For roofing contractors

Roofing Estimating & Invoicing Software for Roofers

A roofing bid is squares, pitch, waste and tear-off, plus a long list of accessories. Trades HQ keeps it all on one estimate and shows whether the job made money when it’s done.

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Why roofing jobs are hard to price

Pitch changes the area. A steeper roof has more surface than its footprint.
Waste depends on the roof shape. Hips, valleys and dormers mean more cuts.
Accessories add up. Underlayment, drip edge, starter, ridge cap, flashing, vents and nails are easy to leave off.
Tear-off and disposal. Layers to remove, dumpster and haul-away belong on the bid.

How Trades HQ helps roofers

Price book with roofing items. Keep your shingle, underlayment and accessory prices and reuse them on every bid.
Measure from plans. For new construction, measure areas right off a blueprint PDF.
Labor-rate guidance by state. See typical roofer wages in your state, then set your own rate.
Material price requests. Send one price request to all your suppliers and turn the best quote into a purchase order.
Proposals homeowners approve online, then one click to invoice.
Deposits up front, and change orders for rotten decking or extra layers found during tear-off.

A roofing estimate, step by step

Find the roof area: footprint (including overhangs) × the pitch factor.
Convert to squares (1 square = 100 sq ft).
Add waste: often about 10% for simple gable roofs, more for hips and valleys.
Convert to bundles (many shingles come about 3 bundles per square; check the wrapper).
Add underlayment, drip edge, starter, ridge cap, flashing, vents and nails.
Add tear-off, disposal and labor, then apply your overhead and profit.

Example (illustrative): a 30 × 40 ft footprint at a 6/12 pitch.

Step	Math	Result
Footprint	30 × 40	1,200 sq ft
6/12 pitch factor	1,200 × 1.118	1,341.6 sq ft
Squares	1,341.6 ÷ 100	13.4 squares
Plus 10% waste	13.4 × 1.10	about 14.75, so 15 squares
Bundles at 3 per square	15 × 3	45 bundles

Pricing tip: Put tear-off and disposal on every bid, even when you expect only one layer. And remember that markup and margin aren't the same number: a 20% margin needs a 25% markup. The Estimating Basics guide walks through the math, and the free markup and margin calculator does it for you.

See it in Trades HQ

A sample kitchen remodel estimate in Trades HQ with material and labor on each line — A sample estimate in Trades HQ. Each line has its own material and labor cost, and the Bid Summary adds your overhead and profit. Sample numbers.

Questions roofing contractors ask

How do I figure roofing squares?

Multiply the roof footprint, including overhangs, by the pitch factor for your roof’s slope, then divide by 100. One square is 100 square feet. Add waste for cuts, more on roofs with hips and valleys.

How do I bill for rotten decking found during tear-off?

Add a change order for the extra work. Once the customer approves it, it’s included when you bill.

Can I get prices from several suppliers at once?

Yes. Send one price request to all your suppliers, pick the best quote, and turn it into a purchase order. The paid bill lands in the job’s costs.

Is there a free trial?

Yes. Every plan starts with a 14-day free trial, and you don’t need a credit card to start. Plans start at $75 a month, and you can cancel anytime.

Examples on this page use illustrative numbers only. Use your own costs, rates and local requirements. This page is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice.