Short answer
A roofing estimate template in Excel turns roof area into squares (sq ft / 100), adds waste, prices materials per square, adds tear-off and install crew-hours at the loaded rate plus overhead, then divides by (1 minus margin). A 2,000 sq ft footprint at 6/12 pitch is 25 squares with waste and, with these assumptions, prices at $11,420.29.
- Roofing squares = roof surface sq ft / 100; one square covers 100 sq ft.
- Roof surface = footprint x pitch factor; a 6/12 pitch multiplies the footprint by 1.118.
- Worked re-roof: 25 squares, 72 crew-hours, break-even $7,994.20, price $11,420.29 at 30% margin.
- Adding 30% as markup instead keeps only 23.08% and loses $1,027.83 on that roof.
- Price per square is an output: $456.81 on this roof, $461.60 on a smaller one with the same inputs.
On this page
- What goes in a roofing estimate template?
- Roofing estimate calculator: price a roof with your numbers
- How do you calculate roofing squares?
- Worked example: a 25-square re-roof priced to margin
- How much should a 1,200 sq ft roof cost?
- What is the 25% rule in roofing?
- The mistake that costs roofers most: markup instead of margin
- Excel formulas for your roofing estimate template
- How to write up a roofing estimate the homeowner can follow
- Free template, custom workbook or roofing software?
- Step-by-step
- FAQ
What goes in a roofing estimate template?
A roofing estimate template needs four blocks: measurements (squares with waste), materials priced per square, labour in crew-hours, and a pricing block that adds overhead and prices on margin. Most free roofing templates give you the line items and leave the maths to you. This guide gives you the maths.
I'm not a roofer; I build pricing math. Every number here is worked in the open so you can check it, and every price, wage and production figure is an assumption for you to replace with your supplier's price list and your crew's real pace.
| Block | Inputs | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Measurements | Footprint incl. overhangs, pitch, waste % | Squares to order |
| Materials | Shingle and accessory price per square, flashing and vents, dumpster | Materials total |
| Labour | Crew size, hours on the roof, wage, burden % | Labour cost |
| Pricing | Yearly overhead, field staff, billable days, margin | Break-even, price, price per square |
Roofing estimate calculator: price a roof with your numbers
Enter crew hours, workers and your materials total. The widget shows break-even before it shows a price.
The free roofing price calculator uses the same maths and adds a yearly view of what markup pricing costs you. Work out the squares first with the formulas below.
How do you calculate roofing squares?
Squares = roof surface area in sq ft / 100. The surface is larger than the house footprint because the roof slopes, so multiply the footprint (including overhangs) by a pitch factor first.
The pitch factor is plain geometry: the square root of (1 + (rise / 12)²). A 6/12 roof rises 6 inches per 12 inches of run, so the factor is √(1 + 0.25) = 1.118.
| Pitch | Multiply footprint by | 2,000 sq ft footprint becomes |
|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | 1.054 | 2,108 sq ft |
| 6/12 | 1.118 | 2,236 sq ft |
| 8/12 | 1.202 | 2,404 sq ft |
| 10/12 | 1.302 | 2,603 sq ft |
| 12/12 | 1.414 | 2,828 sq ft |
Then add waste for cuts at hips, valleys and rakes plus starter and ridge. This guide uses 10% as an assumption; a cut-up roof needs more. For the example: 2,236 sq ft / 100 = 22.36 squares, x 1.10 = 24.6, rounded up to 25 squares. Read the bundle wrapper for coverage; many shingles run 3 bundles to a square, but check yours.
Worked example: a 25-square re-roof priced to margin
Tear-off of one layer and new architectural shingles on the 25-square roof above. Prices are assumptions, not market data: replace each one with your supplier's price.
| Line | Working | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shingles | 25 squares x $120 | $3,000 |
| Underlayment, starter, ridge cap, drip edge, nails | 25 squares x $45 | $1,125 |
| Ice and water shield, flashing, vents | Allowance | $500 |
| Dumpster and disposal | Assumed haul fee | $450 |
| Materials total | 3,000 + 1,125 + 500 + 450 | $5,075 |
Labour assumption: 4 roofers, 18 hours on the roof across two days, which is 72 crew-hours.
Worked example: Re-roof, 25 squares, tear-off one layer, 4-person crew over 2 days (all inputs are assumptions)
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Workers (input) | 4 |
| Hourly wage paid (input) | $24.00 |
| Labour burden % (input) | 40% |
| Materials (input) | $5,075.00 |
| Overhead for the year (input) | $40,000.00 |
| People in the field (input) | 4 |
| Billable days a year (input) | 180 |
| Target margin % (input) | 30% |
| Jobs a week (input) | 1 |
| Hours on the job (input) | 18 |
| Loaded labour rate (per hour) | $33.60 |
| Crew-hours | 72 |
| Labour cost | $2,419.20 |
| Overhead per sellable hour | $6.94 |
| Overhead share | $500.00 |
| Break-even cost | $7,994.20 |
| Price to quote | $11,420.29 |
| Profit on the job | $3,426.09 |
| Price if you MARK UP instead | $10,392.46 |
| Margin you actually keep with markup | 23.08% |
| Lost per job by marking up | $1,027.83 |
| Lost per year by marking up | $53,446.94 |
Computed with the same formulas as the free calculators on this site. Change any input in the calculator above to see your own numbers.
