Hip roof
Pick a hip roof if you are building in a hurricane or high-wind area, or your insurer offers a discount for roof shape.[1]
Gable roof
Pick a gable roof if you want simpler framing, more attic storage or more room for solar panels, and the gable ends are braced for your local wind loads.[1]
At a glance
| Feature | Hip roof | Gable roof | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape | Slopes on all four sides, no vertical wall at the ends | Two slopes meeting at a ridge, with a triangular end wall (gable end) on each side | [1] |
| Peak wind pressure | Up to 50% lower than a gable roof in wind tunnel tests | Higher; gable roofs catch more wind and rain | [1] |
| Bracing | Inherently braced against racking by its four slopes | Gable end wall and trusses must be braced; the roof-to-gable-end-wall joint is a known weak point | [1] |
| Sensitivity to low roof pitch | Lower | Higher for pitches under 27 degrees | [3] |
| Attic space and venting | Less storage because of the sloped sides | More storage, easy to vent, easier to convert into living space | [1] |
| Space for solar panels | Reduced (listed as a hip roof disadvantage) | Not listed as a limitation | [1] |
| Design and construction | More complicated to design and build, more expensive | Simple to design and build, very cost-effective | [1] |
| End wall weathering | No exposed gable end wall | Gable end walls tend to weather more | [1] |
| Insurance | Many insurers offer discounts; some require a wind mitigation inspection | No roof-shape discount described | [1] |
| Florida wind mitigation form | Counts as "hip roof" if other roof shapes are no more than 10% of the total roof perimeter | Falls under "other roof" | [2] |
Wind performance
In wind tunnel tests by Meecham (1992) and Shao et al. (2018), peak wind-induced pressures on hip roofs were as much as 50% lower than on gable roofs.[1]
Roof pitch matters too. A study of roof sheathing fragility in the ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering found that for pitches under 27 degrees, the pitch angle has a larger effect on gable roofs than on hip roofs.[3]
Gable roofs in high-wind areas
A gable roof is not inherently stable against hurricane, high-wind or earthquake forces, and the connection between the roof and the gable end wall is especially vulnerable. Gable roofs need properly braced end walls and trusses; in hurricane-prone regions, metal connectors are often used instead of nails.[1]
The International Residential Code (IRC) requires truss design documents but does not require them to specify restraint or bracing methods; the International Building Code (IBC) does. IRC Section R602.10.8.2 covers truss-to-top-plate bracing.[1]
Attic space, ventilation and solar
Gable roofs give more attic storage, are easy to vent and are easier to convert into living space. The sloped sides of a hip roof reduce attic storage and leave less roof area for solar panels.[1]
Cost and construction
Hip roofs are more complicated to design and build and cost more; gable roofs are simple and very cost-effective.[1] We did not find a neutral, published cost figure for hip vs gable framing, so this page does not show one.
Insurance
Because hip roofs tend to perform better in hurricanes and high winds, many home insurers offer discounts for them. Some insurers require a wind mitigation inspection to apply the discount.[1]
Florida documents these features on a standard form, OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26). Its roof geometry question counts a roof as a hip roof only when other roof shapes make up no more than 10% of the total roof system perimeter. Porch and carport roofs attached only to the fascia or wall over unenclosed space are left out of the calculation. A roof that is neither a hip roof nor a qualifying flat roof is classified as "other roof", which is where a gable roof falls. The form is valid for up to five years if the structure does not change, and it notes that some items may not qualify for a discount.[2]
Can you change an existing roof?
Roof shape is normally decided at the design stage, so hip vs gable is mainly a new-construction choice. For an existing gable roof, the usual upgrade is bracing the gable end walls and improving roof-to-wall connections.[1]
Common questions
Is a hip roof better than a gable roof in high winds?
Yes. Wind tunnel tests found peak wind pressures up to 50% lower on hip roofs than on gable roofs.[1]
Why are gable roofs more vulnerable to wind?
Gable roofs are not inherently braced against racking, and the joint between the roof and the gable end wall is a weak point unless the wall and trusses are properly braced.[1]
Do hip roofs lower home insurance?
Many insurers offer discounts for hip roofs. Some require a wind mitigation inspection first.[1] In Florida, the inspection form counts a roof as hip only if other roof shapes are no more than 10% of the total roof perimeter.[2]
Which roof gives more attic space?
A gable roof. The sloped sides of a hip roof reduce attic storage.[1]
Sources
- U.S. Department of Energy, Building America Solution Center (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory) Hip Roof vs Gable Roof. Accessed November 2, 2026.
- Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Uniform Mitigation Verification Inspection Form, OIR-B1-1802 (Rev. 04/26). Accessed November 2, 2026.
- ASCE Journal of Structural Engineering Effects of Roof Shape and Roof Pitch on Extreme Wind Fragility for Roof Sheathing. Accessed November 2, 2026.
We did not install or test these products. Everything on this page comes from the documents listed above. If a source changes, numbers here may be out of date until our next check. Spot an error? Email [email protected].