Shingle bundles for 700 sq ft of roof
These counts are for 700 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) | 7.0 | 21 | 28 |
| 10% (simple gable) | 7.7 | 24 | 31 |
| 15% (hip, valleys) | 8.1 | 25 | 33 |
| 20% (complex roof) | 8.4 | 26 | 34 |
You will also need about 1 roll 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 700 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 35 × 20 ft house (700 sq ft) with a 1 ft overhang, the roof covers 814 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 | 858 | 8.6 | 29 |
| 6/12 | 910 | 9.1 | 31 |
| 8/12 | 978 | 9.8 | 33 |
| 10/12 | 1,060 | 10.6 | 35 |
| 12/12 | 1,151 | 11.5 | 38 |
The roofing calculator on this page opens on 700 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 24 bundles are roughly 1,680 lb (0.8 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 7.0 square roof uses around 2,240 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 700 sq ft roof: often one side of a house
700 sq ft is 7.0 squares: 21 bundles, or 24 with 10% waste. It is the roof of a small cabin or a large garage, and it is also about the size of one slope of a mid-size house, which is how many people meet this number: storm damage or wear on one side only.
If you are replacing one side and keeping the other, the difficulty is the match and not the count. Take the wrapper from an old bundle if you have one, or a loose shingle, to the supplier, and expect the new side to look fresher than the old one even in the same color. Where the two sides meet, the ridge cap has to be replaced as well, so add it to the order.
The same house with four-bundle shingles
The roofing calculator, in its house footprint mode, puts the 35 × 20 ft example house at 910 sq ft of roof and 31 bundles with 10% waste, at three bundles a square. If the shingle you choose is packed four bundles to a square, the same roof takes 41 bundles.
Both orders cover the same 9.1 squares. Heavier shingles are split into more bundles so that each one can still be lifted, so a four-bundle product usually means more weight on the roof in total, and more trips to carry it. Set the bundles per square in the calculator to match the wrapper before you order.
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 700 square feet?
700 square feet of roof is 7 squares. At three bundles a square that is 21 bundles exactly, so buy 24 bundles with 10% for waste on a simple gable roof, or 25 with 15% for a hip roof or one with valleys.
How many squares is 700 square feet of roof?
7 squares, because one roofing square is 100 square feet. With 10% waste you order 7.7 squares, which suppliers round to whole bundles: 24.
What if 700 sq ft is the size of my house, not the roof?
Then the roof is bigger, because it slopes and overhangs the walls. A 35 × 20 ft house (700 sq ft) with a 1 ft overhang and a 6/12 pitch has about 910 sq ft of roof, which is 9.1 squares and 31 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.