Roofing & Exterior
Shingle Calculator
Find out how many bundles of roof shingles you need. Enter the roof area, or the footprint and pitch, and this shingle calculator converts it to roofing squares, adds waste for cuts, hips and valleys, and gives the bundles to buy and the cost.
Result
Enter your measurements and press Calculate. What to buy, the working and the cost will appear here.
How to use the shingle calculator
- Enter the roof area if you know it (for example from a quote or the roofing calculator), or the footprint with overhangs and the pitch.
- Set the waste: 10% for simple roofs, 15% for hips and valleys.
- Check bundles per square on the shingle wrapper (usually 3), add the bundle price and press Calculate.
How many bundles of shingles do I need?
squares = roof area × (1 + waste) ÷ 100
bundles = squares × bundles per square, rounded up
A 1,500 ft² roof with 10% waste is 16.5 squares, so 50 bundles at three per square.
Worked example: a 1,850 ft² hip roof
A hip roof measures 1,850 ft² according to the roofer’s quote. With 15% waste and shingles at $42 a bundle:
- Squares: 1,850 ft² × 1.15 ÷ 100 ft² = 21.28
- Bundles: 21.28 × 3 per square → 64
Bundles to buy: 64; Squares: 21.28; Roof area: 1,850 ft²; Estimated cost: $2,688.00. Open this example in the calculator.
Shingle types and bundles
| Shingle | Typical bundles per square |
|---|---|
| 3-tab asphalt | 3 |
| Architectural (laminated) | 3, sometimes 4 |
| Designer / heavy premium | 4–5 |
| Hip and ridge cap | sold by linear feet per bundle |
How much waste for shingles?
- 10% for a plain gable roof.
- 15% for hip roofs, valleys and dormers, where every edge is cut on an angle.
- Add starter and cap separately: starter strip runs along the eaves, cap shingles along hips and the ridge. The roofing calculator estimates both.
Assumptions and limitations
- Roof area is the sloped area; footprint mode multiplies by the pitch factor.
- Bundles per square comes from you; 3 is the most common.
- Shingles are a material estimate only; follow the manufacturer’s installation and nailing instructions.
Shingle questions
How many bundles of shingles for 1,000 square feet?
1,000 ft² is 10 squares, so 30 bundles at three per square, or 33 with 10% waste.
How many square feet does a bundle of shingles cover?
About 33.3 ft² for a three-bundle-per-square shingle.
How much does a bundle of shingles weigh?
Roughly 50–80 lb depending on the shingle; a square of architectural shingles is often 200–250 lb. Check your roof can be loaded safely before stacking bundles on it.
Formulas, unit conversions and default values are explained on our methodology page. Results are estimates; check manufacturer data and local codes before you buy or build.