Shingle calculator

How Many Bundles of Shingles for 1,200 sq ft?

1,200 sq ft of roof surface is 12 roofing squares. With 10% waste and standard 3-bundle-per-square shingles you need 40 bundles. If 1,200 sq ft is the house footprint rather than the roof, multiply by the pitch factor first: at a 6/12 pitch that becomes 45 bundles.

Roofing squares12
Bundles (10% waste)40
Bundles (15% waste)42
4-bundle shingles53
Nails (4 per shingle)4,224

Bundles for 1,200 sq ft of roof by waste factor

WasteSquares3 bundles / square4 bundles / square
5% (simple gable)12.63851
10% (typical)13.24053
15% (hips & valleys)13.84256
20% (complex, cut-up)14.44458

If 1,200 sq ft is the house footprint

Shingles cover the sloped roof, not the floor plan. Multiply the footprint (including overhangs) by the pitch factor to get roof surface:

PitchRoof surfaceSquares (+10%)Bundles
3/121,237 sq ft13.641
4/121,265 sq ft13.942
5/121,300 sq ft14.343
6/121,342 sq ft14.845
7/121,389 sq ft15.346
8/121,442 sq ft15.948
9/121,500 sq ft16.550
10/121,562 sq ft17.252
12/121,697 sq ft18.757

3 bundles per square, 10% waste. Don't know your pitch? Measure it with the Pitch Gauge.

Shingle cost for 1,200 sq ft

Shingle typeMaterial per squareTotal for 1,200 sq ft (+10%)
3-tab shingles$80–$120$1,056–$1,584
Architectural shingles$100–$160$1,320–$2,112
Premium shingles$160–$250$2,112–$3,300

Shingles only. Underlayment, flashing, ridge cap, disposal and labour are extra.

Nails and underlayment

UnderlaymentTypical roll coverageRolls (+10% laps)
Synthetic underlayment1,000 sq ft2
#15 felt400 sq ft4
#30 felt200 sq ft7

Nails: about 4,224 with a standard 4-nail pattern, or 6,337 with a 6-nail high-wind pattern. Check roll labels: coverage varies by brand.

Frequently asked questions

How many bundles of shingles do I need for 1,200 sq ft?

For 1,200 sq ft of roof surface you need 40 bundles of standard shingles (3 bundles per square) including 10% waste, or 42 bundles with 15% waste for a roof with hips and valleys. Heavier shingles packed 4 bundles per square need 53 bundles.

How many squares is 1,200 sq ft?

A roofing square is 100 sq ft, so 1,200 sq ft is 12 squares, or 13.2 squares once you add 10% for waste.

Is 1,200 sq ft the house size or the roof size?

Shingles are ordered by roof surface, which is larger than the house footprint because of the slope and overhangs. If 1,200 sq ft is your footprint, multiply it by your pitch factor: at 6/12 the roof is 1,342 sq ft and needs 45 bundles.

How much do shingles for 1,200 sq ft cost?

At typical material prices, shingles for 1,200 sq ft of roof (with 10% waste) cost about $1,056–$1,584 for 3-tab shingles, $1,320–$2,112 for architectural shingles, $2,112–$3,300 for premium shingles. That is materials only; installation usually costs more than the shingles.