Most homeowners spend between $11,679 and $21,250 to install siding on a new build. Siding replacement is a little more expensive, usually costing between $13,087 and $23,811. Despite these high costs, durable and attractive siding is essential to your home’s exterior. Like the shingles on your roof, your home’s siding protects its structure from the elements and contributes to its curb appeal.
National average cost | $16,221 |
Average range | $11,679 to $21,250 |
Low-end | $4,972 |
High-end | $89,035 |
The overall cost of siding installation and replacement depends on many factors. The type of siding you get, the square footage of your home, and seasonal labor rates will all determine how much you’ll actually pay for your siding project.
If you want to learn more about the price of siding and generate your own cost estimate, keep reading. We’ll walk you through all the cost factors, explain the differences between various siding options, and help you determine which type of siding will work best for your home and your budget.
How much different siding materials cost
The material your siding is made from will be the key determiner of its price. Siding comes in various styles and materials, each with its own benefits, drawbacks, and price points. Here’s a quick breakdown of what each siding material costs on average. Remember, though, that your actual costs could fall outside these price ranges depending on home size and location.
Average siding installation costs by material
Siding type | Average installation cost per square foot | Whole home cost range (1,500 sq. ft.) |
Vinyl siding | $5–$8 | $6,753–$12,287 |
Fiber cement siding | $3–$6 | $4,972–$9,047 |
Stucco siding | $7–$12 | $10,255–$18,659 |
Natural wood siding | $7–$12 | $9,766–$17,768 |
Engineered wood siding | $4–$7 | $5,759–$10,478 |
Brick veneer siding | $16–$29 | $23,798–$43,299 |
Stone veneer siding | $33–$59 | $48,935–$89,035 |
Aluminum siding | $6–$10 | $8,374–$15,236 |
Steel siding | $7–$15 | $12,609–$22,942 |
How much does vinyl siding cost?
Getting a whole home outfitted with vinyl siding costs between $6,753 and $12,287, making it one of your most affordable options. This low-cost material offers several color options and is fairly durable, since vinyl resists water damage and pests like termites. The main downside of vinyl is its heat sensitivity. Vinyl can melt, warp, and fade in high temperatures, so it’s a bad fit for exceptionally warm climates, and it typically only lasts around 20 to 30 years.
For a more deluxe option, you can purchase insulated vinyl siding. This material is thicker, so it costs more than basic vinyl, but its design makes it more durable and energy-efficient.
Vinyl siding typically lasts around 20 years, though it can last longer if carefully maintained.
How much does fiber cement siding cost?
Fiber cement costs $4,972 to $9,047, and it offers a few considerable benefits that vinyl doesn’t. Fiber cement is made from a mixture of ingredients like cement, sand, and plant fibers, so it’s incredibly durable and holds up well in heat and extreme weather. Additionally, this material’s durability makes it very low maintenance. James Hardie’s Hardie® board siding is one of the most popular fiber cement siding options.
Fiber cement siding can easily last up to 50 years when properly cared for.
How much does stucco siding cost?
Stucco siding typically costs between $10,255 and $18,659. Like fiber cement, this material is also made from a cement mixture, though it isn’t typically installed as siding panels. Instead, an installer spreads wet stucco directly onto a wall using a trowel. There, the mixture dries and hardens.
The benefits of stucco include fire, mildew, and insect resistance. Unfortunately, stucco isn’t a popular option everywhere in the country, so it can be hard to find experienced stucco installers.
Stucco can last 50 years or longer, so you may never have to replace it again.
How much does natural wood siding cost?
Natural wood siding is fairly expensive, averaging $9,766 to $17,768 for a whole-home project. But if you love the classic look of authentic wood grain, you may want to shell out for this deluxe siding material.
Many different kinds of wood are used for siding, with low-end options like pine costing significantly less than materials like redwood and cedar. Wood siding costs vary by design since wood can be made into shingles, clapboards, battens, and shakes. Local market conditions will significantly determine which of these options is most affordable near you.
Be warned, though, that wood is one of the least durable and most high-maintenance siding materials. It requires routine repainting, refinishing, and regular cleaning, and it’s highly vulnerable to fire, moisture, and insects. Wood is also fairly susceptible to denting from debris like hail and falling branches.
If you keep up with all the maintenance wood requires, this siding option can last up to 40 years, though it often requires replacement after only 20.
How much does engineered wood siding cost?
