LP SmartSide Calculator
LP SmartSide is an engineered wood lap siding commonly sold in 16 ft panels. This calculator estimates panel count from your chosen exposure and is not affiliated with LP Building Solutions.
Project type
Wall measurements
Enter each wall's length and height in feet and inches. Wall area = length × height.
Gable ends
No gables added. Gable area = base × rise ÷ 2.
Windows & doors
No openings added. Each opening's area is subtracted from your gross siding area.
Siding material
Waste factor
Waste accounts for cuts at corners and openings, gable angles, damaged pieces, and pattern matching. 10% is a common starting point for a simple rectangular home; complex roof lines or diagonal cuts often need more.
Trim & accessories
Actual accessory requirements vary by installation method and manufacturer — use these as a starting checklist, not a final order.
08Cost estimateOptional
Applied to area including waste — what you'll actually buy.
Applied to net wall area — what installers actually cover, before waste.
Enter your own prices for the most accurate estimate for your area. Leave fields blank or at 0 to exclude them.
Preview
Estimated siding needed
Net area
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Waste added
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Total area (w/ waste)
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Siding squares
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LP SmartSide units
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Est. total cost
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How we calculated this
Trim & accessories
Want professional installation?
Bring this estimate to local siding contractors when comparing quotes, or reach out with questions.
Contact usHow it's calculated
- 1. Net siding area = gross wall and gable area minus openings.
- 2. Required area = net area plus your waste allowance (10% is a common starting point).
- 3. A single 16 ft panel at a 7 in exposure covers about 9.3 sq ft.
- 4. Panels needed = required area ÷ panel coverage, rounded up.
Worked example
A home with 1,300 sq ft of net wall area and a 10% waste factor:
| Net area | 1,300 sq ft |
| Plus 10% waste | +130 sq ft |
| Required area | 1,430 sq ft |
| Siding squares | 14.3 squares |
| Panels to order | 154 panels |
Panel length and exposure vary by LP SmartSide product line — confirm against your supplier's spec sheet.
Assumptions
- • Default panel length is 16 ft — a common length for LP SmartSide lap siding, but not universal across every product line.
- • This calculator is independent and does not use LP Building Solutions’ proprietary specifications.
- • Engineered wood siding typically requires field-applied caulking and touch-up paint at cut ends per manufacturer instructions.
Tips
- • Confirm your specific product’s exposure and panel length before finalizing an order.
- • LP SmartSide panels are moisture-sensitive prior to installation — plan delivery close to your install date.
What engineered wood siding means for your order
LP SmartSide is made from wood strands bonded with resins and treated at the factory, rather than sawn from a solid board. Compared with solid wood, engineered siding is generally more uniform, with fewer knots to cull, so many jobs waste less than they would with cedar or pine. That is why the default waste is lower here (10%) than on the wood and cedar calculators.
Cut edges are the weak point. Any place you trim a panel, and any nail hole, should be sealed or touched up according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and end joints are normally caulked. Keep the siding clear of grade, roof surfaces and hardscape by the distance in the installation guide, and don’t let panels sit in wet conditions before you install them. This is the main reason to schedule delivery close to installation.
Engineered wood is generally cut with standard carbide-tipped woodworking blades, and it is typically lighter than fiber cement. If you’re comparing the two materials, look at installation and weight as well as price; the vinyl vs. fiber cement guide shows how to weigh those trade-offs. Exposure and panel length differ between lap and panel product lines, so confirm both against the spec sheet before changing the defaults.
This is a planning estimate
Frequently asked questions
How many LP SmartSide panels do I need?
Divide your required siding area by the coverage of one panel (length × exposure). At the default 16 ft length and 7 in exposure, that’s about 9.3 sq ft per panel.
Is this an official LP SmartSide calculator?
No — this is an independent estimating tool using editable, typical dimensions. It is not affiliated with LP Building Solutions.
What waste factor should I use for engineered wood siding?
10% is a common starting point for straightforward installations; increase it for complex rooflines.
Is LP SmartSide lighter than fiber cement?
Generally yes, and it’s usually cut with regular carbide woodworking blades. Confirm details for your specific product in the manufacturer’s installation guide.
Do I need to seal cut ends on LP SmartSide?
Manufacturer instructions call for sealing or touching up cut edges and fastener holes and caulking joints as specified. Follow the current installation guide for your product line.
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Related guides
How to Measure a House for Siding
Walls, gables, openings and trim, step by step.
How Much Does Siding Cost?
Typical installed prices and what moves a quote.
Siding Waste Factor Explained
How much waste to add and how it changes your order.
Vinyl vs. Fiber Cement Siding
Cost, durability, maintenance and installation compared.