Roof measurement reports: what's inside, what they cost, how to use them
Updated · Rotomal
A roof report (roof measurement report) gives a roof's total area, the number of squares (one square is 100 sq ft), the pitch of each facet, the facet count and a suggested waste factor, measured from aerial imagery or a drone instead of a tape on the roof. Premium reports, the kind insurers expect for claims, list at $13–19 each on Roofr and more elsewhere. For retail quotes and pre-quotes, a cheaper aerial report that gives an area range is usually enough; Roof Tally produces one with a branded estimate for $5–8.
What a roof report contains
- Total roof area in square feet, and the same figure in roofing squares (area ÷ 100).
- Pitch: rise in inches per 12 inches of run, per facet and the dominant pitch.
- Facet count, the main indicator of complexity and labor.
- Suggested waste factor, higher for cut-up roofs with many hips and valleys.
- Premium reports add edge lengths (ridges, hips, valleys, eaves, rakes) for ordering trim and flashing, plus annotated imagery.
- Budget reports usually state the area as a range with a confidence grade.
From measurements to an estimate
Most retail estimates follow one formula: squares × (1 + waste factor) × price per square, plus pitch surcharges, tear-off per layer and fixed add-ons such as permits or skylights. A 2,400 sq ft roof is 24 squares; with a 10% waste factor you order 26.4 squares.
If you only know the footprint, pitch converts it to true roof area. Multiply the flat area by the pitch factor:
| Pitch | Pitch factor | 1,000 sq ft footprint becomes |
|---|---|---|
| 4/12 | 1.054 | 1,054 sq ft |
| 6/12 | 1.118 | 1,118 sq ft |
| 8/12 | 1.202 | 1,202 sq ft |
| 10/12 | 1.302 | 1,302 sq ft |
| 12/12 | 1.414 | 1,414 sq ft |
Satellite, drone or tape: which to use when
| Method | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Aerial or satellite data | Retail quotes, pre-quotes, bulk mailers, listing files | Tree cover, recent additions and low-quality imagery; check the confidence grade |
| Premium aerial report (EagleView, Hover, Roofr) | Insurance claims and won jobs before ordering | Higher price per report and slower turnaround |
| Drone capture | Complex or steep roofs you are about to build | Needs a site visit and a licensed pilot |
| Tape measure on the roof | Final verification before ordering material | Time and fall risk on every roof |
Getting emailed roof reports into job or listing records
Most measurement reports still arrive as a PDF by email, which means someone retypes the numbers into the CRM job, the estimate or the listing file. To make the figures searchable and reusable, store them as fields rather than only attaching the PDF:
- Total area and squares
- Dominant pitch and facet count
- Waste factor used
- Report date, source and confidence grade
- Link or attachment to the original PDF
Roof Tally returns every report as a PDF plus structured data: a CSV export on every plan, a Zapier-compatible webhook on the Roofer plan, and JSON through the REST API on the Agency plan that can create or update a record in your CRM. Bulk mode takes a list of addresses and returns one CSV row per address, so a whole street or a set of listings can be filed in one go.
Premium or budget report?
Use a premium report when an insurer, adjuster or lender will rely on it, and before you order material for a job you have won. Use a budget report for everything earlier in the funnel: the homeowner who wants a ballpark, the ten pre-quotes after a hailstorm, or the listing that needs a roof area. Paying premium prices for leads that never convert is where most of the measurement budget goes.
Questions
How much does a roof report cost?
Premium measurement reports list at $13–19 each on Roofr and more from some other providers. Roof Tally reports cost $8 each pay-as-you-go, or the $49 monthly plan includes 10 reports and charges $5 for each one after that. Failed lookups are free.
How accurate are satellite roof measurements?
Accuracy depends on the imagery for that address. Roof Tally reports area as a range with a confidence grade and does not charge when high-quality data is missing. Verify on site before ordering material.
Can I use a budget roof report for an insurance claim?
No. Insurers and adjusters generally expect a premium report or their own inspection. Budget reports are for retail quotes, pre-quotes and planning.
What is a roofing square?
100 square feet of roof surface. Shingles are priced and ordered by the square, so a 2,400 sq ft roof is 24 squares before waste.
Sources
- Roofr's published pricing lists measurement reports at $13–19 each. Source: roofr.com
- Google's Solar API returns building and roof-segment data (area, pitch, orientation) per address. Source: developers.google.com