Reference
Shingle and Roofing Coverage Table
The coverage figures behind a shingle roof order, from bundles and caps to rolls and nails, with laps taken into account.
Shingles
| Product | Typical size | Exposure | Shingles per square | Bundles per square | Coverage per bundle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three-tab | 12 × 36 in | 5 in | about 80 | 3 | 33.3 sq ft |
| Architectural (laminated) | about 13¼ × 39⅜ in | 5⅝ in | about 64 | 3 | 33.3 sq ft |
| Designer / luxury | varies | varies | varies | 4 or 5 | 20 to 25 sq ft |
A square is 100 square feet of roof surface. The bundle wrapper always states the coverage; it governs.
Starter, hip and ridge
| Product | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose-made starter strip | 100 to 120 linear ft per bundle | Eaves and usually rakes |
| Three-tab cut for starter | about 78 linear ft per bundle | 26 shingles × 3 ft; sealant line at the eave |
| Purpose-made hip and ridge cap | 20 to 35 linear ft per bundle | Exposure 5⅝ to 8 in by product |
| Three-tab cut into caps | about 32.5 linear ft per bundle at 5 in | 78 caps per bundle; three-tab roofs only |
Underlayment and membrane
| Roll | Size | Nominal | Net, single coverage | Net, double coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #15 felt (ASTM D226 Type I) | 36 in × 144 ft | 4 squares | about 4.1 squares (2 in lap, 6 in end lap) | about 2 squares |
| #30 felt (ASTM D226 Type II) | 36 in × 72 ft | 2 squares | about 2 squares | about 1 square |
| Synthetic | 48 in × 250 ft | 10 squares | about 9.1 squares (4 in lap) | about 4.8 squares |
| Synthetic | 48 in × 100 ft | 4 squares | about 3.7 squares | about 1.9 squares |
| Self-adhering ice and water membrane | 36 in × 66.7 ft | 2 squares | 200 sq ft per roll, laid in courses | n/a |
Double coverage (IRC R905.1.1, pitches from 2/12 to below 4/12) laps each course by half the width plus 1 inch.
Nails
| Shingle | 4 nails per shingle | 6 nails per shingle | Extra for starter, cap, drip edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three-tab | 320 per square | 480 per square | about 10% |
| Architectural | 256 per square | 384 per square | about 10% |
Roofing nails are about 250 per pound at 1 inch, 200 at 1¼ inch and 165 at 1½ inch; coil boxes hold about 7,200.
Waste allowances
| Roof shape | Waste on field shingles |
|---|---|
| Plain gable | 10% |
| Hip roof | 15% |
| Cut-up roof (valleys, dormers, wings) | 20% or more |
Sources
Shingle sizes, exposures and bundle coverage: manufacturers’ product data and installation instructions (GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, IKO) and the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association. Underlayment: ASTM D226 roll dimensions, synthetic manufacturers’ data, IRC R905.1.1 laps. Nails: IRC R905.2.5 and R905.2.6, manufacturers’ nailing instructions. Waste: roofing estimating practice.
Calculators that use this table
- The shingle calculator (bundles, shingles per square, nails).
- The starter strip calculator and the hip and ridge cap calculator.
- The roofing nails calculator.
- The underlayment calculator and the ice and water shield calculator.
The guide bundles per square and waste explains the figures.