Engineered wood siding prices are significantly lower than those of natural wood, and they average between $5,759 and $10,478. Since this wood-alternative can be crafted to mimic the textures and colors of the real McCoy, it’s a good option for those who want the timeless aesthetic wood offers for cheap. As a bonus, engineered wood can also be more moisture, weather, and pest-resistant than wood, depending on how it’s made.
With proper upkeep (cleaning, refinishing, and repairs), engineered wood siding's life expectancy can exceed 50 years.
How much does brick veneer siding cost?
Like wood, brick siding gives a home timeless appeal and greatly increases its value. It also provides exceptional insulation, improving its energy efficiency. The best part is that brick is highly durable. Brick’s strength makes it remarkably impact-resistant, and it can withstand weather, fire, and insects better than most other materials.
The only downside of brick is its high price. On average, brick veneer siding costs between $23,798 and $43,299 to install on a home’s entire exterior.
Depending on the quality of the brick, this siding option can sometimes last up to 100 years.
How much does stone veneer siding cost?
Stone is more resistant to fire, insects, impact, and weather than most other materials. Additionally, stone siding provides great insulation, so it can help a home withstand outdoor temperatures better than most other options. Like wood and brick, stone gives a home a classic appearance that many homeowners love.
Unfortunately, stone is usually the most expensive siding material. On average, stone veneer siding costs a whopping $33 to $59 per square foot. This means that siding an entire home with the material typically costs $48,935 to $89,035, making it an unrealistic option for many homeowners.
Stone veneer siding can easily last over 50 years if properly installed, and in some cases, it can last well over 75 years.
How much does aluminum siding cost?
Aluminum siding typically costs between $8,374 and $15,236. This material is lightweight, rust-resistant, and affordable, so it’s a popular option for those who want the benefits of metal siding (fire and insect resistance) without paying the steep price of steel. Be warned, though, that aluminum isn’t as strong as steel, so it’s more likely to dent due to impact.
One other benefit of metal siding is that it’s recyclable, so when it comes time to replace the material, you can recycle it instead of sending it to a landfill. This makes aluminum a bit more eco-friendly than options like vinyl and fiber-cement.
Aluminum siding generally needs to be replaced after 30 years, though it can last up to 40.
How much does steel siding cost?
Steel siding typically costs $12,609 to $22,942 to install, and while steel offers exceptional resistance to fire and insects, it has one significant drawback: it can rust. This means that if you want steel siding, but live in a humid climate, you usually have to get a rust-resistant coating for the material. On the plus side, steel is much more dent-resistant and insulating than aluminum, and it can also be recycled when it reaches the end of its lifespan.
Speaking of lifespan, steel lasts significantly longer than aluminum if treated to resist rust. This material can sometimes last over 50 years, and steel siding often has a limited lifetime warranty.
Other cost factors
If you’re replacing old siding
If you’re replacing old material instead of installing siding on a new home’s bare sheathing, you’ll pay additional costs for labor and disposal. Exactly how much more you’ll pay depends on what the old and new siding is made from, but generally, replacing siding is $1 to $2 more expensive per square foot than just installing it.
This table lists average siding replacement costs.
Siding replacement costs
Siding type | Average replacement cost per square foot | Whole home cost range (1,500 sq. ft.) |
Vinyl siding | $5–$9 | $7,639–$13,898 |
Fiber cement siding | $4–$7 | $5,985–$10,890 |
Stucco siding | $8–$15 | $12,596–$22,917 |
Natural wood siding | $7–$13 | $10,372–$18,872 |
Engineered wood siding | $4–$8 | $6,381–$11,610 |
Brick veneer siding | $18–$33 | $27,202–$49,493 |
Stone veneer siding | $36–$66 | $54,046–$98,334 |
Aluminum siding | $6–$11 | $9,255–$16,838 |
Steel siding | $9–$16 | $13,312–$24,221 |
The size and shape of your home
Next to siding material, square footage is the second most impactful determiner of your total costs. Someone in a multi-story home will have larger exterior walls and pay more for siding removal and installation than someone living in a single-story home.
For example, let’s say the square footage of your exterior walls amounted to 2,500 square feet, and you wanted to get natural wood siding for them. Since natural wood siding typically costs $7 to $12 per square foot, you’d likely pay somewhere between $16,276 and $29,614 for this project. Alternatively, if your exterior walls only measured 1,000 square feet, your price range would be $6,511 to $11,846.