The $24 wage loads to $33.60 an hour at a 40% burden (use your own comp rate). 72 crew-hours cost $2,419.20. Overhead of $40,000 a year over 4 field staff, 180 billable days and 8 hours is $6.94 per crew-hour, so this job carries $500.00. Break-even is $7,994.20; at a 30% margin the price is $7,994.20 / 0.70 = $11,420.29. Divided by 25 squares, that is $456.81 per square.
How much should a 1,200 sq ft roof cost?
It depends on your costs, the pitch and the tear-off, so work it rather than guess. Here is the working for a 1,200 sq ft footprint at 6/12 with the same crew and prices as above.
1,200 x 1.118 = 1,342 sq ft of roof. 13.42 squares x 1.10 waste = 14.76, rounded to 15 squares. Materials: 15 x $120 = $1,800 of shingles, 15 x $45 = $675 of accessories, a $300 flashing and vent allowance and the $450 dumpster, for $3,225. Labour: 4 roofers for 10 hours.
Worked example: 1,200 sq ft footprint, 6/12 pitch, 15 squares, same crew (assumptions)
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Workers (input) | 4 |
| Hourly wage paid (input) | $24.00 |
| Labour burden % (input) | 40% |
| Materials (input) | $3,225.00 |
| Overhead for the year (input) | $40,000.00 |
| People in the field (input) | 4 |
| Billable days a year (input) | 180 |
| Target margin % (input) | 30% |
| Jobs a week (input) | 1 |
| Hours on the job (input) | 10 |
| Loaded labour rate (per hour) | $33.60 |
| Crew-hours | 40 |
| Labour cost | $1,344.00 |
| Overhead per sellable hour | $6.94 |
| Overhead share | $277.78 |
| Break-even cost | $4,846.78 |
| Price to quote | $6,923.97 |
| Profit on the job | $2,077.19 |
| Price if you MARK UP instead | $6,300.81 |
| Margin you actually keep with markup | 23.08% |
| Lost per job by marking up | $623.16 |
| Lost per year by marking up | $32,404.17 |
Computed with the same formulas as the free calculators on this site. Change any input in the calculator above to see your own numbers.
Break-even is $4,846.78 and the price is $6,923.97, or $461.60 per square. The per-square price rose slightly on the smaller roof because the dumpster and setup do not shrink with it. The same method answers the 1,000 sq ft question: change the footprint and hours, keep the rest.
What is the 25% rule in roofing?
The 25% rule is a building-code repair limit, not a pricing formula. Florida Building Code, Existing Building section 706.1.1 says not more than 25% of a roof area or section may be repaired, replaced or recovered in any 12-month period unless the whole roof or section is brought up to current code, as quoted by Haag.
The same Haag article reports that a 2022 Florida law (SB4) changed this for roofs built, repaired or replaced to the 2007 Florida Building Code or later: only the repaired portion must meet current code. For estimating, the rule changes scope, not maths. If a repair triggers full replacement, price the full re-roof with the template; check your own state and local code before you quote.
The mistake that costs roofers most: markup instead of margin
On a big-ticket job, markup versus margin is worth real money. Adding 30% to cost does not leave 30%.
- Margin price: $7,994.20 / 0.70 = $11,420.29.
- Markup price: $7,994.20 x 1.30 = $10,392.46, a real margin of 23.08%.
- Lost on one roof: $1,027.83.
Second mistake: pricing labour at the wage. Roofing burden includes workers' comp, which is set by your policy and state, so pull the actual rate. The labor burden guide shows how, and the markup vs margin guide covers the arithmetic.
Try it with your numbers — free
The free calculator does this whole method in about a minute: loaded labour, overhead share, break-even and the price to quote at your margin. No signup, nothing to download, and your numbers stay in your browser.
Open the free calculator →Get the free spreadsheetWant it built around your own rates, services and branding? Done-for-you custom calculator ($497).
Excel formulas for your roofing estimate template
These formulas turn the four blocks into a working sheet. Inputs go in column B; every other cell is a formula.
Pitch factor
=SQRT(1+(B2/12)^2)B2 = rise in inches per 12 of run (6 for a 6/12 roof).
Squares to order
=ROUNDUP(B1*B3/100*(1+B4),0)B1 = footprint sq ft incl. overhangs, B3 = pitch factor, B4 = waste % (10%).
Materials total
=B5*(B6+B7)+B8+B9B5 = squares, B6 = shingle price per square, B7 = accessories per square, B8 = flashing/vent allowance, B9 = dumpster.
Break-even
=B11*B12*B13*(1+B14)+B10+B11*B12*B15B10 = materials total, B11 = hours, B12 = crew size, B13 = wage, B14 = burden %, B15 = overhead per crew-hour.
