail listings; confirm the exact warranty term printed on your bundle wrapper, because GAF has updated its algae-protection branding over time.
| Spec | GAF Slateline |
|---|---|
| Shingle type | Laminated architectural, Designer tier, slate look |
| Nominal size | Roughly 17 in by 40 in |
| Coverage | About 33.3 sq ft per bundle, 3 bundles per square |
| Fire rating | UL 790 Class A |
| Wind | Meets ASTM D7158 Class H; limited wind warranty up to 130 mph when installed to GAF spec |
| Algae protection | StainGuard or StainGuard Plus depending on production run (verify on wrapper) |
| Main warranty | Lifetime limited for eligible single-family homeowners |
| Impact rating | Not Class 4 impact rated |
The impact line matters in hail country. Slateline is not a Class 4 (UL 2218) shingle, so it does not qualify for the insurance premium discounts that some carriers give Class 4 roofs. If you live in a hail-prone state and want the slate look, a Class 4 slate-style shingle is the better fit, covered next.
Is Slateline the best slate-look asphalt shingle?
Slateline is the most widely stocked and most affordable slate-look asphalt shingle, but it is not automatically the best pick for every roof. CertainTeed and Owens Corning make more dimensional slate-look designer shingles, and Atlas makes a Class 4 slate-look shingle for hail zones. Compare the main options before you assume Slateline wins on more than price and availability.
| Shingle | Maker | Edge over Slateline | Est. installed cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slateline | GAF | Cheapest slate look, easy to source | $4.50 to $7.50 / sq ft |
| Belmont / Grand Manor | CertainTeed | Thicker, more dimensional (Grand Manor is triple-layer) | $6 to $12 / sq ft |
| Berkshire | Owens Corning | Deeper color contrast, Collection tier | $6 to $10 / sq ft |
| StormMaster Slate | Atlas | Class 4 impact rated for hail zones | $5.50 to $9 / sq ft |
| Royal Estate | IKO | Uniform slate courses, budget alternative | $4.50 to $7 / sq ft |
Choose Slateline for the lowest-cost slate look and the widest color availability. Step up to CertainTeed Grand Manor or Owens Corning Berkshire when you want a heavier, more convincing slate imitation. Pick Atlas StormMaster Slate if hail and insurance discounts drive the decision. For a fuller brand-by-brand breakdown, see our 2026 shingle brand comparison report.
Slateline cost versus real and synthetic slate
The reason Slateline exists is price. A finished Slateline roof runs a small fraction of natural slate and roughly a third to a half of synthetic slate, while adding little weight. The numbers below are estimated 2026 installed ranges and vary by region, pitch, and roof complexity, so get local quotes before budgeting.
| Roof type | Est. installed cost | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Standard architectural asphalt | $3.75 to $5.50 / sq ft | 20 to 30 years |
| GAF Slateline (slate-look asphalt) | $4.50 to $7.50 / sq ft | 25 to 30 years |
| Synthetic (composite) slate | $12 to $18 / sq ft | 40 to 50 years |
| Natural slate | $15 to $30+ / sq ft | 75 to 100+ years |
If the goal is a genuine slate look that outlives you, Slateline is a compromise, not a substitute. Synthetic slate lasts longer and imitates the tile edge more convincingly. Weigh the synthetic (composite) slate option if budget allows. If you want the slate style at asphalt prices and are comfortable with a 25 to 30 year roof, Slateline is the value play.
How Slateline fits in GAF’s lineup
Slateline is one of three looks in GAF’s Designer shingle family. It handles the slate imitation, while Camelot covers the wood-shake and traditional cut-shake look. Both sit above the standard Timberline architectural line, which is where most GAF roofs actually land. Knowing the hierarchy keeps you from overpaying for a look you do not want.
If you are weighing the wood-shake look instead, compare GAF Camelot, the shake-look designer line. If you are open to a standard architectural roof, the mainstream palette is covered in GAF’s Timberline color palette. To orient yourself across shingle tiers and roofing basics, start at our Learn About Roofing hub.
Frequently asked questions
What colors does GAF Slateline come in?
GAF Slateline is offered in seven colors: Antique Slate, Weathered Slate, English Gray Slate, Royal Slate, Emerald Green Slate, Mariner Blue Slate, and Slate Red Blend. Antique Slate and Weathered Slate are stocked nationally, while the green, blue, and red blends are regional and often special-order. Confirm availability with your local distributor before choosing.
What is the most popular Slateline color?
Antique Slate is the most-specified Slateline color. Its charcoal-gray base with brown and tan variegation reads like weathered natural slate and pairs with almost any siding, brick, or trim, which makes it the safest choice for resale. Weathered Slate, a lighter cool-gray blend, is the common second pick for white and gray homes.
Does GAF Slateline look like real slate?
From the street, Slateline reads convincingly as slate thanks to tapered cut-outs, oversized tabs, and heavy shadow lines. Up close, it is clearly an asphalt shingle with a flatter profile than a quarried slate tile. It imitates slate better than standard architectural shingles but less convincingly than thicker composite slate or real slate.
How much does a GAF Slateline roof cost?
A Slateline roof typically runs about $4.50 to $7.50 per square foot installed in 2026, depending on region, roof pitch, and complexity. That is more than standard architectural asphalt but a small fraction of synthetic slate at $12 to $18 or natural slate at $15 to $30 or more per square foot. Get local quotes, since ranges vary widely.
Is Slateline the same as GAF Timberline?
No. Timberline is GAF’s standard architectural line, designed to look like dimensional wood shakes at a lower price point. Slateline is a Designer-tier shingle built to imitate slate, with different tab shapes, a distinct color palette, and a higher cost. They are separate products, and Slateline colors do not overlap with the Timberline palette.
Does GAF Slateline qualify for insurance hail discounts?
Generally no. Slateline is not a Class 4 (UL 2218) impact-rated shingle, so it usually does not earn the premium discounts some carriers give Class 4 roofs. If you live in a hail-prone area and want the slate look with impact protection, Atlas StormMaster Slate is a Class 4 slate-style option worth comparing. Confirm any discount with your insurer.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed July 2026.