Dark roofs are having a moment. Charcoal gray, matte black, and burnished slate top the list for modern homes, farmhouses, and barndominiums. Here’s a look at the most popular dark metal roof colors and where each one shines.

The three most popular dark colors

Charcoal gray

Charcoal is the crowd favorite. It reads dark from the street but softer than pure black, and it pairs with almost any siding, from white board and batten to wood-look.

Matte black

Black is bold and modern. It looks striking on a farmhouse or a barndominium, especially with black-framed windows and black trim.

Burnished slate

Burnished slate is a deep brown-gray. It’s a warmer take on a dark roof and looks right at home in a wooded, rural setting like ours.

A note on heat and fade

Dark roofs do absorb more heat than light ones, so good attic ventilation helps (ENERGY STAR roofing). As for fade, our panels use a Sherwin-Williams WeatherXL finish with a 40-year paint warranty, so the color holds for decades. Order free samples before you commit.

Pair it with the right finish

Dark roofs look great over wood-look siding or a crisp white wall. Browse the full palette on our colors page, and if you’re stuck, our guide on how to choose a color walks you through it.

FAQ

Is a black metal roof a bad idea in a hot climate?

It absorbs more heat, but proper ventilation and a reflective pigment help. In the Northwest it’s rarely an issue.

Will a dark metal roof fade?

Very slowly. A quality WeatherXL finish is warrantied to hold its color for 40 years.

Bottom line: charcoal, black, and slate lead the dark-roof trend. Request free samples and see them in your light.