Metal Roofing Calculator
Calculate metal roofing panels, screws, ridge caps, trim, and accessories. Includes standing seam, corrugated, and R-panel options.
How to Use This Calculator
Metal roofing calculation requires understanding panel widths, overlaps, and accessories. This calculator helps you estimate panels, screws, trim, and all the components needed for a complete metal roof installation.
- Enter roof dimensions or total squares (1 square = 100 sq ft).
- Select your roof pitch - this affects the actual surface area to cover.
- Choose your panel type - standing seam, corrugated, R-panel, etc.
- Enter the number of hips and valleys for trim calculations.
- Specify ridge length if different from roof length.
Why This Matters
Metal roofing is a significant investment that pays off with longevity, energy efficiency, and low maintenance. Accurate material estimation prevents costly mid-project orders and ensures you have matching panels from the same production run. Unlike shingles, metal panels come in various widths and profiles that significantly affect coverage calculations.
- Calculate panels based on coverage width, not nominal width
- Account for roof pitch in area calculations
- Include all trim and accessories
- Estimate screws and closure strips
- Budget for complete installation costs
Worked Examples
Simple Gable Roof
A 30' x 40' roof area with 4/12 pitch using standing seam panels.
Hip Roof with Valleys
A 2,500 sq ft home footprint, 6/12 pitch, 4 hips, 2 valleys.
Corrugated Metal Barn
A 40' x 60' barn with low slope (3/12) using corrugated panels.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using nominal panel width instead of coverage width - overlap reduces coverage.
- Forgetting pitch multiplier - steeper roofs have significantly more surface area.
- Underestimating trim and accessories - these add significant cost.
- Not ordering from same lot - color can vary between production runs.
- Skipping underlayment - moisture barriers are essential under metal.