e.g. 50
e.g. 30
e.g. 9
~15 sq ft each subtracted
~20 sq ft each subtracted
Siding Estimate
Accessories
Cost Breakdown
Estimated Total (Materials + Labor)
$6,400 – $15,360
1,280.00 sq ft of vinyl siding
12,800+ estimates calculated this month
Siding Cost & Material Guide
Per-square-foot pricing, material lifespans, and installation requirements for siding.
How Much Does New Siding Cost in 2026?
New siding costs $5–$20 per square foot installed for a typical home, with total project cost of $8,000–$25,000 for an average 1,500–2,500 sq ft home.
- Vinyl siding: $4–$8/sq ft installed (most affordable, low maintenance)
- Fiber cement (HardiePlank): $6–$13/sq ft installed (most popular upgrade)
- Wood (cedar clapboard): $8–$14/sq ft installed
- Engineered wood (LP SmartSide): $6–$11/sq ft installed
- Metal/aluminum: $7–$15/sq ft installed
- Stone veneer: $15–$30/sq ft installed
Key Takeaways
- Vinyl: $4–$8/sq ft (most affordable)
- Fiber cement: $6–$13/sq ft (best value upgrade)
- Typical home: $8,000–$25,000 total
Siding Material Comparison: Lifespan & Maintenance
Fiber cement siding lasts 30–50 years with minimal maintenance, offering the best balance of durability, appearance, and cost.
- Vinyl: 20–40 years, no painting, can crack in extreme cold
- Fiber cement: 30–50 years, repaint every 10–15 years, fireproof
- Wood: 20–40 years, paint/stain every 3–7 years (highest maintenance)
- Engineered wood: 20–30 years, paint every 5–10 years
- Metal: 40–60 years, dent-resistant, rust-free (aluminum)
Key Takeaways
- Fiber cement: 30–50 years, repaint every 10–15 years
- Vinyl: 20–40 years, zero maintenance
- Wood: highest maintenance (paint every 3–7 years)
Siding Installation & What to Watch For
Proper installation includes housewrap, flashing, and a 1/4" gap at all trim joints to prevent moisture infiltration behind the siding.
- Housewrap/WRB: Required under all siding types (Tyvek, ZIP system, etc.)
- Window/door flashing: Critical water management detail — #1 failure point
- Nail pattern: Fiber cement requires specific nail spacing (16" OC into studs)
- Old siding removal: $1–$3/sq ft for tear-off and disposal
Inspect sheathing and housewrap during tear-off. Replacing rotted sheathing adds $2–$5/sq ft but prevents future problems.
Key Takeaways
- Housewrap required under all siding types
- Window flashing = #1 moisture failure point
- Old siding removal: $1–$3/sq ft
Last updated: 2026-06-23
Quick Answer: How Much Siding Do You Need?
Multiply your home's perimeter by wall height, subtract door and window openings, then divide by 100. That gives you squares - the unit siding is sold in. A typical 2,000 sq ft two-story home with a 150-foot perimeter and 8-foot walls needs roughly 10 to 12 squares of siding after deductions. Order 10% extra on simple homes and 15% if you have gable ends, dormers, or a lot of angles. Fiber cement runs $8-$18 per sq ft installed. Vinyl is $5-$12.
Siding Cost and Material Comparison
Installed cost covers materials and labor for a standard single-story home. Prices vary by region and job complexity.
| Siding Type | Installed Cost / sq ft | Lifespan | Maintenance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $5-$12 | 20-40 yrs | Low | Budget-friendly, low maintenance |
| Fiber Cement (Hardie) | $8-$18 | 30-50 yrs | Low-Medium | Durability, paintable finish |
| Wood (Cedar/Pine) | $9-$17 | 15-40 yrs | High | Curb appeal, historic homes |
| Metal / Aluminum | $10-$21 | 40-60 yrs | Low | Modern look, fire resistance |
| Stone Veneer | $20-$50 | 50+ yrs | Very Low | Accents, premium curb appeal |
Inputs You Will Need
- House perimeter or dimensions - Total linear feet around the exterior, or length and width (the calculator multiplies them for you)
- Wall height - Standard single-story walls are 8-9 feet; two-story exterior runs 16-18 feet total
- Door and window count - Typical homes have 2-3 exterior doors and 8-12 windows; each door deducts about 20 sq ft and each window about 15 sq ft from your gross area
- Siding material type - Vinyl, fiber cement, wood, metal, or stone veneer; affects the cost per square foot estimate
- Stories - Multi-story homes add staging costs and extend the effective wall area
Quick Reference: House Size to Siding Squares
Approximate squares for a single-story rectangular home with 8-foot walls, 2 exterior doors, and 8 windows. Add 10-15% for waste on your material order.
