A brown metal roof can be any of more than 25 maker colors, from near-black Midnight Bronze to sand-colored Sandstone, and the name on the quote does not tell you how hot or how dark the roof will be. Drexel Metals rates its Midnight Bronze at a solar reflectance (SR) of 0.06 and an SRI of 1, while CMG rates its Sandstone at an SRI of 69. This guide maps the brown and bronze family across eight maker charts, with heat data, fade warranty terms and October 2026 panel prices.
The page covers painted steel and aluminum panels in brown, bronze, tan and copper-look finishes. Brown asphalt shingles are a separate product: California’s 2025 Energy Code assumes an aged solar reflectance of 0.08 for an unrated shingle, and they are compared in our brown shingles guide.
Key numbers at a glance
These are the figures a buyer of a brown metal roof usually needs first: an SRI spread of 0 to 69, a fade cap of 5 Hunter units over 35 years, panels at $1.29 to $1.53 per sq ft, and California’s aged SR 0.20 bar. Each row names its source document and date.
| Figure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| SRI range of brown, bronze and tan colors on current maker charts | 0 (CMG Extra Dark Bronze) to 69 (CMG and Englert Sandstone) | CMG 2026 color chart; Englert PPG listing |
| Dark Bronze SRI across seven makers | 24 (McElroy PVDF, Sheffield) to 30 (Metal Sales, Englert) | McElroy cool metal roofing page; Sheffield Dec 2022; Metal Sales 24 ga guide 9/2026; Englert PPG listing |
| Calculated noon surface temperature, McElroy Dark Bronze vs McElroy Sandstone | 164°F vs 138°F (standard black 180°F) | Roofing Brief calculation, ASTM E1980 conditions, McElroy SR and emittance |
| 29 gauge brown ribbed panel price | $1.29 to $1.53 per sq ft of coverage | PBS Direct, Menards and Home Depot listings, Oct 19, 2026 |
| Paint premium over bare Galvalume, same panel | 26.5% ($46.44 vs $36.72 for a 12 ft 29 ga MasterRib) | PBS Direct, Oct 19, 2026 |
| PVDF fade cap, Metal Sales | No more than 5 Hunter units for 35 years | Metal Sales PVDF System Warranty, 6/1/2026 |
| California steep-slope reroof threshold | Aged SR 0.20 and emittance 0.75, or SRI 16 | CRRC summary of the 2025 Title 24, Part 6 Energy Code |
Which brown metal roof colors do the major makers sell?
The brown colors on the McElroy, Metal Sales, Drexel, Englert, Berridge, CMG, Union Corrugating and Fabral charts fall into six families: near-black browns, dark bronzes, mid browns, the gray-brown Burnished Slate, tans, and copper metallics. Published SRI runs from 0 in the near-black family to 69 in the tans.
| Shade family | Maker color names (with code where published) | SRI range on maker charts | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Near-black brown | Midnight Bronze (Drexel; Union Corrugating Signature 300); Extra Dark Bronze (CMG); Dark Walnut and Chestnut wood grain (CMG) | 0 to 15 | Drexel chart 08.07.25; Union Corrugating chart Rev A 09/24; CMG 2026 chart |
| Dark bronze | Dark Bronze (McElroy, Metal Sales 50, Englert 870T15, Drexel, Berridge, CMG, Sheffield); Classic Bronze and Antique Bronze (Drexel); Patrician Bronze and Tudor Brown (McElroy); Antique Bronze 854 (Fabral SMP) | 24 to 34 (Tudor Brown SMP is 34) | McElroy, Metal Sales 9/2026, Englert, Drexel, Berridge, CMG |
| Mid brown | Medium Bronze (McElroy, Metal Sales H4, Englert 870T14, Drexel, Berridge, CMG, Union Corrugating Signature 300); Mansard Brown (McElroy, Metal Sales 133, Englert 870T16, Drexel, CMG); Brown (Metal Sales 12); Coffee Brown (Union Corrugating Signature 200); Cocoa Brown 856 (Fabral SMP); Copper Brown (Berridge); Aged Bronze (Drexel, Berridge) | 25 to 36 | Same charts; Fabral Enduracote sheet 4-2017 |
| Gray-brown | Burnished Slate (Metal Sales 49, Drexel, CMG, Union Corrugating Signature 200, Sheffield) | 24 to 33 | Metal Sales 29 ga guide 9/2026; Drexel; CMG 2026 |
| Tan | Buckskin (McElroy, Drexel, Berridge); Sierra Tan (Drexel, Englert BN4N130B, Berridge, CMG); Saddle Tan and Desert Sand (Union Corrugating Signature 200); Mocha Tan (Metal Sales 22); Sandstone (McElroy, Metal Sales W51, Englert BN4I106B, Drexel, CMG) | 39 to 69 | McElroy, Metal Sales, Englert, Drexel, Berridge, CMG |
| Copper metallic | Copper Penny (McElroy, Metal Sales W92, Drexel, CMG); Copper Metallic (Union Corrugating); Metallic Copper 868R29 (Englert); Weathered Copper (Metal Sales W50) | 32 to 57 | McElroy, Metal Sales 24 ga guide, Drexel, CMG, Englert |
Two retailer stock names do not appear on these coil charts. Metal America in Idaho stocks Koko Brown and Dark Brown in Sherwin-Williams WeatherXL SMP, and Fabral’s Enduracote SMP line lists a Dark Brown 859. Menards sells its Pro-Rib panel simply as Brown with a 40-year limited paint warranty, so ask for the coil maker and SR before comparing it with a charted color.
