Storms & hail

What size hail damages a roof?

By Roof InspectorsUpdated November 3, 2026 3 min read

The short answer

Damage to asphalt shingles becomes more common at about 1 inch (quarter-size) hail — the size the National Weather Service considers severe. Hail 1.75 inches (golf ball) and larger frequently damages shingles, gutters, and vents. Older or brittle roofs can be damaged by smaller hail, while impact-resistant roofs hold up to larger stones.

There’s no single number where hail suddenly damages every roof. But there are clear patterns, and knowing them helps you decide when to take a closer look.

The short version, by size

Hail size	About the size of	What it can mean for a roof
0.75 in	Penny	Can mark older, brittle, or worn shingles. Newer roofs usually hold up.
1.00 in	Quarter	Meets the National Weather Service severe threshold. This is where shingle damage becomes more common.
1.25 in	Half dollar	Commonly dents gutters and vents and can bruise or crack asphalt shingles.
1.50 in	Ping pong ball	Can damage asphalt shingles, gutters, siding and soft metals, especially on older roofs.
1.75 in	Golf ball	Frequently damages asphalt shingles, gutters and vents. A professional inspection is worth considering.
2.00 in+	Hen egg and larger	Can damage most roofing materials, including some impact-resistant products.

The sizes and object names follow the National Weather Service’s hail size charts. The roof column is our general guidance, not a Weather Service statement. See every size drawn to scale in our hail size chart.

Why size isn’t the whole story

Roof age and material

The same hailstone can bounce off a five-year-old architectural shingle and fracture a twenty-year-old three-tab shingle that has dried out in the sun. As asphalt shingles age, they lose flexibility and protective granules, which makes them more vulnerable to impacts.

Material matters too. Impact-resistant (Class 4) shingles are tested to withstand larger impacts. Metal can dent without leaking. Wood shakes can split. Read more in our guide to impact-resistant shingles.

Wind

Wind turns falling hail into hail that strikes at an angle and with more force. Wind-driven hail often damages the side of the house that faced the storm far more than the other sides. Strong gusts can also lift or crease shingles on their own.

Density and duration

A few large stones and a long barrage of medium hail are different events. More impacts mean more chances to find a weak spot.

Repeated small hail

Small hail adds up over time. IBHS found that repeated hail under 1 inch knocks protective granules off asphalt shingles and speeds their aging. In its tests, weathered shingles hit by small hail became up to ten times more susceptible to damage from later large hail than new shingles.

Curious what storms were recorded near you?

See how many significant storms are on record near your address, free in about 30 seconds. Add your contact details to see each storm’s date and hail size.

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Why “nickel-size hail in my city” isn’t enough

Hail falls in uneven swaths. A city-wide report doesn’t tell you what fell on your roof — sizes can change block to block.

That’s why Roof Inspectors looks up storm records for your specific address. How to read a nearby hail record explains storm reports, radar estimates and distance.

For the metro-wide picture: from 2016–2025, the National Weather Service logged hail 1 inch or larger within 30 miles of downtown Kansas City on about 8.1 days a year (Kansas City hail history).

When to get your roof inspected

Consider a professional inspection when:

Storm records show hail 1 inch or larger near your home since your roof was installed
You notice dented gutters, vents, or downspouts, or granules in your gutters
Your roof is 15+ years old and has seen several storms
You have a new leak or stain

A storm on record shows weather at or near your address. It doesn’t mean your roof was damaged, and it doesn’t mean your insurance company will accept that storm or date. That’s why an inspection is worth having: a roofing professional looks at the roof itself.

See what a free roof inspection checks and what hail damage looks like.

If damage is found, here’s how much hail damage it takes to replace a roof rather than repair it.

Sources

Sources (3)NOAA SPC, National Weather Service, IBHS

How our free inspections work and who pays us

Common questions

Can pea-size or marble-size hail damage a roof?

Rarely, from a single storm on a roof in good condition. Small hail can mark very old, brittle shingles or knock loose granules that were already failing. Repeated small hail adds up, though: IBHS testing found that hail under 1 inch knocks off granules and speeds aging, and weathered shingles hit by small hail became up to ten times more susceptible to damage from later large hail.

Does hail damage metal roofs?

Large hail can dent metal roofing, but dents are often cosmetic and don’t always affect performance. Whether cosmetic damage matters depends on the product and, for insurance purposes, your policy language.

Is 1-inch hail enough to damage a new roof?

It can, but newer roofs usually handle 1-inch hail better than aging ones. Damage becomes much more likely as hail approaches 1.5 to 2 inches, especially with strong wind.

This guide is general information for homeowners, not professional, insurance, or legal advice. How we write and update guides.