Does your roofing contractor keep mentioning shingle bundles? Are you wondering how many shingles are in a bundle?
Shingles are packaged in bundles based on their dimensions and how much roof area they cover. This helps roofing contractors determine how many are required based on a roof’s square footage and plays a big role in material costs.
However, the number of shingles in a bundle heavily depends on the shingle type. So, the answer isn’t as straightforward as you may think.
For over 30 years, Bill Ragan Roofing’s mission has been to provide honest advice and information to homeowners going through a roofing project. That’s why I’ll break down some crucial things you need to know about shingle bundles.
By the end of this article, you’ll learn the answers to:
- How many shingles are in a bundle?
- How many square feet are in a bundle of shingles?
- How many shingle bundles does it take to fill a full roofing square?
- How do you calculate the number of shingle bundles for a roof replacement?
How many shingles are in a bundle?
As I said, shingle bundles vary based on shingle type. However, the number for the two most common types is pretty uniform across the different manufacturers.
3-tab shingles usually come with 26-29 to a bundle, while there are 20 to 22 architectural shingles in a bundle. On the other hand, there’s no real uniformity with luxury shingles because of differences in size and thickness.
Depending on the manufacturer, there are 10-16 luxury shingles per bundle. So, you’ll need to look at data sheets and technical info to learn the exact number.
Keep in mind that some manufacturers use statements like “no less than...” or “minimum of…” in their marketing materials or sell sheets. However, 20 is the lowest number per bundle for most architectural shingles on the market.
How many square feet are in a bundle of shingles?
Knowing how many shingles are in a bundle is a great start, but now you need to know how much area a bundle actually covers. A bundle of 3-tab and architectural shingles typically covers about 33.3 square feet of roof area.
It can vary depending on the specific shingle and manufacturer, but 33 square feet is pretty standard. The coverage for luxury shingles depends on the specific shingle, even if they’re from the same manufacturer.
For example, a bundle of CertainTeed’s Belmont comes with 12 shingles that cover 25 square feet of roof area. However, a bundle of CertainTeed’s Grand Manor comes with 10 shingles that cover 20 square feet.
How many shingle bundles does it take to fill a full roofing square?
A roofing square is simply a 10x10 area equal to 100 square feet. Roofing contractors use squares when determining how many bundles they’ll need, so now let’s look at how many bundles it takes to cover one square of roofing area.
It takes 3 bundles of 3-tab and architectural shingles to fill one roofing square. However, some higher-end architectural shingles may take 4.
On the other hand, it takes 3 to 6 bundles of luxury shingles to fill in a roofing square. Like before, the exact number depends on the specific shingle.
For example, CertainTeed’s Belmont requires 4 bundles per square, while CertainTeed’s Grand Manor takes 5. So, you really need to read the technical data to learn the exact number.
How do you calculate the number of shingle bundles for a roof replacement?
I’ve thrown a lot at you, and roofs are obviously much larger than 100 square feet. So, let’s put it all together to calculate how many shingles bundles you would need to replace your roof.
Let’s say your roof is 2,000 square feet.
First, divide 2,000 by 100 to get the number of squares, which equals 20. Next, multiply the number of bundles by 20 to determine how many will be required to replace the roof.
In our example, it takes roughly 60 bundles of 3-tab and architectural shingles or 80 to 100 bundles of luxury shingles to replace a 2,000-square-foot roof. Just know that your home’s square footage isn’t your roof’s, so you’ll have to calculate the roof’s square footage for a more accurate estimation.
How do you choose the right asphalt shingle?
After reading this article, you know how many shingles are in a bundle, how many square feet one covers, and how many it takes to fill a roofing square. Based on that information, you can also calculate the number of bundles needed based on square footage.
However, you still need to talk to a roofing contractor and get exact measurements for a 100% accurate answer. But there’s a huge decision you still need to make before doing anything else: picking a shingle.
The asphalt shingle you choose determines cost, lifespan, warranty options, and much more. So, it’s crucial you feel confident when picking one.
That’s why I wrote another article that will help you make the right choice based on what each shingle offers and how they match up on key decision-making factors.
Check out How Do You Choose the Right Asphalt Shingles to ensure you make the right decision for your upcoming roof replacement.
