How-To Guide May 10, 2026 · 6 min read

What is an Aerial Roof Measurement Report? A Complete Beginner's Guide

Everything you need to know about aerial roof measurement reports — what they contain, how they're made, and why every roofing professional needs them.

If you've been in the roofing business for any length of time, you've likely heard the term "aerial roof measurement report." But if you've never ordered one — or you're new to the industry — you might be wondering what exactly is in one of these documents and whether it's worth the investment.

This guide breaks it all down in plain language: what an aerial roof measurement report is, what data it contains, how it's generated, who uses it, and how to get one for any property in the United States.

What Is an Aerial Roof Measurement Report?

An aerial roof measurement report is a professionally produced PDF document that contains precise measurements for every surface of a building's roof — extracted from high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery rather than from a physical site visit.

Instead of a contractor climbing onto the roof with a tape measure, photogrammetry software analyzes multi-angle aerial photographs of the property and builds a 3D model of the roof. From that model, every measurement is extracted automatically — and then reviewed and validated by trained analysts before delivery.

The result is a single PDF report that gives you everything you need to write an accurate material estimate or insurance claim — without ever setting foot on the property.

What Data Does It Include?

A complete aerial roof measurement report from Satellite Reports includes the following data points:

  • Total roof area — expressed in square feet and roofing squares (1 square = 100 sq ft)
  • Predominant pitch — the primary slope of the roof (e.g., 6/12), plus individual pitch per facet where applicable
  • Individual facet breakdown — area and pitch for every separate roof plane
  • Ridge length — total linear feet of horizontal peak lines
  • Hip length — total linear feet of angled peak lines where two planes meet going downward
  • Valley length — total linear feet where two roof planes meet going inward
  • Eave length — total linear feet of the lower horizontal edges
  • Rake length — total linear feet of sloped edge lines along gable ends
  • Waste factor — recommended material overage percentage based on roof complexity
  • 3D roof diagram — visual layout showing all facets, labeled with their dimensions
A single Satellite Reports PDF replaces everything you would normally write down on a clipboard during a site visit — and adds data you can't easily capture by hand, like per-facet pitch and a labeled 3D diagram.

How Are They Generated?

The process behind an aerial roof measurement report involves several layers of technology working together.

Imagery capture. High-resolution photographs of the property are captured from aircraft and satellites at multiple angles. This imagery is updated regularly, covering all 50 states at resolutions detailed enough to identify individual roof features.

3D model reconstruction. Photogrammetry software analyzes overlapping images to calculate the exact position and elevation of every point on the roof surface. This creates a precise 3D mesh model of the entire roof structure.

Measurement extraction. Algorithms extract every measurement from the 3D model — areas, lengths, slopes — with a level of precision that matches or exceeds manual measurement in most cases.

Analyst review. Trained roofing measurement specialists review each report before delivery to catch any anomalies, ensure the facet layout is correct, and validate the waste factor calculation.

Who Uses Aerial Roof Reports?

Aerial roof measurement reports are used across the entire roofing and property industry:

  • Roofing contractors — to generate accurate material takeoffs and labor estimates without site visits
  • Insurance adjusters — to document roof damage and calculate replacement costs for claims
  • General contractors — to budget roofing work during project planning phases
  • Property managers — to assess portfolio properties and plan maintenance budgets
  • Real estate investors — to evaluate roofing condition and replacement costs before acquisition
  • Solar installers — to assess roof area and orientation for panel placement planning

Any professional who needs to know what's on a roof — without climbing it — can benefit from an aerial measurement report.

How Much Do They Cost?

Satellite Reports pricing starts at $25 for a standard residential report with no subscription required. You pay per report, only when you need one, with no annual contracts or minimum order quantities.

  • Small Residential: from $25
  • Large Residential: from $40
  • Small Commercial: from $45
  • Large Commercial: from $60
  • Multi-Family properties: from $80

Standard reports are delivered within 6–8 business hours. Express and Rush delivery options are available for urgent jobs.

At $25 per report with no subscription, a single aerial measurement report costs less than 30 minutes of your time on a roof — and comes with zero safety risk.

How to Get Your Report

Ordering a report from Satellite Reports takes less than two minutes. Enter the property address, select your report type and turnaround preference, complete checkout, and receive your full PDF report by email — no account or portal login required.

We cover all 50 states and process orders around the clock. Rush orders are available for jobs where you need measurements in under 60 minutes.

Order Your Report — From $25

Have a question before ordering? Reach us at +1 833 334 3934 or contact@satellitereports.com. Mon–Fri, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM EST.

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