To find a ballpark price range for whatever material you want to side your home with, multiply the low per-square-foot cost of that material by the square footage of your home’s exterior. Then, multiply your exterior’s square footage by the high per-square-foot cost for the material. Your actual price is likely to fall somewhere between those two numbers.
How to calculate your exterior’s square footage
If you don’t know the square footage of your home’s exterior, you can find it using this simple process. Start by measuring the horizontal width of one exterior wall. Then, measure its vertical height and multiply the two numbers together to find the wall’s square footage. For example, a wall that measures 20 feet wide by 15 feet tall has a square footage of 300. Repeat this process for every exterior surface that needs siding.
Once you’ve got the dimensions of each wall, add them all together to find the total square footage of your home’s exterior. For example, a home with two 300-square-foot walls and two 400-square-foot walls will have a total square footage of 1,400.
Of course, not every home is perfectly rectangular like the one in this example. Many homes have structural features like gables, dormers, and add-ons, the surfaces of which need to be accounted for in sizing estimates. This means that the more complex your home’s shape, the more you’re likely to pay for siding.
You can use our handy siding calculator to track and calculate the square footage of your exterior walls and estimate your total project costs for different materials.
Seasonality
Labor and material costs tend to ramp up with demand throughout the year, and they come back down as demand cools. These seasonal trends can vary from region to region depending on climate, but in most areas of the U.S., summer is the most popular time for remodels and other home improvement projects. This means you’ll likely pay more to install your siding in summer and late spring than in fall or winter.
Siding installation pricing tiers
The budget option
If you need to side your home as affordably as possible, we recommend getting the cheapest siding available, whether you’re replacing old material or covering up bare walls. Depending on the state of your local markets, either vinyl or fiber cement could be more affordable, so ask your contractor about local costs for both to determine which is best for your budget.
Similarly, if your home doesn’t urgently need new siding and you have some freedom to pick a date for this project, we recommend scheduling for fall instead of summer. This could save you hundreds of dollars on labor and materials.
While you may be tempted to install your siding yourself to keep costs low, we strongly discourage DIY siding jobs. Incorrect installation can significantly compromise the strength and integrity of any siding, leading to significant insect and water damage to your home’s structure.
Paying professionals will cost you more than installing siding with your own two hands, but the quality and peace of mind you get from hiring pros is well worth the extra cost.
The mid-range option
If you can afford to prioritize style, energy efficiency, and longevity over budget, then we recommend getting stucco, metal, or hardwood siding. These materials may cost thousands of dollars more than vinyl and fiber cement, and they aren’t as low-maintenance, but they can all greatly increase the curb appeal of your home, lower your energy bills, and provide protection for much longer (with wood being a possible exception).
You could also consider adding accents with more expensive materials like stone and brick. Many homeowners partially side their homes with these stately materials to accentuate their walls and provide visual variety. For example, you could use brick veneers to side your first floor or your entryway and install stucco or wood paneling on the rest of your home.
Adding accents like this costs a bit more than just siding a home entirely with mid-range materials, and it won’t give you all the benefits of siding exclusively with brick or stone, but it can provide a nice halfway point between style and affordability.
The high-end option
Siding your home’s exterior with brick or natural stone will likely cost you tens of thousands of dollars. But if you have that much room in your budget and you want the most durable, stylish, and energy-efficient siding you can get, then these two options are right up your alley.
The best part is that if you care for these materials properly with routine cleanings and prompt repairs, you’ll probably never have to pay for siding again (excluding small touch-ups).
How to pay for your new siding
Even if you go with low-grade materials, siding your home is going to cost you thousands of dollars. If the price of siding puts this needful home improvement project outside your budget, don’t fret. There are several ways to pay for the siding you need when you’re strapped for cash:
Include your siding with your home construction loan.
Finance through your installer.
Take out a personal loan.
Take out a home equity loan.
Open up a home equity line of credit (HELOC).
Other factors to consider
Permits
On top of the material and labor costs to install your siding, you’ll also need to pay for all the permits and inspections the work will require. When you hire a contractor, they’ll coordinate all these aspects for you, but you still have to pay for them. Permitting needs depend on where you live, but pulling work permits for siding usually costs a couple hundred dollars.
Failure to pull the necessary permits can result in hefty fines and forced removal of the siding.
You can find out exactly what permits you need and how much they’ll cost by calling your city’s building permit office.
