Simple Truss Calculator
Sometimes you just need span and pitch in, rafter length and height out — no cost breakdown, no load inputs. This simple truss calculator does exactly that, with sensible defaults already filled in so you can get a ballpark result in seconds.
Get a Fast Truss Estimate
Enter your building specifications below. Results and the roof diagram update live as you type.
Live Roof Diagram
Results
Estimate Your Project Budget
Automatically calculated from your inputs above in the calculator.
Estimates only. Actual costs vary by region, supplier, and site conditions.
When a Simple Estimate Is Enough
A simple, fast estimate is useful early in planning — sketching a shed, comparing a couple of pitch options, or getting a rough material sense before involving a supplier. Span and pitch alone are enough to get rafter length, roof height, and roof area.
As a project firms up, the full calculator (linked below) adds spacing, material, and load inputs for a more complete cost and quantity picture — but starting simple avoids getting bogged down in inputs you don't have numbers for yet.
This page uses the same underlying geometry as every other calculator on the site, so results here match the full calculator exactly once you add the extra inputs — nothing here is a simplified approximation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to estimate a roof truss?
Enter just span and pitch — this calculator returns rafter length, roof height, and roof area immediately, using sensible defaults for the rest so you get a usable ballpark number without filling in every field.
Is the simple calculator less accurate than the full calculator?
No — it uses identical geometry formulas. It simply starts with fewer visible inputs (defaulting spacing, material, and load) so you can get a fast result, then reveals the rest when you need cost or quantity too.