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Roof Pitch Calculator · Free calculator

9/12 Roof Pitch Calculator

A 9/12 roof rises 9" for every 12" of run — an angle of 36.87° and a rafter multiplier of 1.250. It's a steep (needs roof jacks / harness) roof. Rise and rafter lengths for common runs are below.

Quick answer

Angle
36.87°
Slope factor
1.250
Grade
75.0%
Rafter per ft of run
1' 3"

▍Roof Pitch Calculator

in
in
Common pitches (per 12")
Roof pitch
9/12
36.9° · 75.0% grade
RUN 12"RISE 9"36.9°
Angle
36.87°
Slope factor
1.250
Grade
75.0%
Rafter / ft run
15.00in

9/12 rise and rafter length by run

Run = half the building span. Rafter length is ridge to building line, no overhang.

RunTotal riseRafter length
4'3' 0"5' 0"
6'4' 6"7' 6"
8'6' 0"10' 0"
10'7' 6"12' 6"
12'9' 0"15' 0"
14'10' 6"17' 6"
16'12' 0"20' 0"

Roof pitch comparison chart

PitchAngleSlope factorGradeClass
1/124.76°1.0038.3%flat / low-slope
2/129.46°1.01416.7%low-slope
3/1214.04°1.03125.0%low-slope
4/1218.43°1.05433.3%conventional
5/1222.62°1.08341.7%conventional
6/1226.57°1.11850.0%conventional
7/1230.26°1.15858.3%conventional
8/1233.69°1.20266.7%conventional
9/1236.87°1.25075.0%steep
10/1239.81°1.30283.3%steep
11/1242.51°1.35791.7%steep
12/1245.00°1.414100.0%steep

How the math works

  1. Angle = arctan(rise ÷ run) = arctan(9 ÷ 12) = 36.87°
  2. Slope factor = √(12² + 9²) ÷ 12 = √225 ÷ 12 = 1.2500
  3. Grade = 9 ÷ 12 × 100 = 75.0%
  4. Rafter length = run × 1.2500

Trade pro tips

  • Asphalt shingles are fine at this pitch with standard underlayment.
  • At 8/12 and steeper, use roof jacks and a fall-arrest harness.
  • Measure pitch in the attic: level 12" off a rafter and measure straight up to its bottom edge.

Frequently asked questions

What angle is a 9/12 roof pitch?

36.87 degrees (arctan 9/12). The plumb cut on a rafter is 36.9° and the seat cut is 53.1°.

What is the rafter multiplier for a 9/12 pitch?

1.2500. Multiply the run (in feet or inches) by it to get the rafter length: a 12 ft run gives 15' 0".

Is a 9/12 roof steep?

A 9/12 roof (36.9°) is steep (needs roof jacks / harness).

What is 9/12 pitch as a percentage?

75.00% grade — the roof rises 9 inches per foot, or 0.750 ft per ft.