Shield Wall Media surveys our partners in the industry on various topics of interest. Recently we sent out a color survey for 2025 and we are ready to share the results with you. We will check with some industry professionals to see what they are seeing, also the color experts have provided their Colors of the Year for 2025. We hope this will help you prepare for your customers’ needs throughout the year.

The survey was answered by 95% roofers and manufacturers. As you can see below, the popular roofing colors are lead by black, followed closely by gray, and brown in third. Interestingly, green, white, and Galvalume or galvanized are close behind. Tan, red and blue are pretty close contenders for the bottom rung. Approximately 11% of respondents added “Other” colors (Copper? Taupe?) as popular choices. This breakdown does not, however, take geography into consideration.

Colors by Geographical Location

Looking at it area by area, a general rule seems to be that the further west an area is, the fewer responses we had with only a handful in the Northwest and Southwest, though the Northeast also had a lower response. With that in mind, let’s look at what the survey said.

The data for the Northeast shows that the most popular color is gray, then black, then brown while tan, white and unpainted Galvalume/galvanized are the least popular on the list.

In the Southeast, brown is the number one color with Galvalume/galvanized second, and black not far behind. Gray is fourth after a large gap, then green. The other colors are all about equal at the bottom of the list.

The North-Midwest area prefers black then gray. The third choice, white, is far behind the first two. Green is close behind white and the other colors all hang around the bottom rung. 

Gray is number one in the South-Midwest with a three-way split for second: black, white, and Galvalume/galvanized. Tan takes third, and with a large gap between third and fourth, brown and green share fourth place. The others cluster at the bottom. 

The Northwest area has red, brown, gray, and green in a 4-way split for the most popular. Galvalume/galvanized is solidly at the bottom, while white, tan, blue, and black are tied in the middle.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, white shows up as the most popular color in the Southwest, with green in second and brown in third. The other colors at the bottom are pretty even in the ranking.

Color’s Importance in Selling Metal Roofing

Half of the survey respondents said that color is very important to their metal roof customers, about 42% said that color is extremely important, and about 7% said that it is somewhat important. No one said that it was not so important or not at all important. The conclusion is easily drawn that roof color matters to most customers.

When asked if most customers who come to talk about their new roof have a specific color in mind, 45% of respondents said yes, and 52% said that it was about 50/50. Only about 3% answered no. So, while many may know from the start what color they want (they may be trying to match other buildings on the property or they may be concerned about fitting in with the neighborhood aesthetics), there are also many who consult with their roofer when deciding.

Fifty-five percent of respondents said that when they helped a customer they showed them more than 10 color options, generally every choice they offer, but nearly 30% showed only 3-5 choices. 

Approximately 75% said that matching the soffit to the roof was somewhat important to extremely important.

A Few Words From the Metal Industry

How do suppliers decide what colors to provide for their customers in a new year? 

Scott Steele of Best Buy Metals said their purchasing team looks at the trends in their sales to determine if their lineup of the most popular colors will change.

“Black is always popular, matte and high gloss, and high definition with textured coatings to add depth to the metal” Steele said. “So those will always be in the lineup as well as white and bronze. For bronze it could be a dark bronze or medium bronze and again that depends on recent performance. An interesting note is that there is a current trend among consumers choosing products like the ULG (ultra low gloss) versus the HD product. Both of these have a matte finish but ULG does not incorporate a texture while HD does. In some cases there is also a change in gauge that is trending and affects our orders for heavier or more standard weights for coil.”

He expects to see more of the same colors dominating sales this year, namely black, bronze, and also gray. In some coastal areas, blue is becoming popular. Some building owners will opt for something different, like terra cotta for tiles, and textured tiles in a stone or sand color.

Kathi Miller at McElroy Metal said, “In 2024, black and gray hues continued to dominate residential and light commercial color choices. However, color selection can vary by market segment. For instance, industrial facilities often prioritize lighter colors to enhance energy efficiency, while residential projects may lean towards darker shades based on owner preference and curb appeal. Interestingly, regional location doesn’t seem to play a significant role in color choices,” Miller added.

