What is a 6/12 roof pitch?
The numbers behind 6/12
- Angle: about 26.57 degrees from horizontal.
- Grade: 50 percent, since 6 divided by 12 is one half.
- Pitch multiplier: about 1.118, so a 2,000 square foot footprint carries about 2,236 square feet of roof before overhangs and waste.
- Rafter length: about 13.4 inches of rafter for every 12 inches of run.
What 6/12 means for your roof
Materials: it sits well above the 4/12 line, so shingles need only the standard underlayment, with no low-slope details. Architectural shingles, metal panels and most tile all work at 6/12.
Labor: most crews walk a dry 6/12 roof comfortably, so it typically does not trigger a steep charge on an estimate. That keeps it among the more affordable pitches to replace.
Drainage: water runs off quickly, though pine needles and leaves can still settle in valleys and behind chimneys, so those spots still need clearing.
Looks: on a ranch it gives a noticeable but not dramatic roofline; on a two-story colonial it reads as classic and balanced.
How to confirm you have 6/12
In the attic, hold a level against a rafter and measure 12 inches across. If the rafter is 6 inches above the level at that point, you have a 6/12. Our measuring guide covers pitch factors for other slopes, and roof replacement cost in Georgia explains how pitch shows up in pricing.