| Home Size (sq ft) | Approx. Perimeter | Net Squares | Order Qty (with 10% waste) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | ~126 ft | 7-9 squares | 8-10 squares |
| 1,500 sq ft | ~156 ft | 10-12 squares | 11-13 squares |
| 2,000 sq ft | ~180 ft | 12-15 squares | 13-17 squares |
| 2,500 sq ft | ~200 ft | 14-17 squares | 15-19 squares |
| 3,000 sq ft | ~220 ft | 16-20 squares | 18-22 squares |
Cost to Side a House by Size (2026)
Total installed cost - materials and labor - for a single-story home. Wood and metal siding run higher per the comparison table above. Prices vary by region and job complexity, so get local quotes before you commit.
| Home Size (sq ft) | Vinyl (Installed) | Fiber Cement / Hardie (Installed) |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $4,000-$9,500 | $6,500-$14,500 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $5,500-$13,000 | $8,500-$19,500 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $6,800-$16,000 | $11,000-$24,000 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $7,800-$18,500 | $12,400-$28,000 |
Worked Example: 1,500 Sq Ft Single-Story Home
A 40x38-foot house with 8-foot walls, 10 windows, and 2 exterior doors:
- Perimeter: (40 + 38) x 2 = 156 linear feet
- Gross wall area: 156 x 8 = 1,248 sq ft
- Window deductions: 10 x 15 = 150 sq ft
- Door deductions: 2 x 20 = 40 sq ft
- Net area: 1,248 - 190 = 1,058 sq ft (10.6 squares)
- With 10% waste: order 11.7 squares - round to 12
At fiber cement rates of $8-$18 per sq ft installed, this job runs $8,464 to $19,044. Vinyl at $5-$12 is $5,290 to $12,696. Accessories - starter strip, J-channel, corner posts - add roughly $600-$1,200 depending on window and door count.
Common Siding Estimating Mistakes
- Quoting gross area instead of net. Every door and window is a deduction. A typical home has 8-12 windows and 2-3 exterior doors. That's 170-220 sq ft of gross area you should not be buying siding for. Contractors who quote gross end up over-ordering material and losing that margin to leftover panels sitting in the garage.
- Forgetting accessories in the material list. Starter strip, J-channel, corner posts, and inside corner trim add up on a full reside. For a home with 12 windows and 2 doors, you are looking at 180+ linear feet of J-channel alone. These are real line items that need to be in the estimate before you quote the job.
- Skipping the housewrap inspection on re-sides. You are removing old siding and exposing whatever is behind it. If the housewrap is torn, missing, or wrong, you have to replace it before new siding goes on. Full housewrap on a 2,000 sq ft home runs $400-$900 in material plus labor. If it is not in your estimate and it needs replacing, you eat that cost.
- Not accounting for gable ends and dormers. These areas require more cuts, more waste, and more labor time per square than a straight wall. Add 15% for waste to areas with a lot of angles, not just 10%. On a home with dormers, underestimating gable waste is how contractors short-order material and make a second delivery run at full freight cost.
- Leaving old siding removal out of scope. Tear-off and disposal is real work and real cost. Removing wood or fiber cement siding on a 1,500 sq ft home can take a full day for a two-person crew. Clarify scope with the client before demo starts - not after. Put it in writing in a scope of work document if using subs for tear-off so there is no dispute about who pays for what.
Related Calculators
- Hardie Board Calculator - Panel count and cost for fiber cement siding by house size and wall area.
- Paint Calculator - Gallons and coats for painting siding or any exterior wall surface.
- Square Footage Calculator - Measure wall area and room dimensions for any exterior or interior project.
- Contractor Estimate Template - Turn your siding quantities into a professional line-item estimate for the client.
- Contractor Markup Calculator - Set the right markup on materials and labor to protect your margin on every job.
If you are bidding siding work, try EstimationPro free - it builds the full estimate with material quantities and labor by trade, sends the proposal automatically, and follows up with the homeowner so you close more jobs without the extra admin time.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter house dimensions or perimeter
Input the length and width of your house, or enter the total perimeter directly. Set the wall height and number of stories for accurate area calculations.
Add doors and windows
Enter the number of exterior doors and windows. The calculator subtracts 20 sq ft per door and 15 sq ft per window to give you the net siding area.
Select your siding type
Choose from vinyl, fiber cement, wood, metal, or stone veneer. Each material has different cost ranges for both materials and installation labor.
