Shingle Calculator
Find out how many bundles of shingles to buy, plus the starter strip, ridge cap, underlayment, drip edge and nails that go with them.
How to measure eaves, rakes and ridges
Eaves are the bottom edges where gutters hang. Rakes are the sloped edges on the gable ends. Ridges are the peaks and hips are the sloped peaks on a hip roof.
On a simple gable house, eaves are about twice the house length, rakes are four times the rafter length, and the ridge is the house length. You can measure eaves from the ground with a tape along the gutters.
Shingle questions
How many bundles of shingles are in a square?
Most architectural and 3-tab shingles come 3 bundles per square (100 sq ft). Heavier designer shingles are often 4 or 5 bundles per square. The bundle label lists its coverage.
How many square feet does a bundle of shingles cover?
A standard bundle covers about 33.3 square feet, so three bundles cover one 100 sq ft square.
How many bundles do I need for a 2,000 sq ft roof?
2,000 sq ft is 20 squares. With 10% waste that is 22 squares, or 66 bundles of 3-bundle-per-square shingles.
Do I need starter shingles and ridge cap?
Yes. Starter strip goes along the eaves and rakes, and hip and ridge cap covers ridges and hips. Using cut 3-tabs instead is allowed by some manufacturers but can void wind warranties.
How many nails per square?
About 320 nails per square at 4 nails per shingle, more in high-wind zones where 6 nails per shingle are required. That is roughly 2 to 3 lb of 1¼ in roofing nails per square.