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Metal Roof Calculator: How Much Metal Roofing Do I Need?
Photo: Kirk / Adobe Stock
Photo: Kirk / Adobe Stock
Highlights
Metal roofing is typically sold in panels, which come in various sizes.
To know how many metal roofing panels you'll need, find your roof's area.
Metal roofs typically cost between $4 and $30 per square foot.
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If it's time to give your roof an upgrade, you may be asking, "How much metal roofing do I need?" Metal roofing is typically sold in panels, which vary in size. Use this metal roofing calculator to find out how many panels will be enough to cover your home.
How Many Metal Roofing Panels Are Needed For Your Roof?
Use the square footage of your roof divided by the coverage area of a roofing panel to determine how many you'll need.
| Roof Area (Square Feet) | Panel Coverage Area (Feet) | Metal Roofing Panels |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | 2x12 | 42 |
| 1,500 | 2x12 | 63 |
| 2,000 | 3x16 | 48 |
| 3,000 | 3x16 | 63 |
| 3,000 | 3x20 | 50 |
Calculating How Much Metal Roofing You Need
Photo: Aphisith / Adobe Stock
Based on the size of your roof, use the following formula to find out how many metal roofing panels you'll need:
Metal Roofing Panels Needed = Total Roof Area / Area of One Metal Roofing Panel
How to Measure Your Roof
Measuring your roof can be simple or more complicated, depending on whether the roof itself is simple or complex. You'll need to find out the length and width of each roof plane.
Measure the length and width of each plane, then multiply them together to get the square footage of the plane. Next, add together the square footage of each plane to get the total area of your roof.
For example, if your house has a simple gable roof, it has two roof planes. A gambrel roof has four planes. A hip roof also has four planes, but two of those planes are triangle-shaped. To calculate the area of a triangular plane, multiply the base of the triangle by its height, then divide by two.
Who to Hire to Install a Metal Roof
Roofing installation or repair isn't a DIY job. It pays to know who fixes roofs or replaces them entirely. Typically, a local professional roofer, one who's licensed and insured in your area, is the person to hire for the job.
A pro roofing contractor can measure the roof for you and calculate the number of metal panels your project requires. They'll also provide you with an estimate of the project's cost, so you can decide if installing metal panels is the right option for your home and budget.
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