Two of the most common pitched roofs — gable and hip — frame quite differently, and that difference is visible the moment you look at the framing plan. This article compares them so you can recognise and lay out each. For the broader picture, start with the roof framing plan guide.
Gable, hip, and flat roofs compared
The gable roof
A gable roof has two sloping planes that meet at a ridge, with a vertical triangular gable wall at each end. It is the simplest pitched roof to frame:
- Rafters run from the bearing walls up to the ridge, in two opposing sets.
- The plan shows a single ridge line down the middle, with rafters at a regular spacing either side.
- The gable ends are walls, not slopes, so there is no framing to the end on those sides.
The hip roof
A hip roof slopes on all sides, meeting at hips (the sloping lines at external corners) and a ridge. There are no gable walls. It is more complex:
- Hip rafters run from each corner up toward the ridge.
- Jack rafters frame between the wall and the hip rafters, getting shorter toward the corner.
- The plan shows the ridge plus diagonal hip lines from each corner — more lines, more cuts.
Side by side
| Gable | Hip | |
|---|---|---|
| Slopes | Two | Four |
| End walls | Vertical gable walls | Sloped (no gable) |
| Extra members | — | Hip and jack rafters |
| Plan complexity | Lower | Higher |
| Water shedding | Two sides | All sides |
What stays the same
Whichever you choose, the framing-plan fundamentals are identical to any roof: rafter (or truss) direction and spacing, the bearing walls and beams the roof lands on, and openings for skylights and chimneys. Those decisions mirror a floor framing plan — see also rafters vs. trusses for the structural system and roof pitch and slope for how steepness is shown.
A note on the tool
Gable and hip roofs are pitched roofs framed with rafters or trusses, so their design is engineering and supplier territory. Framing Plan is best suited to the plan-view layout — footprint, bearing, openings, and annotation — and to flat roofs, which frame like a floor (see flat roof framing plans).
Keep it preliminary
Pitched-roof structure carries significant loads. Use a preliminary plan to communicate layout intent — a qualified engineer or truss supplier must confirm the rafters, hips, and connections for your project and local code.
Try it
For the plan-view layout or a flat roof, open the framing studio, or read the full roof framing plan guide.