How to Count Hail Hits in a Test Square: A Step-by-Step Guide

The test square is one of the most important parts of a hail claim, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Pick the wrong spot, count a blister as a hit, or skip a photo, and the whole file can come back.

Here's how to count hail hits in a test square the right way, from laying it out to documenting the final count.

This guide is part of our full roof hail inspection guide. If you haven't read it yet, start with Roof Hail Damage: How Adjusters Inspect Asphalt and Metal Roofs.

What Is a Hail Test Square?

A test square is a 10 x 10 foot area on a roof slope where you mark and count hail hits. That's 100 square feet, or one roofing square.

Instead of trying to count every hit on the whole roof, you count hits in a representative sample on each slope. The count helps support whether a slope meets the carrier's threshold for replacement.

Test squares are used mostly on asphalt shingle roofs. Metal roofs are handled differently, with a focus on functional versus cosmetic damage.

How Many Hits Is Enough?

Many carriers use a threshold of 8 to 10 hail hits per test square to support replacing a slope. But thresholds vary, and some carriers set their own rules for what counts and how many hits are needed.

Always check the carrier's guideline before you start. Your job is to count accurately and document clearly. The threshold decides what happens next.

What You'll Need

Chalk or a lumber crayon

A tape measure

Your phone or camera

Something for scale, like a coin or a small ruler

Roof boots or other safety gear as needed

Step 1: Choose Where to Put Each Test Square

Lay out one test square on each directional slope, typically front, right, rear, and left, or north, south, east, and west.

Choose an area that represents the whole slope:

Not the worst spot you can find

Not the best spot either

Away from ladder areas and walking paths where foot traffic can leave marks

Away from obvious repairs or replacement shingles

If a slope has a mix of damage, choose a typical area and note what you saw elsewhere.

Step 2: Mark the Square

Measure 10 feet along the slope and 10 feet up the slope, then outline the square with chalk. Mark the corners clearly so the outline shows up in photos.

Inside or next to the square, write the slope name, like Front or Rear, so every photo identifies itself.

Step 3: Inspect Every Shingle in the Square

Work through the square shingle by shingle. Don't just look. Touch.

A true hail hit on an asphalt shingle usually:

Feels soft or gives slightly when you press it, from a bruised or fractured mat

Shows granule loss in a round pattern that exposes fresh, dark asphalt

Has sharp, crisp edges

Lands in a random pattern

When you confirm a hit, circle it with chalk.

Step 4: Rule Out Look-Alikes

Not every mark is hail. Before you circle anything, rule out:

Blisters, which are raised, hard, and often clustered

Granule loss from age, which is even across the slope

Scuffs from foot traffic

Nail pops, which line up with a nail underneath

Tree limb or tool marks

Manufacturing flaws that repeat in the same spot on many shingles

If you're not sure, don't count it. Photograph it, note it, and keep going. For more, read our guide: Hail Damage vs. Blistering, Wear, and Nail Pops on Shingles.

Step 5: Count and Record

Count the circled hits and write the total inside the square, for example: Rear 9.

Only count hits inside the square. Damage to vents, pipe jacks, and other soft metals goes in your notes separately. It's important collateral, but it isn't part of the shingle count.

Record each slope's count in your notes with the date, the estimated hail size, and any look-alikes you ruled out.

Step 6: Photograph the Square

Every test square needs a photo sequence that tells the story on its own:

Wide: shows where the square is on the slope

Medium: shows the full square with the chalk outline, slope name, and count

Close: shows several individual hits with something for scale

Label each photo so a reviewer knows exactly what they're looking at, like: Rear slope, test square, 9 hail hits, chalk marked.

A Quick Example

Let's say a hip roof has four slopes and the carrier's threshold is 8 hits per test square. Your counts come back:

Front: 3 hits

Right: 6 hits

Rear: 11 hits

Left: 9 hits

The rear and left slopes meet the threshold. The front and right slopes don't. Your file should document all four squares with photos, so the reviewer can see the full picture. Whether the carrier approves slopes individually or the whole roof depends on their guidelines, matching rules, and the policy.

What If a Slope Is Too Small?

Some slopes, like porches, dormers, and small hip ends, are smaller than 10 x 10. Some carriers allow a smaller test area with an adjusted count, while others handle small slopes differently. Follow the carrier's guideline and note the size of the area you inspected.

Common Test Square Mistakes

Choosing the worst-looking spot instead of a representative one

Counting blisters, scuffs, or nail pops as hits

Counting hits outside the chalk lines

Counting soft metal damage as shingle hits

Skipping slopes that faced away from the storm

Forgetting the wide photo that shows where the square is

Leaving photos unlabeled

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is a hail test square?

A standard hail test square is 10 x 10 feet, or 100 square feet.

How many hail hits per square do you need for roof replacement?

Many carriers use 8 to 10 hits per test square, but it varies. Always follow the carrier's guideline.

Do you need a test square on every slope?

Typically, yes. Adjusters usually lay out one test square on each directional slope so the file shows the whole roof.

Should soft metal damage count toward the test square?

No. Soft metal damage is collateral evidence. Record it separately from the shingle count.

Make Your Test Squares Easy to Review

A clean test square is accurate, representative, and well documented. Count carefully, rule out look-alikes, and label every photo so the reviewer can follow your count without calling you.

The Adjuster Prep Claim Photo Labeler helps you label every test square photo by slope and hit count in seconds. Start your free 7-day trial today, and explore our Hail Claims course to master hail inspections from collateral to estimate.