Review area, accessories, and cost
See the net siding area in squares, required starter strip, J-channel, and corner posts, plus a full materials and labor cost breakdown.
Siding Calculation Formulas
Gross Wall Area = Perimeter x Wall Height x Stories
Net Area = Gross Area - (Doors x 20 sq ft) - (Windows x 15 sq ft)
Squares = Net Area / 100
Starter Strip = Perimeter (linear ft)
J-Channel = (Windows x 12) + (Doors x 14) linear ftWhere:
- Perimeter
- = Total length around the house exterior in feet
- Square
- = 100 square feet of siding material
- J-Channel
- = Trim that frames siding edges around openings
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many squares of siding do I need?
How much does it cost to side a house?
What is the cheapest siding option?
How long does siding last?
What is J-channel and how much do I need?
Should I add waste factor for siding?
How do contractors price siding for a client?
Most contractors charge $2-$5 per sq ft for labor and apply a 20-30% markup on materials. For a 14-square fiber cement job, that works out to roughly $350 per square installed ($180 material plus $170 for labor and overhead). A 1,500 sq ft home typically runs $4,900 to $7,000 in labor alone depending on crew size and regional rates. Use a contractor estimate template to line-item materials, labor, and markup before you send the proposal.
How long does it take to install siding on a typical house?
A 2-3 person crew can install vinyl siding on a standard 1,500 sq ft home in 3-5 days. Fiber cement takes longer at 5-7 days because panels are heavier and require more precise cuts. Prep work adds 1-2 days for tear-off, housewrap, and flashing. Complex rooflines, multiple stories, and detailed trim work all extend the timeline. Always confirm what is in scope before demo starts - rotted sheathing behind old siding can add days and material cost you cannot predict until the old siding comes off.
What should a siding estimate include?
A complete siding estimate covers siding panels by square, starter strip, J-channel, corner posts, housewrap, flashing at windows and doors, nails and fasteners, old siding removal and disposal, and labor. Missing any of these - especially housewrap or disposal - is how contractors underbid and eat margin on delivery day. The contractor estimate template has line items for all of these. Do not quote siding from a single square footage number without running the accessories first.
How much siding do I need for a 1,500 sq ft house?
A 1,500 sq ft single-story home typically has a perimeter of 160-170 feet and 8-foot walls. Gross wall area runs about 1,280-1,360 sq ft. After subtracting 8 windows (120 sq ft) and 2 doors (40 sq ft), net area is roughly 1,120-1,200 sq ft - that is 11-12 squares. Order 12-14 squares to cover 10-15% waste. Complex rooflines and gable ends push the waste factor toward 15%.
How much does it cost to side a 2,000 sq ft house?
A full reside on a 2,000 sq ft home runs $8,000 to $30,000+ depending on material. Vinyl is at the lower end at $8,000-$14,000 installed. Fiber cement (Hardie) runs $12,000-$24,000. Wood siding is $14,000-$26,000. Metal siding is $16,000-$30,000+. These ranges cover materials, labor, and disposal of old siding. Rotted sheathing found during tear-off, multi-story staging, and complex trim details all add cost that does not show up in a per-square-foot number.
Hardie board vs vinyl siding: what is the cost difference?
Vinyl siding installs for $5-$12 per sq ft versus $8-$18 per sq ft for Hardie board (fiber cement). On a 12-square house, that is a $3,600-$7,200 price gap in materials and labor alone. Hardie lasts 30-50 years versus 20-40 for vinyl, holds paint better, and handles moisture and impact well. In wet climates the durability advantage is real - vinyl can warp and fade where Hardie holds its shape. Use the Hardie board calculator to run a fiber cement-specific estimate before you quote the job.
How much does aluminum siding cost?
Aluminum and metal siding installs for $10-$21 per sq ft, materials and labor. On a 1,500 sq ft home that is roughly $11,000 to $23,000. Aluminum lasts 40-60 years, resists fire, and will not rot, but it dents on impact and shows scratches over time. It is a common pick on mid-century homes and modern exteriors. Run your wall area through the calculator above, then price it against vinyl and fiber cement before you quote the job.
How much does cedar siding cost?
Cedar and other wood siding runs $9-$17 per sq ft installed, about $10,000 to $19,000 on a 1,500 sq ft home. Cedar looks great and suits historic and craftsman homes, but it needs staining or sealing every 3-5 years to hold up, especially in wet climates. Budget for that maintenance when you talk cost with the client. Drop your square footage into the contractor estimate template to line-item the wood, trim, and finish coats.
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