Shingle Calculator
Calculate how many shingle bundles and roofing squares you need. Enter roof area, pitch, and waste to get an accurate material count.
Last updated 2026-08-21
What Is a Shingle Calculator?
A shingle calculator tells you how many shingle bundles and roofing squares you need for your roof based on the roof area, pitch, and waste factor. It is the quickest way for a homeowner to turn a roof measurement into an orderable quantity of shingles. The result helps you compare supplier quotes and avoid buying far too much or too little.
How It Works
Squares = Area ÷ 100 × (1 + Waste ÷ 100). Bundles = Squares × 3.
Example
For a 1,000 sq ft roof with 10% waste: 11 squares → 33 shingle bundles.
How to Calculate
- Get your true roof surface area, either from a roof area calculator or by measuring each roof plane. Use 1,000 sq ft as an example.
- Enter your roof pitch so the calculator can account for the sloped surface where needed.
- Set a waste factor of 10% for a simple gable roof. This brings 1,000 sq ft up to 1,100 sq ft of shingles to order.
- Read the squares: 1,100 sq ft ÷ 100 = 11 squares, and 11 squares × 3 bundles = 33 bundles.
- Budget about one extra bundle per 33 linear ft of ridge and hip to cover the ridge cap, and round up to full bundles.
Shingles per Bundle
| Shingle Type | Shingles per Bundle | Bundles per Square |
|---|---|---|
| 3-tab | 27 to 29 | 3 |
| Architectural | 26 to 28 | 3 |
| Heavy architectural | 20 to 22 | 4 |
| Luxury/slate look | 20 | 4 |
| Starter course | 20 | 4 |
Sources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many shingles are in a bundle?
A bundle of 3-tab shingles usually contains about 27–29 shingles and covers one-third of a square.
Do I need a ridge cap?
Yes — hip and ridge caps use shingles too. Budget about 1 bundle per 33 linear ft of ridge, or add to your waste.
What is a typical waste factor?
10–15% for shingles, since cutoffs at hips, valleys, and edges cannot be reused.
Estimate the cost with the Roofing Cost Calculator or browse Roofing Calculators