Hip roof styles all share four sloping planes that meet the walls at the eaves, but they differ in ridge shape, framing, and how they wrap corners. The five you will actually see on North American homes are the simple hip, the hip-and-valley (cross-hip), the pyramid hip, the half-hip (jerkinhead), and the cross-hip. Each carries a different framing cost and wind profile, and choosing among them is a design decision, not just a look. For the underlying hip-versus-gable trade study, see our complete hip roof guide.
The five hip roof styles at a glance
Every hip roof style enumerated here keeps the defining hip trait: no vertical gable wall, every plane pitched inward toward a ridge or a single peak. What changes is the footprint they sit on and how the planes intersect. The table below compares framing, appearance, ideal use, wind behavior, and relative build cost so you can match a style to a plan before you draw a single rafter.
| Style | Framing / structure | Look | Best for | Wind performance | Relative cost vs simple hip |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple hip | Horizontal ridge with two trapezoidal and two triangular planes; common rafters plus four hip rafters, framed under IRC R802 | Symmetrical, low silhouette on a rectangular footprint | Most single-volume rectangular houses | Strong; the baseline hip form FEMA associates with lower wind uplift than gable | Baseline (1.0x) |
| Pyramid hip | Four triangular planes meeting at one central peak; no ridge, square footprint | Compact pyramid or tent shape | Square structures, gazebos, pavilions, porticos | Strong; no ridge line and no gable end to catch wind | Similar to slightly higher |
| Cross-hip | Two or more simple hip sections joined at right angles, creating internal valleys | Articulated, follows L- or T-shaped plans | Homes with wings, attached garages, or additions | Strong overall, but valleys add flashing and leak-prone detail | Higher |
| Hip-and-valley | A cross-hip layout defined by its valley intersections where roof sections meet | Complex, multi-directional roofline | Larger or irregular footprints with dormers and ells | Strong planes, but valleys and more penetrations raise maintenance load | Higher |
| Half-hip (jerkinhead) | A gable whose peak is clipped by a small hip; hybrid of gable and hip framing | Squared-off gable top, English cottage character | Traditional and cottage designs wanting attic space plus a wind-clipped ridge | Better than a full gable, not quite a full hip, because the exposed gable is reduced | Between gable and simple hip |
Table note: cost is expressed relative to a simple hip on the same footprint because published dollar figures vary widely by region, pitch, and material. Wind statements reflect general roof-shape guidance in FEMA residential wind fact sheets (FEMA P-499) and ASCE 7 wind-load principles; actual performance depends on connections, sheathing, and code compliance. Framing references IRC Section R802. Verify all figures with a local engineer or builder.
Simple hip roof: the default four-slope form
A simple hip roof has a straight horizontal ridge with two trapezoidal planes on the long sides and two triangular planes (the hip ends) on the short sides. It is the form most people picture when they hear “hip roof” and the baseline every other style modifies. On a rectangular house it reads as a low, symmetrical cap with eaves on all four sides.
Framing uses common rafters running to the ridge plus four hip rafters at the corners, with jack rafters filling in. Because all four sides slope inward, the structure braces itself against uplift, which is why FEMA residential guidance treats the hip shape as generally more wind-resistant than a comparable gable. The continuous eave also shades every wall and simplifies gutter layout.
Pyramid hip roof: four planes to a single peak
A pyramid hip roof sits on a square footprint and has four identical triangular planes that rise to one central point, with no ridge at all. The result looks like a low pyramid or tent. It is common on gazebos, pavilions, cupolas, porticos, and small square outbuildings rather than on full-size rectangular homes.
With no ridge board and no gable end, the pyramid form sheds water and wind evenly in every direction. That symmetry is an advantage in exposed sites. The limitation is footprint: the shape only works cleanly over a square or near-square plan, so on larger homes it usually appears as a feature over an entry or a tower rather than the whole roof.
Cross-hip and hip-and-valley: roofs for complex footprints
A cross-hip roof is two or more simple hip sections joined at right angles over an L-shaped or T-shaped plan, and a hip-and-valley roof is the same idea named for the valleys those intersections create. Where two hip planes meet at an inside corner, they form a valley that channels a large volume of water. These are the styles used on homes with wings, attached garages, or later additions.
The valley is the defining detail and the main risk. It concentrates runoff and needs correct valley flashing, so cross-hip and hip-and-valley roofs carry more material, more labor, and more leak-prone joints than a simple hip. A closely related hybrid, the Dutch gable roof, sets a small gable on top of a hip to gain attic space and light.
