By The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed: October 2026.
TPO roofing colors start with three stocked standards, white, gray and tan, from Carlisle, Versico, GAF, Mule-Hide, WeatherBond and Johns Manville. On top of those, Carlisle, Versico, WeatherBond and Mule-Hide sell the same five special colors (Medium Bronze, Rock Brown, Slate Gray, Terra Cotta and Patina Green), while GAF’s EverGuard color guide lists 17 numbered colors such as Terra Cotta 815 and Hartford Green 384. Color is not only a look: Carlisle’s 2026 data sheet rates white Sure-Weld at 0.79 initial solar reflectance and Medium Bronze at 0.12, which decides heat gain and whether the roof passes California’s cool-roof rule.
What colors does TPO roofing come in?
TPO membrane ships in three standard colors from nearly every manufacturer: white, gray, and tan. The Carlisle Sure-Weld TPO product data sheet (01.28.26) lists White, Gray and Tan as standard colors, and the JM TPO 60 mil data sheet (RS-8633) lists the same three, noting that Grey and Tan lead times depend on availability.
Color in TPO is compounded into the top ply rather than painted on, so it will not peel the way a field-applied coating can. Color still changes with sun exposure: Carlisle’s and Versico’s color sell sheets both state that special color membranes “will fade over time mainly due to the ultraviolet portion of sunlight” and that their warranties do not cover fading of colors.
- White: the industry default; 0.79 initial solar reflectance on Carlisle Sure-Weld and 0.77 on JM TPO, per each maker’s data sheet.
- Gray: hides dirt and foot-traffic marks; 0.46 initial on Carlisle and 0.35 on JM, so it gives up roughly half of white’s reflectance.
- Tan: a warm neutral for brick and stucco parapets; 0.71 initial on Carlisle and 0.67 on JM, close enough to white that both makers list tan as California Title 24 compliant.
TPO color chart by manufacturer
The table below compiles each maker’s published color list. Carlisle, Versico, WeatherBond and Mule-Hide share one five-color special palette, so a Slate Gray roof can usually be quoted from more than one brand, while GAF publishes its own numbered colors.
| Manufacturer and line | Standard (stocked) colors | Special or extended colors | Order terms | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle Sure-Weld TPO | White, Gray, Tan | Rock Brown, Slate Gray, Terra Cotta, Patina Green, Medium Bronze | Special colors in 10 ft x 100 ft reinforced sheets and 24 in x 50 ft flashing; 80-mil special colors limited to warranties up to 20 years | Carlisle TPO Color Palette; Sure-Weld PDS 01.28.26 |
| Versico VersiWeld TPO | White, Gray, Tan | Medium Bronze, Rock Brown, Slate Gray, Terra Cotta, Patina Green | 10 ft x 100 ft reinforced sheets; warranties exclude color fading | VersiWeld TPO Color Palette Sell Sheet (03.31.20) |
| GAF EverGuard TPO | White 920, Gray 345, Slate Gray 740, Energy Gray 322, Tan 820, Energy Tan 822, Dark Bronze 220 | Dark Brown 229, Terra Cotta 815, Regal Red 661, Regal Blue 663, Electric Blue 274, Sky Blue 124, Hartford Green 384, Patina Green 541, Goldenrod 353, Desert Tan 247 | Pre-formulated colors: 400-square (40,000 sq ft) minimum, 4 to 6 week lead time; custom colors: 400 squares, 6 to 8 weeks; fleece-back only in White, Gray 345 or Tan 820 | GAF EverGuard TPO Color Membrane; EverGuard TPO Color Guide COMEG144 (2023) |
| Mule-Hide TPO Colorway | White, Gray, Tan (Standard TPO) | Medium Bronze, Patina Green, Rock Brown, Slate Gray, Terra Cotta | 60 and 80 mil, 5 ft and 10 ft widths x 100 ft; up to a 20-year system warranty | Mule-Hide TPO Colorway |
| WeatherBond HS TPO | White, Gray, Tan | Medium Bronze, Rock Brown, Slate Gray, Terra Cotta, Patina Green | 10 ft x 100 ft reinforced sheets; request a physical sample | WeatherBond TPO Color Palette (03.31.20) |
| Johns Manville JM TPO | White, Grey, Tan | None listed on the 60 mil data sheet | Grey and Tan lead times subject to availability | JM TPO 60 mil data sheet RS-8633 |
What premium and custom TPO colors are available?
Beyond white, gray, and tan, four brands share one special palette: Rock Brown, Slate Gray, Terra Cotta, Patina Green, and Medium Bronze appear on the Carlisle, Versico, WeatherBond and Mule-Hide sheets. Our Carlisle SynTec review lists Carlisle TPO colors and their SRI values. GAF goes further, with 17 numbered EverGuard colors from Regal Red 661 to Sky Blue 124, and its 2023 color guide states that GAF “can manufacture virtually any color you need” as a custom order.
