Price per square is the number homeowners compare and the number you need to know cold. But it is an output, not something to copy from a competitor. Here is how to build it from your own costs.
1. Measure squares correctly
A roofing square is 100 square feet of roof surface. Footprint measurements (from the ground, a plan or satellite) undercount sloped roofs, so multiply by a pitch factor:
Pitch factor = √(1 + (rise ÷ 12)²)Squares = footprint sq ft × pitch factor ÷ 100
| Pitch | Factor | 2,000 sq ft footprint = |
|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | 1.054 | 21.08 squares |
| 6/12 | 1.118 | 22.36 squares |
| 8/12 | 1.202 | 24.04 squares |
| 10/12 | 1.302 | 26.03 squares |
| 12/12 | 1.414 | 28.28 squares |
2. Add waste to what you order, not to labor
Cuts at hips, valleys and rakes waste material. Add a waste factor to the squares you order. Simple gables need less, cut-up hip roofs need more. Labor is usually paid on actual squares, so keep the two separate.
3. Build direct cost
- Materials on ordered squares: shingles (most architectural shingles are packaged about 3 bundles per square; check your product), underlayment, ice and water shield, starter, ridge cap, drip edge, nails, vents, plus sales tax.
- Labor: install per square, tear-off per square per layer.
- Flat costs: dumpster or haul-off, permit, delivery.
4. Add overhead, then price to margin
Break-even = direct cost + overheadPrice = break-even ÷ (1 − target margin)
Price per square = price ÷ squares
That last line is your real price per square for this roof. A steep, cut-up two-layer tear-off will land higher than a simple 4/12 gable, and it should. If you need the reasoning behind dividing instead of multiplying, see markup vs margin.
Do it line by line with your supplier prices, and print the quote. Excel + Google Sheets, instant download.
Last updated 2026-11-08. Numbers on this page are examples for illustration, not market prices.