Shingle bundles for 2,800 sq ft of roof
These counts are for 2,800 sq ft of actual roof surface, measured on the slope. Most architectural and 3-tab shingles come three bundles to a square (100 sq ft); some heavier premium shingles take four. Suppliers sell whole bundles, so each count is rounded up.
| Waste allowance | Squares to order | Bundles (3 a square) | Bundles (4 a square) |
|---|---|---|---|
| None (exact) | 28.0 | 84 | 112 |
| 10% (simple gable) | 30.8 | 93 | 124 |
| 15% (hip, valleys) | 32.2 | 97 | 129 |
| 20% (complex roof) | 33.6 | 101 | 135 |
You will also need about 4 rolls of synthetic underlayment (1,000 sq ft rolls with 10% for laps), plus starter strip along the eaves and rakes and ridge cap along the ridges and hips.
If 2,800 sq ft is the house footprint
Many people know the floor area of the house, not the roof. A roof covers the footprint plus the overhang, and the slope makes it larger again. For a 70 × 40 ft house (2,800 sq ft) with a 1 ft overhang, the roof covers 3,024 sq ft in plan, and the table shows how the pitch adds to that. Bundles include 10% waste, at three a square.
| Roof pitch | Roof area (sq ft) | Squares | Bundles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | 3,188 | 31.9 | 106 |
| 6/12 | 3,381 | 33.8 | 112 |
| 8/12 | 3,634 | 36.3 | 120 |
| 10/12 | 3,936 | 39.4 | 130 |
| 12/12 | 4,277 | 42.8 | 142 |
The roofing calculator on this page opens on 2,800 sq ft of roof surface. To work from a house instead, switch "What do you know?" to the house footprint and enter its size, overhang and pitch, or read how to calculate roofing squares step by step.
Weight, nails and edge metal
Architectural shingles weigh about 60 to 80 lb a bundle, so 93 bundles are roughly 6,510 lb (3.3 tons) to lift onto the roof, which is the hard part of the job. Spread bundles across the roof's rafters, never stacked in one spot.
At about 320 nails a square (four per shingle), a 28.0 square roof uses around 8,960 nails, which is a 25 lb box or a couple of coils for a nail gun. Drip edge runs along the eaves and up the rakes: measure those edges and divide by 10 for the number of 10 ft pieces.
A 2,800 sq ft roof: one order, more than one day
2,800 sq ft of roof is 28.0 squares: 84 bundles, or 93 with 10% waste, around 5,580 to 7,440 lb. Few crews strip and cover a roof this size in a single day, so the work is normally split, often one side or one wing at a time, at roughly 47 bundles for each half.
Split the labor but not the order. Buy all 93 bundles together so that they come from one production lot and the color is even across the whole roof, and have only the day's share lifted onto the roof if the framing is light. Strip no more than can be made watertight with underlayment before the crew leaves for the day.
What one foot of error costs
The 70 × 40 ft example house needs 112 bundles with 10% waste, by the roofing calculator in footprint mode. Measure it 1 ft too long and 1 ft too wide, at 71 × 41 ft, and the count becomes 116 bundles, a difference of 4.
On a large roof a small error in each direction is multiplied by a long side, so check the dimensions twice and measure along the outside of the walls, not room by room inside. Wings, a garage or a porch under their own roofs are separate rectangles: run each through the calculator and add the bundles together.
Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Roofing Calculator: edit any number and the results update instantly.
Tools & materials for this project
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Frequently asked questions
How many bundles of shingles do I need for 2,800 square feet?
2,800 square feet of roof is 28 squares. At three bundles a square that is 84 bundles exactly, so buy 93 bundles with 10% for waste on a simple gable roof, or 97 with 15% for a hip roof or one with valleys.
How many squares is 2,800 square feet of roof?
28 squares, because one roofing square is 100 square feet. With 10% waste you order 30.8 squares, which suppliers round to whole bundles: 93.
What if 2,800 sq ft is the size of my house, not the roof?
Then the roof is bigger, because it slopes and overhangs the walls. A 70 × 40 ft house (2,800 sq ft) with a 1 ft overhang and a 6/12 pitch has about 3,381 sq ft of roof, which is 33.8 squares and 112 bundles with 10% waste.
Related sizes and guides
Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.