Siding Costs
Siding Cost Per Square Foot: What Affects the Price
Published June 23, 2026 · Updated September 20, 2026
There’s no single national price for siding, but there are realistic ranges. Cost per square foot depends on material, region, labor market, house geometry, and whether old siding needs to be removed first. Understanding what actually drives the price helps you build an estimate specific to your project.
What drives siding cost
- Material choice. Vinyl is generally the least expensive material option; fiber cement, wood, cedar, and metal typically cost more per square foot for material alone.
- Labor market. Installation labor rates vary significantly by region and by how in-demand local contractors are.
- House geometry. More corners, gables, dormers, and stories generally increase both material waste and labor time.
- Removal and disposal. Replacement projects that require removing old siding add cost that new-construction projects don’t have.
- Trim and accessories. J-channel, corner posts, starter strip, and house wrap are usually priced separately from the main siding material.
- Access and site conditions. Difficult access (steep terrain, tall multi-story walls) can increase labor cost.
Typical installed price ranges
If you want numbers to sanity-check a quote, these are broad US planning ranges for installed cost, which includes labor and routine accessories:
| Material | Installed per sq ft |
|---|---|
| Vinyl | $4 – $10 |
| Engineered wood | $5 – $11 |
| Metal | $6 – $14 |
| Fiber cement | $7 – $14 |
| Wood and cedar | $8 – $18 |
Turn these into whole-house totals with the worked example in how much does siding cost.
A relative cost comparison by material
Rather than fixed prices, it’s more reliable to think in relative terms — this calculator’s own configurable defaults for material only, per square foot, are:
| Material | Typical relative range |
|---|---|
| Vinyl | Lowest |
| Metal | Low–moderate |
| LP SmartSide-style engineered wood | Low–moderate |
| Fiber cement / Hardie®-style | Moderate–high |
| Wood | Moderate–high |
| Cedar | Highest |
These are editable starting points in our Siding Cost Calculator — not fixed market prices. Always get local quotes and enter your own numbers for a real estimate.
How to build your own estimate
- Calculate your net siding area and required area (with waste) using the Siding Calculator.
- Get 2–3 local quotes for material and labor cost per square foot (or per square).
- Enter those prices into the Siding Cost Calculator alongside any removal, disposal, or trim costs.
- Add a contingency percentage (5–10% is common) to account for unexpected costs.
Price ranges differ a lot by material, so check the page for yours: vinyl, fiber cement, cedar or metal siding cost. Or start from the siding cost overview.
Why estimates vary from quotes
A cost calculator can’t account for site-specific factors a contractor will price in, like difficult access, code-required upgrades, or condition of the sheathing underneath old siding. Use a calculated estimate to sanity-check quotes and compare scenarios, not as a substitute for an in-person contractor assessment.
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
How much is siding per square foot?
Installed prices commonly run about $4 to $10 per sq ft for vinyl, $7 to $14 for fiber cement and $8 to $18 for wood or cedar. Material alone is a fraction of that. Treat these as planning ranges and confirm with local quotes.
How much does vinyl siding cost per square foot?
Vinyl material commonly runs about $2.50 to $7 per sq ft depending on grade and thickness. Installed, most projects land around $4 to $10 per sq ft once labor, trim and accessories are included.
Is per-square pricing the same as per-square-foot pricing?
Yes, they are the same price in different units. A square is 100 sq ft, so $450 per square equals $4.50 per sq ft.