Brown metal roof heat data, maker by maker
Solar reflectance is the share of sunlight a panel bounces off, thermal emittance (TE) is how well it sheds absorbed heat, and SRI (ASTM E1980) combines them on a scale where standard black is 0 and standard white is 100. CMG also prints light reflectance value (LRV), the share of visible light reflected, which tracks how dark the color looks.
| Maker and document | Color | Paint system | SR | TE | SRI | LRV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drexel Metals color chart 08.07.25 | Midnight Bronze | Sherwin-Williams values | 0.06 | not listed | 1 | not listed |
| CMG 2026 color chart | Extra Dark Bronze | Durapon 70 PVDF or Ceranamel SMP | not listed | not listed | 0 | 5 |
| McElroy Metal cool metal roofing page | Dark Bronze | PVDF (Kynar 500) | 0.26 | 0.84 | 24 | not listed |
| CMG 2026 color chart | Dark Bronze | Signature Series | not listed | not listed | 27 | 7 |
| Metal Sales 24 ga guide 9/2026 | Dark Bronze (50) | PVDF | 0.30 | 0.86 | 30 | not listed |
| Englert PPG listing | Dark Bronze (870T15) | PPG coil coating | 0.297 | 0.86 | 30 | not listed |
| McElroy Metal cool metal roofing page | Patrician Bronze | PVDF | 0.27 | 0.86 | 26 | not listed |
| McElroy Metal cool metal roofing page | Mansard Brown | PVDF | 0.30 | 0.85 | 30 | not listed |
| CMG Mansard Brown project page and 2026 chart | Mansard Brown | Signature Series | 0.26 | 0.85 | 25 | 7 |
| Metal Sales 24 ga guide 9/2026 | Medium Bronze (H4) | PVDF | 0.30 | 0.87 | 31 | not listed |
| Englert PPG listing | Medium Bronze (870T14) | PPG coil coating | 0.272 | 0.87 | 27 | not listed |
| CMG Medium Bronze project page and 2026 chart | Medium Bronze | Signature Series | 0.309 | 0.86 | 31 | 11 |
| Metal Sales 29 ga Eastern guide 9/2026 | Brown (12) | MS Colorfast45 SMP | 0.32 | 0.86 | 33 | not listed |
| Berridge SRI chart | Copper Brown | Kynar 500 or Hylar 5000 | 0.32 | 0.85 | 32 | not listed |
| McElroy Metal cool metal roofing page | Buckskin | PVDF | 0.38 | 0.86 | 41 | not listed |
| Englert PPG listing | Sierra Tan (BN4N130B) | PPG coil coating | 0.452 | 0.86 | 51 | not listed |
| Metal Sales 29 ga Eastern guide 9/2026 | Mocha Tan (22) | MS Colorfast45 SMP | 0.52 | 0.86 | 60 | not listed |
| McElroy Metal cool metal roofing page | Sandstone | PVDF | 0.54 | 0.86 | 63 | not listed |
| CMG 2026 color chart | Sandstone | Signature Series | not listed | not listed | 69 | 56 |
The LRV column explains the most common brown-roof surprise. On CMG’s 2026 chart, Dark Bronze has an LRV of 7 and Matte Black an LRV of 6, so a Dark Bronze roof reads as black from the street and shows its brown only up close. Medium Bronze at LRV 11 is the darkest bronze on that chart that still reads as brown at a distance.
