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. Distributors stock different subsets of the seven, so confirm the exact blend with yours before you commit; the blue, green and red blends are the likeliest to be special-order.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
| If your house has… | Then pick |
|---|---|
| Mixed or unchanged siding, brick or stone, and resale in mind | Antique Slate or Weathered Slate |
| White siding or trim, or red brick, and you want contrast | Royal Slate |
| A small or light-colored exterior | English Gray Slate |
| Tudor, cottage or stone facades | Emerald Green Slate |
| Colonial, historic or coastal character | Slate Red Blend or Mariner Blue Slate |
| Hail exposure and an insurer that discounts Class 4 (UL 2218) roofs | A Class 4 slate-look shingle such as Atlas StormMaster Slate instead |
The full GAF Slateline color palette (2026)
Each of the seven blends is a variegated mix of tones rather than one flat shade. The pairings in the last column are editorial suggestions, not GAF recommendations.
| 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’s charcoal-with-brown variegation suits the widest range of exteriors. The green, blue and red blends copy the naturally colored slates historically quarried in Vermont, and carry the strongest period-home look.
What GAF Slateline actually is
Slateline is a laminated (architectural) asphalt shingle in GAF’s Designer tier. Tapered, oversized tabs and exaggerated shadow lines make the finished roof read as individual slate tiles. It sits above standard Timberline architectural shingles and below true synthetic slate in both look and price.
As a fiberglass-mat asphalt shingle (installed under IRC Chapter 9 (R905.2 covers asphalt shingles)), it goes over a normal deck, unlike real slate at 800 to 1,500 pounds per square, which often needs a reinforced structure. Shingle product standards and installation guidance are published by Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association (ARMA) and the NRCA. 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 fixed materials first (brick, stone, siding you are not changing), then to the home’s period. Starting pairings:
- Neutral, resale-safe pick: Antique Slate or Weathered Slate. Both are neutral grays that suit most siding.
- 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 first; a variegated blend looks different across a full roof plane than on one shingle.
GAF Slateline specs at a glance
The figures below were compiled from GAF’s published Slateline literature and retail listings and were not re-measured; GAF’s site blocked automated checking on the review date, so confirm every row, especially the warranty term and algae-protection branding, against the data sheet and the bundle wrapper.
| 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 |
Hail country matters here. The table lists no Class 4 (UL 2218) rating, so Slateline would not earn the premium discounts some carriers give Class 4 roofs; ask your insurer which rating it requires.
Is Slateline the best slate-look asphalt shingle?
Slateline is the lowest-priced slate-look shingle in the table below, but CertainTeed and Owens Corning make more dimensional slate-look designer shingles, and Atlas makes a Class 4 slate-look shingle for hail zones.
| 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 at $4.50 to $7.50 per sq ft. 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
On the table’s midpoints, a Slateline roof ($6 per sq ft) costs about 40% of synthetic slate ($15) and about a quarter of natural slate ($22.50). These are editorial 2026 installed estimates, not quotes, so get local bids.
| 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 |
Synthetic slate lasts 40 to 50 years against Slateline’s 25 to 30; see synthetic (composite) slate if budget allows. If you want the slate style at asphalt prices and accept 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.
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.
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. Stocking varies by distributor, and the green, blue and red blends are the likeliest to be 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.
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.