Convert your roof area into squares and shingle bundles.
A roofing square is 100 sq ft of roof — the unit roofers price in. Enter your area, choose your pitch (or leave it flat if you already have the true roof area), and add a waste factor to see squares and shingle bundles. Not sure of your pitch? Use the roof pitch calculator first.
Estimates for planning only. A professional measurement (we use satellite + drone) gives exact quantities and accounts for starter strip, hip & ridge cap, and underlayment separately.
A roofing square equals 100 square feet of roof surface. It's the unit every roofer, supplier, and manufacturer uses to measure and price a roof, because it keeps the math simple: a 2,000 sq ft roof is 20 squares. When you get quotes, the price is almost always built up from a per-square number.
There are three steps:
Most architectural and 3-tab shingles are packaged 3 bundles per square. Heavier designer and luxury (slate- or shake-look) shingles run 4 or 5 bundles per square because each shingle is thicker and covers less. Always confirm the bundle count printed on the product wrapper before ordering.
Squares tell you the field-shingle quantity, but a complete roof also needs underlayment, starter strip, hip & ridge cap shingles, drip edge, flashing, and ventilation — see the parts of a roof guide for what each does. When you're ready for real numbers, run the roof cost calculator or read our roof replacement cost guide.
Want it measured exactly? RISE Roofing provides free satellite-and-drone measurements with a line-item quote. Call (832) 224-3435.
A roofing square is 100 square feet of roof surface — the standard unit roofers and manufacturers use to measure and price a roof. A 2,000 sq ft roof is 20 squares.
Most architectural (dimensional) shingles come 3 bundles to the square. Some heavier designer shingles run 4 or 5 bundles per square, and 3-tab shingles are also usually 3 bundles per square. Always confirm the bundle count on the specific product wrapper.
Cuts at hips, valleys, rakes, and around penetrations create offcuts you can't reuse, so you order extra. A simple gable roof needs about 10% waste; a complex roof with many valleys, dormers, and hips can need 15% or more.
Yes. Your ground footprint is not your roof area — a steeper roof has more surface. Multiply the footprint by the slope factor for your pitch (for example about 1.118 for a 6:12 roof) to get the true roof area before converting to squares. Use our roof pitch calculator to find your slope factor.
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