The single most-asked question in any post-hail conversation: "How big
were the stones?" Adjusters care because hail size correlates directly
with damage type + claim payout. Here's the standard 9-tier scale used
by AZ insurance + the NWS, with the visual reference you need to size
your own photos.
The hail-size scale
| Tier | Diameter | Reference object | Shingle damage |
|------|----------|------------------|----------------|
| 1 | 0.25" | Pea | None on new shingles |
| 2 | 0.50" | Marble | Granule loss only |
| 3 | 0.75" | Penny / dime | Granule + minor cracking |
| 4 | 1.00" | Quarter | Class 1 damage threshold |
| 5 | 1.25" | Half dollar | Mat exposure, fiberglass damage |
| 6 | 1.50" | Walnut / ping pong | Punctures common |
| 7 | 1.75" | Golf ball | Severe puncture, multiple shingles |
| 8 | 2.00" | Hen egg | Total roof loss likely |
| 9 | 2.75"+ | Tennis ball / baseball | Catastrophic, full re-roof |
Below quarter-size (1.00"), most insurance adjusters won't approve a
full re-roof claim. Above quarter-size, you have a credible claim.
Sizing hail from your phone photo
Three techniques that work:
- Coin reference. Place a quarter (or any coin) next to the hail
on a flat surface. The standard quarter is 0.955". Compare diameter.
- Hand-width reference. Average adult palm-width across the
knuckles is 3.0-3.5". Useful for rough sizing.
- Shingle reference. Standard 3-tab shingle is 12" wide × 36"
long. The exposure is usually 5". You can use shingle exposure
as a 5-inch ruler if you can't find a coin.
Damage signatures by hail size
0.25"-0.75" (pea to dime):
Even if your roof shows damage, your adjuster will likely call it
"normal weathering" or "pre-existing." Don't bother filing unless
you have multiple events compounding.
1.00"-1.25" (quarter to half dollar):
Class 1 damage threshold. Granule loss visible from the ground.
Mat exposure visible from a roof inspection. Most claims at this
size = partial re-roof or full re-roof on older roofs.
1.50"-1.75" (walnut to golf ball):
Punctures + bruising on the mat. Visible from drone or close-up
photos. Full re-roof typical.
2.00" + (hen egg, tennis ball, baseball):
Catastrophic. Full re-roof + likely structural damage to flashing,
skylights, gutters. May damage HVAC condensers + vehicles too.
What to photograph after a hail event
Within 48 hours of the event:
- Hail on the ground with size reference (coin or ruler)
- Shingle close-ups showing granule loss, bruising, or punctures
- Wide-shot of the roof from each side
- Gutter contents — adjusters look for granules in gutters as
evidence of recent damage
- Surrounding damage — dented car hoods, broken plant stems,
cracked window screens — corroborates the storm severity
Save originals to cloud storage immediately. Don't crop; don't filter.
Adjusters can read EXIF metadata for timestamp + GPS verification.
Common adjuster pushback + how to respond
- "This looks like normal weathering."
Response: "Here's the NWS storm report from [date]; my photos are
date-stamped within 48 hours; here are matching neighbor claims."
- "The granule loss is from age, not hail."
Response: "Here are gutter samples showing fresh granules" + "the
shingle bruising shows mat exposure consistent with impact."
- "This is below threshold."
Response: "The hail measured [size] per my reference photos; the
neighborhood NWS report confirms [size]; multiple shingles show
Class 1 damage."
When to hire a public adjuster
If your initial claim payout is more than 25% below your roofer's
estimate, a public adjuster (10-15% of the increase) often pays for
itself. AZ-licensed public adjusters are listed on the AZ DOI
website.
Match with a vetted hail-experienced contractor → for
inspection + claims-grade documentation.