Asphalt vs metal roof in hail: which holds up better?
By Best Roofing Answers · Published May 2026 · Updated July 2026
In hail, an impact-rated Class 4 (UL 2218) asphalt shingle and a heavy-gauge (24-gauge) standing-seam metal roof both perform well against hail up to about 2 inches; below Class 4 rating, asphalt commonly bruises at 1-inch hail while metal shows cosmetic denting but usually retains function.
What UL 2218 and IBHS say
Per IBHS impact testing and UL 2218 (the industry standard for impact resistance), Class 4 rated asphalt shingles resist a 2-inch steel-ball impact without functional damage. Some insurers offer 5–30% premium discounts for Class 4 shingles in hail states like TX, OK, CO, KS, and NE.
Metal roofs almost never leak from hail — the failure mode is cosmetic denting, which some insurers exclude under a 'cosmetic damage waiver' at reduced premium. Read the endorsement carefully.
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