Very steep slope · Dangerous

22/12 Roof Pitch

A 22/12 roof rises 22 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run. That is a 61.39° angle, a grade of 183.3% and a roof area multiplier of 2.088, so every square foot of plan area becomes 2.088 square feet of roof surface.

61.39°run 12rise 22
Angle61.39°
Slope183.3%
Area multiplier2.088
Rise per metre1,833 mm
Rafter per ft of run25.06 in
Hip/valley per ft of run27.78 in

Rafter length for a 22/12 pitch

Multiply the horizontal run by 2.088. Every foot of run needs 25.06 inches of common rafter. Add the overhang (horizontal overhang × 2.088) and deduct half the ridge board thickness.

Building spanRun (½ span)Common rafterRidge rise
12 ft6 ft12 ft 6¼ in11 ft 0 in
16 ft8 ft16 ft 8½ in14 ft 8 in
20 ft10 ft20 ft 10½ in18 ft 4 in
24 ft12 ft25 ft 0¾ in22 ft 0 in
28 ft14 ft29 ft 2¾ in25 ft 8 in
32 ft16 ft33 ft 5 in29 ft 4 in
36 ft18 ft37 ft 7 in33 ft 0 in
40 ft20 ft41 ft 9¼ in36 ft 8 in

Gable roof, imperial. Rafter length is measured along the slope from wall plate to ridge centre line, before eave overhang and ridge board deduction.

Building spanRun (½ span)Common rafterRidge rise
4 m2 m4.18 m3.67 m
6 m3 m6.26 m5.50 m
8 m4 m8.35 m7.33 m
10 m5 m10.44 m9.17 m
12 m6 m12.53 m11.00 m

Gable roof, metric. Rafter length is measured along the slope from wall plate to ridge centre line, before eave overhang and ridge board deduction.

Roof area at 22/12

Roof surface area = plan area × 2.088. Use the roof calculator for multi-section roofs, waste and material costs.

Plan areaRoof surfaceSquares (+10%)Shingle bundles
1,000 sq ft2,088 sq ft23.069
1,500 sq ft3,132 sq ft34.5104
2,000 sq ft4,177 sq ft45.9138
2,500 sq ft5,221 sq ft57.4173
3,000 sq ft6,265 sq ft68.9207

Plan area includes eave overhangs. Bundles assume 3 bundles per square (100 sq ft) with 10% waste; hips, valleys and dormers need more.

Plan areaRoof surfaceWith 10% waste
80 m²167.1 m²183.8 m²
100 m²208.8 m²229.7 m²
150 m²313.2 m²344.6 m²
200 m²417.7 m²459.4 m²
250 m²522.1 m²574.3 m²

Plan area is the footprint measured to the outside of the eaves. Multiply by 2.088 for the sloped surface.

Roofing materials for a 22/12 pitch (US & Canada)

Minimum slopes from the 2021 International Residential Code. Canadian codes and manufacturers use similar limits for shingles and metal. Minimum pitch by material →

Roofing systemAt this pitchCode section
Asphalt shinglesMeets the 2/12 minimumIRC R905.2.2
Clay & concrete tileMeets the 2½/12 minimumIRC R905.3.2
Metal roof shinglesMeets the 3/12 minimumIRC R905.4.2
Slate & slate-type shinglesMeets the 4/12 minimumIRC R905.6.2
Wood shingles & shakesMeets the 3/12 minimumIRC R905.7.2 / R905.8.2
Standing-seam metal panelsMeets the ¼/12 minimumIRC R905.10.2
Lapped (exposed-fastener) metal panelsMeets the ½/12 minimumIRC R905.10.2
Mineral-surfaced roll roofingMeets the 1/12 minimumIRC R905.5.2
Membranes (TPO, EPDM, modified bitumen, built-up)Allowed, but normally used on low-slope roofsIRC R905.9–R905.13

Roofing materials for a 22/12 pitch (Australia & UK)

Typical manufacturer minimums. Check the specific product, sheet thickness, rafter length and exposure before ordering.

Roofing systemAt this pitchNotes
Concealed-fix steel deck (e.g. Lysaght Klip-Lok 700)Meets the typical 1° minimum1° applies to thicker sheet; 0.42 BMT is generally 2°.
Trapezoidal steel sheet (e.g. Lysaght Trimdek)Meets the typical 2° minimum—
Corrugated steel sheet (e.g. Lysaght Custom Orb)Meets the typical 5° minimum—
Interlocking concrete or terracotta tilesMeets the typical 15° minimumProfile dependent; many UK interlocking tiles need 17.5°–22.5°.
Natural slateMeets the typical 20° minimumTypical for larger slates; smaller slates and exposed sites need steeper pitches.
Plain tiles (clay or concrete)Meets the typical 35° minimumSome products allow 30°.
Flat-roof membranes (EPDM, single-ply, felt)Usually reserved for flat and low-slope roofsDesigned for a finished fall of about 1:80 (0.7°) or more.

Is a 22/12 roof steep?

Very steep roofs are mostly architectural: A-frames, Gothic and Tudor styles, and dormers. Expect a steep-slope labour surcharge on every quote.

A 22/12 roof cannot be walked. All work needs roof jacks or staging plus a personal fall arrest system.

22/12 roof pitch FAQ

What is a 22/12 roof pitch in degrees?

A 22/12 pitch is 61.39°. It rises 22 inches per 12 inches of run, so the angle is arctan(22 ÷ 12). As a percentage that is a slope of 183.3%, and in metric it rises 1,833 mm per metre.

What is the roof pitch multiplier for 22/12?

The 22/12 multiplier is 2.088. Multiply the roof's plan (footprint) area by 2.088 to get the sloped surface area. A 2,000 sq ft plan area, for example, is 4,177 sq ft of roof before waste.

How do I calculate rafter length for a 22/12 pitch?

Multiply the horizontal run by 2.088. Each foot of run needs 25.06 inches of rafter, so a 24 ft wide gable (12 ft run) needs a common rafter of about 25 ft 0¾ in before adding the overhang and deducting half the ridge board. Hip and valley rafters on a regular hip roof need 27.78 inches per foot of common run.

Can you walk on a 22/12 roof?

A 22/12 roof cannot be walked. All work needs roof jacks or staging plus a personal fall arrest system. OSHA (29 CFR 1926.500) treats any roof steeper than 4/12 as a steep roof for fall protection purposes.

What roofing materials can go on a 22/12 pitch?

Under the US International Residential Code a 22/12 pitch meets the minimum slope for asphalt shingles, clay & concrete tile, metal roof shingles, slate & slate-type shingles, wood shingles & shakes, standing-seam metal panels, lapped (exposed-fastener) metal panels and mineral-surfaced roll roofing. Always check the manufacturer's installation instructions and your local code.