Quantities on a roof estimate come from the measurement report, so a problem in the report becomes a problem on every line that uses it. This guide covers what a report gives the estimate, how each of the three common sources describes its own method, and the checks to run before a report goes into a file.
What a measurement report gives the estimate
A measurement report turns the roof into the areas and lengths an estimate is built from. Every roof line item measured in squares or linear feet traces back to one of its figures.
| Report figure | Unit | What it supports on the estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Area by facet | SF / SQ | Shingles, underlayment and tear-off; the squares on steep facets |
| Pitch by facet | x/12 | Steep charges, and which facets they apply to |
| Eaves | LF | Drip edge, starter, ice barrier where required, gutter detach and reset |
| Rakes | LF | Drip edge; starter where the manufacturer's instructions call for it |
| Ridges and hips | LF | Hip and ridge cap; ridge vent |
| Valleys | LF | Valley underlayment or metal, per the valley type and the manufacturer's instructions |
| Step and wall flashing | LF | Step, counter and headwall flashing |
| Waste table | % | The waste applied to the field shingles |
Not every report has every figure: contents depend on the vendor, the report type and the options chosen at order. For how each line is documented, see Roof scope line items to check on a first estimate, and for waste, the roof waste factor guide.
EagleView, Hover and Roofr: how each produces a report
EagleView, Hover and Roofr are three common sources of roof measurement reports, and each starts from a different kind of image, which changes what you check. Below is how each vendor describes its own product on its own site, checked in October 2026; confirm current options with the vendor.
- EagleView
- Aerial imagery. EagleView says its measurements come from imagery captured by specialized aircraft or drones, in top-down and angled views. Its product page lists the Premium Roof Report as including total roof area and facets, a pitch diagram, and totals for valleys, rakes and eaves, and ridges and hips. It lists ESX files for Xactimate with its Eagleview One subscription.
- Hover
- Smartphone photos. Hover says you take exterior photos from the ground, typically eight or more covering all four elevations, and it builds a 3D model that gives area, a per-facet breakdown, pitch, and ridge, hip, valley, eave and rake lengths. Its help center says the roof PDF includes your photo gallery, a roof summary with a supplemental waste factor table, and a roof facets page. Hover lists ESX among its export formats.
- Roofr
- Satellite imagery, measured by Roofr on request. Roofr says it uses imagery from Google Earth and third-party providers, and that a person reviews every report before delivery. Its help center describes length and area measurements, pitch and direction, an all-structures summary and a diagram. A recommended waste factor is included or offered as an add-on, depending on the plan, and insurance jobs can add an Xactimate-ready ESX file.
EagleView vs Hover vs Roofr accuracy: what the vendors publish
Each vendor publishes its own accuracy figure, and each was measured a different way, so the figures don't rank one report above another.
| Vendor | What the vendor states | Basis the vendor gives |
|---|---|---|
| EagleView | "98.77% accuracy for roof measurements compared to independent benchmark measurements" (by category: roof lines 98.77%, roof area 98.43%, roof slope 98.49%) | A benchmark by CompassData of single-family homes in the Denver metro area, April and May 2025, using drone and terrestrial LiDAR (EagleView press release, June 4, 2025) |
| Hover | "within 2-5% accuracy" | Stated in the FAQ on Hover's roofing contractor page; no test method is given there |
| Roofr | Satellite measurements "accurate within 1–2 inches for standard residential roofs" | Stated in a Roofr blog post, which adds that accuracy depends on image quality and roof complexity |
One figure is a percentage from a named benchmark study, one is a percentage range, and one is in inches. None tells you whether the report on your desk is right for this roof. If a reviewer questions a quantity, the answer is the photos and measurements that support it, not the vendor's name.
Check 1: does the report match the house?
Before any number gets used, confirm the report measured the right building, as it stands now, and all of it.
- Address and building
- The address on the report matches the job, and the roof diagram matches your elevation photos: roof shape, facet count, where the chimney and dormers sit. When a report is ordered by placing a pin on a map, as Roofr's ordering steps describe, a pin on the wrong roof gives you a report for the wrong house.
- Date
- The report date, and the imagery or photo date if the report shows one. If the house changed after that date (an addition, a new porch roof), the report may not include it. Note the date in the file.
- Every structure
- Find each structure you're working on in the report. A detached garage or shed may be in the same report, left out, or on a separate report, depending on the vendor and what was chosen at order. Roofr's help center, for example, says garages and sheds at the address are included, that you choose all, some or none when ordering, and that separate buildings need their own pins. Keep only the structures in your scope.
Check 2: do the numbers support each line?
Once you know it's the right building, check that the report holds the figures each line item needs, broken out the way the estimate uses them.
- Pitch per facet
- Steep charges depend on pitch facet by facet, so a single average or "predominant" pitch isn't enough. Compare each facet's pitch with your gauge photos, and note any facet where they differ. For how pitch and height are documented, see steep and high roof charges.
- Eaves and rakes, separately
- Drip edge runs along both. Starter runs along the eaves, and along the rakes where the shingle manufacturer's instructions call for it. An ice barrier, where required, starts at the eaves, and gutters hang there. A combined perimeter figure makes those lines hard to check, so look for eaves and rakes as separate totals. See drip edge and ice and water barrier requirements.
- Ridges, hips and valleys
- Check each total against the diagram. A hip roof should show hips, and intersecting slopes should show valleys. Ridge vent length comes from the ridge total, not ridges and hips combined.