HOAs
In most cases, major renovations to the exterior of your home require HOA approval. Depending on your HOA’s bylaws, requesting approval can be a real hassle, and the association may forbid you from getting the siding you want most. Despite these nuisances, you shouldn’t skip this step when you side your home.
If you don’t get HOA approval for the work, the association can fine you and force you to undo the unapproved renovations (all on your dime). All things considered, it’s better to ask permission than forgiveness where your HOA is concerned.
Upkeep
To help your siding last as long as possible, you need to stay on top of the routine maintenance that the material requires. Necessary upkeep steps vary by material and style, but in general, here’s what you need to do to keep your siding in good shape:
Keep the siding clean to prevent mildew, mold, and algae buildup.
Routinely clear your gutters to prevent clogs and leaks.
Repair leaking gutters as soon as you notice them.
Remove tree branches that rub or thrash against your home during storms.
Repaint or refinish wood siding every couple of years.
Make siding repairs as needed.
Because different siding types require different maintenance, you should defer to your product’s packaging or your installer’s instructions where they conflict with the care steps listed here.
How to replace vinyl siding yourself
Siding installation is best left to professional contractors who are properly licensed and insured, but you can sometimes install vinyl siding yourself to save money on labor costs. The installation process for all other types of siding is too complex and technical for amateurs, so if you want a more deluxe siding style, you should really get a pro for the job.
Below, we’ve outlined the basic steps of siding installation to give you an idea of what this project requires.
Remember, though, that different manufacturers might craft their siding with unique features that require a slightly different process from what we’ve outlined here. Anywhere our instructions differ from those that come with your siding’s package, defer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Necessary tools and materials
Step 1: Prepare the surface of your home’s walls
First, you’ll need to remove the existing siding. Pry up its nails using your siding removal tool. You should do this carefully to avoid damaging your home’s sheathing.
Once all the siding is removed, examine the sheathing and old house wrap to see if any damage was hidden from view. In particular, look for loose boards, water damage, and signs of insect infestation. If you find any damage like this, you’ll need to repair or replace those sheathing sections before continuing.
Once your home’s sheathing is in good condition, add a new layer of house wrap over the old one and then move on.
Step 2: Install J-trim
Around all sides of every door and window, install your J-channels with their grooves facing away from the fixtures they border. Each J-channel should sit flush with its fixture’s casing. The end result should be a solid perimeter of J-channels around the casing of every window and door.
Step 3: Install corner pieces
On every corner where two walls meet, install a corner post. You may need to cut diagonal grooves at the top of each post, which will run up against your roof’s soffits. You want the bottom of each corner post to overlap over your home’s foundation about half an inch to promote healthy water runoff.
As you install each corner post, ensure you don’t drive the nails in too deep. This material will expand and contract as temperatures change, and if the nails are too tight, the material will warp and buckle during expansion. Instead, you want your nails to hold posts in place but allow some light wiggling.
Once every corner of your home has a corner post, you’re ready to move on.
Step 4: Install the starter strips
Along the very bottom edge of your home’s sheathing, place your starter strip. Make sure it is level using a chalk line or your spirit level, then hammer it into the sheathing. You want the bottom edge of the strip (the curved edge without nail slots) pointing downwards to your home’s foundation.
You don’t need to place a nail into every slot in the starter strip. One nail every couple of inches should do the trick. You need to install a starter strip along the bottom edge of every wall before moving on, and you want complete coverage between corner posts, so you may need to cut the starter strip down to size with your tin snips or install multiple pieces on especially large walls.
Step 5: Install the bottom row of siding panels
The bottom of each siding panel is designed to interlock with the bottom edge of your starter strips. To install your first siding panel, slip it over the starter strip and then pull it upward until its bottom edge interlocks with the bottom of the strip.
Then, slide the panel over until it slips into the groove of the nearest corner strip. Once everything is in place, you can check the panel for level and hammer it in. As with your starter strip, you don’t need to drive a nail into every hole in your panel. One every foot or so should do.
Make sure each nail goes in as straight as possible instead of at an angle.
You also want to drive each nail into the centers of the nail holes instead of at the edges.
Additionally, you don’t want to drive your nails all the way in. You want to leave the panels a small amount of play for thermal expansion. As much as possible, you should drive nails into wall studs for extra security.
You may need to install multiple siding panels on the bottom row for complete coverage, and you’ll probably also have to cut at least one piece down to size. You also want each piece of siding to overlap about one inch with the one beside it, so account for this overlap when measuring and cutting.
