If you’re planning a roof repair or replacement in San Jose, you’ll hear roofers talk in squares, while stores sell shingles by the bundle. If you’ve been told you have a 20-square roof, but can clearly see far more than 20 bundles outside, what does that mean?
It’s a valid question. Roofing terminology can be tricky to understand. That’s why we’ve put together this article to explain squares and bundles of shingles, and what you need to know.
Key Takeaways
- One roofing square equals 100 square feet.
- Most roofs need about three bundles per square.
- Shingle bundles vary by manufacturer and shingle type.
- Roof shape and layout affect how many bundles you need.
What’s a Square of Shingles?
A square of shingles is a roofing measurement equal to 100 square feet of roof area. It’s about surface area alone, not a specific number of shingles. It’s also nothing to do with the shape of the shingles.
So, for example, if you live in a home with a 2,000-square-foot roof, you’ll need 20 squares. Roofers call this ‘a 20-square roof’. And that’s all there is to it. Roofers tend to talk in squares because it makes it much simpler to estimate how much material they’ll need to cover a roof.
It’s a standard that almost all contractors use and are familiar with. That’s useful, because there’s no standard size for an individual shingle (although there are a few common types – we’ll tell you more about those below).
What’s a Bundle of Shingles?
A bundle of shingles is a wrapped and sealed stack of roof shingles. Shingle manufacturers package shingles in bundles so they’re easy to move, stack, and load onto a roof without special equipment.
A single bundle is light enough for one person to carry, which makes a roofer’s job much safer, and means it’s much more straightforward to haul the shingles up onto the roof.
However, a bundle isn’t a standardized measurement. You’ll get a slightly different number of shingles per bundle from different manufacturers – especially if the individual shingles are heavier.
How Many Bundles of Shingles Make a Square?
As mentioned above, a bundle isn’t a standardized measurement. It contains however many shingles a manufacturer deems reasonable and practical for one person to carry.
However, this usually works out to approximately three bundles per square. Going back to our 2,000-square-foot (20-square) roof example, this project would likely require around 60 bundles of shingles.
(If shingles are heavier, manufacturers put fewer of them in each bundle to keep the bundle easy to lift and transport. Because each bundle covers less roof area, heavier shingles sometimes require closer to four bundles to cover one square.)
Are Roof Shingles a Standard Size?
Traditional three-tab asphalt shingles are the closest it comes to a ‘standard’ shingle size. They’re almost always about 12 inches by 36 inches. You usually get 25 to 30 shingles per bundle from the store.
And as we’ve already discussed, there are about three bundles per square. That means, when it comes to traditional three-tab asphalt shingles, you typically need about 80 shingles per square. So, in the 20-square roof example mentioned above, the homeowner would need a total of around 1,600 individual shingles, packaged in around 60 separate bundles.
Remember, even though a shingle might measure 12 inches by 36 inches, only about 5 inches are actually exposed. The rest of the shingle overlaps the course below it.
Architectural Shingles
Once you move beyond basic three-tab shingles, there is no standard shingle size. This is especially true with architectural (dimensional) shingles, which are now the most common choice on modern re-roofs. Unlike flat three-tab shingles, manufacturers build architectural shingles with multiple laminated layers.
This creates a thicker, more durable shingle with more depth and texture – but it also means sizes and weights vary by manufacturer. Some architectural shingles are taller. Others are heavier. Many use irregular tab patterns instead of uniform cuts.
Because of all this, a bundle of architectural shingles usually contains fewer individual shingles than a three-tab bundle. Even so, manufacturers usually still package them so approximately three bundles cover one square.
Quick Answers to Homeowner Questions
Less than one. A single bundle typically covers around 33 square feet or less. In other words, a bundle usually covers about ⅓ of a square.
No. A square is a measurement of surface area (100 square feet). A bundle just means a package of shingles. There are usually approximately three bundles per square, but there’s no standard.
It depends on the shingles’ size. However, between 60 and 75 shingles usually covers one square.
One Last Thing Homeowners Need to Know
All the math we’ve discussed so far is theoretical. In real life, things are more complex.
Roofers need to account for waste from cuts and off-cuts – unavoidable in any roofing operation. Valleys, hips, and complex roof shapes increase material use compared to a simple, straight-run roof. Roofers also account for starter shingles and ridge caps, which don’t factor into basic square calculations.
So even if you and your neighbor both have 20-square roofs, differences in roof shape and layout can mean you need a different number of shingle bundles – even if you’re using the exact same shingles.
Trust Top Home Roofers to Do the Math
Top Home Roofers installs high-quality roofs in San Jose and the surrounding area. We know how confusing roofing terminology can be. That’s why we’re always open to explaining how many bundles and individual shingles we need for your roof. We never over-order and always stick to your quote, so you have nothing to worry about.
Our team of expert contractors is here to help you get the new roof you deserve. Call us today on 408-443-2520 to get a free quote!