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Reviewed by Dominik Czernia, PhD and Adena Benn Last updated: Sep 24, 2022 If you're looking for an easy way to estimate how much building materials you'll need for a roofing project, this roof shingle calculator is just the tool you need. With its help, the question of "How many shingles do I need" will be answered in no time. Read the article next to the shingle calculator if, on top of getting the math done, you want to learn more about how to calculate roof shingles. You can also check the rafter length calculator to analyze the dimensions of your roof trusses! How to use the roof shingle calculatorAs you can see, our shingle calculator is relatively short and straightforward. Thanks to that, using it should be no problem! All you need to do is:
How to calculate roof shingles in bundlesThe roof shingle calculator does the work for you, allowing you to relax and focus on other parts of your project. Still, we understand that you might feel more confident in its results if you learn how to do the math yourself! Without further ado, let's look at how to calculate roof shingles by hand. We will break the equation into smaller parts until you get all the pieces of the puzzle! The shortest, most straightforward answer to the question of how to calculate roof shingles is this beautiful little equation:
That is because the average bundle of shingles covers about 33.3 ft², and a square is simply an area unit covering 100 ft², so if you'd like to calculate a roof's area in squares, you'd simply divide the roof area in feet by 100 and, most likely, round it up.
🔎 Are you working with the metric system? Don't worry - head to our length converter 📏 to get the values in a unit you are more conformable with. If you are interested, you can read on to the next section of this article to learn more about squares in construction. For now, though, this short explanation will do. Now, let's break down the base roof shingle equation and learn how to measure a roof for shingles. We have the area in squares. But how do we get the area in "normal" units? To do that, we need to start with the very basic area equation:
If your roof is completely flat - that's it! But flat roofs are relatively rare, and, in most cases, they do not typically require shingles. What about a more orthodox, sloped roof? In such a case, the above equation serves to calculate the roof's footprint - the area under the roof. To get the area of the roof with the slope included calculated, one more element needs to be added to the formula:
The roof pitch multiplier is a fixed value used specifically for calculating sloped roofs' area. It depends on the roof pitch. We included the multiplier values in the text field in our calculator - if you're interested in how it changes, click through the different roof pitches to see it! 🙋 Most shops sell shingles by the bundle, so the equations presented above should suffice for your needs. But what if you want to know the specific number of shingles? 🤔 There's no additional complicated formula for this - the bundle equation is accurate and reliable enough to simply multiply the number of bundles by how many shingles there are in one. In the vast majority of cases, that number will be 29. What is a square in construction?A square is an imperial unit of area used specifically in the construction business in the US and Canada. It is equal to 100 square feet. Typically, you can expect to see squares in calculations connected with roofing, and it's also not uncommon to use it for siding materials, like wallpaper or drywall. The unit can come in handy in the case of larger construction endeavors. Roofing materials calculator - a beginner's guide to shinglesNow that you've used the roof shingle calculator, you know how many to get. Not only that - you've also learned how to calculate roof shingles on your own. There's one question left to answer - what kind of shingles should you get in the first place? If you want to consider the total cost of your roof, check our roofing calculator, which is an excellent tool prepared for that purpose. We also recommend that you consult a construction specialist who will help you find a material that best suits your needs. Before you do, however, consider checking out this short list of the most common shingle materials with their pros and cons - just so that you know what to expect! This should explain what roof shingles are suitable for: 1. Asphalt shingles: Pros:
Cons:
3. Wooden shingles: Pros:
Cons:
3. Metal shingles: Pros:
Cons:
4. Clay or concrete shingles: Pros:
Cons:
FAQHow many shingles are in a bundle?Typically, one bundle has 29 standard shingles with a dimension of 12" × 36". This may occasionally vary, depending on the provider. Therefore, you need to check it beforehand.
How many shingles do i need?To find out how many shingles you need for your roof:
How do I measure a roof for shingles?You need three dimensions to find the number of needed shingles for your roof:
Roof dimensions Metal roof costRafter lengthRoofing… 3 more How many bundles of shingles do I need calculator?This makes it relatively easy to figure out how many shingle bundles your roof requires: simply multiply the number of roofing squares by three. If your roof's area were equivalent to about 20 roofing squares, then you would need about 60 bundles of shingles.
How much does 3 bundles of shingles cover?You usually purchase shingles by the bundle. Standard shingles are 12 by 36 inches and come 29 to a package. Most shingles come 3 bundles to a square — which is equal to 100 square feet.
How many shingles do I need for a 12x12 roof?The average size of 12×12 shed roof is 3 squares, which typically requires 9 bundles of three-tab asphalt shingles or any other starter strips.
How many bundles of shingles do I need for a 2000 square foot roof?Once you've determined the square footage you need to cover, you can figure out the number of bundles you need by dividing the total square footage by 33. Example: if you have 2,000 square feet of roof to cover, that means you'd need about 60 bundles (2,000 divided by 33 is about 60).
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