Half-hip (jerkinhead) roof: the clipped gable
A half-hip roof, also called a jerkinhead or clipped-gable roof, starts as a gable and then clips the top point with a small hip, squaring off what would be the peak. It is a genuine hybrid: it keeps most of a gable’s usable attic volume and room for larger end windows, while the clipped hip reduces the tall triangular gable wall that catches wind.
This style is common on English cottage, Tudor, and Craftsman designs and on some barns. In wind terms it sits between a full gable and a full hip, because trimming the gable peak lowers the exposed wall area without fully enclosing it. Framing is more involved than a plain gable because it adds short hip and jack rafters at each clipped end.
How style choice changes framing, wind, and cost
Hip styles get more expensive as they add ridges, valleys, and intersections, because each one adds rafters, flashing, and labor. A simple hip is the baseline; a pyramid hip is comparable; cross-hip and hip-and-valley run higher because of their valleys; a half-hip lands between a gable and a full hip.
Two rules hold across all of them. First, more valleys and penetrations mean more places for water to enter, so complex hip styles demand disciplined flashing and inspection. Second, hip geometry as a family tends to resist wind uplift better than gable roofs, which is why it is favored in hurricane-prone regions, though real performance depends on the roof-to-wall connections and sheathing, not the silhouette alone.
- Match the style to the footprint. Square plans suit a pyramid hip; rectangles suit a simple hip; L and T plans require a cross-hip or hip-and-valley.
- Price the valleys. Count every inside corner, because each valley adds flashing detail and cost over a simple hip.
- Confirm the wind path. Ask whether hip framing is tied to the walls with rated connectors for your wind zone, since shape alone does not earn the performance.
- Compare against a gable. If budget is tight, weigh the premium using our hip versus gable analysis before committing.
Hip styles in context with other roof shapes
Hip roofs are one branch of a larger family. A pure gable roof trades wind resistance for lower cost and simpler framing, while a mansard roof uses a steep lower hip slope to create a full upper floor. Seeing where hip styles sit against those alternatives helps you decide whether a hip is the right call at all.
If you are still comparing shapes rather than choosing among hip variants, start with our overview of the common types of roofs, then return here to pick the specific hip style once the shape family is settled. For budgeting, the roof replacement cost guide frames the dollar ranges these relative premiums apply to.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a simple hip and a pyramid hip roof?
A simple hip roof has a horizontal ridge with two trapezoidal and two triangular planes, so it fits a rectangular footprint. A pyramid hip roof has four identical triangular planes that meet at a single central peak with no ridge, so it only works over a square footprint. Pyramid hips are common on gazebos, pavilions, and towers rather than full-size homes.
What is a jerkinhead or half-hip roof?
A half-hip roof, also called a jerkinhead or clipped-gable roof, is a gable whose peak is clipped by a small hip that squares off the top. It keeps much of a gable’s attic space and end-wall window room while reducing the tall gable wall that catches wind. It is common on English cottage, Tudor, and Craftsman designs.
What is a cross-hip roof?
A cross-hip roof is two or more simple hip sections joined at right angles over an L-shaped or T-shaped plan. Where the sections meet at an inside corner they form a valley that carries a large volume of water. Cross-hip roofs suit homes with wings, attached garages, or additions, but the valleys need careful flashing.
Which hip roof style is best for high wind and hurricanes?
Hip geometry as a whole tends to resist wind uplift better than gable roofs, and the simple hip and pyramid hip are the cleanest forms because they have no gable wall and few or no valleys. FEMA residential wind guidance associates hip shapes with lower uplift, but performance depends on rated roof-to-wall connections and sheathing, not the shape alone.
Are complex hip styles more expensive than a simple hip?
Generally yes. Cost rises with each added ridge, valley, and intersection because they add rafters, flashing, and labor. A simple hip is the baseline and a pyramid hip is comparable, while cross-hip and hip-and-valley roofs run higher. Published dollar figures vary by region, pitch, and material, so compare styles on the same footprint.
What is the difference between a hip-and-valley roof and a Dutch gable?
A hip-and-valley roof is a cross-hip layout named for the valleys formed where hip sections intersect over an irregular plan. A Dutch gable roof is different: it sets a small gable on top of a hip roof to add attic space, headroom, and light. One is defined by intersecting valleys, the other by a gable-over-hip hybrid.