Shingle Calculator: Full Material Takeoff

One form, the whole shingle order: field bundles, starter, hip and ridge cap, underlayment, ice barrier, drip edge and nails for a rectangular gable or hip roof.

Shingle roof takeoff

What the calculator assumes

Assumptions behind the takeoff
Item	How it is figured	Default
Roof area	Footprint incl. overhang × pitch multiplier	—
Field shingles	Area × (1 + waste) ÷ 100 × bundles per square, rounded up	10% gable, 15% hip
Starter strip	Eaves + rakes ÷ coverage per bundle	100 LF per bundle
Hip & ridge cap	Ridge + hips ÷ coverage per bundle	25 LF per bundle
Underlayment	Roof area ÷ net coverage per roll	Synthetic, ~950 sq ft net per 10-square roll
Ice & water barrier	Eave length × 6 ft band ÷ net coverage	~185 sq ft net per 2-square roll
Drip edge	Eaves + rakes ÷ 9.83 ft (10 ft piece, 2" lap)	10 ft pieces
Nails	Shingles per square × nails per shingle, plus starter and cap	120 per coil

Coverage per bundle for starter and cap shingles varies a lot by product (roughly 20 to 35 LF for hip and ridge, 100 to 120 LF for starter). The drip edge & ridge cap calculator lets you enter the exact figure from the wrapper.

Edge lengths the calculator works out

Gable: eaves = 2 × L rakes = 4 × (W ÷ 2) × multiplier ridge = L Hip: eaves = 2 × (L + W) ridge = L − W hips = 4 × (W ÷ 2) × hip factor (L and W include the overhang; L is the longer side)

Worked example

50 × 30 ft gable, 1 ft overhangs, 6/12, architectural shingles. Footprint 52 × 32 = 1,664 sq ft × 1.118 = 1,860 sq ft (18.6 squares). With 10% waste, 20.46 squares → 62 bundles. Eaves 104 LF and rakes 4 × 16 × 1.118 = 71.6 LF → 176 LF of starter (2 bundles). Ridge 52 LF → 3 bundles of cap. Drip edge 19 pieces. Underlayment 2 synthetic rolls; ice & water at eaves 624 sq ft → 4 rolls.

Same house as a hip roof. Area is identical (1,860 sq ft) but waste rises to 15%: 21.39 squares → 65 bundles. Hips are 4 × 16 × 1.5 = 96 LF plus a 20 ft ridge, so cap rises to 116 LF (5 bundles). Eaves now run all the way around: 168 LF.

Before you order

Complex roofs: dormers, valleys and multiple wings add waste and edge footage. Measure the edges and use the individual calculators.
Tear-off: plan for replacement decking. Many contractors price a few sheets of plywood or OSB into every job.
Vents and flashing: ridge vent, pipe boots, step flashing and counter-flashing are separate line items.
Returns: most suppliers take back unopened bundles. Ordering one extra bundle per 10 squares beats a second delivery fee.

Frequently asked questions

How many bundles of shingles do I need?

Divide the roof area by 100 for squares, add waste (10% gable, 15% hip), and multiply by the bundles per square on the wrapper, usually 3. A 1,860 sq ft gable roof needs about 62 bundles.

Does this include starter and ridge cap?

Yes. Starter and hip & ridge cap are counted separately from field shingles, because most manufacturers sell dedicated starter and cap products.

Can I use it for an L-shaped roof?

Use it for each rectangle separately, or find the total area with the multi-section calculator on the how to measure a roof page and use the bundle calculator.

How many nails per bundle of shingles?

With 4 nails per shingle, figure about 85 to 105 nails per bundle depending on the shingle (3-tab bundles hold about 26 shingles). High-wind 6-nail patterns use half again as many.

Last reviewed 2026-10-10. Results are estimates for planning; confirm quantities with your supplier and requirements with your local building code and the manufacturer's instructions.