How roof measurement apps work

There are two ways to measure a roof without climbing it:

  • From imagery of the address. Aerial or satellite photos are measured into a report: each facet’s area and pitch, and the length of every ridge, hip, valley, rake and eave. Ordered from the address; delivered in hours.
  • From photos taken on site. A set of phone photos around the house is turned into a 3D model with the same measurements.

Either way, the result should be the numbers an estimate needs: squares, pitch, and the edges for drip edge, starter, ridge cap and flashing. The guide to measuring a roof covers what each number is for.

Side by side

App How it measures Price, as listed
BluMatrix EagleView report or satellite sketch from the address, into the estimate EagleView reports $7.99 each in the app
EagleView Aerial imagery reports, ordered by address Per report
Hover 3D model from phone photos $39 to $139 a project; Pro plan $999 a year
RoofSnap Measurement reports, or measure it yourself in the app From $13 a report, or from $105 a month a user
Roofr Aerial measurement reports Free plan with $19 reports; ESX files $12 a report
GAF QuickMeasure Aerial measurement reports Reports from $18, as GAF lists them

Prices are from each company’s own pages and change; check theirs before ordering.

BluMatrix

BluMatrix measures the roof from the address two ways: an EagleView roof report ordered in the app, or the satellite roof sketch. Pitch, area and every edge go straight into the estimate, which is written line by line at current prices for the ZIP code, and the client signs online. Rooms inside are measured on the same project, and the whole estimate exports as an ESX file for Xactimate when the carrier asks for one.

Best for: roofers and restoration contractors who want the measurement, the estimate and the signature in one app.

EagleView

EagleView’s aerial reports are widely used in roofing and insurance, ordered by address from its app or site. The report gives every facet, pitch and edge.

Best for: insurance work and any job where the report itself is the document everyone agrees on.

Hover

Hover builds a 3D model of the house from photos taken around it on a phone, then delivers measurements for the roof and the walls. Projects run $39 to $139 depending on the structure and the plan, with Pro at $999 a year for lower project prices.

Best for: roof and siding work where the crew is at the house anyway and wants the walls measured too.

RoofSnap

RoofSnap sells measurement reports from $13 an order with no subscription, and a subscription from $105 a month a user (from $52 a month billed yearly) that adds estimating in the app.

Best for: roofing companies that want reports and estimates in a roofing-only app. More in RoofSnap compared.

Roofr

Roofr’s free Starter plan orders measurement reports at $19 each, delivered within 24 hours, with ESX files at $12 a report. Its paid Measure+ plan lowers the report price and speeds up delivery.

Best for: roofers who order many reports and want a roofing CRM with proposals.

GAF QuickMeasure

GAF, the shingle maker, sells QuickMeasure aerial reports, listed from $18.

Best for: contractors already in GAF’s programs.

RoofScope sells roof, siding and gutter reports by the address too; RoofScope compared has its plans.

Which one to choose

  • Measurement straight into a priced estimate, any trade: BluMatrix.
  • The report insurance work runs on: EagleView.
  • Roof and walls from photos on site: Hover.
  • A roofing-only app with reports and estimates: RoofSnap or Roofr.
  • Inexpensive single reports: Roofr, RoofSnap or GAF QuickMeasure.

Common questions

Can I measure my roof online for free?

Roughly, yes: satellite maps measure a roof’s outline, and the house’s footprint plus overhangs times the pitch factor gives the area. The roofing calculator does that math. For every facet and edge measured, reports cost from about $13 to $19 at the low end.

How accurate are aerial roof measurements?

Close enough that carriers and contractors price roofs from them. Trees over the roof and old imagery are the usual problems; check the imagery’s date and look at the roof.

Do these apps give an ESX file?

Several do: Roofr sells ESX files per report, Hover exports ESX, and BluMatrix exports the whole estimate as an ESX file that opens in Xactimate.