Miller said her team anticipates that black shades will continue in popularity. They also see a growing interest in natural colors and wood grain patterns, reflecting a trend towards an organic, earthy aesthetic.

Miller added, “One important point to consider when helping a customer is the impact of color selection on warranty coverage. Certain colors, particularly vibrant shades like bright blues, reds, and oranges, may offer a reduced warranty. This is primarily due to the stability of the pigments used in their manufacturing process, which can affect their long-term performance.”

Carly Green of EDCO Products said that neutrals such as gray and sand tones dominate their roofing orders, though more unconventional residential homeowners may choose forest green or burgundy.  

“There are some colors that have a very short season, but typically high-trend colors last for several years,” Green said. “Building owners often choose timeless shades that are compatible with their existing structure or neighborhood. With that said, we are not expecting any major changes in color trends for 2025.” 

Green said they are constantly analyzing demand through sales data, regional trends and forecasts, and gathering feedback from customers and vendors. In addition, they watch media trends to help identify what is coming in the near future.

2025 Color of the Year

A look at what coating companies are forecasting for this year can be helpful in predicting what colors you should consider for your product lineup. Paint and finish companies generally have color teams that watch societal concerns, gauge the “collective head-space,” follow the trends and develop predictions of what consumers will be looking for in colors. This year their respective “Colors of the Year” appear to have one thing in common: They are bold.

BEHR Paint Company

BEHR Paint Company’s Color of the Year is called “Rumors,” a ruby red that adds a little drama while feeling warm and elegant. Behr’s research has shown that Americans feel that red can have a positive, energizing impact on their home. More than half of people surveyed felt that Rumors reminds them of a luxurious hospitality space, such as a high-end hotel.

Rumors is part of BEHR’s new palette, an annual selection of forward-looking colors, ranging from warm tones to cooler shades, coordinated to simplify the color selection process.

AkzoNobel 

AkzoNobel has introduced three inspiring color stories — Bold, Human, and Proud — designed to empower customers in the construction and domestic appliance markets to assist in setting their projects apart with style and creativity. The Bold Palette sparks courage to go beyond the ordinary, with bright, uplifting shades that inspire adventure. ‘Human’ embraces grounded, earthy tones, ideal for creating warm and natural backdrops that highlight craftsmanship and natural materials. ‘Proud’ celebrates individuality, offering confident, expressive colors that create spaces as unique as their creators. 

These palettes are anchored by AkzoNobel’s Color of the Year 2025, True Joy™, a vibrant sunny yellow that brings optimism, pride and a splash of vibrant color to metal architecture and domestic appliance markets.

PPG 

The PPG 2025 Color of the Year is Purple Basil, a dusty violet hue that is warm and inviting, yet cool and mysterious. It is part of PPG’s Kinetic line. 

“As consumers embrace an unprecedented period of newness, movement is a distinct global theme shaping design trends in numerous industries,” said Vanessa Peterson, PPG Color Design Manager, Industrial Coatings, US.  

“The Kinetic color theme reflects the need for self-reliance in a fast-paced world. It also highlights the interplay between nature and science that is driving innovation, and the influence of new tools like artificial intelligence that are fostering boundless creativity… We’re seeing color trends reflect the need for dynamic colors, moving past the soft, more banal, safe color choices in favor of rich jewel tones, deeper earthen pastels and ancestral-inspired midtones.”

Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams had a hard time choosing just one color for 2025, and so they went to a “color capsule” of  six shades Including neutrals that work with the bolder colors, the capsule  facilitates color mixing and matching.

“We wanted a modern, fresh take on color while creating a usable palette,” said Sherwin-Williams’ Senior Architectural Color Designer Brynn Wildenauer. “Our color experts curated six hues for the building products market that create stunning combinations and push the expectations of color in this industry.” MR