One name, different numbers: Dark Bronze, Medium Bronze and Mansard Brown
The same color name spans 4 to 14 SRI points across makers, because each coil coater mixes its own pigments. Mansard Brown runs from SRI 25 at CMG to 32 at Drexel. On Englert’s PPG listing, Medium Bronze (SR 0.272) reflects less sunlight than Englert’s Dark Bronze (SR 0.297), the reverse of what the names suggest.
| Color name | Lowest published SRI | Highest published SRI | Spread | Charts compared |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Bronze | 24 (McElroy PVDF; Sheffield) | 30 (Metal Sales 50; Englert 870T15) | 6 points | McElroy, Sheffield, Drexel 26, Berridge 27, CMG 27, Metal Sales, Englert |
| Medium Bronze | 27 (Englert 870T14) | 31 (McElroy, Metal Sales H4, Drexel, Berridge, CMG, Sheffield) | 4 points | Seven charts |
| Mansard Brown | 25 (CMG) | 32 (Drexel) | 7 points | CMG, McElroy 30, Englert 30, Metal Sales 31, Drexel |
| Sierra Tan | 40 (Drexel) | 51 (Englert BN4N130B) | 11 points | Drexel, Berridge 42, CMG 50, Englert |
| Sandstone | 55 (Drexel) | 69 (Englert; CMG) | 14 points | Drexel, McElroy 63, Metal Sales W51 63, Englert, CMG |
| Copper Penny | 45 (McElroy) | 57 (Drexel) | 12 points | McElroy, CMG 48, Metal Sales W92 50, Drexel |
The practical rule: if a bid says “Mansard Brown” or “Sandstone” without the coil maker and paint code, you cannot know its SRI to within 7 to 14 points. Ask the seller to write the maker, the code (for example Metal Sales Mansard Brown 133) and the SR and SRI on the quote.
Burnished Slate is a brown, not a gray
Burnished Slate is a dark brown with gray undertones, in Sheffield Metals’ own description, and the numbers agree. Metal Sales prints identical values for its Burnished Slate (49) and its plain Brown (12): SR 0.32, emittance 0.86, SRI 33. CMG gives Burnished Slate an LRV of 9, closer to its Dark Bronze (7) than to its true gray, Slate Gray (21).
| Chart | Burnished Slate | Nearest brown on same chart | True gray on same chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Sales 29 ga Eastern guide 9/2026 (Colorfast45 SMP) | SR 0.32, SRI 33 (code 49) | Brown (12): SR 0.32, SRI 33 | Zinc Grey (29): SR 0.42, SRI 46 |
| Drexel color chart 08.07.25 | SR 0.32, SRI 33; no CRRC mark on the chart | Medium Bronze: SR 0.30, SRI 31, CRRC rated | Slate Gray: SR 0.41, SRI 45 |
| CMG 2026 color chart | SRI 33, LRV 9 | Dark Bronze: SRI 27, LRV 7 | Slate Gray: SRI 38, LRV 21 |
| CMG 2026, ultra low gloss | ULG Burnished Slate: SRI 25, LRV 7 | ULG Dark Bronze: SRI 20, LRV 5 | ULG Slate Gray: SRI 36, LRV 19 |
Burnished Slate is mostly a stock color in the economy paint tier. Union Corrugating lists it in its Signature 200 siliconized polyester line, Metal Sales in 29 gauge Colorfast45, and Metal America in 26 and 29 gauge WeatherXL SMP, while Medium Bronze, Mansard Brown and Dark Bronze sit in Metal America’s 24 gauge PVDF tier. Sheffield and Western States do sell Burnished Slate in PVDF, so a PVDF version exists if you ask for it.
Burnished Slate is not the same color as Dark Bronze. The two are separate entries on the CMG and Drexel charts, and Burnished Slate is the lighter and grayer of the pair on CMG’s chart: LRV 9 against 7. If the goal is the look of real stone slate, ask for a slate-profile metal shingle; Burnished Slate on a ribbed or standing seam panel gives the color only, not the shape. For true grays such as Slate Gray and Zinc Grey, see our gray metal roof guide.
How hot does a brown metal roof get?
