How this calculator works
No black box - this is the arithmetic the tool runs, written out.
pieces = ⌈length ÷ 10.5⌉
- length
- Total run in feet that needs covering.
- 10.5
- Usable feet per stick. Drip edge ships in 10-ft lengths and laps at each joint, so a stick covers slightly more than 10 ft of run once lapped - 10.5 is the working figure.
Count the run, divide by what one piece covers, round up. Simple, but easy to under-order because people forget that every joint overlaps and every corner wastes a piece.
Order rakes and eaves separately if you are using different profiles - many roofs use a taller profile at the rake than at the eave.
What it looks like with real numbers
Starting from
- Total run
- 160 linear ft
The working
160 ÷ 10.5 = 15.24Rounded up: 16 pieces
16 pieces - roughly $320-$640 installed
Reading it: The 10.5 figure is usable coverage per 10-ft stick after lapping the joints. Add a piece or two beyond this for corner waste.
How the calculation runs
Four operations, in this order. Nothing is hidden behind a button.
- Take the total run needing coverage.
- Divide by the usable feet per piece after lapping.
- Round up to whole pieces.
Getting your inputs right
The answer is only as good as what goes in. This is where estimates usually go wrong.
Measure eaves and rakes separately
Many roofs use a different drip edge profile at the rake than at the eave. Keep the two runs apart when ordering.
Walk the perimeter
Drip edge follows the entire roof edge. Include every eave and every rake, not just the front of the house.
Add for corners
Every corner wastes part of a piece in the mitre. Count your corners and add sticks.
What changes your number
A calculator applies an average. These are the things that decide where in the range you actually land.
- Profile Different profiles suit eaves and rakes, and they are ordered separately.
- Lap length Pieces overlap at every joint, which is why 10-ft sticks cover about 10.5 ft of run rather than 10.
- Corners and returns Mitred corners generate offcuts. A complex outline needs proportionally more material.
Common mistakes
Every one of these is something people genuinely do, and most of them cost real money.
- Ordering exactly to the run Corner waste is real and this calculation does not include it. Order a couple of extra sticks.
- Wrong sequence at the eave and rake Drip edge goes under the underlayment at the eave and over it at the rake. Getting that backwards routes water behind the fascia.
- Skipping it to save money Drip edge is inexpensive and it is what keeps water off the fascia and out of the deck edge. It is also commonly a code requirement.
How much drip edge to buy
Drip edge comes in 10.5-ft pieces that overlap a couple of inches at each joint. Measure the total length of your eaves (bottom edges) and rakes (sloped edges), then divide by ~10 to allow for overlap. Code requires drip edge on most new roofs. Installed cost runs about $2-$4 per foot.
Cost ranges reflect 2026 U.S. installed prices (BLS producer/labor data, Remodeling Cost vs. Value, and manufacturer pricing). Your real price depends on your roof, region, and pro - see the full cost guide.
Where this stops being accurate
This is a straight-run count. It does not add pieces for corner waste or for the extra laps a cut-up roofline needs. Add one or two sticks.
This is a free estimating tool, not a quote. When you want a number somebody will stand behind, get matched with local pros - they measure the roof before they price it.
The terms on your quote, explained
A roofing quote is written in trade vocabulary. These are the words that actually change what you are paying for.
- Square
- 100 square feet of roof surface. The unit the entire trade orders, prices, and quotes in - a 2,400 sq ft roof is 24 squares.
- Pitch
- The slope, written as rise over a 12-inch run. A roof climbing 6 inches per 12 horizontal inches is "6/12".
- Decking (sheathing)
- The structural panels over the rafters that everything else fastens to. Its condition is unknown until the old covering is off.
- Underlayment
- The water-resistant layer between decking and covering. Synthetic or felt; it is the roof's second line of defense.
- Ice-and-water shield
- A self-adhering membrane at eaves and valleys that seals around fasteners. Commonly required by code in freeze-thaw climates.
- Flashing
- Metal that seals the joins - around chimneys, walls, valleys and vents. Most roof leaks are flashing failures, not covering failures.
Drip Edge Calculator questions
Want a real number? Get matched with a local pro →