Fortunately, you don’t caulk the seams between siding since this would cause issues during thermal expansion. You simply let the seams between panels overlap loosely. This won’t create an airtight seal, but the overlap between panels paired with your house’s wrap will provide a solid moisture barrier.
Once the entire bottom row of siding is in place, you’re ready to start making your way up your wall.
Step 6: Install subsequent panels
Each siding panel is designed to interlock with the top of the panel below it the same way the first row interlocks with the starter strip. To proceed with subsequent panels, interlock them with those you installed in the previous row, slide them into the grooves of corner posts and J-channels, check for level, and hammer them down.
As you work your way upward, you’ll probably need to make some strategic cuts to account for windows, doors, and soffits. Use your square, level, and tape measure to ensure these cuts are as precise as possible.
As always, make sure each nail you drive in leaves a little play for your panels to expand and contract. Otherwise, your siding will take on a wavy look after a few short weeks.
You can move on to subsequent walls once you’ve completed one entire siding wall.
Step 7: Repeat steps 1–6
To completely cover your home with new siding, you’ll need to repeat these steps for each exterior wall. Start by removing the old siding, repairing the sheathing, and placing a new layer of house wrap. Then, add your J-channels, corner posts, and starter strips. Finally, the siding is installed in interlocking rows that run from the groove of one corner post to the other.
Once this is done for each wall, you’re ready to clean up your work area and pat yourself on the back for a job well done.
Installing your home’s siding
Refreshing your home’s siding can make it look entirely new, increasing its value and curb appeal. Beyond that, fresh siding can also increase your home’s energy efficiency and provide decades of protection to its structure. As long as it’s properly installed, that is. Now that you know how much you should expect to pay, the next step is to find a qualified contractor who can install your siding with expert care.
Siding FAQ
Depending on your siding style, installing 1,000 square feet of siding will typically cost between $5,098 and $10,558. However, this is a rough price range based on national averages, so your final costs could fall somewhere outside of this price range. You can only know for sure how much siding installation will cost.
If it’s properly cared for, siding can last anywhere between 30 and 100 years, depending on the material it’s made from. However, siding sometimes requires premature replacement if it has experienced harsh weather, if the material beneath it has started to rot, or if it’s been used in a climate that isn’t ideal for its composition. To determine if your siding needs replacement, watch for these signs that your siding is damaged or rotten: - Discoloration of the material - Bulging or blistered panels - Extensive cracking or peeling - Panels hanging loosely - Visible mold
There’s no law against installing your siding yourself, but it’s still a bad idea. Siding installation is a highly technical process that requires a fair amount of know-how. When installed incorrectly, the siding will leak, warp, and lower your home’s curb appeal. Some homeowners undertake DIY siding installation to save money, but you may spend more repairing shoddy amateur work than you would have if you just hired a pro in the first place. We recommend hiring a licensed siding contractor to install your siding.
In most markets, vinyl, fiber cement, and engineered wood siding are your most affordable options. While fiber cement is the most affordable on average, vinyl and engineered wood may be more affordable depending on where you live.
Brick siding tends to add the most curb appeal and market value to a home. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most expensive types of siding you can get. Because of this, you shouldn’t add brick siding to a home you plan to sell immediately. The return on investment likely won’t cover what you spent on installation. Instead, you should only install brick siding to a home you plan to live in for a few decades. That way, you can enjoy its many benefits for a long time. Fortunately, brick siding can last up to 100 years, so it will likely still be in good, marketable shape when it’s time to sell your home.
On average, it costs about $18,176 to replace an entire home’s siding, while it only costs about $13,500 to repaint all of a home’s exterior walls. This means slapping a fresh coat of paint on a house is often cheaper than replacing its exterior shell. However, exact prices can all depend on where you live and the quality of your materials. Additionally, siding sometimes is too rotten or damaged to repaint and needs to be replaced to adequately protect your home. If you’re unsure what your home needs, meet with a siding contractor to determine if repainting or replacing your siding is what’s best.
Joe is a home improvement expert and content specialist for Fixr.com. He’s been writing home services content for over eight years, leveraging his research and composition skills to produce consumer-minded articles that demystify everything from moving to remodeling. His work has been sourced by various news sources and business journals, including Nasdaq.com and USA Today. When he isn’t writing about home improvement or climate issues, Joe can be found in bookstores and record shops.