How do you estimate roof shingles needed?

Calculating the number of roof shingles that are needed when either replacing the shingles or putting down new ones is very critical when determining the extent of replacement and the financial implication in terms of time. An accurate calculation can save both money and effort in under or overbuying. So, How do you estimate roof shingles needed?

This guide provides simple steps on how to calculate the number of shingles necessary!

Step One: Accurate Roof Area Measurement

As your initial step, take an accurate measure of the area covered by your roof.

Break Your Roof Down into Sections

Roofs don’t usually form one flat surface; therefore, each section or slope must be measured individually to accurately represent its area of coverage.

Measure Length and Width in Feet

Use a tape measure to obtain measurements in feet for both length and width, multiply these figures, and then calculate their area to get your total area estimate for each section.

Example: Assuming one section of roof measures 20 feet long by 15 feet wide, its coverage area equals 300 square feet (20×15=300).

Add All Sections Together

Once all areas of the roof have been measured, add them together to determine its total square footage area.

Step Two: Convert Roof Area to Squares

Roofers usually calculate how many shingles they require using “squares.” One square equals 100 square feet of roofing area. To convert the roof area to squares, divide its total square footage by 100.

Example: For roofs covering 2,000 square feet, divide by 100. This gives 20 squares.

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Step Three: Understand Shingle Packages

Roof shingles are sold in bundles. A bundle is defined as one pack of roof shingles covering one-third of a square, about 33 square feet in total area coverage.

One bundle covers 33 square feet; therefore, to cover one 100-square-foot roof area you will require three bundles for roofing purposes.

Example: For a roof covering 20 squares, 60 bundles of shingles (20 squares x 3 bundles).

Step Four: Determine Roof Pitch and Waste Factor

Roof Pitch

Your roof’s pitch or slope determines the number of shingles needed. Steeper pitches have greater surface areas so more shingles may be necessary. Higher-pitch roofs (more than 6/12 pitch) also need additional ones due to this increased surface area and will need extra ones as a result of increased roof surface area.

Waste Factor 

Always factor 10-15% of the total for waste when making calculations for roofing installation costs, to cover unexpected cutting or mistakes during assembly as well as damage caused during shingle replacement.

Example: Assuming you need 60 bundles for the roof, adding 10% for waste means an additional 6 bundles will be necessary (60×0.10 = 6). Therefore, to have everything covered you’d require 66 bundles total.

Step Five: Calculating Valleys and Ridges

Valleys and ridges are areas where two roof sections meet, necessitating extra attention because these locations often necessitate additional roofing material for installation.

• Valley Shingles: Due to their shape, roofing valleys usually require additional shingles than regular sections of roofing.
• Ridge Caps: Shingles for ridge caps can often be cut directly from regular roofing material; however, extra material will likely be necessary.

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Final Calculations

With all our measurements completed and pitch adjusted appropriately and an extra portion allocated as waste added on top, your final number should give a fairly accurate indication of how many shingles we require for roofing our home or building project.

Example: For a roof covering an area of 2,000 square feet with 10% waste and standard pitch, approximately 66 bundles of shingles would be necessary.

The Bottom Line

How do you estimate roof shingles needed? Estimating how many roof shingles you need doesn’t need to be an overwhelming process. Simply measure your roof area, convert it into squares, and factor waste/roof pitch into your calculations for accurate shingle purchases – without extra trips back and forth from the store! This should allow for efficient roofing projects without unnecessary purchases being needed at every corner.