Last updated: 2026-07-06
Last updated: 2026-07-06
12,800+ estimates calculated this month
Siding Estimating Guide
Material pricing by type, labor rates, and the line items every siding estimate needs in 2026.
What a Siding Estimate Should Include
A complete siding estimate prices the wall system, not just the panels - tear-off, weather barrier, the siding itself, trim, and haul-away all get their own line so nothing eats your margin later.
- Tear-off and disposal: Pulling the old siding and hauling it out - $0.75-$3 per sq ft plus a dumpster.
- Weather barrier: Housewrap or a rain screen behind the siding, roughly $0.40-$1.50 per sq ft.
- Siding material and install: The big line - vinyl, fiber cement, engineered wood, or wood, installed.
- Trim and accessories: J-channel, corners, starter strip, soffit, and fascia. Priced by linear foot.
- Flashing and sealant: Around windows, doors, and penetrations. Skip it and you get callbacks.
- Cleanup and haul-away: Final magnet sweep for nails and a clean site.
Spell out exclusions too - rotten sheathing repair, window replacement, and painting are the three homeowners assume are included when they are not. Prices vary by region, so quote from local supplier rates in 2026 and get multiple bids on any subbed work.
Key Takeaways
- Price the whole wall system, not just the siding panels
- Tear-off runs $0.75-$3/sq ft plus a dumpster
- List exclusions - rotten sheathing and window work are common surprises
Siding Cost per Square Foot by Material (2026)
Installed siding runs about $3-$16 per square foot in 2026 depending on the material, with labor making up $2-$8 of that. Measure the wall area, subtract big openings, and add a 10% waste factor before you price.
- Vinyl siding: $3-$9 per sq ft installed. The budget workhorse.
- Aluminum siding: $3-$9 per sq ft installed.
- Fiber cement (HardiePlank): $6-$15 per sq ft installed. Heavier and slower to hang.
- Engineered wood (LP SmartSide): $7-$16 per sq ft installed.
- Wood or cedar siding: $5-$15 per sq ft installed.
- Stone or brick veneer: $15-$45 per sq ft installed - usually an accent, not the whole house.
Run your wall area through the siding calculator to get squares and material counts, then drop the totals into the line items above. Fiber cement and cedar carry more labor than vinyl, so bump the labor hours accordingly.
Key Takeaways
- Vinyl and aluminum: $3-$9/sq ft installed; fiber cement: $6-$15/sq ft
- Labor alone is $2-$8/sq ft depending on the material
- Add a 10% waste factor after subtracting large openings
Pricing Siding Labor for a Client
Most siding crews bill labor at $45-$75 per man-hour in 2026, and a two or three person crew is standard for a residential re-side. Price labor by the hour per line item and the template totals it for you.
- Crew labor: $45-$75 per man-hour. Fiber cement and cedar run slower than vinyl.
- Whole-house re-side: A typical 1,500-2,000 sq ft home runs $10,000-$25,000+ installed depending on material.
- Scaffolding or a lift: Two-story and steep-lot jobs need staging - $250-$500 per day for a rental.
- Tear-off time: Do not forget the hours to strip the old siding before the new goes up.
For a fast, itemized labor bid, use the siding estimate template above - it splits materials and labor on every line so your margin is clear. Get multiple bids on subbed work like electrical or window replacement since those rates vary by region.
Key Takeaways
- Siding labor runs $45-$75 per man-hour in 2026
- A whole-house re-side commonly runs $10,000-$25,000+ installed
- Budget scaffolding or lift rental at $250-$500/day on two-story jobs
Common Siding Estimating Mistakes
The fastest way to lose money on a siding job is under-quoting the parts hidden behind the old siding - rotten sheathing, missing housewrap, and bad flashing.
- No allowance for rot. You never know what is behind the old siding until it comes off. I always put a change-order clause in the estimate for discovered rot so I am not eating it.
- Forgetting trim and accessories. J-channel, corners, starter strip, soffit, and fascia add up fast. Price them by the linear foot.
- Skipping the weather barrier. Housewrap and proper flashing are cheap now and expensive later when water finds its way in.
- Under-counting waste. Cuts, angles, and gables burn material. Add at least 10%, more on a cut-up house.
- Leaving out disposal. A full tear-off fills a dumpster. Dump and haul fees of $300-$600 come straight out of your margin if you forget them.
Itemize every phase in the template so nothing gets left off, then send it as a clean, signable estimate the client can act on.
Key Takeaways
- Add a change-order clause for rotten sheathing you cannot see yet
- Price trim, corners, soffit, and fascia by the linear foot
- Include disposal ($300-$600) and at least a 10% waste factor
How to Use This Calculator
Enter Your Company Info
Fill in your siding company name, address, phone, email, and license number so the estimate is branded with your business details.