Under the ASTM E1980 standard noon condition, the brown metal roofs we calculated run from 138°F for McElroy Sandstone to 180°F for Drexel Midnight Bronze, against 180°F for the standard black surface and 112°F for standard white. Painted browns share emittance of 0.84 to 0.87, so solar reflectance drives almost all of the spread.
| Surface (maker data) | SR | TE | Calculated surface temp | Calculated SRI (published) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASTM E1980 standard black | 0.05 | 0.90 | 180°F | 0 (0) |
| Drexel Midnight Bronze | 0.06 | 0.89 assumed | 180°F | 1 (1) |
| McElroy Dark Bronze PVDF | 0.26 | 0.84 | 164°F | 24 (24) |
| McElroy Matte Black PVDF, for comparison | 0.27 | 0.86 | 163°F | 26 (26) |
| McElroy Mansard Brown PVDF | 0.30 | 0.85 | 160°F | 30 (30) |
| McElroy Medium Bronze PVDF | 0.30 | 0.87 | 160°F | 31 (31) |
| Metal Sales Burnished Slate (49) Colorfast45 | 0.32 | 0.86 | 158°F | 33 (33) |
| McElroy Buckskin PVDF | 0.38 | 0.86 | 153°F | 41 (41) |
| Englert Sierra Tan BN4N130B | 0.452 | 0.86 | 146°F | 51 (51) |
| Metal Sales Mocha Tan (22) Colorfast45 | 0.52 | 0.86 | 140°F | 60 (60) |
| McElroy Sandstone PVDF | 0.54 | 0.86 | 138°F | 63 (63) |
| ASTM E1980 standard white | 0.80 | 0.90 | 112°F | 100 (100) |
Method: Roofing Brief calculation under ASTM E1980 standard conditions (1,000 W/m² sun, 310 K air, 300 K sky, 12 W/m²K convection, the moderate-wind case Title 24 now specifies). The same method reproduces each maker’s published SRI within 1 point. Drexel does not publish emittance, so 0.89 is assumed; it reproduces Drexel’s SRI of 1.
Two findings matter for a buyer. McElroy’s Dark Bronze PVDF (SR 0.26) reflects less sunlight than McElroy’s Matte Black PVDF (SR 0.27), so on that chart the darkest bronze runs about 1°F hotter than black. Moving from Dark Bronze to Sandstone on the same McElroy chart cuts the calculated surface temperature by 26°F while staying in the brown family.
Does a brown metal roof meet cool roof codes?
Most mid browns and every tan on these charts start above California’s steep-slope bar; the near-black browns do not. Per the Cool Roof Rating Council summary of the 2025 Title 24, Part 6 Energy Code (effective January 1, 2026), steep-sloped reroofs in Climate Zones 4 and 8 through 15 need an aged SR of 0.20 and emittance of 0.75, or an SRI of 16, from a CRRC-rated product. Confirm the rule for your project with the local building department.
| Brown product (initial values) | Initial SR | Initial SRI | Against aged SR 0.20 / SRI 16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| CMG Extra Dark Bronze | not listed | 0 | Fails before any aging |
| Drexel Midnight Bronze | 0.06 | 1 | Fails before any aging; no CRRC mark on the chart |
| CMG ULG Dark Bronze (ultra low gloss) | not listed | 20 | 4 points of margin; confirm the 3-year aged value |
| McElroy Dark Bronze PVDF | 0.26 | 24 | Initial values clear it; confirm the aged value |
| Drexel Dark Bronze, Medium Bronze, Mansard Brown | 0.27 to 0.31 | 26 to 32 | CRRC rated on Drexel’s chart; confirm the aged value |
| Drexel Burnished Slate | 0.32 | 33 | Initial values clear it, but the chart shows no CRRC rating, and Title 24 needs a rated product |
| McElroy Sandstone PVDF | 0.54 | 63 | Widest margin of the browns checked |
Maker charts print initial values, while Title 24 tests 3-year aged values, so the CRRC Rated Products Directory at coolroofs.org is the record a California inspector checks. Below 2:12, Title 24 asks for aged SR 0.63 or SRI 75 where a cool low-slope roof is required, and no brown on these charts reaches that. McElroy’s own cool roof page cites an industry steep-slope screen of 0.25 initial and 0.15 aged SR; McElroy Dark Bronze (0.26) clears it by 0.01.
Do brown metal roofs fade? Paint systems and warranty terms
Every painted brown changes color over decades; the warranty sets how much change counts as a defect. Metal Sales’ June 1, 2026 PVDF warranty, which covers its 24 gauge Medium Bronze (H4), Mansard Brown (133) and Dark Bronze (50), caps fade at 5 Hunter units for 35 years. Its Colorfast45 SMP warranty for 29 gauge Brown (12) and Burnished Slate (49) allows 6 NBS units over 30 years on roofs.
