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Roof pitch calculator
Geometry
Result
Angle
Slope multiplier
Rafter length
Region
Waste
Prices: national avg · Jun 2026 · sources
DiagramUpdates as you type

Convert a roof pitch (rise per 12 of run) into an angle in degrees, a slope-area multiplier, and a rafter length.

Formula

angle = atan(rise ÷ run); multiplier = √(rise² + run²) ÷ run

Method & sources
Formula basisRight-triangle geometry
How we calculatePitch = rise ÷ run; angle = arctan(rise/run); slope multiplier = √(rise² + run²) ÷ run. Full method →
Formula verified against the published standard above. Method last reviewed June 2026. Estimates are for planning — confirm against supplier quotes.

Reading pitch

Pitch is written as rise:12 — a 6:12 roof rises 6 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run, an angle of about 26.6°.

Why the multiplier matters

The slope multiplier converts a flat footprint area into actual sloped roof area — feed it into the roofing calculator.

Worked example

Reading a 6:12 pitch

A 6:12 pitch means the roof rises 6 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run. The angle is arctan(6/12) = 26.57 degrees. The slope multiplier — the number that converts flat footprint area to actual roof area — is the square root of (6² + 12²) divided by 12, which is 1.118.

So a roof plane covering 1,000 square feet of footprint actually has 1,118 square feet of surface. That multiplier is the single most useful output here: feed it straight into the roofing and shingle calculators.

What affects your result

Common mistakes to avoid

Where the numbers come from

These are exact trigonometric results — no estimation. A 12:12 roof is exactly 45° with a 1.414 multiplier.

Frequently asked questions

What angle is a 6:12 pitch?

About 26.57 degrees, with a slope multiplier of 1.118.

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