- Flashing lengths
- Look for step flashing and other wall flashing as their own totals. If your report doesn't list them, measure each roof-to-wall line on site and photograph it, including the wall finish above. See step and counter flashing.
- Waste table
- Some reports include a waste table or a recommended waste percentage; others make it an option at order. Read the table's notes to see what the percentages apply to, keep starter and ridge cap as their own lines, and say in your notes which waste figure the estimate uses and why.
When the report and your tape disagree
When a report and a hand measurement disagree, write down both numbers and the reason, and say which one the estimate uses. Don't quietly pick the higher number.
A stated difference can be checked and resolved. A hidden one, once a reviewer finds it, puts every other quantity in the file in question.
Checklist / When numbers disagree5 items
What the note should say
- Which figure differs (the facet, edge or line), with both numbers
- How the hand measurement was taken, by whom and on what date, and the photo or sketch that shows it
- The likely reason, if you know it: an edge hidden by trees, an addition built after the imagery date, a facet the photos didn't reach
- Which number the estimate uses for that line
- Whether the report has gone back to the vendor for a recheck (check your vendor's correction process)
Example (hypothetical): a report lists the rear slope at 6/12, and your gauge photo on that slope reads 8/12. The note names the facet, points to the gauge photo, states that the estimate uses 8/12 for that facet, and says the report has gone back to the vendor for review. Only use a hand measurement you can show.
How to send the report
Send the complete report PDF, not the summary page.
The summary page shows totals. A reviewer checks those totals against the pages behind them: pitch and area by facet, the diagrams that place each length on the roof, and the waste table. If your vendor supplied an ESX file, send it as well as the PDF, not instead of it.
If you measured by hand, send a sketch with dimensions, the pitch of each slope, and who measured it. For everything else that goes in the file, see what to include when you send a supplement or estimate file.
Measurement report checklist
Checklist / Checklist10 items
Before the report goes into the file
- The address matches the job, and the roof in the report matches your elevation photos
- The report date (and imagery or photo date, if shown) is noted, and the house hasn't changed since
- Every structure in your scope is measured, and nothing outside it is
- Pitch by facet matches your gauge photos
- Eaves and rakes are separate totals
- Ridge, hip and valley totals agree with the diagram
- Step and wall flashing lengths are in the report, or measured on site and photographed
- The waste table or recommended waste is noted, with the figure the estimate uses
- Any disagreement with hand measurements is explained in the notes
- The complete PDF is attached, plus the ESX file if you have one
A measurement report documents quantities. It doesn't decide what a carrier approves: coverage questions go to the carrier, a licensed public adjuster or an attorney.
Want the estimate itself written from the report? Our Estimators work in Xactimate. Request an intro call.
Common questions
Is EagleView or Hover more accurate?
Each vendor publishes its own figure, measured differently, so they can't be ranked side by side. EagleView cites a 2025 benchmark study, Hover states a percentage range and Roofr states a figure in inches. Whichever you use, check the report against your photos and gauge readings.
What's in an EagleView roof report?
It depends on the report type. EagleView's product page lists the Premium Roof Report as including total roof area and facets, a pitch diagram, and totals for valleys, rakes and eaves, and ridges and hips. Other report types add walls, windows and doors.
How does Hover measure a roof?
From smartphone photos. Hover says you take exterior photos from the ground, typically eight or more covering all four elevations, and it builds a 3D model from them. Because the model comes from your photos, check that they cover every elevation and every structure in your scope.
Does a Roofr measurement report include a detached garage?
Roofr's help center says garages and sheds at the address are included, and that you choose all, some or none of them when ordering. Separate buildings need their own pins. Check the all-structures summary to confirm what was measured.
Which number goes on the estimate when the report and my tape measure disagree?
The one you can support, stated openly. Write both numbers in your notes, how the hand measurement was taken, the likely reason, and which one the estimate uses. Don't quietly pick the higher number.
Sources
- EagleView, Residential property reports for construction (report types and contents; ESX files with Eagleview One) eagleview
.com (opens in a new tab) - EagleView, Aerial roof measurements (blog, December 11, 2025: imagery from specialized aircraft or drones) eagleview
.com (opens in a new tab) - EagleView, "Eagleview roof measurements confirmed to be 98.77% accurate compared to independent benchmark measurements" (press release, June 4, 2025) eagleview
.com (opens in a new tab) - Hover, Roofing contractors page (FAQ: photos, measurements, accuracy statement) hover
.to (opens in a new tab) - Hover, Roof measurement software (export formats) hover
.to (opens in a new tab) - Hover help center, Understanding Hover's measurement PDF help
.hover (opens in a new tab).to - Roofr, Measurement reports (satellite measurements; ESX add-on for insurance jobs) roofr
.com (opens in a new tab) - Roofr help center, How to order a Roofr measurement report (report contents; secondary structures) help
.roofr (opens in a new tab).com - Roofr, Satellite roof measurements for contractors (imagery sources, human review, accuracy statement) roofr
.com (opens in a new tab) - Roofr, FAQs (recommended waste factor by plan) roofr
.com (opens in a new tab) - EagleView, Hover and Roofr are trademarks of their respective owners, named here for identification only. Product details were checked on each vendor's site on October 21, 2026 and may change.
These guides document the scope of work a contractor performs. They aren't coverage or legal advice.