How Many Bundles of Shingles for 1,000 Square Feet?
1,000 square feet of roof is 10 roofing squares, which takes 30 bundles of shingles at three bundles per square. Add 10% for cuts and starters and you buy 33 bundles. To go from house size to bundles, use the roofing calculator.
Part of the project planner: Planning a roof replacement.
Bundles for 1,000 square feet with waste
| Waste allowance | 3 bundles per square | 4 bundles per square |
|---|---|---|
| None | 30 | 40 |
| 10% | 33 | 44 |
| 15% | 35 | 46 |
| 20% | 36 | 48 |
Bundles by roof area
For shingles sold three bundles to the square:
| Roof area | Squares | Bundles, no waste | With 10% waste | With 15% waste |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 5.0 | 15 | 17 | 18 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 10.0 | 30 | 33 | 35 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 15.0 | 45 | 50 | 52 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 20.0 | 60 | 66 | 69 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 25.0 | 75 | 83 | 87 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 30.0 | 90 | 100 | 104 |
Why shingles come in bundles and squares
Roofers price and talk in squares: one square covers 100 square feet of finished roof. Shingles are packed in bundles so that a person can carry one up a ladder, and most architectural and 3-tab products are packed three bundles to the square. A few thicker premium and designer lines are packed four to the square, so check the label on the shingle you pick, because the count changes by a third. If the package says it covers a different area than 33 square feet a bundle, use the package figure and re-run the sum.
Choosing the waste allowance
Waste is the scrap left when a shingle is trimmed at an edge, a hip, a ridge or a valley. A plain gable roof with two big rectangles wastes the least. A hip roof has long diagonal cuts, and every valley, dormer and chimney adds more. If you are a first-time roofer who will cut some shingles badly, lean to the higher end, because a part bundle left over is cheap and a second trip mid-job is not. Keep a bundle or two after the job for later repairs, since shingle colors vary from one production run to the next.
Measuring the roof
- A roofing square is 100 square feet of roof surface.
- Roof area is larger than the footprint of the house: the pitch and the overhang add to it.
- Hips, valleys, dormers and chimneys add waste, so use the higher allowance for them.
- Order starter strips and ridge caps too: they are not counted in the bundles above.
- Add underlayment, drip edge, flashing and nails to the order: they are separate from the bundles.
Related: the common mistakes when replacing a shingle roof and the bundles for a 30 x 40 house. These are estimates: check the coverage printed on the bundle.
Frequently asked questions
How many bundles of shingles cover 1,000 square feet?
Ten squares of roof, so 30 bundles at three bundles per square, plus waste: 33 with 10% extra and 35 with 15%.
How many bundles are in a square?
Three for most architectural and 3-tab shingles. Some premium shingles come four to a square.
How many square feet is a bundle of shingles?
About 33 square feet of coverage, because three bundles cover a 100 square foot roofing square.
How do I measure roof area?
Multiply the length and width of the house plus the overhangs, then multiply by the pitch factor, since a steep roof is larger than the floor below it. The roofing calculator does this.
How much waste should I add?
About 10% for a plain gable roof, 15% for a hip roof or a few valleys and 20% for a complex roof with many cuts.
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.