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Roof area calculator

The real sloped roof area from the plan footprint and the pitch — the number shingles, underlayment, and roofing labor are figured on.

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How it’s computed

Sloped area = footprint (sqft) × pitch factor, where the factor = √(rise² + 12²) ÷ 12 — standard roof geometry. A 5/12 pitch ≈ 1.083×, 8/12 ≈ 1.202×, 12/12 ≈ 1.414×.

Decimal-exact and deterministic: identical inputs always return identical results. This is the same math Ask Donnie’s estimating engine runs — not an approximation, and never a language model doing arithmetic.

Common questions

What does pitch "rise per 12" mean?

Inches of vertical rise per 12 inches of horizontal run. A 6/12 roof rises 6" every foot. Read it off the roof plan or measure with a level and a ruler.

Does this include overhangs?

Only if your footprint does. Measure the footprint to the eave edges (not the wall line) to capture the overhang area.

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