2/12 roof pitch
A 2/12 roof rises 2 inches for every 12 inches it runs: an angle of 9.5°, and a low-slope roof. You see it on porch roofs, carports, additions and mid-century homes with long, low lines.
- Angle
- 9.46°
- Slope
- 16.7%
- Area multiplier
- ×1.014
- Rafter per foot of run
- 12.17"
What 2/12 means for your roof
Size. A roof is bigger than the ground it covers. At 2/12 every square foot of footprint carries 1.014 sq ft of roof, so a 2,000 sq ft house has about 2,028 sq ft (20.3 squares) of roofing before overhangs and waste. A quote measured on the footprint alone under-buys every shingle and every hour of labour by 1.4%.
Working on it. Easy to walk, but water drains slowly, so leaks at seams and flashing are the usual trouble. Asphalt shingles are allowed only just, with doubled underlayment; many roofers prefer standing-seam metal or a membrane here.
Cost. Replacing architectural shingles on that 2,000 sq ft house, old layer torn off, comes to about $11,300–$13,000 at US-average roofer wages. That figure follows the roof's area only: most roofers price standard labour at this pitch, with no steep-roof charge. Price your own roof from satellite.
Roofing materials at 2/12
Minimum slopes in the International Residential Code (2021). Cities adopt it with changes, and a manufacturer's instructions can be stricter, so check locally before you buy.
- Asphalt shingles — allowed (minimum 2/12, IRC R905.2.2); below 4/12 they need two layers of underlayment
- Clay or concrete tile — not allowed (minimum 2½/12, IRC R905.3.2)
- Metal shingles — not allowed (minimum 3/12, IRC R905.4.2)
- Slate — not allowed (minimum 4/12, IRC R905.6.2)
- Standing-seam metal panels — allowed (minimum ¼/12, IRC R905.10.2)
2/12 pitch questions
What is a 2/12 roof pitch in degrees?
9.46 degrees. The angle is arctan(2 ÷ 12). As a percent slope it is 16.7%.
How much bigger is a 2/12 roof than the house's footprint?
Multiply the footprint by 1.014. A 2,000 sq ft footprint has about 2,028 sq ft of roof at 2/12, before overhangs and waste.
Can you put shingles on a 2/12 roof?
Yes, but the model building code (IRC R905.2.2) requires two layers of underlayment on shingle roofs below 4/12, and slow drainage makes leaks at seams more likely.
Is a 2/12 roof walkable?
Easy to walk, but water drains slowly, so leaks at seams and flashing are the usual trouble. Asphalt shingles are allowed only just, with doubled underlayment; many roofers prefer standing-seam metal or a membrane here.
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