Roofing Estimate Template (Squares, Tear-Off & Waste)
A roofing estimate is built in squares (1 square = 100 sq ft of roof) and must include tear-off, underlayment, shingles, flashing/accessories, disposal, and labor per square — plus a 10–15% waste factor (more for steep or cut-up roofs). A typical 24-square asphalt-shingle re-roof runs around $11,400. Below is the line-by-line and an editable template that does the math.
Roofing prices differently from flat flooring: you measure in squares, account for pitch and layers, and tear-off + disposal are major lines. Price it like a flat sheet and you’ll lose money on every steep roof. Here’s the structure.
The lines a roofing estimate needs
- Roof area in squares — total sq ft ÷ 100, adjusted up for pitch (a steep roof has more surface than its footprint).
- Waste factor — 10% simple gable, 15%+ for hips, valleys, and cut-up roofs.
- Tear-off & disposal — labor to strip old layers + dumpster. More for multiple layers.
- Materials — shingles, underlayment, ice-and-water shield, drip edge, flashing, ridge vent, fasteners.
- Labor per square at your burdened rate; steeper pitch = slower = higher.
- Markup → margin on the whole job.
A real example: 24-square asphalt re-roof
| Line | Detail | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Shingles + accessories | 26.5 sq (10% waste) of materials | $4,300 |
| Underlayment, ice & water, drip edge, vent | materials | $1,150 |
| Tear-off + disposal | 1 layer + dumpster | $1,800 |
| Labor | 24 sq @ burdened crew | $2,900 |
| Direct cost | $10,150 | |
| Price @ ~11% margin | ÷ 0.89 | $11,400 |
Contractor Estimate Calculator (works for roofing)
Set up your squares, waste %, tear-off, materials, and burdened labor, with a target margin that back-calculates the price. Trade-agnostic — built for roofing, flooring, and every trade. Excel + Google Sheets.
The estimating logic is universal — see the full method, get labor right with the Labor Burden Calculator, and set price with markup vs margin.
Trade Templates Co. builds back-office templates for solo trade businesses, QA’d against real job numbers before they ship. Numbers are illustrative — use local material and labor costs and your roof’s pitch/complexity.
Frequently asked questions
What is a roofing square?
100 square feet of roof area. Roofing materials and labor are priced per square, not per square foot.
What waste factor for roofing?
~10% for a simple gable; 15%+ for hips, valleys, and cut-up roofs where more cuts create more waste.
Should tear-off be a separate line?
Yes — strip labor and dumpster/disposal are major costs that scale with the number of existing layers; never bury them.
Can a general estimate template handle roofing?
Yes — set the unit to squares and add the roofing-specific lines (tear-off, underlayment, flashing); the cost-and-margin math is the same.
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