Hail reports describe hail by diameter, often comparing stone size to familiar objects like peas, quarters, golf balls, and softballs. Use this guide as a starting point for possible hail damage to your roof, siding, gutters, vents, windows, and exterior. Actual hail damage depends on hail hardness, density, wind speed, impact angle, roof age, shingle condition, roof pitch, roofing material, installation quality, and prior storm damage.
Usually too small to cause hail damage to most sound asphalt roofs, siding, or gutters.
Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but not always harmless. Repeated small hail can scuff surfaces, wear aging shingles, and loosen protective granules over time.
Below the NWS severe-hail threshold, but roof hail damage is still possible on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged shingles. May also mark screens, vents, gutters, and soft metal.
Still below the severe-hail threshold, but large enough to leave visible marks on soft metal and add wear to older or hail-weakened roof shingles.
The NWS severe-hail threshold. Quarter-size hail can bruise shingles, dent soft metal, and create roof hail damage worth checking.
More likely to dent gutters, vents, flashing, and siding. Hail damage risk rises quickly on older roofs or hail-weakened shingles.
Hail damage becomes more likely, including bruised shingles, granule loss, dented siding, and damaged roof vents.
Often causes roof hail damage, cracked shingles, dented gutters, damaged flashing, and siding impacts. A roof inspection is recommended.
Can crack or puncture shingles, expose mat, dent siding, and cause widespread hail damage across the roof and exterior.
Can cause heavy roof hail damage, punctured siding, broken skylights, damaged vents, and widespread exterior damage.
Major hail damage is likely, including severe roof impacts, damaged siding, broken windows, and possible major roof repairs.
Tea Cup / Large Apple
3.00″
Major
Can cause heavy hail damage across the roof, siding, gutters, windows, and exterior. Significant repairs are often needed.
Destructive hail damage. Can severely damage roofing materials, siding, windows, gutters, vents, vehicles, and exterior surfaces.
Catastrophic hail damage risk for roofs, windows, vehicles, siding, gutters, and exterior surfaces.
Source: NOAA / National Weather Service hail size references are used for hail-size comparisons and the 1.00″ severe-hail threshold. Damage descriptions are general homeowner guidance, not official NOAA/NWS damage ratings. Sub-severe hail under 1.00″ is below the severe threshold, but that does not mean “no roof damage.” Penny- to nickel-size hail can still contribute to granule loss, cosmetic surface marks, and added wear, especially on older, brittle, poorly installed, or previously damaged roofs.