Guide
How to measure a roof from a satellite map
Measure your roof’s footprint from a satellite map in minutes. It’s a fast way to estimate roofing, solar panels, gutters, and other projects without climbing a ladder.
Satellite imagery measures the roof’s footprint from above. Steeper roofs have more surface area, so you’ll need to account for roof pitch when estimating materials.
Opens the free tool on your property — no sign-up to start.
Step by step
Search the address
Pull the property up on satellite imagery and zoom in on the roof.
Trace the roofline
Trace the outside edge of the roof. For complex roofs, measure each section separately for better accuracy.
Read the roof footprint
The measured square footage is the roof’s footprint — the flat area seen from above.
Footprint vs. actual roof area
Satellite imagery measures the roof’s footprint. Because pitched roofs have more surface area than their footprint, multiply by an estimated pitch factor when calculating roofing materials.
Roofing materials are commonly sold in “squares,” where one square equals 100 square feet of roof surface. Once you’ve estimated the true roof area, divide by 100 to estimate the number of squares.
Common roof pitch multipliers
Multiply your roof footprint by the factor for its pitch to estimate the true roof surface area. For example, a 2,000 sq ft footprint with a 6/12 pitch is approximately 2,240 sq ft of roof surface.
| Roof pitch | Multiply footprint by |
|---|---|
| Flat | 1.00 |
| 4/12 | 1.05 |
| 6/12 | 1.12 |
| 8/12 | 1.20 |
| 10/12 | 1.30 |
| 12/12 | 1.41 |
Great for solar, gutters, and planning
The roof footprint is a great starting point for solar panel layouts, gutter measurements, and preliminary roofing estimates. For final material orders, confirm roof pitch and dimensions on-site.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I measure a roof from satellite?
Search the address, trace the roofline on the satellite image, and read the footprint area. For complex roofs, trace each section as its own area.
Does this give the actual roof area?
It gives the flat footprint from above. Multiply by a pitch factor (about 1.05 for low slopes up to ~1.4 for steep ones) to estimate the true sloped area.
What is a roofing square?
A roofing square is 100 square feet. Divide your estimated roof area by 100 to get squares, then add for waste.
Can I measure a complex roof?
Yes. Measure each roof section separately, then add the totals together for the best estimate.
How accurate is a satellite roof measurement?
For estimating and planning, it’s typically very accurate. Final roofing material orders should always verify roof pitch and dimensions on-site.