The area of a sloped roof is primarily determined by its:

The area of a sloped roof is primarily determined by its pitch, which is the steepness or angle of the roof. Pitch affects the overall surface area because as the steepness increases, the length of the roof panels or shingles that need to be installed also increases. This means that the greater the pitch, the larger the surface area will be when accounting for both horizontal and vertical dimensions.

In roofing calculations, the pitch is critical because it helps determine how much material will be needed and also influences aspects such as drainage and potential snow load. Understanding the pitch is therefore essential for proper roof design and construction.

Other attributes, such as width, height, and material, do play a role in specific calculations or types of roofing but are not the primary factors in determining the total area of a sloped roof like pitch is. For example, while the width and height of the building do factor into the overall roof dimensions, the actual surface area that affects installations, fittings, and roofing materials is more directly linked to the pitch.