| Paint system and document | Fade limit | Chalk limit (ASTM D4214) | Salt water condition | Source date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Sales PVDF System Warranty | 5 Hunter units, 35 years (ASTM D2244) | No worse than No. 8 for 35 years | More than 1,500 ft from salt water | 6/1/2026 |
| Metal Sales MS Colorfast45 (SMP), roof surfaces | 6 NBS units, 30 years | No worse than No. 7 for 30 years | More than 1,100 yards from salt water | 6/1/2026 |
| CMG Medium Bronze and Mansard Brown | 35-year finish warranty in 22 and 24 ga; 30-year in 26 and 28 ga | Terms on CMG warranty request | Not stated on project pages | CMG project pages, accessed Oct 2026 |
| Drexel Metals standard colors | 35-year paint warranty on Galvalume and aluminum, excluding Exotics | Full terms on request | Not stated on chart | Chart 08.07.25 |
| Menards Pro-Rib, 29 ga brown | 40-year limited paint warranty | Not stated in listing | Not stated in listing | Menards listing, Oct 2026 |
| Fabral PVDF mica colors, including Copper Penny | The 30-year fade warranty does not apply | Film and chalk terms still apply | Not stated | Fabral color sheet 4-2017 |
| Steel Dash Ag Panel, Earth Brown polyester | 10-year paint warranty | Not stated | Not stated | Steel Dash listing, Oct 2026 |
The Metal Sales PVDF and Colorfast45 warranties measure fade in different units, so compare the years and read the unit rather than the number alone. The Colorfast45 topcoat is 0.70 to 0.80 mil over a 0.20 to 0.30 mil primer, per the Metal Sales specification sheet. For a south-facing house roof in a brown you plan to keep for 30 years, the PVDF tier is the one with a written 35-year fade cap.
Matte, textured and metallic browns: what the finish changes
A low-gloss or textured brown looks less shiny and hides panel waviness, but it costs SRI. On CMG’s 2026 chart, ultra low gloss (ULG) takes Burnished Slate from SRI 33 to 25 and Dark Bronze from 27 to 20, and the Textur3D finish takes Mansard Brown from 25 to 21. Metallic copper-look browns run lighter but carry an upcharge.
| Finish | Example | Standard SRI | Finish SRI | What else changes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra low gloss PVDF | CMG Dark Bronze | 27 (LRV 7) | 20 (LRV 5) | CMG says ULG finishes minimize glare and the visual appearance of oil canning | CMG 2026 chart |
| Ultra low gloss PVDF | CMG Burnished Slate | 33 (LRV 9) | 25 (LRV 7) | Offered in 22 and 24 ga | CMG 2026 chart |
| Textur3D, 26 ga | CMG Medium Bronze | 31 | 30 | Textured surface | CMG 2026 chart |
| Textur3D, 26 ga | CMG Mansard Brown | 25 | 21 | Textured surface | CMG 2026 chart |
| Low gloss, 26 ga | Sheffield Dark Bronze and Medium Bronze | 24 and 31 | Not published | Sheffield offers both in 24 ga standard gloss and 26 ga low gloss | Sheffield, Dec 2022 |
| Metallic | Prime Panel-Loc Plus Copper Metallic vs Burnished Slate, 29 ga, 12 ft | Not published | Not published | $68.03 vs $48.60, a 40% upcharge | PBS Direct, Oct 19, 2026 |
| Wood grain print | CMG Dark Walnut and Chestnut | Not applicable | 11 and 15 | Darkest-running browns on the CMG chart after Extra Dark Bronze | CMG 2026 chart |
Metallic browns need ordering care. Metal Sales says its metallic colors are batch specific and directional and that coils must not be mixed, and Union Corrugating says its Copper Metallic panels and trim must be installed in the same direction to avoid perceived shade differences. On glossy Dark Bronze, Sheffield Metals says oil canning shows more than on lighter, low-gloss colors; our page on striated versus flat metal panels covers the panel-side fix.
How much do brown metal roofing panels cost?
Brown 29 gauge ribbed panels listed at $1.29 to $1.53 per square foot of coverage on October 19, 2026, or $3.87 to $4.58 per linear foot of a 36 in coverage panel. Brown carried no premium over other colors at PBS Direct: a 12 ft 29 ga MasterRib cost $46.44 in all 18 listed colors, Coffee Brown, Burnished Slate, Saddle Tan and Desert Sand included, against $36.72 in bare Galvalume.
