WoodCalc Pro

9/12 Roof Pitch

A 9 in 12 roof rises 9″ for every 12″ of horizontal run. Steep traditional and Tudor-style roofs; strong snow shedding.

Angle

36.87°

Percent grade
75%
Rafter factor
1.25
Rafter per foot of run
15″
Hip/valley per foot
19.21″
Plumb cut
36.9°
Seat cut
53.1°

On a speed square, pivot to 9 on the "common" scale for the plumb cut. On a framing square, set 9″ on the tongue and 12″ on the body.

run 12″rise 9″36.9°

Very steep: not walkable without roof jacks, harnesses and anchors; expect steep-slope labor pricing.

9/12 rafter length by building span

Gable roof, 1½″ ridge board, measured along the top edge from the ridge to the outside of the wall. Add the overhang: 15" of rafter per foot of level overhang.

Building spanRafter runRiseRafter lengthWith 12″ overhang
12 ft5′ 11 1/4"4′ 5 7/16"7′ 5 1/16"8′ 8 1/16"
16 ft7′ 11 1/4"5′ 11 7/16"9′ 11 1/16"11′ 2 1/16"
20 ft9′ 11 1/4"7′ 5 7/16"12′ 5 1/16"13′ 8 1/16"
24 ft11′ 11 1/4"8′ 11 7/16"14′ 11 1/16"16′ 2 1/16"
28 ft13′ 11 1/4"10′ 5 7/16"17′ 5 1/16"18′ 8 1/16"
30 ft14′ 11 1/4"11′ 2 7/16"18′ 8 1/16"19′ 11 1/16"
32 ft15′ 11 1/4"11′ 11 7/16"19′ 11 1/16"21′ 2 1/16"
36 ft17′ 11 1/4"13′ 5 7/16"22′ 5 1/16"23′ 8 1/16"
40 ft19′ 11 1/4"14′ 11 7/16"24′ 11 1/16"26′ 2 1/16"

Different span, ridge or overhang? The rafter calculator works out the birdsmouth, HAP and ridge height for your roof.

Roof area at 9/12

1,680 sq ft · 16.8 squares · 58 sheets of 4×8 sheathing (10% waste)

Roofing materials allowed at 9/12

  • Asphalt shingles
    Allowed; single underlayment layer (R905.2.2).
  • Clay and concrete tile
    Allowed (R905.3.2).
  • Wood shingles
    Allowed from 3/12 (R905.7.2).
  • Wood shakes
    Allowed from 3/12 (R905.8.2).
  • Slate
    Allowed from 4/12 (R905.6.2).
  • Metal panels, lapped without sealant
    Allowed from 3/12 (R905.10.2). Standing-seam and sealed-lap panels go lower.
  • Low-slope membrane (EPDM, TPO, modified bitumen)
    Allowed, but usually reserved for slopes under 2/12.

Minimum slopes from the 2021 International Residential Code, Section R905. Manufacturers and local amendments can be stricter.

Compare other pitches

Questions people ask

What angle is a 9/12 roof pitch?
A 9/12 roof rises 9 inches for every 12 inches of horizontal run, which is 36.87° (arctan(9/12)). As a percent grade it is 75%.
What is the rafter factor for a 9/12 pitch?
1.25. Multiply the horizontal run by 1.25 to get the sloped rafter length, or multiply the building footprint (with overhangs) by it to get the roof area. Each foot of run needs 15" of rafter.
How long is a rafter on a 9/12 roof?
For a 24 ft wide building with a 1½" ridge board, the run is 143.25", so the rafter is 14′ 11 1/16" from ridge to wall line, before the overhang. The table on this page gives lengths for other spans, and the rafter calculator handles your exact numbers including birdsmouth and tail.
Can you put shingles on a 9/12 roof?
Allowed; single underlayment layer (R905.2.2). Always follow the shingle manufacturer's installation instructions as well.
Is a 9/12 roof walkable?
Very steep: not walkable without roof jacks, harnesses and anchors; expect steep-slope labor pricing.
How much roof area does a 9/12 pitch add?
25% more than the flat footprint. A 30 × 40 ft house with 1 ft overhangs (32 × 42 = 1,344 sq ft) has about 1,680 sq ft of roof, or 16.8 roofing squares before waste.