5/12 Roof Pitch: Angle, Multiplier and What It Means
Angle
22.6 degrees
5 inches of rise for every 12 inches of run, over a 1,200 square foot footprint.
How that number is worked out
These are the figures this page was built with and every line the calculator produces from them. Change anything above and all of it moves.
- Rise5 in per 12 in run
- Footprint area, 0 to skip1200 sq ft
Slope multiplier1.08 x footprint
| Pitch | 5/12 |
|---|---|
| Slope multiplier | 1.08 xmultiply footprint by this |
| Angle | 22.6 degrees |
| Grade | 41.7% |
| Rafter length per 12 ft of run | 13 ft |
| Roof surface for 1,200 sq ft footprint | 1,300 sq ft |
| That is | 13 squares |
Pitch compared
The whole table, so you do not have to come back for the next one.
| Pitch | Slope multiplier | Angle | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2/12 | 1.01 x footprint | 9.5 degrees | 16.7% |
| 3/12 | 1.03 x footprint | 14 degrees | 25% |
| 4/12 | 1.05 x footprint | 18.4 degrees | 33.3% |
| 5/12 | 1.08 x footprint | 22.6 degrees | 41.7% |
| 6/12 | 1.12 x footprint | 26.6 degrees | 50% |
| 7/12 | 1.16 x footprint | 30.3 degrees | 58.3% |
| 8/12 | 1.2 x footprint | 33.7 degrees | 66.7% |
| 9/12 | 1.25 x footprint | 36.9 degrees | 75% |
| 10/12 | 1.3 x footprint | 39.8 degrees | 83.3% |
| 12/12 | 1.41 x footprint | 45 degrees | 100% |
What else matters here
A 5/12 pitch is 22.6 degrees. It is a standard slope with no special underlayment requirement and it is still walkable for most people, though the footing is noticeably less certain than on a 4/12 when the surface is damp or dusty with granules.
The multiplier is 1.08, so a 1,200 square foot footprint becomes 1,300 square feet of roof, an even 13 squares. Eight percent is enough to matter on a material order and enough to matter again on a tear off, since you pay to take the same area off.
It gives a little more attic height than a 4/12 without pushing the ridge up far enough to change the look of the house, which is why it turns up so often on additions that have to match an existing roof line.
What this calculator assumes
- Pitch is written as rise over a 12 inch run. A 6/12 roof climbs 6 inches for every 12 inches across.
- The slope multiplier converts flat footprint area into real roof surface. It is the number that decides whether you order enough shingles.
- Below 2/12, shingles are not rated. Below 4/12, most manufacturers require a double underlayment. Over 8/12 you are on roof jacks and the labor price changes.
Questions people ask
What is 5/12 in degrees?
22.6 degrees, which is a 41.7 percent grade.
Can you walk on a 5/12 roof?
Most roofers will, in dry conditions with clean soles. It is the pitch where crews start thinking about jacks rather than reaching for them automatically.
What is the slope multiplier for?
Multiply the flat footprint of the building by it to get the real surface area of the roof. A roof plan gives you the footprint, and the multiplier turns it into the area you actually have to cover.
The roof pitch calculator takes any dimensions you like and hands back the same list.