Pounds of Roofing Nails

The Pounds of Roofing Nails calculator computes weight of a number of standard bright roofing nails based on the nail size (1¹/₄" or 1¹/₂") and number of nails .

INSTRUCTIONS: Enter the following:

• (NS) Nail Size (choose:(1¹/₄" or 1¹/₂"))
• (nN) Number of Nails (default: 1000)

Pounds of Common Roofing Nails (NW): The calculator returns the weight of the nails in pounds and ounces.  However, these can be automatically converted to compatible units via the pull-down menu.

The Math / Science

The Common Roofing Nails Per Pound equation computes the weight of the nails as follows:

NW = nN * WPN

where:

• NW = Weight of the Nails
• nN = Number of Nails
• WPN = Weight per Nail

Roofing Nail Calculators:

• Roofing Nails for Gable Roof: This computes the number of roofing nails needed for a common gabled roof based on roof dimensions and wind conditions.
• Roofing Nails for a Gambrel Roof: This computes the number of roofing nails to shingle a gambrel roof based on the dimensions and wind conditions.
• Roofing Nails for a Hip Roof: This computes the number of roofing nails to shingle a hip roof based on the dimensions under normal and high wind conditions.
• Roofing Nails for a Double Hip Roof: This computes the number and weight of roofing nails for a hip roof with a hip roof dormer based on the dimensions.
• Roofing Nails for a Shed Roof: This computes the total number roofing nails and their weight to shingle a single sloped roof based on the span, ridge length and the front and back overhangs.
• Roofing Nails for a Dormer: This computes the number and weight of roofing nails needed for one or more roof dormers based on the dimensions.
• Roofing Nails for Irregular Roof Section: This computes the number roofing nails (count and weight) for an irregular section of a roof based on the dimensions.
• Pounds of Roofing Nails: Computes weight of a number of standard roofing nails based on the roofing nail size (1¹/₄" or 1¹/₂") and number of roofing nails.
• Roofing Nails per Pound: Computes the number of standard roofing nails based on the roofing nail size and a weight of the roofing nails.

Roofing Nail Data:

• Roofing Nail Density in Normal Wind: The number of Roofing Nails for a Square of Shingles in normal conditions is 348.
• Roofing Nail Density in High Wind: The number of Roofing Nails for a Square of Shingles in HIGH WIND conditions is 522.
• Weight of Roofing Nails: A single smooth shank 1-1/4" roofing nail weighs 0.00511247443762781 lbs.

Roofing Nail Guidance

Roofing Nails are used to attach shingles to sheathing on a roof.  There are two densities used for the number of roofing nails needed per shingle, normal wind and high wind.  This can be seen in the shingle diagram to the right.  The top image shows four nails per shingle above the tab cuts.  This is for normal wind conditions.  The lower image shows six nails per single with a double nail above the two central tab cuts.  This is for high wind conditions in exposed places like on the edge of bodies of water, on top of mountains or other exposed places with no wind breaks.  High winds are experienced in areas with little cover from wind breaks.  Such areas include deserts, prairies, mountain tops and areas adjacent to large bodies of water.  High winds are also associated with areas prone to hurricanes.

Note that for both normal and high wind applications, the roofing nails go just below the sealant strip. 

Roofing nails are sold by weight in many places.  The weight of the nails is based on a 5lb box of 1-1/4" smooth shank nails having 978 nails.  That's 0.0818 ounces per nail.

Nail Weight and Count Calculators

• Pounds of Common Nails: Computes weight of a number of common bright nails based on the nail size and number of nails.
• Common Nails Per Pound: Computes the number of common bright nails based on the nail size and a weight of nails.
• Pounds of Galvanized Common Nails: Computes weight of a number of galvanized common nails based on the nail size and number of nails.
• Galvanized Common Nails Per Pound: Computes the number of galvanized common nails based on the nail size and a weight of nails.
• Pounds of Spikes: Computes weight of a number of common bright spikes based on the spike size and number of spikes.
• Spikes per Pound: Computes the number of common bright spikes based on the spike size and a weight of the spikes.
• Pounds of Roofing Nails: Computes weight of a number of standard roofing nails based on the roofing nail size (1¹/₄" or 1¹/₂") and number of roofing nails.
• Roofing Nails per Pound: Computes the number of standard roofing nails based on the roofing nail size (1¹/₄" or 1¹/₂") and the gross weight of the roofing nails.