A gable is the triangular section of wall that sits at the end of a pitched roof, filling the space between the two sloping roof planes from the eave line up to the ridge. It is the flat, vertical, roughly A-shaped wall you see on the end of a house, not the roof itself. Architects and builders also call the whole end of the building a gable end or gable wall, which includes the triangular gable plus the rectangular wall below it.
The word describes an element of a building, not a roof style. A gable roof is named after this element because it produces one at each end, but the gable is specifically that triangle of wall. This guide covers the gable definition, the parts that make it up, how it differs from a pediment, and the main gable styles you will see on real buildings. If you want the roof style itself, its cost, and its variants, see the gable roof guide.
What is a gable, exactly?
A gable is the generally triangular portion of an exterior wall, bounded by the two edges of intersecting roof pitches on the sides and by the top of the wall plate at the bottom. It closes off the end of a pitched roof so the attic or roof space is enclosed. On a standard symmetrical roof the gable forms an isosceles triangle whose apex sits directly under the ridge.
The gable is a wall, not a roof surface. This matters because the two are built and finished differently: the sloping roof planes are covered in shingles or metal, while the gable is clad in siding, brick, stucco, or shingles that match the walls. The boundary between them, the sloped edge, is the rake, and it is where gable-specific trim lives.
Gable vs gable end vs gable roof
These three terms get used loosely, so keep them separate. The gable is the triangle. The gable end is the entire end wall, triangle plus the wall beneath it. The gable roof is the roof shape (two slopes meeting at a ridge) that creates a gable at each end. A building can have a gable without a full gable roof, for example on a cross-gabled dormer or a front porch.
| Term | What it refers to | What it is made of |
|---|---|---|
| Gable | The triangular wall section under the roof peak | Wall cladding (siding, brick, stucco) |
| Gable end | The whole end wall, triangle plus wall below | Wall assembly, framing, cladding |
| Gable roof | The two-slope roof shape that forms a gable at each end | Rafters or trusses, decking, shingles or metal |
| Rake | The sloped edge where roof meets gable | Rake board, trim, drip edge |
What are the parts of a gable?
A gable is built from a small set of named parts, most of which run along its two sloped edges. The framing behind it is a gable-end wall or a gable truss, and the visible parts are the trim and finish pieces along the rake and at the apex. Knowing these names helps when reading an estimate or diagnosing a leak at the roof edge.
- Rake: The sloped edge of the gable where the roof plane ends over the gable wall, running from the eave up to the ridge. It is the gable equivalent of the eave, but it slopes instead of running level.
- Verge: The trimmed edge of the roof covering itself along the rake, the overhanging tiles or shingles that project past the gable wall. Verge and rake describe nearly the same line, verge emphasizing the roofing material, rake the structural edge.
- Bargeboard (vergeboard): A decorative or protective board fixed along the rake to cap the exposed rafter ends and roof edge. On Victorian and Gothic Revival homes it is often ornately cut.
- Rake board and fascia: The flat trim boards that finish the rake and the eave. The fascia board caps the horizontal eave and carries the gutter; the rake board is its sloped counterpart on the gable.
- Coping: A capping course, often stone, concrete, or metal, laid over the top of a parapet gable to shed water off the wall. Common on masonry buildings where the gable rises above the roofline.
- Kneeler (skew corbel): A shaped stone at the base of a raised masonry gable that supports the coping and gives it a stop to bear against.
- Finial and apex stone: The ornamental cap at the very peak of the gable, where the two rakes meet.
- Tympanum: The flat triangular field of the gable itself, the surface area enclosed by the sloped edges, which may be plain, glazed, vented, or decorated.
The trim along the rake ties into the roof edge details on the eave side. For how the metal edge protects both the rake and the eave, see drip edge installation, and for the full roof glossary see parts of a roof.
What is the difference between a gable and a pediment?
A gable is a functional structural wall; a pediment is a decorative version of that same triangle borrowed from classical architecture. A pediment sits above a portico, door, or window and is usually purely ornamental, framed by a molded cornice, while a gable is a load-related part of the actual building envelope that encloses the roof space.
Put simply, every pediment looks like a gable, but not every gable is a pediment. Classical buildings often treat the gable end like a pediment for style, adding a cornice return and a clean triangular field. The structural difference is that classical pediments sit on a post-and-beam (trabeated) system, while most house gables are bearing-wall or gable-truss structures that carry the end of the roof.
