How Much Does Installing House Siding Cost?

Reviewed by Joe Roberts remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.

How much does it cost to install siding?

Durable and attractive siding is an essential part of your home’s exterior. Like the shingles on your roof, your home’s siding protects its structure from the elements and contributes to the curb appeal of your property. Unfortunately, installing new siding can be pretty expensive. Most homeowners spend between $10,345 and $19,253 to get siding for a new build. Siding replacement is a little more costly, usually costing between $11,311 and $21,050.

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.

Factors that affect siding costs

The siding materials you get

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 material costs

Vinyl siding

Vinyl siding installation costs between $4 and $8 per square foot, making it far and away your most affordable option. This low-cost material is a fairly durable option 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.

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. 

Fiber cement siding

While it costs a little more than vinyl, fiber cement 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. 

Fiber cement siding can easily last up to 50 years when properly cared for. 

Stucco siding

Stucco 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. 

Natural wood siding

If you love the classic look of authentic wood grain, then you may want to shell out for natural wood siding. 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. 

Engineered wood siding

Engineered wood siding prices are significantly lower than those of natural wood. 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), the life expectancy of engineered wood siding can exceed 50 years. 

Brick veneer siding

Like wood, brick siding gives a home timeless appeal and greatly increases the home’s value. It also provides exceptional insulation so that it can improve the energy efficiency of your home. 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 $16 and $29 per square foot to install.

Depending on the quality of the brick, this siding option can sometimes last up to 100 years. 

Stone veneer siding

In terms of fire, insect, impact, and weather resistance, stone leaves just about every other material in the dust. 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 $36 to $67 per square foot, 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. 

Aluminum siding

Aluminum is a lightweight, rust-resistant, and affordable metal, 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. 

Steel siding

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. 

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

The size and shape of your home

Next to siding material, square footage is the second most impactful determiner of your total costs. Essentially, the larger your exterior walls, the more you’ll pay. 

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 $6 to $11 per square foot, you’d likely pay somewhere between $15,000 and $27,500 for this project. Alternatively, if your exterior walls only measured 1,000 square feet, your price range would be $6,000 to $12,000.

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 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. 

Seasonality

Labor and material costs tend to ramp up with demand throughout the year, and they come back down as demand cools. These seasonality 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 isn’t in urgent need of 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 whole 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. 

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.