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Bundles for common roof sizes (3 bundles per square, 10% waste)
| Roof area | Squares (incl. waste) | Bundles |
|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 5.50 | 17 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 11.00 | 33 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 16.50 | 50 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 22.00 | 66 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 27.50 | 83 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 33.00 | 99 |
Squares, bundles and coverage
Roofers price and order in squares: 100 sq ft of roof surface. With 3 bundles per square, each bundle covers 100 ÷ 3 ≈ 33.3 sq ft. If your shingle needs 4 bundles per square, each bundle covers 25 sq ft; at 5 bundles, 20 sq ft. The coverage is printed on every bundle wrapper and in the manufacturer’s spec sheet, so use that number rather than a rule of thumb.
Roof area is not floor area
A pitched roof has more surface than the house footprint. Multiply the footprint (including overhangs) by a pitch factor, or measure each roof plane. For example, a 6/12 pitch adds about 12% (factor 1.118), so a 1,800 sq ft footprint becomes about 2,012 sq ft of roof, or roughly 20 squares before waste.
Don’t forget starter strips, ridge cap and waste
Starter shingles along the eaves and ridge cap along hips and ridges are usually separate products sold by the linear foot of coverage. Add 10% waste for a simple gable roof and 15% or more for roofs with many valleys, hips or dormers.
Related
Frequently asked questions
How many square feet does a bundle of shingles cover?
About 33.3 sq ft for shingles packed 3 bundles per square; check the wrapper.
How many bundles of shingles in a square?
Usually 3 for standard shingles; some heavier designer shingles use 4 or 5.
How many bundles do I need for 1,000 sq ft?
30 bundles before waste; 33 with 10% waste.
What is a square in roofing?
100 square feet of roof surface.