What are the main types of gables?
Gables are classified two ways: by which direction the gable faces the street (orientation), and by how the top edge is shaped or decorated (profile). Orientation drives how a house reads from the curb; profile is a period and regional style choice. Both describe the gable element, not the roof structure underneath.
By orientation
- Front-gabled: The gable faces the street, so you see the triangle head-on. Common on Gothic, Cape Cod, and many townhouse fronts.
- Side-gabled: The ridge runs parallel to the street, so the gables sit on the side ends. This is the classic rectangular house profile.
- Cross-gabled: Two or more gable roof sections intersect, producing gables facing multiple directions, plus valleys where the planes meet. More architectural interest, more leak points at the valleys.
By profile
| Gable style | Shape of the top edge | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| Straight (plain) gable | Two straight sloped lines meeting at a point | Most modern homes |
| Crow-stepped (corbie-step) | Horizontal masonry steps up each side | Flemish, Scottish, Tudor buildings |
| Dutch (shaped) gable | Curved or scrolled parapet outline | Dutch Colonial, Renaissance facades |
| Parapet gable | Wall rising above the roofline, capped with coping | Row houses, fire-separation walls |
| Wimperg | Steep ornamental gable with tracery over a window or portal | Gothic cathedrals |
A Dutch gable (a shaped parapet) is not the same as a Dutch gable roof (a gable roof with a small hip at the ridge). The first describes the wall profile; the second describes the roof shape. For the roof-shape variants and how they compare on cost and wind, see the gable roof guide and the hip roof comparison.
Why the gable end matters for wind and water
The gable end is the part of a pitched-roof building most exposed to wind uplift, because it presents a large flat vertical face with no slope to deflect pressure. In high-wind and hurricane zones, gable ends are a known weak point: wind blowing straight at the triangle pushes on the wall and lifts the roof edge along the rake, which is why building codes in storm regions require gable-end bracing and reinforced rake connections.
Water management on the gable is different from the eave. The eave has a gutter; the rake usually does not, so rain runs off the verge and needs a proper rake drip edge and sealed bargeboard to keep water out of the wall. Poorly flashed rakes and open verges are a common entry point for wind-driven rain into the attic. In storm-prone areas, the gable end also drives roof-shape decisions covered in the best roof for hurricane zones guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is a gable in simple terms?
A gable is the triangular section of wall at the end of a house, filling the space between the two slopes of a pitched roof from the eave up to the peak. It is a wall, not part of the roof surface. The A-shaped end wall you picture on a classic house is the gable, and the roof that creates it is called a gable roof.
Is a gable the same as a gable roof?
No. A gable is the triangular wall element at the end of a roof. A gable roof is the roof shape, two planes sloping up to a shared ridge, that produces a gable at each end. You can have a gable without a full gable roof, for example on a dormer or a projecting front section, so the terms are related but not interchangeable.
What are the parts of a gable called?
The main parts are the rake (the sloped edge where roof meets wall), the verge (the overhanging roof material along that edge), the bargeboard (trim capping the rake), and the tympanum (the flat triangular field of the wall). Masonry gables add coping (a capping course) and kneelers (stones supporting the coping at the base).
What is the difference between a gable and a pediment?
A gable is a functional wall that encloses the end of a pitched roof. A pediment is a decorative triangle borrowed from classical architecture, usually placed over a door, window, or portico and framed by molding. Every pediment resembles a gable, but a gable is structural while a pediment is primarily ornamental.
What is a gable end?
A gable end is the entire end wall of a building with a pitched roof, meaning the triangular gable plus the rectangular wall below it. Builders often reinforce gable ends in high-wind areas because the flat vertical face catches wind and can lift the roof edge along the rake if it is not braced.
Why are gables considered a weak point in storms?
A gable end presents a large flat vertical wall with no slope to deflect wind, so straight-on gusts push against it and lift the roof edge along the rake. In hurricane and high-wind regions, codes often require gable-end bracing and reinforced rake connections, and many builders in those zones prefer hip roofs, which have no vertical gable to catch the wind.
Reviewed by The Roofing Brief Team. Last reviewed July 2026.