What Size Roofing Nails for Shingles
Asphalt shingles want 1-1/4-in 11-gauge roofing nails with 3/8-in heads — long enough to penetrate 3/4 in into the deck, wide enough to hold without tearing. Architectural shingles and re-roofs over old layers step up to 1-1/2 to 2 in. Ring-shank in high wind; galvanized everywhere.
What to Look For
- Standard 3-tab shingles: 1-1/4-in 11-gauge, 3/8-in head.
- Architectural or dimensional: 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 in — thicker shingles need length.
- Re-roof over old shingles: 1-1/2 to 2 in — penetrate both layers plus deck.
- Minimum 3/4-in deck penetration — code in most jurisdictions.
- 4 nails per shingle (6 in high wind) — placement matters as much as size.
Top Picks
1. Metabo HPT 1-1/4-in galvanized coil roofing nails Best overall
15-degree collated coils for roofing nailers — the re-roof standard by volume.
Check price on Amazon →2. Grip-Rite 1-3/4-in HDG ring-shank roofing nails For wind zones
Hot-dip galvanized ring-shank for architectural shingles and coastal codes.
Check price on Amazon →3. Maze 1-1/2-in stainless roofing nails For coast
Stainless for salt air and copper-flashing contact — where galvanized surrenders.
Check price on Amazon →What to Avoid
Avoid
- Staples — rejected by most manufacturers and codes for shingles.
- 1-in nails on standard decks — they barely reach the sheathing.
- Smooth electro-galv in hurricane zones — ring-shank HDG is the code answer.
Also in the toolbox
- Coil roofing nailer — a roof is 10,000 nails — hand-driving is not a plan
- Roofing safety harness kit — steep pitches demand tie-off
FAQ
How many nails per shingle?
Four per shingle in standard zones, six in high-wind zones — placed in the manufacturer nailing strip, never above it. More nails outside the strip do not add holding; correctly placed nails at the specified count do.
Can you use screws for asphalt shingles?
No — screws back out under thermal cycling, their small heads tear shingles, and no manufacturer warranties them. Roofing nails with 3/8-in heads are the only approved fastener for asphalt shingles.
What nails for a roof-over (second layer)?
1-1/2 to 2-in 11-gauge roofing nails — long enough to pass through both shingle layers and still bite 3/4 in into the deck. Check local code first: many jurisdictions allow only two layers total.
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