How to bid a roofing job: the steps
- Read the drawings, the specification sections and the bid instructions for your scope.
- Measure each roof plane from the roof plan or on site, and adjust plan area for pitch.
- Convert to squares and add waste for cuts, hips and valleys.
- Take off underlayment, flashings, edge metal, ridge, vents and penetrations.
- Price material from current supplier quotes and labor from your own production rates and wages.
- Add equipment, overhead and profit, then write inclusions, exclusions and open questions.
- Fill in the bid form or proposal and acknowledge every addendum.
What to measure for a roofing bid
| Item | Unit |
|---|---|
| Roof area | Squares (100 SF) |
| Underlayment and membrane | Squares or rolls |
| Edge metal, ridge, hips, valleys | LF |
| Flashings and penetrations | EA or LF |
| Tear-off and disposal | Squares and loads |
Short on time? Send the plans and specs and we do this for you. Fixed quote within 2 business hours. Plan review is free, and you pay only after you accept.
Get a fixed quoteSquares and pitch
The National Roofing Contractors Association defines a square as 100 SF of roof area. Divide the roof area by 100 for squares. Plan area understates a sloped roof: the calculator multiplies plan area by the pitch factor for you.
Run it in the roofing estimate calculator, then lay out the line items in the roofing estimate template.
Commercial and public roofing bids
- Low-slope systems follow the Division 07 specification: membrane, insulation, cover board, attachment and warranty.
- Manufacturer warranty requirements can dictate details and inspections.
- On federally funded or assisted construction contracts over $2,000, the US Department of Labor says the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts require locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits; many states have their own prevailing wage laws for public work. Check the bid documents before you price labor.
Where roofing bids go wrong
- Plan area used without the pitch factor
- Tear-off layers and disposal underestimated
- Flashings, crickets and curbs left off
- Deck repair not carried as a unit price or allowance
Tools and templates for the bid
Use the roofing estimate calculator, the construction estimate template, the bid sheet template to lay out the numbers, and the contractor markup calculator for overhead and profit. For a measured takeoff from your plans, see roofing estimating.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate roofing squares?
Roof area in square feet divided by 100. Measure each plane, adjust plan area for pitch, add waste.
How much should I charge per square for roofing?
Your own cost per square plus overhead and profit. We do not publish a market rate: material, pitch, tear-off and region change it too much.
Can Bidmere do my roofing takeoff?
Yes. Single-trade estimates are from $195 and takeoff-only work from $149, ready in 48 hours after you accept a fixed quote, which you get within 2 business hours.