Metal Roof Calculator: How Much Metal Roofing Do I Need?

metal roof homes
Photo: Kirk / Adobe Stock
metal roof homes
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
1,0002x1242
1,5002x1263
2,0003x1648
3,0003x1663
3,0003x2050

Calculating How Much Metal Roofing You Need

metal sheet roofing
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.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are pros and cons to metal roofs. Some of the benefits of a metal roof include a long lifespan, multiple style options available, and improved energy efficiency in your home. The biggest drawbacks of metal roofing are the higher price tag and the noise. When rain falls on a metal roof, it tends to be louder compared to other roofing materials.

When choosing a metal roof, consider not only the area of the roof but also the thickness of the panel, known as the gauge. Common roofing gauge sizes for metal roofs are 24-gauge and 26-gauge. The smaller the gauge size, the thicker the roof. Usually, a thicker gauge is ideal if your house is in an area that sees a lot of rain, snow, or hail, as it will be less likely to dent.

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