Roof Inspiration: What Is a Hip Roof?

Author: Dan Stout | January 13, 2025

A hip roof (or "hipped roof") is one of the oldest and most popular roofing styles in existence. Dating back to antiquity, this style is still commonly found on residential buildings, where it is popular for both its durability and its looks.

A hip roof is most often defined as a roof lacking an open gable. In other words, all sides of the roof slope down from the central ridge or point. There are several variations of hip roofs, to meet a range of functions and appearances, some of which do have a full or partial gable. For example, Viking longhouses often had hipped roofs with gabled ridges (sometimes with an open gable to act as a chimney), a style now referred to as a Dutch hip.

Today, hip roofs are found in all parts of North America. In fact, roofing manufacturer GAF reports that hip roofs are the second most common type of roof, only surpassed by gable roofs.

Types of Hip Roofs

Typically, the outside corners of a roof are referred to as hips, supported by a hip beam. What distinguishes one style of hip roof from another is the number and complexity of the slopes.

• Classic (or simple) hip roof: All slopes meet at a ridge at the top of the roof. This is often considered the classic hip roof design.
• Cross hip roof: Another common design, cross hip roofs have two or more ridges that meet at an angle. This creates a series of hips and valleys (which is why cross hips are also known as "hip and valley" or "broken hip" roofs). A simple L or T shape cross hip is commonly found on ranches with a garage or entrance that projects away from the main body of the home.
• Dutch hip roof: These combine the features of a gable and hip roof. The top of the roof is hipped, while the lower section is gabled (like the Viking longhouses mentioned previously). This modification is popular with homeowners who want more attic space or added headroom in a living area.
• Pyramid hip roof: Instead of a central ridge, the hip beams meet at a central point. Pyramid roofs are most often seen on smaller buildings but can be used in larger applications as well.
• Half-hip roof: The slope of the hipped section is abbreviated, so the top of the roof is hipped and the lower portion is gabled. This sometimes gives the house the appearance of wearing a wig.

Given the range of types of hip roofs, it's no surprise that they appear in many architectural styles. From Colonial to Craftsman and Federal to American Foursquare, almost every style of home has a hip roof variant.

Pros and Cons of Hip Roofs

When speaking to clients trying to determine the roof type they want to install on a new home or a reroof, fill them in on the pros and cons of hip roofs so they can be aware. Be sure to keep in mind that the different types of hip roofs may have different benefits and drawbacks as well.

Pros

• Durability: The lower profile and lack of gable faces give hip roofs a more streamlined profile, without the gable edges where wind can gain purchase.
• Appearance: Hip roofs have strong curb appeal, with a tidy and pleasantly symmetrical profile.

Cons

• Cost: Hip roofs require more materials than gable roofs, leading to longer and more costly installations. (This is true of the roofing material, deck and gutters.)
• Reduced attic headspace: Most hip roofs have less room in the attic compared to other designs.

Tips for Hip Roof Installations

Contractors can ensure a hip roof remains structurally sound for years to come by paying attention to key details:

• • Use genuine ridge and hip cap: Hip roofs require more linear feet of ridge cap than gable roofs. Use the manufacturer's dedicated ridge and hip product (such as the IKO Hip & Ridge 12™ Ridge Cap) rather than modifying standard shingles on the ridge and hip.
  • Give special attention to valley flashing: Many hip roofs also have valleys, where water, snow, leaves and debris can accumulate. Pay attention when installing valley flashing to keep water at bay.
  • Consider gutter capacity: Hip roofs require gutters on all sides of the home. Corners on hip roofs can see a great deal of concentrated runoff, which can overwhelm a gutter system without a baffle or other diffusion method. When reroofing, take gutter removal and replacement into account.
  • Choose materials carefully: Hip roofs can be covered with almost any type of material. Some of the common materials include asphalt shingles, slate, metal, wood shingles and clay tiles. Hip roofs are typically not a good fit for low-slope roofing such as EPDM.

Hip roofs are just one of the many types of designs that roofers must be familiar with. Learn more about styles such as gambrel roofs, Victorian roofs, gable roofs and more with Beacon.

To learn more about supplies and installation certifications for any of the types of material common on a hip roof, contact your local Beacon supplier.