That's our range for new vinyl siding, installed, with a typical price of about $8.00 per sq ft. On 1,250 sq ft of wall, the size the Cost vs. Value report prices, that's about $10,000 before tearing off the old siding. Fiber cement typically runs about $10.50 per sq ft.
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2][3]. Planning numbers, not quotes. Wall area, stories and trim detail move the price most.
Siding cost by material
Siding is priced per square foot of wall covered, not per square foot of house. The columns on the right apply our ranges to 1,250 sq ft of wall, the size used by the Cost vs. Value report's siding projects.[3]
| Material | Per sq ft Estimate | 1,250 sq ft of wall Estimate | Typical Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $5.75 – $12.00 | $7,200 – $15,000 | $10,000 |
| Fiber cement | $7.75 – $14.50 | $9,700 – $18,100 | $13,100 |
| Wood or cedar | $6.50 – $14.00 | $8,100 – $17,500 | $11,900 |
| Steel | $7.75 – $15.00 | $9,700 – $18,800 | $13,400 |
Estimate Our range, based on sources [1][2][3]. For each tier we pooled the low, midpoint and high figure each source publishes for a comparable scope (a single benchmark figure counts once), then used the median as Typical and the middle half of the pooled figures as Low–High. Cost vs. Value's vinyl and fiber-cement benchmarks were divided by their 1,250 sq ft of siding. Wood and steel draw on two sources. Removal of the old siding is extra. See How we build our ranges.
We don't publish a blended range for engineered wood siding. HomeGuide prices it at $7 to $12 per sq ft installed[1] while Angi lists $1 to $6,[2] and ranges that don't overlap can't be blended honestly. Get bids if you're considering it.
What the sources say Sourced
HomeGuide puts most siding jobs at $4 to $13 per sq ft installed.[1] Angi's 2026 average siding project is $11,589, with most between $5,554 and $17,720.[2] The 2025 Cost vs. Value report prices replacing 1,250 sq ft at $17,950 in vinyl and $21,485 in factory-finished fiber cement, trim included.[3] The benchmark runs higher because it's a fully specified job with new trim at every opening.
Line-item breakdown: 1,250 sq ft of vinyl Estimate
Here's how we'd build a bid to strip and re-side 1,250 sq ft of wall in vinyl: tear-off, house wrap, siding and factory trim, staging and a permit. Use it to check that every bid includes removal and disposal, which HomeGuide warns many contractors leave out.[1]
| Line item | How we priced it | Amount Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Tear off and haul away the old siding Installed price | Midpoint of HomeGuide's per-sq-ft removal range[1] × 1,250 sq ft | $1,690 |
| Vinyl siding, trim, corners, J-channel and house wrap, 1,250 sq ft + 10% waste Materials | $3.00/sq ft, our midrange allowance within HomeGuide's $2–$7 materials range[1] | $4,130 |
| Install house wrap, siding and trim, 6 hrs per 100 sq ft Labor | 72 hrs × $29.12/hr median wage for carpenters[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $3,560 |
| Staging setup, protection and cleanup Labor | 16 hrs × $22.66/hr median wage for construction laborers[4] × 1.7 labor burden | $620 |
| Staging rental, dumpster and fasteners Materials | Our allowance | $600 |
| Permit Fee | Our blended typical from HomeGuide's and Angi's permit ranges[1][2] | $180 |
| Overhead & profit Our assumption | 20% on the labor and materials lines above. Installed prices and fees already include the installer's margin, so we don't mark them up again. | $1,780 |
| Line-item total | Before contingency and regional adjustment | $12,600 |
Estimate Our line-item build comes to $12,600, about 7% above our blended typical of $11,700 for 1,250 sq ft of vinyl plus tear-off. The comparison adds HomeGuide's removal midpoint to our vinyl typical, because the per-foot ranges exclude tear-off. Rotten sheathing, extra stories or lots of corners and gables push real bids higher. Method: How we build our ranges.
Contractor Bid Comparison Sheet
Line up three siding bids on the same scope and catch what's missing, such as tear-off, house wrap, trim at openings and disposal.
Get the templateWhat drives the cost up or down
Wall area, not floor area
Measure each wall's length times its height, add the triangles at the gables, and subtract big openings like garage doors. A two-story house has far more wall per square foot of floor than a ranch.
Stories and staging
Second and third stories need scaffolding or pump jacks and slower, safer work. Steep grades and tight side yards add setup time too.
