Class 4 shingles: every impact-rated brand and line compared
15 of the 35 shingle lines we track carry the top UL 2218 impact rating, from IKO, GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Malarkey, Brava and Euroshield. Here they are side by side, with the class of every other line, read from each maker's own pages.
What the UL 2218 test drops on a shingle
A steel ball, twice on the same spot. The class is the biggest ball the shingle survives without cracking through. Drawn to scale.
The Class 4 lines
| Line | Type | Wind warranty (max) | Non-prorated period | Algae warranty | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKO Nordic | Laminated architectural, polymer-modified asphalt | 130 mph | 15-year Iron Clad Protection (20 or 25 years through IKO ROOFPRO contractors) | 10 yr | 6 |
| GAF Timberline UHDZ UL 2218 Class 4 (only packages marked with the UltraMat logo and Class 4 statement) | Laminated architectural, Class 4 impact-rated | No cap (WindProven) | Smart Choice Protection, 10 years, with a GAF Roofing System (shingles plus 3 qualifying accessories) | 30 yr | 6 |
| GAF Timberline AS II UL 2218 Class 4 (GAF notes it does not warrant against hail damage) | Laminated architectural, SBS-modified, Class 4 impact-rated | No cap (WindProven) | Smart Choice Protection, 10 years, with a GAF Roofing System (shingles plus 3 qualifying accessories) | 25 yr | 7 |
| GAF Grand Sequoia | Designer, wood-shake look, oversized tab | 130 mph | Smart Choice Protection, 10 years, with a GAF Roofing System (shingles plus 3 qualifying accessories) | 25 yr | 5 |
| CertainTeed Carriage House | Luxury, heavyweight laminated, scalloped slate look | 130 mph | SureStart protection, 10 years | 30 yr | 9 |
| GAF Camelot II | Designer laminated asphalt shingle (slate or shake look) | 130 mph | Smart Choice Protection, 10 years | 25 yr | 5 |
| GAF Slateline | Designer laminated asphalt shingle (slate or shake look) | 130 mph | Smart Choice Protection, 10 years | 25 yr | 4 |
| GAF Woodland | Designer laminated asphalt shingle (slate or shake look) | 130 mph | Smart Choice Protection, 10 years | 25 yr | 2 |
| CertainTeed Grand Manor | Luxury laminated asphalt shingle, slate look (two full-size base shingles with random tabs) | 130 mph | SureStart, 10 years | 30 yr | 9 |
| CertainTeed NorthGate ClimateFlex | Polymer-modified laminated asphalt shingle (two-piece laminate) | 160 mph | SureStart, 10 years | 30 yr | 12 |
| Owens Corning Duration FLEX | Laminated architectural, SBS polymer modified asphalt | 160 mph | TRU PROtection, 10 years | 25 yr | 9 |
| Malarkey Vista | Laminated architectural, NEX polymer modified asphalt | 130 mph | 15-year non-prorated period | — | 9 |
| Malarkey Legacy | Laminated architectural, high-profile NEX polymer modified asphalt | 130 mph | 20-year non-prorated period | Lifetime | 9 |
| Brava Old World Class 4 impact (as Brava states it) | Composite (synthetic) slate tile | 211 mph | — | — | 13 |
| Euroshield Beaumont Shake | Recycled-rubber composite shake panels | Tested to 250 km/h | the first 10 years (warranty document) | — | 4 |
“—” means the maker's pages do not state it. Ratings and warranties are as each maker publishes them; check the bundle and your region before you buy.
Is my shingle Class 4? Every line we track
The lines above are Class 4. The rest, with the rating each maker states:
- Atlas Pinnacle PristineClass 3
- Atlas ProLAMClass 3
- CertainTeed LandmarkClass 3
- CertainTeed Landmark PROClass 3
- CertainTeed Presidential ShakeClass 3 (some colours Class 4)
- GAF Timberline HDZClass 3
- GAF Timberline HDZ RSClass 3
- GAF Timberline NSNo impact class listed
- IKO CambridgeClass 3
- IKO DynastyClass 3
- IKO Royal EstateClass 3
- Malarkey HighlanderClass 3
- Owens Corning DurationClass 3
- Owens Corning Duration DesignerClass 3
- Owens Corning OakridgeNo impact class listed
- TAMKO HeritageNo impact class listed
- TAMKO Titan XTClass 3
- Westlake Royal 1-Piece SClass 3
- Westlake Royal 2-Piece MissionNo impact class listed
- Westlake Royal Saxony 900 SlateClass 3
Where Class 4 matters most
US cities of 100,000+ with the most days of 2-inch-or-larger hail within 25 km, 2016–2025 (NOAA Storm Prediction Center reports). Two inches is the ball a Class 4 shingle is tested with.
| City | Days with 2"+ hail | Days with 1"+ hail | Largest reported |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plano, TX | 19 | 62 | 5.25 in (2016-04-11) |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 18 | 89 | 4 in (2018-08-06) |
| Allen, TX | 18 | 63 | 5.25 in (2016-04-11) |
| Lewisville, TX | 18 | 62 | 4.25 in (2023-06-11) |
| McKinney, TX | 18 | 58 | 5.25 in (2016-04-11) |
| Richardson, TX | 17 | 57 | 5.25 in (2016-04-11) |
| Frisco, TX | 17 | 54 | 4.5 in (2019-03-24) |
| Odessa, TX | 16 | 44 | 5 in (2017-06-14) |
| Carrollton, TX | 15 | 61 | 4.5 in (2019-03-24) |
| Denton, TX | 15 | 61 | 5.9 in (2023-06-15) |
Every city in the study: hail by city. Your own street: hail check by address.
Questions
What is a Class 4 shingle?
A shingle that passed the top level of the UL 2218 impact test: a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet, twice on the same spot, without the shingle cracking through. Class 3 is a 1.75-inch ball from 17 feet.
Which shingle brands make a Class 4 shingle?
Of the 35 lines we track, 15 carry a Class 4 rating, from IKO, GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning, Malarkey, Brava and Euroshield: IKO Nordic, GAF Timberline UHDZ, GAF Timberline AS II, GAF Grand Sequoia, CertainTeed Carriage House, GAF Camelot II, GAF Slateline, GAF Woodland, CertainTeed Grand Manor, CertainTeed NorthGate ClimateFlex, Owens Corning Duration FLEX, Malarkey Vista, Malarkey Legacy, Brava Old World, Euroshield Beaumont Shake.
Is GAF Timberline HDZ a Class 4 shingle?
No. GAF rates Timberline HDZ Class 3 under UL 2218. GAF's Class 4 Timberlines are GAF Timberline UHDZ and GAF Timberline AS II.
Is CertainTeed Landmark Pro a Class 4 shingle?
No. CertainTeed rates Landmark PRO Class 3 under UL 2218. CertainTeed's Class 4 lines here are CertainTeed Carriage House, CertainTeed Grand Manor, CertainTeed NorthGate ClimateFlex.
Does a Class 4 shingle mean the roof can't be damaged by hail?
No. The test drops steel balls on new shingles in a lab; real hail can be larger and faster, and hits shingles that have aged. The maker of GAF Timberline AS II states it does not warrant against hail damage. Read each warranty for what it covers.
Are Class 4 shingles worth the extra cost?
Where large hail is common, often yes: many insurers in hail states discount premiums for a Class 4 roof, but the discount varies by insurer and state, so ask yours for the figure before you choose. Our quote engine prices shingles by class, not brand: about $12,400–$14,300 in architectural and $16,600–$19,100 in designer shingles for a 2,000 sq ft house at a 6/12 pitch with tear-off.