A roofing square is 100 square feet of roof surface — a 10-foot by 10-foot patch. It's the unit the entire trade runs on: shingle bundles are sold by the square (typically three bundles per square for architectural shingles), labor is figured per square, and your estimate's bottom line is largely squares multiplied by a per-square rate. When a roofer says your house is "a 25-square roof," they mean about 2,500 square feet of actual roof surface.
Why the number matters in Douglas County
Two local reasons to know your squares. First, permits: Douglas County generally requires a permit for reroof work over 100 square feet — exactly one square — so almost any real reroof here is permitted work (details in our permit guide). Second, bids: the measured square count is the honest common denominator across estimates. If one bid says 24 squares and another says 30 for the same house, somebody measured wrong — or padded. Roof area always exceeds floor area because pitch stretches the surface and overhangs at the eaves add more.
Where homeowners get burned
Vague estimates that never state the squares make it impossible to compare pricing or verify material quantities delivered. A trustworthy roof replacement bid lists measured squares, waste factor, and per-square assumptions in writing. It's also useful context for cost research: most Douglas County asphalt replacements land roughly $10,000–$25,000 depending heavily on square count, pitch, and material — our local cost guide breaks that down.
How many bundles of shingles per square?
Usually three bundles per square for standard architectural shingles, plus a waste factor (commonly 10–15%) for cuts at hips, valleys, and edges. Complex roofs waste more; simple gables waste less.
Related terms
Roof pitch · Architectural shingle · Valley · Dormer · Eave