The cost of a special color shows up as order size and lead time more than as a published price. GAF sets a 400-square (40,000 sq ft) minimum on pre-formulated and custom colors, with 4 to 6 and 6 to 8 week lead times, so a 30-square amenity deck may have to use a color a distributor already stocks. Special colors matter most on stepped roofs, rooftop amenity decks and low-slope sections that upper floors look down on. Where the visible surface is a sloped metal roof instead, color selection follows different rules, which our guide to metal roof colors and their energy tradeoffs walks through.
| Color tier | Typical shades | Availability | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | White, gray, tan | Stocked, all manufacturers | Baseline |
| Extended | Slate gray, medium bronze, rock brown | Made to order, most manufacturers | Higher, minimum quantity |
| Specialty | Terra cotta, patina green, custom match | Limited, longer lead time | Highest |
How does TPO color affect energy and reflectivity?
Color drives how much solar energy a TPO roof reflects instead of absorbing. Carlisle’s data sheet rates white Sure-Weld at 0.79 initial and 0.70 after three years of weathering, while its darkest special color, Medium Bronze, reflects 0.12 of incoming sunlight, so a bronze roof absorbs roughly four times as much solar energy as a clean white one.
The figures below are the manufacturer-published values for named products, rated under the Cool Roof Rating Council method (ASTM C1549 reflectance, ASTM C1371 emittance, SRI per ASTM E1980). Aged values matter more than initial ones, because codes check the three-year aged number.
| TPO color (product) | Initial solar reflectance | 3-year aged reflectance | SRI initial / aged | Cool-roof rated? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White (Carlisle Sure-Weld) | 0.79 | 0.70 | 99 / 85 | Yes, Title 24 compliant | Carlisle PDS 01.28.26 |
| Tan (Carlisle Sure-Weld) | 0.71 | 0.64 | 86 / 77 | Yes, Title 24 compliant | Carlisle PDS 01.28.26 |
| Gray (Carlisle Sure-Weld) | 0.46 | 0.43 | 52 / 49 | No for Title 24 nonresidential low-slope | Carlisle PDS 01.28.26 |
| White (JM TPO 60 mil) | 0.77 | Not listed | 95 / not listed | Title 24 pass | JM RS-8633 |
| Tan (JM TPO 60 mil) | 0.67 | Not listed | 81 / not listed | Title 24 pass | JM RS-8633 |
| Grey (JM TPO 60 mil) | 0.35 | Not listed | 39 / not listed | Not listed as passing | JM RS-8633 |
| Patina Green or Terra Cotta (Carlisle) | 0.25 | Not listed | 25 or 24 initial | No | Carlisle PDS 01.28.26 |
| Rock Brown (Carlisle) | 0.23 | Not listed | 23 initial | No | Carlisle PDS 01.28.26 |
| Slate Gray (Carlisle) | 0.20 | Not listed | 18 initial | No | Carlisle PDS 01.28.26 |
| Medium Bronze (Carlisle) | 0.12 | Not listed | 8 initial | No | Carlisle PDS 01.28.26 |
How much this matters depends on climate. In cooling-dominated regions the drop from Carlisle Sure-Weld white at 0.70 aged reflectance to Sure-Weld gray at 0.43 adds air-conditioning load under the roof, while in heating-dominated regions the penalty is smaller and some owners pick gray so snow melts sooner. Our cool roof energy savings report breaks the savings down by climate zone.
Does TPO color affect code compliance?
Yes. California’s 2025 Energy Code, per the California Energy Commission’s nonresidential cool roof guidance, requires new nonresidential low-sloped roofs (under 2:12) in all climate zones to reach an aged solar reflectance of at least 0.63 with thermal emittance of at least 0.75, or an SRI of at least 75. Carlisle white (0.70 aged) and tan (0.64 aged, SRI 77) clear that bar; Carlisle gray (0.43 aged, SRI 49) does not.
The same CEC page lists three exceptions: wood-framed roofs in climate zones 3 and 5 with an assembly U-factor of 0.034 or lower, roofs carrying at least 25 lb/sq ft over the membrane (ballast or pavers), and a lower reflectance traded off against a better roof U-factor from Table 140.3. Reroofs trigger the rule when more than 50 percent or 2,000 sq ft of the roof, whichever is less, is replaced or recovered. Outside California, ask the building department which energy code edition and cool-roof ordinance applies and get the threshold in writing.
- California Title 24 (2025), nonresidential low-slope: aged SR 0.63 and emittance 0.75, or SRI 75, per CEC.
