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Asphalt Shingle Calculator

Estimate roofing materials including bundles, squares, starter strips, and hip/ridge caps with adjustable waste factors.

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Category Roofing
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About

Accurate material estimation prevents costly mid-project shortages or excessive leftover waste. Roofing projects involve more than just the surface area. Contractors must account for starter strips at the eaves and specialized caps for hips and ridges. Complexity increases with roof geometry, requiring a waste buffer for cuts around valleys and vents. This calculator breaks down the total requirement into standard bundles and squares, integrating a dynamic waste factor to match the complexity of the roof structure.

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Formulas

The total net area is the roof footprint adjusted for pitch. The gross area includes the waste factor.

Areagross = Areanet × (1 + Waste)

Bundles are derived from the gross area divided by the coverage per bundle (typically 33.3 sq ft).

Bundles = ceil(Areagross33.3)

Reference Data

Material UnitStandard CoverageNotes
Roof Square100 ft2Industry standard unit
3-Tab Bundle≈ 33.3 ft23 bundles per square
Architectural Bundle≈ 33.3 ft2Often heavier, same coverage
Starter StripLinear feet of EavesFirst layer prevention of uplift
Hip & RidgeLinear feet of PeakCovers the apex joints

Frequently Asked Questions

A square is a unit of measurement equal to 100 square feet. It is the standard unit for purchasing bulk roofing materials.
For simple gable roofs, 5-10% is standard. For complex roofs with valleys, dormers, or steep pitches, use 15-20% to account for cutting waste.
No. This tool calculates shingles, starter strips, and ridge caps. Underlayment, drip edge, and nails are calculated separately based on linear footage and local codes.