Add Siding Work Items
Select item types from the dropdown (tear-off, housewrap, vinyl, fiber cement, engineered wood, trim, soffit, fascia, cleanup), then enter square footage or linear feet, material cost, and labor hours for each line.
Add Disposal & Permit Fees
Enter dumpster and old-siding haul-off fees, which typically run $300-$600 on a full re-side. Add a permit line if your jurisdiction requires one.
Preview and Print
Click Preview to see a professionally formatted siding estimate. Use the Print button to save it as a PDF or print a hard copy for your client to sign.
Free to Embed on Your Website
Add this calculator to your blog, resource page, or client portal — just copy one line of code. Your visitors get a useful tool, you get more engagement.
EstimationPro AI For Contractors, By Contractors Go Beyond Templates With AI-Powered Estimates
Templates are a start. EstimationPro generates complete, customized estimates from your project details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you estimate a siding job?
Measure the wall area, subtract large windows and doors, and add a 10% waste factor. Break the bid into phases: tear-off, weather barrier, siding, trim, and cleanup. Price the siding at its installed rate, add labor at $45-$75 per man-hour, and include disposal of $300-$600. Run your wall area through our siding calculator to get squares, then drop the totals into the line items above.
How much does siding cost per square foot?
Installed siding runs about $3-$16 per square foot in 2026 depending on material. Vinyl and aluminum are $3-$9/sq ft, fiber cement (HardiePlank) is $6-$15/sq ft, and engineered wood is $7-$16/sq ft. Labor alone accounts for $2-$8 of that. Prices vary by region, so quote from local supplier rates and get multiple bids on any subbed work.
What should a siding estimate include?
A complete siding estimate should list: tear-off and disposal, housewrap or weather barrier, the siding material installed, trim, corners, and J-channel, soffit and fascia, flashing and sealant, scaffolding or lift rental if in scope, cleanup and haul-away, payment terms, and exclusions like rotten sheathing repair, window replacement, or painting.
How do contractors price siding labor for a client?
Most crews bill $45-$75 per man-hour and run a two or three person crew on a residential re-side. Fiber cement and cedar hang slower than vinyl, so budget more hours for them. Price each line item by its labor hours so the bid totals automatically. To build a fast, itemized labor bid, use the siding estimate template above - it splits materials and labor on every line.
How much siding material do I need for the bid?
Siding is sold by the square (100 sq ft). Measure each wall, subtract openings larger than a standard window, and add a 10% waste factor - more on a cut-up house with lots of gables and angles. Use our siding calculator to get squares and material counts, then enter the material cost per unit and quantity in the template to price each line.
What is a fair markup on a siding job?
Most siding contractors run a margin of 20-35% over their material and labor cost to cover overhead and profit. Price your true costs first, then apply markup - do not guess at a round number. Use our markup calculator to convert your target margin into the right multiplier, then set your line-item prices in the template above.
Related Tools
Why Contractors Choose EstimationPro AI
Estimates in 60 Seconds
AI generates detailed, line-item estimates from basic project details. No more hours on spreadsheets.
Accurate Pricing Data
Built on real contractor pricing and industry cost databases, updated for 2026 market conditions.
Professional Proposals
Send polished PDF estimates with your branding. Clients see a professional contractor they can trust.
Get Paid Faster
Built-in invoicing and Stripe payments. Collect deposits and progress payments directly from estimates.
Related Free Tools
Bid Template
Generate a professional construction bid template. Fill in your project details, line items, and terms to create a downloadable bid document.
Concrete Template
Generate a professional concrete estimate template. Add base, rebar, ready-mix, forms, and finishing labor for a complete concrete bid document.
Deck Template
Generate a professional deck estimate template. Add footings, framing, decking, railing, stairs, and finishing labor for a complete deck bid document.
Drywall Template
Generate a professional drywall estimate template. Add board, tape, mud, corner bead, texture, and finish labor for a complete drywall bid document.
Flooring Template
Generate a professional flooring estimate template. Add tear-out, subfloor prep, underlayment, material, and install labor for a complete flooring bid.
Kitchen Estimate
Generate a professional kitchen remodel estimate. Add cabinets, countertops, appliances, plumbing, flooring, and labor for a complete kitchen bid.
Bathroom Estimate
Generate a professional bathroom remodel estimate. Add demo, plumbing, tile, vanity, fixtures, and labor for a complete bathroom bid.
Plumbing Template
Generate a professional plumbing estimate template. Add fixtures, pipe runs, labor hours, and materials for a complete plumbing bid.
Generate a full estimate for this same job in 90 seconds.
Snap photos, talk through the scope, drop in your notes. The AI builds line items, labor hours, and a timeline you can send to the client.