- Hotel and motel guest rooms, climate zones 9 to 11 and 13 to 15: aged SR 0.55 and emittance 0.75, or SRI 64, per CEC.
- CRRC: the Cool Roof Rating Council rates each product’s initial and aged reflectance and emittance, and Title 24 requires CRRC-rated, labeled products to take credit.
Is colored TPO worth the extra cost?
Colored TPO is worth it when the roof is visible and the building can absorb a 400-square minimum order or a stocked special color, and it is a poor trade when the roof is hidden. Darker shades give up reflectance (0.12 to 0.25 initial for the Carlisle special colors versus 0.79 for white), so on a flat commercial roof nobody sees, white wins on energy and on lead time.
| If your roof is… | Choose | Why (threshold) |
|---|---|---|
| Not visible from the street or upper floors | White | Highest reflectance (0.79 initial, 0.70 aged on Carlisle) and stocked by every maker |
| New nonresidential low-slope in California | White or tan | Needs aged SR 0.63 or SRI 75; Carlisle tan is 0.64 aged, gray is 0.43 |
| Visible, in a heating-dominated climate, no cool-roof rule | Gray or tan | Hides dirt and traffic marks; energy penalty is smaller where heating dominates |
| Visible amenity deck or stepped roof needing a brand color | Special color (Slate Gray, Rock Brown, Terra Cotta, Patina Green, Medium Bronze) | Expect fading outside warranty coverage and, at GAF, a 400-square minimum |
| Needs a non-catalog color match | GAF custom color | 400-square minimum, 6 to 8 week lead time per GAF |
| Carrying 25 lb/sq ft or more of pavers or ballast | Any color | Title 24 exempts the membrane color under that load, per CEC |
For the underlying membrane economics, see our breakdown of TPO cost per square by mil.
How to choose a TPO color
Pick a TPO color by working through visibility, climate, code, and cost in that order. Reflectance and code usually decide the answer before aesthetics get a vote: in California, only products with a CRRC aged reflectance of 0.63 or an SRI of 75 qualify for new nonresidential low-slope work.
- Check visibility. If no one sees the roof, default to white and stop here.
- Check the climate. In cooling-dominated regions, compare the aged reflectance of each candidate (for example 0.70 white vs 0.43 gray on Carlisle Sure-Weld).
- Check the code. Ask the building department for the cool-roof minimum, if any, and look up the product’s CRRC rating.
- Price the premium. Get the upcharge, minimum order (400 squares at GAF) and lead time for any non-standard color in writing.
- View a physical sample outdoors. GAF’s color guide tells buyers to view the actual sample outdoors under different lighting, because printed chips are approximations.
TPO is one of several single-ply options, and color availability differs across membranes. Compare the systems in our low-slope roof systems overview, see how the material stacks up against its main rival in TPO vs PVC membrane, and start with the fundamentals in our guide to TPO roofing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common TPO color?
White is the default TPO color and the one every maker stocks. Carlisle rates white Sure-Weld at 0.79 initial and 0.70 aged solar reflectance, and JM rates white JM TPO at 0.77 initial. Gray and tan are the other two standard colors; everything else is a special color.
Does TPO come in black?
Black is not on the Carlisle, Versico, Mule-Hide, WeatherBond or JM color lists, and GAF’s EverGuard chart does not list it either, though GAF offers custom colors with a 400-square minimum. The darkest listed special color, Carlisle Medium Bronze, reflects 0.12 of sunlight with an SRI of 8, which fails California’s low-slope cool-roof rule.
Is colored TPO more expensive than white?
Usually, mainly through order size and lead time. GAF requires a 400-square (40,000 sq ft) minimum for pre-formulated colors with a 4 to 6 week lead time, and Carlisle limits 80-mil special colors to warranties of up to 20 years. Get the per-square upcharge in writing from the distributor.
Does TPO fade over time?
Yes. Carlisle and Versico state that special color membranes fade over time, mainly from UV exposure, and that their warranties do not cover color fading. Reflectance also drops with weathering: Carlisle Sure-Weld white falls from 0.79 initial to 0.70 after three years.
Can you get TPO in a custom color to match a building?
Yes, from GAF, which states it can manufacture virtually any color as a custom order with a 400-square minimum and a 6 to 8 week lead time. For smaller roofs, the shared five-color palette sold by Carlisle, Versico, WeatherBond and Mule-Hide (Slate Gray, Medium Bronze, Rock Brown, Terra Cotta, Patina Green) is the practical option.
Does a colored TPO roof still qualify as a cool roof?
Tan can; gray and the special colors usually cannot. Under California’s 2025 Energy Code a new nonresidential low-slope roof needs an aged solar reflectance of 0.63 or an SRI of 75. Carlisle tan rates 0.64 aged, gray 0.43 aged, and the special colors 0.12 to 0.25 initial.