Price to quote
=B16/(1-B17)B16 = break-even, B17 = margin (30%). Put it in B18; price per square is =B18/B5. Never =B16*(1+B17).
Add one row per extra roof plane (a garage, a porch) and sum the squares. For steep or two-layer tear-offs, raise the hours, not the margin, so the estimate still explains itself.
How to write up a roofing estimate the homeowner can follow
Write the estimate as scope plus one price. Show squares and the main materials so the customer can compare bids on the same basis.
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Measurements | Squares with waste, pitch, number of layers to remove |
| System | Shingle line and colour, underlayment, ice and water areas, ventilation |
| Flashing and details | Chimney, walls, skylights, drip edge |
| Decking | Price per sheet for rotten decking found at tear-off |
| Clean-up | Dumpster, magnetic nail sweep, landscape protection |
| Price and terms | Total, deposit, schedule, warranty terms you offer, validity |
The decking line matters: you cannot see rot until the old roof is off, so state a unit price for replacement sheets instead of guessing a quantity.
Free template, custom workbook or roofing software?
Pick by volume. A free calculator checks a single roof. A spreadsheet suits a small crew that wants every formula visible. Roofing software with aerial measurement suits companies quoting many roofs a week.
- Free: the roofing estimate calculator in your browser, and the free Job Pricing Starter spreadsheet for Excel or Google Sheets with the pricing block built in.
- Built for you: there is no ready-made roofing template in the shop. The done-for-you custom calculator is a $497 one-time build around your materials, crew rates and branded quote page, in Excel and Google Sheets, with one round of revisions.
For the general contractor method, see contractor estimate template in Excel.
Step-by-step: Roofing Estimate Template in Excel: Squares, Waste and a Price That Holds
- Measure the footprint. Measure the building footprint including overhangs, plane by plane, and note the pitch of each plane.
- Convert to squares with waste. Multiply footprint by the pitch factor, divide by 100, add your waste %, and round up to whole squares.
- Price materials per square. Multiply squares by your shingle and accessory prices, then add flashing, vents and the dumpster.
- Estimate crew-hours. Hours for tear-off, dry-in, install and clean-up, multiplied by crew size. Steeper roofs and extra layers add hours.
- Add labour and overhead. Crew-hours x loaded rate, plus crew-hours x overhead per hour (yearly overhead / (field staff x billable days x 8)).
- Price on margin. Divide break-even by (1 - margin), then divide by squares to see your price per square.
Run your own numbers — free
The free calculator does this whole method in about a minute: loaded labour, overhead share, break-even and the price to quote at your margin. No signup, nothing to download, and your numbers stay in your browser.
Open the free calculator →Get the free spreadsheetWant it built around your own rates, services and branding? Done-for-you custom calculator ($497).
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate roofing squares?
Multiply the footprint, including overhangs, by the pitch factor to get roof surface, then divide by 100. A 2,000 sq ft footprint at 6/12 pitch is 2,236 sq ft, or 22.36 squares; adding 10% waste gives 24.6, rounded up to 25 squares.
How much should a 1,200 sq ft roof cost?
Work it from your costs. With this guide's assumptions, a 1,200 sq ft footprint at 6/12 pitch needs 15 squares with waste, $3,225 of materials and 40 crew-hours, which breaks even at $4,846.78 and prices at $6,923.97 at a 30% margin.
What is the 25% rule for roofing?
It is a Florida building-code limit: no more than 25% of a roof or roof section may be repaired or replaced in 12 months unless the whole section meets current code. A 2022 Florida law exempts roofs built to the 2007 code or later. Check your own local code.
How do you write up a roofing estimate?
List measurements (squares, pitch, layers), the roofing system, flashing details, a per-sheet price for rotten decking, clean-up, and one total with deposit, schedule and validity. Showing squares lets the homeowner compare bids on the same basis.
Can I get a roofing estimate template for free?
Yes. The free Job Pricing Starter spreadsheet on this site has the labour, overhead, break-even and margin block in Excel or Google Sheets; add the squares formulas from this guide above it. The free roofing calculator prices one roof in your browser with no signup.
How much waste should I add to a roofing estimate?
Add enough for cuts at hips, valleys and rakes plus starter and ridge. This guide uses 10% as an assumption for a simple gable roof; a roof with many hips and valleys needs more. Track ordered versus used squares on your own jobs to set your figure.
How do I bid on a roofing job profitably?
Measure squares accurately, price materials at current supplier quotes, cost labour at the loaded rate including workers' comp, add overhead per crew-hour, and divide by (1 minus margin) rather than adding a markup. A 30% markup keeps only 23.08% of the sale.
Sources
- Haag - Important updates to the Florida Building Code's 25% rule (Aug 2022) — Text of FBC Existing Building 706.1.1 (25% rule) and the 2022 SB4 exemption for roofs built to the 2007 FBC or later
I'm not a contractor, landlord or accountant. I build the pricing maths, and every number on this page shows its working so you can check it instead of trusting it. Watch the breakdowns on YouTube →