letsreadnews.com / tools / roof pitch calculator

Roof Pitch Calculator

Enter your rise and run to get the pitch ratio, angle, and rafter length.

Your numbers

e.g. "6" means a 6/12 pitch
Used to estimate rafter length — leave 0 to skip
run 12" rise 6"

Results

6/12
Pitch ratio
26.6°
Roof angle
1.118
Slope (length) factor
Rafter length (incl. overhang)

Why use this tool?

Roof pitch determines everything from material choices to how steep a roof feels to walk on. Enter your rise and run, and this tool converts it into the pitch ratio, angle, and an estimated rafter length for planning.

How it works

  1. Enter the rise — how many inches the roof climbs over a 12-inch run.
  2. Optionally enter your building's width to estimate rafter length.
  3. Read off the pitch ratio, angle, and slope factor.

Frequently asked questions

What does '6/12 pitch' mean?It means the roof rises 6 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run — a common residential pitch.
Is the rafter length exact?It's a planning estimate based on rise, run, and building width. Always confirm exact measurements with a contractor before ordering materials.
Does this account for overhang?Yes, there's an optional overhang field that adds to the estimated rafter length.

Rough estimate for planning — always confirm with a contractor before ordering materials.

Send feedback →