Siding installation labor typically runs $2-$8 per square foot, depending on material type, wall height, and complexity. Vinyl siding sits at the low end ($2-$4/sq ft labor), while fiber cement and wood siding run $4-$8/sq ft for labor alone.
This guide covers labor-only pricing so you can build accurate siding estimates broken out by trade.
Quick Answer
Siding labor rates by material type:
- Vinyl siding: $2-$4/sq ft labor
- Fiber cement (HardiePlank): $4-$8/sq ft labor
- Wood siding (lap/board): $4-$7/sq ft labor
- Trim and flashing: Add $1-$3/linear foot
- Demo/removal of old siding: Add $0.50-$1.50/sq ft
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Prices reflect 2026 national averages. Your region, crew speed, and job complexity will shift these numbers. Always validate against your local market.
Siding Labor Cost Breakdown by Material
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl is the fastest siding to install, which keeps labor costs down. An experienced crew can cover a lot of wall area in a day because the panels snap into place with minimal cutting.
| Task | Cost Per Sq Ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl panel installation | $2-$4 | Standard lap siding |
| J-channel/trim | $1-$2/LF | Around windows, doors, corners |
| Soffit and fascia | $3-$6/LF | If included in scope |
| Insulated vinyl | +$0.50-$1.00 | Heavier, slightly slower install |
Production rate: A 2-person crew can typically install 400-600 sq ft of vinyl siding per day on a single-story home with standard conditions.
Fiber Cement Siding (HardiePlank)
Fiber cement takes longer than vinyl because it’s heavier, requires pre-drilling, and generates silica dust that demands proper safety equipment. The boards are also brittle and break if mishandled, so you lose more to waste.
| Task | Cost Per Sq Ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fiber cement panel install | $4-$8 | Pre-drill + blind-nail |
| Trim installation | $2-$4/LF | Fiber cement trim boards |
| Caulking and touch-up paint | Included | Standard practice |
| Corner boards | $3-$5/LF | Inside and outside corners |
Production rate: A 2-person crew averages 200-350 sq ft per day. The cutting, handling, and fastening all take longer than vinyl.
Wood Siding
Wood siding labor falls between vinyl and fiber cement. The material is lighter than fiber cement but requires more finishing work - back-priming, face-nailing, and careful fitting at joints and corners.
| Task | Cost Per Sq Ft | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Wood lap siding install | $4-$7 | Cedar, pine, or redwood |
| Board-and-batten install | $5-$8 | More linear cuts |
| Back-priming | $0.50-$1.00 | Often required by warranty |
| Touch-up and caulking | Included | Field staining/painting extra |
Production rate: A 2-person crew averages 250-400 sq ft per day for lap siding. Board-and-batten is slower due to additional vertical cuts.
Labor Adders That Increase Your Bid
These line items get missed on siding bids all the time. Each one affects your bottom line.
- Two-story walls: +25-40% over single-story (scaffold setup, material hoisting, slower pace)
- Scaffold rental: $150-$400/week depending on how much you need
- Old siding removal: $0.50-$1.50/sq ft for vinyl or wood; $1.00-$2.50/sq ft for stucco or brick veneer
- Housewrap/WRB installation: $0.25-$0.50/sq ft if not already in place
- Window and door flashing: $15-$30 per opening (critical for water management)
- Rotten sheathing repair: $3-$6/sq ft for OSB or plywood replacement
- Steep gable ends: +15-25% for working at height with angled cuts
- Lead paint abatement: $3-$8/sq ft on pre-1978 homes (check local requirements)
How to Estimate Siding Labor
Step 1: Measure the wall area
Calculate total wall square footage:
- Measure each wall face (length x height)
- Subtract window and door openings
- Add gable ends (triangle: base x height / 2)
- A typical 2,000 sq ft home has roughly 1,800-2,400 sq ft of siding area
Step 2: Choose your labor rate
Base your rate on the material type:
- Vinyl: $2-$4/sq ft
- Fiber cement: $4-$8/sq ft
- Wood: $4-$7/sq ft
Adjust for your local market. West Coast and Northeast rates run 20-30% higher than the Southeast.
Step 3: Add the extras
Line-item everything separately:
- Demo and disposal
- Trim, corners, J-channel
- Flashing at openings
- Scaffold or lift rental
- Sheathing repairs (if visible)
Step 4: Factor in waste and contingency
- Material waste: 10-15% for standard walls, 15-20% for lots of cuts (gables, bump-outs)
- Labor contingency: 5-10% for hidden damage, weather delays, and surprises
Worked Example 1: Vinyl Siding on a Ranch Home
Job: 1,500 sq ft of siding area, single-story ranch, remove old vinyl, 8 windows, 2 doors
| Line Item | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old siding removal | 1,500 sq ft | $0.75/sq ft | $1,125 |
| Vinyl siding install | 1,500 sq ft | $3.00/sq ft | $4,500 |
| J-channel (windows + doors) | 180 LF | $1.50/LF | $270 |
| Corner trim | 60 LF | $2.00/LF | $120 |
| Window flashing | 10 openings | $20 each | $200 |
| Total Labor | $6,215 |
At a 2-person crew producing 500 sq ft/day, that’s about 4 days of install plus 1 day of demo. Roughly $620/day/person, which is reasonable for experienced siding installers.
