Calculator
Roofing Material Calculator
Estimate every major roofing material from your roof area, including nails, ridge cap and drip edge.
Model reviewed August 2026
Shingle bundles
83 bundles
27.5 squares with waste
- Underlayment
- 7 rolls (4-square)
- Roofing nails
- 12,000 nails
- Ridge cap
- 5 bundles (20 lf each)
- Drip edge
- 18 pieces (10 ft each)
- Starter strip
- 2 rolls
Estimates only. Local pricing, site conditions and code requirements change the real number.
The formula
Materials scale from roof area in squares, plus linear footage for ridge and eaves
Nail usage is roughly 320 nails per square with a 4-nail pattern, or 480 per square with the 6-nail pattern that high-wind regions require.
Worked example
A 25-square roof using the 6-nail high-wind pattern needs about 12,000 nails, 25 squares of underlayment and roughly 100 linear feet of ridge cap.
Frequently asked questions
How many nails per shingle in a high-wind zone?
High-wind jurisdictions generally require the six-nail pattern for asphalt shingles, which works out to roughly 480 nails per square. Confirm the pattern your local code and the shingle manufacturer require.
How much underlayment do I need?
Match underlayment to roof area one-to-one. Synthetic underlayment usually comes in 4-square (400 sq ft) rolls.
Sources
Sources & verification
- NRCA roofing installation standards
- ASTM shingle and underlayment specifications
- International Residential Code — roof assemblies (R905)
- International Code Council (IRC/IBC)
Model vintage August 2026. The links above are the issuing agencies' own pages — we publish them so you can confirm the current rule yourself, not as evidence that each fact on this page was re-checked with them today. Cost figures are modeled estimates based on national baselines adjusted for local labor and material pricing, not quotes. Permit rules change; confirm with the building department before starting work.