SIDING
How Much Does Exterior Siding Cost?
Estimate exterior siding cost per square foot — vinyl, wood, fiber cement and labor — with the free calculator.
Siding is one of the biggest exterior line items on a home. The price per square foot depends on the material and your region's labor rates. This guide covers the material ranges and a calculator to price the job.
THE SHORT ANSWER
The short answer
Vinyl siding runs $2.50–$7 per sq ft installed, wood $5–$12, and fiber cement $5–$10. A typical 1,500 sq ft home runs $6,000–$15,000 installed.
Materials and their cost per sq ft
Vinyl is the budget standard and the most common. Wood adds warmth but needs painting or staining. Fiber cement is durable, fire-resistant and heavier, so it costs more to install.
- Vinyl: $2.50–$7 per sq ft installed
- Wood (cedar, pine): $5–$12 per sq ft installed
- Fiber cement: $5–$10 per sq ft installed
- Insulated vinyl adds $1–$2 per sq ft
Labor and installation
Installation labor typically runs $2–$5 per sq ft and depends on wall height, trim complexity and whether old siding must be removed. Corners, windows and doors all add trim work.
Measure the job honestly
Measure the exterior wall area, not the floor area. Subtract only large openings. Add 10% for waste and trim. Get the total wall surface from your measurements and price it per sq ft.
Try the calculator with your walls
Enter the wall area, material price per sq ft and labor per sq ft to see the total.