Corners, gables and trim
Every outside corner, window, door and vent needs trim and careful cutting. A plain rectangle costs less per foot than a house with dormers, bump-outs and bays.
What's under the old siding
Tear-off often exposes soft sheathing or missing flashing around windows. Ask each contractor for a per-sheet price for sheathing repairs so bids compare fairly.
Insulation while the walls are open
Adding rigid foam or insulated siding is cheapest during a re-side. HomeGuide puts insulation at $1.00 to $4.50 per sq ft.[1] Sourced
Contingency Estimate
Sheathing and flashing repairs are the usual surprise. A 10% cushion is a sensible planning choice. That's our guidance, not a sourced figure.
Regional cost differences
We don't republish regional price tables. Our exterior cost index for each Census division, built from six exterior projects, is applied here to our typical vinyl job.
| Region (Census division) | Our cost index Estimate | Typical vinyl, 1,250 sq ft Estimate |
|---|---|---|
| New England CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT | 1.02 2% above U.S. | $10,200 |
| Middle Atlantic NJ, NY, PA | 1.15 15% above U.S. | $11,500 |
| South Atlantic DE, DC, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA, WV | 0.96 4% below U.S. | $9,600 |
| U.S. average | 1.00 | $10,000 |
| East North Central IL, IN, MI, OH, WI | 1.01 1% above U.S. | $10,100 |
| East South Central AL, KY, MS, TN | 0.90 10% below U.S. | $9,000 |
| West North Central IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD | 1.01 1% above U.S. | $10,100 |
| West South Central AR, LA, OK, TX | 0.91 9% below U.S. | $9,100 |
| Mountain AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY | 0.97 3% below U.S. | $9,700 |
| Pacific AK, CA, HI, OR, WA | 1.05 5% above U.S. | $10,500 |
Estimate Derived, not published. Our exterior index divides each division's 2025 Cost vs. Value average for six exterior projects (vinyl and fiber-cement siding, vinyl and wood windows, wood and composite decks) by the national average and averages the six ratios.[3] The typical column multiplies our national typical by the index. See How we build our ranges.
Siding replacement cost FAQ
Is fiber cement siding worth the extra cost over vinyl?
It often holds value better. In the 2025 Cost vs. Value report, fiber-cement siding recouped about 114% of its cost at resale nationally, versus 97% for vinyl.[3] HomeGuide lists fiber cement's lifespan at 50 to 75 years and vinyl's at 30 to 40.[1] Our typical installed prices are about $10.50 and $8.00 per sq ft.
How do I measure my house for siding?
Multiply each wall's length by its height, add each gable triangle (half the base times the height), then subtract large openings such as garage doors. Installers add waste for cuts, so their material count will be higher than your wall area.
Can new siding go over the old siding?
Sometimes, if the old siding is flat, tight and sound. HomeGuide notes that most reputable contractors won't do it, because hidden rot can spread under the new layer.[1] Tear-off adds about $0.70 to $2.00 per sq ft.[1]
Do I need a permit to replace siding?
Often, but rules vary. HomeGuide puts siding permits at $30 to $200[1] and Angi at $150 to $1,500.[2] Check with your building department, especially if you're also replacing sheathing or windows.
How long does siding last?
It depends on the material. HomeGuide lists vinyl at 30 to 40 years, wood at 20 to 40, and fiber cement at 50 to 75.[1]
Related cost guides
Sources
- HomeGuide, “How much does house siding cost to install or replace?” (updated Oct 29, 2025). homeguide.com/costs/siding-cost (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Angi, “How Much Does It Cost to Replace or Install Siding? [2026 Data]” (updated Aug 3, 2026). angi.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-replace-siding.htm (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
- Zonda / Journal of Light Construction, 2025 Cost vs. Value Report: national averages, project descriptions for vinyl and fiber-cement siding replacement and regional pages (New England, Middle Atlantic, South Atlantic, East North Central, East South Central, West North Central, West South Central, Mountain, Pacific) (accessed Oct 8, 2026). © 2025 Zonda Media. We quote a few national figures and use the regional figures only to derive our own cost index. States per division from the U.S. Census Bureau, Census Regions and Divisions.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 national median hourly wages by occupation, retrieved through the BLS Public Data API. bls.gov/oes (accessed Oct 8, 2026).
Quoted figures are labeled Sourced. Everything labeled Estimate is our own arithmetic on these sources, explained in How we build our ranges. Planning numbers only, not quotes. Get itemized local bids before you commit.