By Zencalcy Editorial TeamLast reviewed About us
Metal roofing is priced by the linear foot of panel or by the square, and panel count depends on the panel width and the roof's widest run. This calculator works from roof area and panel size to give panels, linear feet, fasteners and cost — the numbers a supplier will ask for.
Panels, screws and installed cost for a metal roof.
Coverage per panel = width × length Panels = ⌈area × (1 + waste) ÷ coverage⌉ Cost = panels × length × price per ft
Panel width is the coverage width, not the sheet width — standing seam panels lose 1–2 inches to the seam. Screws run about 80–100 per square for exposed-fastener panels; standing seam uses concealed clips at 2 per panel per purlin.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | Roof area. |
| w, l | Panel coverage width and length. |
| N | Panels required. |
Each panel covers 36 sq ft, so 1,500 sq ft with 10% waste needs 46 panels and 552 linear feet. At $4.50 per foot that is $2,484.
Continue with the Roof Pitch Calculator, Rafter Length Calculator, Roof Truss Calculator, or the Roofing Calculator — or browse more roofing and all construction calculators.
Materials run $3–8 per square foot for exposed-fastener panels and $8–16 for standing seam, installed. Complex roofs with many hips cost more.
Results use standard construction estimating arithmetic: volumes from measured area and depth, unit weights from published material densities, and code-referenced spans or clearances where the page names a code. Quantities are rounded up to whole saleable units and include the stated waste allowance. These tools are planning aids, not structural design, and do not replace a licensed engineer, a local code check, or a contractor's site measurement.
Reference material used to build and check this calculator:
Last reviewed: September 2026. See how we build and check every tool on the about page.
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Content updated: September 2026