If you need to figure out how to estimate roof square footage fast, this article is for you.

Read on to find out the exact math you’ll need to get the square footage of your homeowner’s roof. You’ll also discover a hack along the way!

Why are accurate measurements so important? First, they help with planning your project and figuring out what kind of supplies you’ll need. Mess up a little, and you could spend way too much money on a job. You could also under-prepare and run out of shingles halfway through! Those both eat into your profits. They also leave a bad taste in the mouths of your customers.

And unfortunately, that means you’ll have to do a little math. Well, more like a lot of math. But no fear! This article is here to help you break down these measurements into real simple steps.

First though, here’s a quick cheat code for you to check out…

Tools and Technology for Easy Roof Measuring

Getting roof measurements right is super important for a successful roofing job. While old-school tools have worked for years, new tech has made things way easier. Let’s check out both the traditional methods and the cool new tech like aerial measurement software.

Old-School Tools: Simple but Reliable

Traditional tools like measuring tapes and levels have been used forever. With a measuring tape, you can measure the length and width of roof sections by hand. A level helps make sure your measurements are straight. This method works but has some downsides. It takes a lot of time and effort, especially for big or complicated roofs. Plus, climbing up on roofs can be dangerous, so you need to be super careful.

The good thing about manual measurements is that they are simple and cheap. Measuring tapes are easy to use and don’t cost much. But there are some big drawbacks. Manual measurements can be wrong, especially on oddly shaped roofs. It also takes longer to do everything by hand, which can slow down your project. Even with these issues, manual measuring is a reliable method if done right.

That’s where modern technology can make a huge difference.

Modern Tech: Fast and Accurate

Aerial measurement software is a game-changer. It uses high-quality aerial images to measure roofs accurately and quickly. This tech has many perks, like saving time and reducing safety risks since you don’t have to climb up on the roof.

One of the best things about aerial measurement software is its accuracy. It uses smart algorithms to measure roofs from the air, getting precise results even for tricky roof shapes. Your quotes are spot-on and your project planning gets way, way faster.

EagleView is a popular choice among roofers. It gives you detailed reports with exact measurements, which you can use right away. By using EagleView, you can speed up the measuring process and make it less tiring. The reports include all the details you need to make accurate quotes and plan your work well.

Plus, EagleView connect with most CRMs for roofers. You can automatically make quotes based on the exact measurements. It makes the sales process faster and keeps all your data in one place, making it easier to manage projects.

But maybe you’re old school. Hey, we get it and respect the heck out of you. Here’s everything you need to know about measuring a roof like your forefathers.

Roof Measurement Made Easy

There are a few ways to measure your roof. Knowing each method can help you pick the best one for the roof you’re working on. One easy way is the house footprint method. You measure around the house to find out the roof’s total area. It’s simple and good for basic roofs, but it might miss some details on fancier designs. It’s a great start and usually enough for flat roofs.

As roofs get more complex, the footprint method requires more and more math. You’ve got to determine the slope and then plug a slope factor into all your measurements. It gets complicated. To learn more about it, check out EagleView’s detailed overview of how to measure a roof from the ground.

For roofs with lots of angles and sections, the plane-by-plane method is super accurate. You measure each part of the roof separately and then add up all the areas to get the total square footage. This is great for roofs with many angles, like gable or hip roofs. While it takes more time and effort, the accuracy you get is worth it. This method makes sure you account for every part of the roof. This leads to better material estimates and more accurate quotes.

We’re going to pull info from this YouTube video. Sure, the pacing’s a bit slow. But it’s about as good an overview of measuring roofs that you’ll find!

How to Estimate Roof Square Footage for Different Roof Types

There are three common roof types: shed roofs, gable roofs, and hip roofs. Each type has its own structure and way to measure, which we’ll break down step by step.

How to Estimate Roof Square Footage For a Shed Roof

First, let’s look at the shed roof. This is the easiest type of roof. It has just one flat surface. To measure a shed roof, you need to find the length and width. Then, you multiply them together to get the total area. For example, if the length is 12.5 feet and the width is 12.5 feet, the area is 12.5 feet × 12.5 feet. This equals 156.25 square feet. Easy peasy, right? Shed roofs are simple to measure and estimate.

How to Estimate Roof Square Footage for a Gable Roof

Next, we have gable roofs. These are a bit trickier because they have two flat surfaces. You need to measure each surface separately and then add them together. For example, one surface might be 16 feet by 40 feet. You multiply 16 feet by 40 feet to get 640 square feet. If the other surface is the same size, it’s also 640 square feet. Add them together, and you get a total area of 1280 square feet. This way, you make sure you measure both surfaces for accurate estimates and quotes.

How to Estimate Roof Square Footage for a Hip Roof

Hip roofs are more complicated. They have four surfaces, which can include trapezoids and triangles. For trapezoids, use this formula: (Base 1 + Base 2) × Height ÷ 2. For example, if Base 1 is 10 feet, Base 2 is 15 feet, and the height is 5 feet, the area is (10 feet + 15 feet) × 5 feet ÷ 2 = 62.5 square feet.

For triangles, use this formula: Base × Height ÷ 2. If the base is 10 feet and the height is 5 feet, the area is 10 feet × 5 feet ÷ 2 = 25 square feet. Add the areas of all the trapezoids and triangles together to get the total area of the hip roof.

Here’s a quick cheat sheet of those formulas!

• Rectangles and Squares: Multiply length by width.
• Trapezoids: Use the formula (Base 1 + Base 2) × Height ÷ 2.
• Triangles: Use the formula Base × Height ÷ 2.

You can break almost every shape on a roof down into smaller shapes. Unless you’ve got a parapet on your hands, you’re dealing with rectangles, squares, trapezoids, and triangles. Measure out as much of the roof as you can. Sketch up a diagram of it. And break every section into one of those four shapes.

That’s why it’s often a good idea to do that math while you’re at the house. If you miss a measurement, you can climb back on the roof with your tape measure!

Aerial vs. Manual Measurements

Using both traditional tools and modern tech gives you the best of both worlds. Old-school measuring might be a part of your process. You might find that it builds greater trust with your leads. Maybe you enjoy the math. More power to you!

That said, aerial measurements can make your process more efficient and accurate. They’re for people who hate measuring out roofs. They’re for people who hate math. And they’re for people who need to squeeze every second out of their day.

There’s not really a right answer. It all comes down to what makes your day better and your business grow.

Conclusion

We’ve talked about different ways to measure roofs, from simple shed roofs to more complex gable and hip roofs. Each type needs a different method, but the basics are the same. Measure carefully. Use the right math. Break everything down into as many small shapes as possible. Double-check your work to make sure it’s correct. By learning these skills, you can handle each roofing project with confidence.

We also looked at the awesome benefits of modern tools like aerial measurement software. These tools, like EagleView, are super accurate, fast, and safe. They change how roofers do their jobs. Adding these tools to your work can make things more efficient. You reduce risks, and you can give faster, more accurate quotes. This also helps with better project management and keeps your customers happy. It makes you stand out from others who only use manual methods.

Need to speed up your quoting process? Then ProLine is the CRM for you. It pulls measurements straight from EagleView into your pre-built quote templates. You get accurate quotes at lightning-fast speed. Book a demo to see our quotes in action!