Construction
Roofing Square Calculator
Enter your roof footprint, pitch, and complexity to estimate total roof area, the number of roofing squares (100 sq ft each), and how many shingle bundles to order including a waste allowance.
Quick answer: Divide your total sloped roof area by 100 to get roofing squares; asphalt shingles come 3 bundles per square, so a 16-square roof needs about 48 bundles plus 5–15% waste.
- Ground footprint1,500 sq ft
- Pitch factor (4/12)×1.054
- Roofing squares15.8
- Bundles (3 per square)47
- Waste allowance (5%)+2
- Total bundles to order50
Uses NRCA pitch multipliers and standard 3-bundle-per-square packaging. Actual quantities depend on roof geometry, starter, ridge, and hip/valley trim. Confirm with your contractor’s measured take-off before ordering.
How it works
1. Start with the footprint
Measure the ground area the roof covers (length × width). A steeper roof has more surface than its footprint — the calculator applies an NRCA pitch multiplier to convert.
2. Convert to squares
Divide roof area by 100 to get roofing squares. Asphalt shingles are packaged three bundles per square.
3. Add waste
Simple gable roofs waste ~5%; hips and valleys push to ~10%; cut-up roofs with many dormers waste ~15%. The result is rounded up to whole bundles.
Frequently asked questions
How many roofing squares is my roof?
Divide the total sloped roof area by 100. A roof over a 1,500 sq ft footprint at a 6/12 pitch is about 16.8 squares before waste. The calculator handles the pitch math for you.
How many shingle bundles per square?
Standard architectural and 3-tab asphalt shingles come three bundles to a square. Add 5–15% waste depending on roof complexity.
What is a roof pitch multiplier?
It converts flat footprint area into actual sloped area. A 4/12 pitch multiplies by about 1.054; a 12/12 pitch multiplies by 1.414. Steeper roofs need more material.