| Listing (Oct 19, 2026) | Color | Gauge, paint and warranty | 12 ft price | Per linear ft | Per sq ft of coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Union Corrugating MasterRib, PBS Direct | Galvalume (unpainted) | 29 ga | $36.72 | $3.06 | $1.02 |
| Union Corrugating MasterRib, PBS Direct | Coffee Brown, Burnished Slate | 29 ga, 45-year painted finish warranty | $46.44 | $3.87 | $1.29 |
| Standard Panel-Loc Plus, PBS Direct | Brown, Burnished Slate | 29 ga SMP, 40-year painted finish warranty | $46.44 | $3.87 | $1.29 |
| Menards Pro-Rib | Brown | 29 ga, 40-year limited paint warranty, G60 | $46.96 | $3.91 | $1.30 |
| Prime Panel-Loc Plus, PBS Direct | Burnished Slate | 29 ga, lifetime painted finish warranty | $48.60 | $4.05 | $1.35 |
| Fabral Shelterguard, Home Depot | Cocoa Brown | 29 ga | $54.98 | $4.58 | $1.53 |
| Union Corrugating MasterRib, PBS Direct | Coffee Brown, Burnished Slate, Saddle Tan | 26 ga, 45-year painted finish warranty | $57.24 | $4.77 | $1.59 |
| Ultra Panel-Loc Plus, PBS Direct | Brown, Burnished Slate | 26 ga, lifetime painted finish warranty | $61.56 | $5.13 | $1.71 |
| Prime Panel-Loc Plus, PBS Direct | Copper Metallic | 29 ga, lifetime painted finish warranty | $68.03 | $5.67 | $1.89 |
PBS Direct prices come from the retailer’s own product data and Menards and Home Depot prices from Google Shopping results, all read on October 19, 2026. All panels listed are 36 in coverage with a 3/4 in rib; PBS lists a 3:12 minimum pitch and Fabral a 2-1/2:12 minimum for Shelterguard. Prices change weekly and exclude trim, closures, screws and delivery. Moving the same brown MasterRib from 29 to 26 gauge raised the price 23.3%.
Installed, our 2026 roofing cost report puts exposed-fastener metal at $6 to $10 per square foot and steel or aluminum standing seam at $10 to $18. Metal Sales and Metal America list Medium Bronze, Mansard Brown and Dark Bronze in their 24 gauge PVDF tiers, and Sheffield Metals says engineered metal roof systems call for 24 gauge or thicker, which is why a Medium Bronze standing seam quote and a Brown Pro-Rib barn quote land in different ranges.
Worked example: brown panels for a 24 x 36 ft garage
A 24 ft by 36 ft gable garage at 4:12 pitch with 1 ft overhangs needs 26 panels at 14 ft. Each roof plane runs 13 ft horizontally (12 ft plus overhang), times the 4:12 slope factor of 1.054, for a 13.7 ft panel run. The 38 ft eave length divided by 3 ft of coverage is 12.7, rounded up to 13 panels per side.
| Line | MasterRib 29 ga Galvalume | MasterRib 29 ga Coffee Brown | Menards Pro-Rib Brown | MasterRib 26 ga Coffee Brown | Prime Panel-Loc Plus Copper Metallic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panels (14 ft, 36 in coverage) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 |
| Price per 14 ft panel | $42.84 | $54.18 | $56.48 | $66.78 | $79.38 |
| Panels subtotal | $1,113.84 | $1,408.68 | $1,468.48 | $1,736.28 | $2,063.88 |
| Panel cost per sq ft of roof (1,041 sq ft) | $1.07 | $1.35 | $1.41 | $1.67 | $1.98 |
| Installed range at $6 to $10 per sq ft (Roofing Brief estimate) | $6,250 to $10,410 | ||||
The roof measures 1,041 sq ft and the 26 panels cover 1,092 sq ft, a 4.9% margin from rounding up. Choosing brown over bare Galvalume adds $294.84 to the panel order, and choosing the copper metallic over 29 gauge Coffee Brown adds another $655.20. Against an installed range that spans $4,160, the color choice moves the total less than the profile, gauge or labor.
What colors go with a brown metal roof?
The pairings below are editorial guidance, not survey results. Each row names a maker brown with its published SRI and, where CMG prints it, LRV, so you can weigh how dark the roof will look against how hot it will run. Sheffield Metals names Craftsman, Tudor, Victorian, Ranch and Cape Cod as styles that take dark and medium bronze well.