Worked Example 2: Fiber Cement on a Two-Story Colonial
Job: 2,400 sq ft of siding area, two-story, remove old wood siding, 14 windows, 3 doors, scaffold needed
| Line Item | Quantity | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old wood siding removal | 2,400 sq ft | $1.25/sq ft | $3,000 |
| Fiber cement siding install | 2,400 sq ft | $6.00/sq ft | $14,400 |
| Fiber cement trim | 200 LF | $3.50/LF | $700 |
| Corner boards | 80 LF | $4.00/LF | $320 |
| Window/door flashing | 17 openings | $25 each | $425 |
| Housewrap installation | 2,400 sq ft | $0.35/sq ft | $840 |
| Scaffold rental | 2 weeks | $600 total | $600 |
| Sheathing repair allowance | 100 sq ft | $4.50/sq ft | $450 |
| Total Labor | $20,735 |
At a 2-person crew producing 300 sq ft/day of fiber cement, that’s about 8-9 days of install plus 2-3 days for demo and prep. The scaffold time adds up, but cutting corners on setup is how people get hurt.
Regional Pricing Variations
| Region | Vinyl (per sq ft) | Fiber Cement (per sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Southeast | $2.00-$3.00 | $4.00-$6.00 |
| Midwest | $2.50-$3.50 | $4.50-$6.50 |
| Northeast | $3.00-$4.50 | $5.50-$8.00 |
| West Coast | $3.50-$5.00 | $6.00-$8.50 |
| Mountain West | $2.50-$3.50 | $4.50-$7.00 |
Urban areas and high cost-of-living markets push these numbers 15-30% higher. If you’re working in the suburbs of a major metro, price accordingly.
Common Mistakes on Siding Estimates
Not separating demo from install. If you lump everything into one number and the old siding is harder to remove than expected, you eat the difference. Line-item demo separately, and you have a clear path to a change order if needed.
Forgetting trim and flashing. On a house with 12 windows and 3 doors, trim labor alone can run $500-$1,000+. This isn’t a rounding error. Price every opening.
Ignoring the second-story factor. Working above 10 feet means scaffold, material hoisting, and slower production. A two-story job isn’t twice the labor of single-story, but it’s close to 1.3-1.4x.
Bidding fiber cement at vinyl rates. These are completely different installs. Fiber cement is heavier, requires different fasteners, generates hazardous dust, and breaks easily. If you bid it like vinyl, you’ll lose money.
Skipping the sheathing inspection. You won’t know the full scope until the old siding comes off. Always include an allowance for sheathing repair, or specify in your contract that rot repair is a change-order item.
Pro Tips for Profitable Siding Jobs
Walk the entire perimeter before bidding. Look for rot around windows, check the condition of the existing trim, and note how many stories and gable ends you’re dealing with. Photos from the truck aren’t enough.
Track your crew’s actual production rates. Industry averages say 400-600 sq ft/day for vinyl, but your crew might be faster or slower. Use your real numbers, not someone else’s.
Price trim separately from field siding. Trim work is slower per linear foot than running siding panels. Don’t average the two together or you’ll underbid the detail work.
Stage materials close to each wall. On a big job, having materials staged at each wall face saves hours of walking back and forth. Plan your layout before day one.
Include a line for disposal. Old siding, packaging, and cutoffs generate a lot of waste. A dumpster or dump runs need to be in the estimate, not absorbed into your profit.
Use the Siding Calculator to double-check quantities. Get your square footage, waste factor, and material needs dialed in before you commit to a number.
Siding vs. Other Exterior Trades
How does siding labor compare to other exterior work?
| Trade | Labor Range (per sq ft) | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $2-$4 | Moderate |
| Fiber cement siding | $4-$8 | High |
| Exterior painting | $1.50-$5 | Moderate |
| Stucco | $6-$12 | Very high |
| Brick veneer | $10-$20 | Very high |
This gives you context for pricing mixed-scope jobs where siding is only part of the exterior package.
FAQs
How much does siding labor cost per square foot? $2-$8 per square foot depending on the material. Vinyl is cheapest at $2-$4/sq ft, fiber cement runs $4-$8/sq ft, and wood falls at $4-$7/sq ft. These are labor-only numbers - materials are separate.
How long does it take to install siding on a house? For a typical 2,000 sq ft home with about 2,000 sq ft of siding area, expect 4-7 days for vinyl or 8-12 days for fiber cement with a 2-person crew. Add 1-2 days for demo if replacing existing siding.
Should I charge more for two-story siding jobs? Yes. Two-story work requires scaffold setup, material hoisting, and slower production at height. Add 25-40% to your single-story base rate, plus scaffold rental costs.
Does fiber cement siding cost more to install than vinyl? Significantly more. Fiber cement labor runs roughly 2x the cost of vinyl installation. The boards are heavier, require pre-drilling, generate silica dust requiring PPE, and have a higher breakage rate during handling.
What’s included in siding labor cost? Labor-only pricing should cover panel installation, basic trim, caulking, and cleanup. Demo, scaffold, housewrap, flashing, and sheathing repair are typically separate line items. Spell out exactly what’s included in your proposal.
Ready to build faster siding estimates? Try EstimationPro free - turn site photos and notes into professional, line-item estimates with labor, materials, and your markup built in. Spend less time on bids and more time on the jobsite.
Related Resources
- Siding Calculator - calculate material quantities and costs
- Roofing Labor Cost Per Square - companion guide for exterior trades
- How to Estimate Flooring Installation Labor - similar labor breakdown approach
Vinyl Siding Labor Cost Breakdown ($6,215)
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