Building & renovation

How do you calculate real roof area from floor plan and pitch?

Real roof area from footprint and pitch — optional membrane or tile pack estimate.

Quick answer

Roofing materials are ordered by real sloped area, not the house footprint on the plan. For a simple gable or shed roof, slope correction is footprint ÷ cos(pitch): a 30° pitch adds about 15% area versus flat projection. Complex hips, valleys and dormers need a site measure — this is a planning estimate for regular rectangles.

Advanced settings

Real roof area

88.3 m┬▓

For regular gable or shed roofs: real area = footprint ├À cos(pitch). Complex hips, valleys and dormers need a site measure ÔÇö this is a planning estimate only.

How it works

Optional material mode converts m² into pack counts using rough yields (membrane 1:1, tiles ~10 m²/pack, shingles ~3 m²/pack) — always verify with your supplier’s sheet size. Safety first on ladders and roofs; product links like roof waterproof membrane are for planning purchases, not installation shortcuts.

Frequently asked questions

How do I measure roof pitch?+

Use a smartphone inclinometer on the slope, or rise ÷ run: 3 m rise over 10 m run ≈ 16.7°. The calculator accepts common presets (15–45°) or a custom angle in the pitch field.

Footprint 8×10 m at 25° — what area?+

Footprint = 80 m². cos(25°) ≈ 0.906 → real area ≈ 80 ÷ 0.906 ≈ 88.3 m² before waste. Add 10% for cuts and overlaps on membrane or shingles.

Does this work for hip roofs?+

Not accurately — hips and valleys change true area versus a single rectangle. Use this for ballpark budgeting on simple roofs; order materials after a roofer’s measure or detailed plan for complex shapes.

Membrane vs tiles quantity — which to trust?+

Membrane is often sold by m² roll width — our 1:1 mode is close. Tiles and shingle packs vary wildly by profile and overlap; treat pack count as ±15% until you have the supplier datasheet.

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