Roof pitch is measured as what?

• A. Rise over run, usually in inches
• B. Slope
• C. Angle
• D. Depth

Answer: (A)

Roof pitch is the vertical rise for a given horizontal distance, expressed as rise over run. This ratio is usually given in inches of rise per foot of run, so a 6/12 pitch means the roof rises 6 inches for every 12 inches (one foot) of horizontal distance. This specific rise-to-run format is what builders use to describe how steep a roof is. Slope can be a related idea, but pitch is the precise rise-to-run measurement; angle would be degrees, and depth isn’t relevant to describing how steep the roof is.