What is a Roofing Square? How to Calculate Roofing Squares Explained

Stew Broward

min read

Stew Broward

Head of PR

July 19, 2024

If you’re planning to get a new roof, you’ve probably come across the words ‘roofing square’ before. It’s a term often used by roofers like us, but most of our clients don’t really know what it is until further talks about the project start. With that being said, you’re probably wondering, what is a square in roofing and why do you need to know about it?

In this post, we’ll answer these questions to help you plan your new roof even before you decide to call us. Keep reading to learn more!

What is a roofing square?

Roofing square refers to the sizing of your roof. So, how much is a square in roofing? In plain words, one roofing square is equivalent to a 10 x 10 feet area on your roof surface. Most of the time, we refer to it as “one square”.

How many square feet in a roofing square? With this, a roof with a surface measurement of 3,000 sq. ft. is 30 squares, and one that’s 2,000 sq. ft. is 20 squares.

Overall, this is a standard language among roofers and roofing manufacturers, be it in Mankato or anywhere in the country. This way, we all have one unit of measurement to use, regardless of what type of property you have.

But take note! Square in roofing is different from your home’s square footage. Since roofs are overhanging, their measurement will be different from the total interior space of your property – so don’t confuse those two numbers with each other!

Aside from that, roofing squares do NOT refer to the L-shaped tools or squares we use to measure 90-degree angles. It’s not used to measure your roofing square, it just happen to have a similar name.

How to count roof squares

It’s the job of a roofing company like us to measure and calculate the square of roofing. You don’t have to climb up your property to do the measuring on your own. But to give you an idea, here’s how our process works:

Step 1. Check the number of planes

The first thing we do is check how many planes your roof has. A plane is a single, flat surface on your roof. For example, a simple gable roof has two planes, while a pyramid roof has four planes. As you see, this is why you should never use floor area if you want to know how to figure the square footage of a roof.

Step 2. Measure the planes.

After we counted the planes, we will proceed to measure each one. When it comes to how to measure the square footage of a roof, we check the length and width and then multiply the two numbers together. Let’s say a plane has 40 ft. long and 35 feet wide, it will be 1,400 sq. ft.

Step 3. Add up the numbers.

Once we’re done measuring each plane, we just add all the numbers to get the total square footage of your roof. So if you have 3 planes measuring 1,400 sq. ft. each, the total roof footage will be 4,200 sq. ft.

Step 4. Calculate the squares.

So, what is a roof square, in this case? We simply divide the total roof footage by 100. In our example earlier, a roof that measures 4,200 sq. ft. divided by 100 would have 42 roofing squares.

Step 5. Factor in the roof slope.

We also calculate the roof slope, as this will affect the final squares you need. Our roofing expert may use different methods here, but we often prefer the straightforward “Rise Over Run”.

In this method, we measure the vertical distance of the roof’s highest point from its base (rise). After that, we check the horizontal distance of the roof’s base from the same point (run).

After that, we just divide the rise by the run, where we will have a slope ratio. For example, it can be 4:12 or 6:12. But don’t worry about the technical parts, we got this covered as part of our comprehensive roof installation and roof repair services.

Factors that affect roofing square size

Calculating squares on a roof isn’t always simple. There are a few factors that may affect the final number, which is why it’s best to have a professional roof replacement company like us do a site inspection before drafting a project plan or ordering the materials.

Here are a few of these aspects that will impact how to calculate roofing squares:

Complexity of your roof

We also have to check how your roof is exactly designed and installed. Each roof has unique pitches, dormers, gables, and so on, not to mention that the architectural design will also affect the actual square footage.

So aside from measuring the roofing square, we also factor in these additional features. This way, we can source the right roofing materials.

Roof slope

The angle by which your roof hangs will affect its total square footage. This is why we use multipliers to factor this in without having to climb up your roof over and over again.

Usually, the steeper your roof gets, the higher its surface area will be. This means that even if two homes have the same size, they will have different roof square footage depending on the roof slope they have.

Eaves

This part is also called the gutter line, which is the lowest part of your roof. Take note that the eaves go beyond the walls of your home, which is why you shouldn’t use your floor’s square footage to measure roof size.

For this, we have to factor in how much the eaves hang outside of your home. This often increases the roof’s square footage by a few notches.

Roof type

As we briefly mentioned earlier, the roof type you have will also impact the roofing square value. For example, the same house will have a different roofing square if it’s switching from a flat roof to a gable roof.

Overall, the more planes your preferred roof style has, the more squares it will have. Ultimately, the more roof squares, the more it will cost you since it will require more material and labor.

Why you need to understand roof squares

As a homeowner, we think that you should have at least an idea about how roofing square works. This way, you’ll understand how it affects the total project, especially these aspects:

…so you’ll understand the cost

We always discuss this with our clients so they will have a better understanding once they ask us questions like “How much is a square of roofing?”.

It will help you understand how we calculate estimates for your project. This way, you’ll also know how much materials will be needed, so you can budget accordingly.

…so you can compare quotes

If you’re in the process of comparing roofers in Mankato, MN, having a basic understanding of roofing squares will be a big help. This way, you can see how much they charge for the same measurement, material, and roof type.

…so you won’t get scammed

The more roofing language you know, the better if you’re opting for a new roof. This way, you can easily spot bad roofers who will try to overcharge you more than they should. Once you know what roofing square is, you’ll have more appreciation of the material and labor involved in the project.

…so you’ll be involved in the project

At Boelter Is Better, we provide complete roofing services, so our clients don’t have to worry about anything. But if they wish to be involved in the process, we are more than willing to get them onboard.

In such case, having a working knowledge of roofing squares will give you a head start. It will also let you communicate easier with roofers like us throughout the duration of the project.

Need help figuring out roof squares for your home?

Still have questions about how big is a roofing square? Or do you want to know how many squares your roof has? Whatever questions you have in mind, feel free to contact us at Boelter Is Better!

Call us or send us a message and our roofing specialist will reach out to you shortly. We can also schedule a site visit to inspect your roof and provide you with a detailed estimate!

Aside from roofing, we also provide roof snow removal, gutters & gutter covering, sidings, doors, and windows! So, if you’re looking for a one-stop roofing and exterior company in Southern Minnesota, all you have to do is contact us today!

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