How large does hail need to be to damage an asphalt roof in Minnesota?
There is no single hail size that proves roof damage. Damage depends on hail size, how densely it fell, wind speed, roof age, shingle construction and the angle of impact.
Photos by Repair King crews from real inspections and jobs.
What size hail usually starts to damage shingles?
The National Weather Service calls hail of 1 inch (quarter size) and larger "severe." In our inspections, 1-inch and larger hail is where bruised and cracked asphalt shingles become common, especially on roofs more than 10 years old. Smaller hail pushed by strong wind still dents gutters, vents and siding, and research shows repeated sub-severe hail ages shingles over time.
| Size | Looks like | Typical exterior effects |
|---|---|---|
| 0.75" | Penny | Dents soft metals; can mark older shingles |
| 1.00" | Quarter | NWS "severe"; bruising on many asphalt roofs |
| 1.25"–1.50" | Half dollar – ping-pong ball | Bruises and cracked mats; siding and screen damage |
| 1.75"+ | Golf ball and larger | Fractured shingles, punctures, broken siding |
Why does the same storm damage one roof and not the next?
Hail falls in swaths, not evenly. Wind direction decides which slopes take the hits, older shingles give way sooner than new impact-rated ones, and a few hard stones can do more than a lot of small ones. That's why a neighbor's result doesn't tell you about your roof.
How do I find out how big the hail was at my house?
Check our Twin Cities Storm History for NOAA hail reports by city and date. For your exact address, we pull the storm data and match it to what we find on the roof.
What we document on every storm inspection
The Repair King Storm Damage Documentation Standard. You keep the report whether or not you hire us.
- Street view and every elevation photographed
- Every roof slope photographed, with close-ups of each damaged area
- Soft metals (vents, caps, gutters, AC fins) checked for dents
- Shingle brand, line and exposure identified; availability checked
- Hand-lift brittleness check on the existing shingles, when relevant
- Attic and decking checked for type, gaps, rot and past leaks
- Storm date and hail size at your address from NOAA reports
- Everything put into one report you keep, whether or not you hire us
Related questions
Sources
- National Weather Service severe-hail criterion (1 inch, since 2010)
- IBHS research on sub-severe hail and asphalt shingle aging, Frontiers in Materials, 2025
- Repair King Twin Cities Storm History (NOAA Storm Prediction Center reports, Oct 2023 – Sep 2026)
This is general information about Minnesota law and building code, not insurance or legal advice. How it applies to your home depends on your policy and your situation; your insurance agent or an attorney can tell you. Minnesota law doesn't allow roofing contractors to negotiate claims for homeowners, so Repair King's role is inspection, documentation and the construction work.
Get the facts about your roof
A licensed Minnesota contractor walks your roof, photographs everything and explains what we found in plain words. Or call (612) 354-7677.
Book a free roof inspection
No cost, no pressure. You get photos of everything we find.
You'll never have to wonder what's happening.
The #1 complaint about contractors is "they stopped calling me back." Our system texts and emails you at every step, from the moment you book to the final walkthrough.
Appointment confirmed
Text and email confirmation the moment you book, plus a reminder before we arrive.
"You're booked for Tue 10 AM ✓"On our way
A heads-up text when your inspector or crew is headed to your home. No waiting around.
"On our way, 20 min out"Photos of everything
You see what we see: a photo report of every finding, yours to keep.
"Your photo report is ready"Every stage, updated
Materials ordered, crew scheduled, install day, final walkthrough. You hear about each step as it happens.
"Materials delivered for Thursday"A real person answers
Questions? Call or text and talk to our team, not a phone tree.
"Got it, we'll check and text you back"Informed at every step. That's the Repair King standard.
Storm hit? Leak showing up? Let's look at it this week.
Free inspection, photo report, straight answer.