| House exterior | Brown to consider | Published SRI / LRV | Why it works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Log walls or cedar siding | Dark Bronze or Burnished Slate | 24 to 30 / LRV 7 to 9 (CMG) | A darker roof than the logs separates roof from wall; Medium Bronze (LRV 11) can blend into mid-tone logs |
| Gray fieldstone or river rock | Burnished Slate | 33 (Metal Sales 49, Drexel, CMG) | Its gray undertone, per Sheffield, picks up gray stone where a red-leaning brown would clash |
| Tan or buff stone, stucco | Mansard Brown or Medium Bronze | 25 to 32 | A wall near CMG Sierra Tan (LRV 33) is three to four times lighter than Mansard Brown (LRV 7) or Medium Bronze (LRV 11), so the roof frames the wall without reading black |
| Red brick | Dark Bronze | 24 to 30 | Near-black brown frames brick; pull the shade from the mortar and darkest bricks, not the average brick face |
| White or cream board and batten | Medium Bronze with white trim | 27 to 31 | Clear contrast that stays brown; Sheffield lists Modern Farmhouse among styles that usually skip darker brown |
| Tan stucco in a hot, sunny climate | Sandstone or Sierra Tan | 40 to 69 | The highest SRI browns on the charts checked, up to 26°F cooler than Dark Bronze by calculation |
Gutters and window frames are where brown roofs most often mismatch. Drexel sells painted Dark Bronze and a separate Dark Bronze Anodized aluminum, and the two are made by different processes, so hold a roof chip against the actual window frame before ordering. Our bronze gutter color guide covers the bronze, dark bronze and musket brown gutter names that sit under a brown roof edge.
HOA covenants and historic-district guidelines can restrict roof color, and a review board can only approve a fixed product. Submitting the maker name, color code and SRI, for example Metal Sales Medium Bronze (H4), SRI 31, plus a physical chip, gives the board a specific product instead of the word “brown.”
Which brown metal roof should you pick?
Pick by four facts in this order: code (Title 24 or an HOA), sun exposure (PVDF for a south-facing roof), panel type (stock SMP browns for exposed-fastener barns, PVDF bronzes for standing seam), then shade. The table maps common situations to a specific product choice and the source behind it.
| If your situation is | Then choose | Reason, with source |
|---|---|---|
| California reroof in Climate Zone 4 or 8 to 15 | A CRRC-rated brown with aged SR 0.20 or more, such as Drexel Medium Bronze or Drexel Sandstone, both CRRC rated on Drexel’s chart | Drexel Midnight Bronze (SRI 1) and CMG Extra Dark Bronze (SRI 0) fail before aging |
| Hot, sunny site and you want brown | Sandstone, Mocha Tan or Sierra Tan | SRI 40 to 69; McElroy Sandstone calculates 26°F cooler than McElroy Dark Bronze |
| House roof in full sun, standing seam | PVDF Medium Bronze, Mansard Brown or Dark Bronze | Metal Sales PVDF: 5 Hunter units over 35 years, vs 6 NBS units over 30 years for its SMP roofs |
| Barn, shed or garage on a budget | 29 ga SMP Brown, Coffee Brown or Burnished Slate | $1.29 to $1.30 per sq ft of coverage at PBS Direct and Menards, Oct 2026 |
| Within 1,500 ft of salt water | Ask for a coastal-rated product or aluminum before ordering | Metal Sales PVDF terms require more than 1,500 ft; Colorfast45 terms more than 1,100 yards |
| You want brown but not near-black | Medium Bronze or Burnished Slate, not Dark Bronze | CMG LRV 11 and 9 vs Dark Bronze 7 and Matte Black 6 |
| Matte look, worried about waviness | CMG ULG Dark Bronze or Burnished Slate, or a striated panel | CMG: ULG reduces the appearance of oil canning; it costs 7 to 8 SRI points |
| Copper look without copper | Copper Penny metallic, ordered from one batch | SRI 45 to 57; 40% upcharge at PBS Direct; Fabral excludes mica colors from its fade warranty |
Real copper weathers from bright penny through brown toward green on its own schedule and is priced as a different material, while painted Copper Penny holds one color at SRI 45 to 57 on the charts above; our copper roofing guide covers those color stages and costs. For greens and reds with the same maker-by-maker data, see the green metal roof guide and the red metal roof guide.
How to order a brown metal roof without a shade mismatch
Most brown-roof color complaints come from ordering by name alone, because Mansard Brown alone spans SRI 25 to 32 across five charts. These seven steps tie the order to one maker, one paint code, one production batch and one warranty document.
- Pick the paint tier first. Stock SMP browns (Brown, Coffee Brown, Koko Brown, Cocoa Brown, Burnished Slate) come in 26 and 29 gauge; PVDF bronzes (Medium Bronze, Mansard Brown, Dark Bronze) are mostly 24 gauge, as on Metal America’s stock list.
- Get the maker name and paint code on the quote. Metal Sales codes its 24 ga PVDF browns Medium Bronze (H4), Mansard Brown (133) and Dark Bronze (50); Englert’s Dark Bronze is PPG 870T15.
- Get SR, emittance and SRI in writing, plus the CRRC product ID if Title 24 or a local cool roof rule applies. Drexel’s chart marks which browns are CRRC rated; its Burnished Slate and Midnight Bronze carry no mark.
