Best Roofing Materials for Hot Climates by Published Solar Reflectance
Roofing material types and shingle lines scored on published solar reflectance, ENERGY STAR or Cool Roof Rating Council listings, and documented heat tolerance.
Updated August 2026
Scope and methodology
Common residential roofing material categories and qualifying cool-roof shingle products.
Materials and qualifying products were scored on whether they carry an ENERGY STAR or Cool Roof Rating Council listing, the published solar reflectance and thermal emittance values where listed, and documented industry guidance on heat tolerance for the base material. Not every shingle color or product is CRRC listed, and lack of a listing does not necessarily mean poor performance, only that it is undocumented. HomeownerAnswers does not perform hands-on product testing and does not score on reputation, review counts, or customer satisfaction. Scores reflect only what each manufacturer publishes and what independent standards-body documentation supports. Ties are broken by the next-highest-weighted criterion, and any remaining tie is listed in rank order alphabetically by brand name with the tie disclosed in the entry caveat.
Whether the product or material category has qualifying listed products in either program's directory.
Specific reflectance and emittance figures published for listed products, where available.
Industry technical guidance on how the base material category performs under sustained high surface temperatures.
The ranking
- 1
Cool roof vs. standard roof
Cool-roof rated products publish the highest documented solar reflectance values
- Basis
- Cool-roof rated products, whether shingle, tile, or metal, are listed with CRRC or ENERGY STAR published reflectance and emittance values specifically because they are formulated or coated to reduce surface temperature.
- Best for
- Homeowners in hot climates prioritizing attic and surface temperature reduction over other selection factors.
- Caveat
- Cool-roof listed products are not available in every color or every base material, and dark cool-roof shingles publish lower reflectance than light ones.
- 2
Metal roof vs. tile roof
Both document strong high-heat performance with reflective coating options
- Basis
- Metal roofing with reflective coatings and light-colored concrete or clay tile both appear in CRRC and ENERGY STAR listings, and both are documented in industry literature as tolerating sustained high surface temperatures without the material degradation asphalt can show.
- Best for
- New construction or full re-roofs in sustained high-heat climates.
- Caveat
- Reflectance depends heavily on coating and color; an unfinished or dark metal panel does not automatically qualify as a cool roof.
- 3
GAF vs. Owens Corning cool-roof qualifying shingle lines
Both publish select ENERGY STAR qualifying shingle colors
- Basis
- Both brands publish select shingle colors within their architectural lines that qualify for ENERGY STAR based on published solar reflectance values, though the qualifying colors are a subset of the full lineup.
- Best for
- Homeowners who want to stay with a mainstream asphalt shingle brand while selecting a cool-roof qualifying color.
- Caveat
- Only specific colors within each lineup qualify; the base architectural shingle line is not cool-roof rated as a whole.
- 4
Architectural shingles vs. 3-tab shingles
Neither category leads on reflectance; both depend on granule color choice
- Basis
- Solar reflectance in asphalt shingles is driven primarily by granule color and coating rather than by shingle profile, so architectural and 3-tab shingles perform similarly in hot climates when the same reflective granule color is chosen.
- Best for
- Homeowners prioritizing budget over solar reflectance gains within the asphalt shingle category.
- Caveat
- Neither asphalt category matches the documented reflectance ceiling of metal, tile, or purpose-built cool-roof products.
What this ranking does not score
- Actual attic or interior temperature reduction in a specific home, which depends on insulation, ventilation, and roof orientation that this ranking cannot observe.
- Utility bill savings, which depend on local electricity rates and HVAC system efficiency, not the roofing material alone.
Comparisons behind this ranking
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Other roofing rankings
Sources
- ENERGY STAR roof products criteria · Government, checked 2026-08-03, confidence: high
- Cool Roof Rating Council rated products directory · Independent testing, checked 2026-08-03, confidence: medium. Listings are self-reported by manufacturers to CRRC test methodology; not every shingle line is listed.
- ASTM D3161 and D7158 wind resistance test standards · Independent testing, checked 2026-08-03, confidence: high
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