Siding Costs
Siding Cost Per Square: Pricing by the 100 Sq Ft Unit
Published June 30, 2026
Many siding contractors and suppliers quote price “per square” rather than per square foot. A square is simply 100 sq ft, so converting between the two is straightforward — but it’s worth understanding why the industry uses this unit and how to compare quotes correctly.
Square feet vs. squares
- Square foot pricing multiplies a per-sq-ft rate by your total area:
price/sq ft × area. - Square pricing multiplies a per-square rate by the number of squares:
price/square × (area ÷ 100).
The two are mathematically equivalent — a $450/square quote is the same as $4.50/sq ft. The square unit is mostly a convention carried over from roofing, where it’s used the same way.
Converting a per-square quote
If a contractor quotes $500 per square installed for a home needing 17.4 squares:
The same project at a per-square-foot rate of $5.00/sq ft on 1,740 sq ft would be:
Same total, different units — always confirm which one a quote is using before comparing multiple contractors.
Why the square is convenient
Pricing by the square makes it easy to compare labor and material cost across products with very different individual panel or board sizes. A carton of vinyl, a bundle of cedar shingles, and a stack of fiber cement boards all eventually resolve to the same 100 sq ft coverage unit, which simplifies estimating and invoicing.
Estimate your own cost per square
Use the Siding Cost Calculator to enter your own material and labor prices in either unit — it converts automatically and shows both your required squares and total estimated cost.