Roof Pitch Calculator
Move the slider. You get the pitch, the angle, and the slope factor that turns a ground footprint into real roof area.
Roof pitchRoofing squaresRoof cost
Measure from the attic, not the roof. Level against a rafter, mark 12 inches, measure up.
Conventional. Walkable for most crews.
Slope factor 1.118. Multiply your footprint by this for true roof area.
Book my free inspectionMeasuring it yourself
Do it from the attic. Hold a spirit level flat against the underside of a rafter, mark 12 inches along the level, then measure straight up from that mark to the rafter. Whatever that vertical distance is, that is your pitch over 12.
No attic access? Measure the gable end from outside, standing on the ground with a level and a tape. Do not climb up to check.
What the slope factor does
A roof covers more ground than the house beneath it, because it leans. The slope factor is the gap between those two numbers. Put a 6/12 roof over a 2,000 square foot footprint and you have about 2,236 square feet of roof.
That is the number that gets priced, since roofing is sold by the square, meaning 100 square feet of roof rather than of floor. The roofing square calculator handles that step.
Roof pitch questions
What is roof pitch?
Pitch is how steep a roof is, written as the vertical rise over 12 inches of horizontal run. A 6/12 roof climbs 6 inches for every 12 inches across.
How do I measure pitch without getting on the roof?
From inside the attic. Hold a level against a rafter, mark 12 inches along it, then measure straight up from that mark to the underside of the rafter. That distance is your rise.
What counts as a steep roof?
Above 7/12 a crew needs staging and fall protection, so the labor cost climbs with the roof. Below 3/12 counts as low slope, where standard shingles are usually not rated to go.
Why does pitch change the price?
A steeper roof covers more surface than the footprint underneath it, so there is more material. It is also slower to work on.
Want the real numbers? Book a free on-site measurement
We get on the roof, photograph what is actually there, and hand you a written report with a price. No charge, and no obligation to book the work with us. If the roof has years left in it, that is what the report will say.
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Give us a call or fill out our form today to schedule your free inspection!
Whether you need a roof replacement, roof repair, or annual inspection, we’ve got you covered.