- Request a physical chip and view it outdoors. Union Corrugating’s chart states that final color selection should be made from metal color chips, and a chip held next to logs or stone shows the gray or red undertone a screen hides.
- Buy every panel on one sales order. CMG’s 2026 chart says materials from separate sales orders should not be mixed on the same project, and Metal Sales says its metallic colors are batch specific.
- Order trim, closures and screws in the same color line. PBS Direct lists Panel-Loc Plus rake trim at $28.89 in Brown or Burnished Slate against $18.16 in Galvalume, so budget for painted trim.
- Read the roof terms of the paint warranty. Check the salt water distance (1,500 ft for Metal Sales PVDF) and the non-vertical fade limit (6 NBS units for Colorfast45 roofs).
For the full palette beyond brown, see our metal roof colors guide; for color choices by exposed-fastener profile, the corrugated metal roof colors guide; and for panel specs on Menards’ line, the Pro-Rib metal roofing guide.
Frequently asked questions
What color goes well with a brown metal roof?
Cream, tan, white and natural stone pair cleanly with a brown metal roof, and the shade sets the contrast. Medium Bronze (SRI 31, LRV 11 on CMG’s chart) stays visibly brown over white board and batten, Burnished Slate suits gray fieldstone because of its gray undertone, and Dark Bronze (LRV 7) frames red brick. Match gutters to the roof chip, not to a photo.
What’s the best color for a metal roof?
The best metal roof color is the one that meets your code and heat needs first. Whites such as McElroy Regal White PVDF (SRI 82) run coolest. Within the brown family, Sandstone (SRI 63 to 69) runs about 26°F cooler than Dark Bronze by ASTM E1980 calculation, while Dark Bronze gives the darkest brown look at SRI 24 to 30.
Do brown metal roofs fade?
Yes, slowly, and the paint warranty defines how much. Metal Sales caps fade on its PVDF browns, including Medium Bronze (H4) and Dark Bronze (50), at 5 Hunter units for 35 years. Its Colorfast45 SMP browns, such as Brown (12) and Burnished Slate (49), are warranted to 6 NBS units over 30 years on roofs. Budget polyester panels may carry only a 10-year paint warranty.
What are the most popular metal roof colors in 2026?
We found no national 2026 color sales ranking from a maker or trade group. Sheffield Metals says Dark Bronze and Medium Bronze are its two most popular browns, and it also says brown has been overtaken by Matte Black and gray tones. Metal America says Dark Brown and Koko Brown carry most of its brown roof work.
What are some common brown metal roof colors?
Common brown metal roof colors on maker charts are Dark Bronze, Medium Bronze, Mansard Brown, Burnished Slate, Coffee Brown, Cocoa Brown, Copper Penny, Sierra Tan, Buckskin and Sandstone. Near-black options include Drexel Midnight Bronze and CMG Extra Dark Bronze. SRI runs from 0 for Extra Dark Bronze to 69 for CMG and Englert Sandstone, so check the maker’s number, not just the name.
Is burnished slate brown or gray?
Burnished Slate is a brown. Sheffield Metals describes it as dark brown with gray undertones, and Metal Sales prints the same values for its Burnished Slate (49) and its plain Brown (12): SR 0.32 and SRI 33. On CMG’s 2026 chart, Burnished Slate has an LRV of 9, far darker than the true gray Slate Gray at 21.
Is burnished slate the same as dark bronze?
No. They are separate colors on the same CMG and Drexel charts. Burnished Slate is lighter and grayer: CMG lists it at SRI 33 and LRV 9 against Dark Bronze at SRI 27 and LRV 7, and Drexel lists Burnished Slate at SR 0.32 against Dark Bronze at 0.27. Burnished Slate is mostly an SMP stock color; Dark Bronze is mostly sold in PVDF.
What color is a dark bronze metal roof?
Dark Bronze is a near-black brown. On CMG’s 2026 chart it has a light reflectance value of 7, against 6 for Matte Black, so from the street it reads almost black and shows its brown only up close. Its SRI runs from 24 (McElroy PVDF) to 30 (Metal Sales 50, Englert 870T15) depending on the maker.
What is the least expensive metal roof color?
Bare Galvalume is the cheapest finish, and painted browns price the same as other standard colors. On October 19, 2026, PBS Direct listed a 12 ft 29 gauge MasterRib panel at $36.72 in Galvalume and $46.44 in every painted color, including Coffee Brown and Burnished Slate, a 26.5% premium. Copper Metallic cost 40% more than Burnished Slate in the Prime Panel-Loc Plus line.