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Siding calculator

Siding, trim, house wrap, labour and scaffolding priced by wall area and material.

By the LocalServiceHQ editorial team
Updated Oct 29, 2026
Formulas and sources listed below
Prices checked Oct 2026
Your job
House height
Trim package
Your estimate
Siding area
—
square feet after openings
Typical installed
—
siding, trim, wrap, labour and disposal
Typical range for this job: —
How it adds upTypical
Siding materialvinyl, fiber cement or wood, by the square
—
Trim, corners and soffit$1.20–$2.80 per sq ft of wall
—
House wrap and flashing$0.35–$0.60 per sq ft
—
Labour and scaffolding$2.50–$9 per sq ft, higher on two storeys
—
Disposalold siding removal, per load
—
Cost per sq fttotal ÷ siding area
—
US siding prices for October 2026: vinyl $4–$12 per sq ft installed, fiber cement $7–$22 and wood $6–$20. Materials are 35–45% of that price; labour and scaffolding make up the rest, and two-storey walls add about 15%.
Deduct windows and doors, then add waste. Those two steps decide whether you order enough siding.
Photo via Pexels

How the math works

Wall area
Geometry
perimeter × height + gable area
Gables add a triangle: base × height ÷ 2.
Net area
Measure
wall area × (1 − openings %)
Windows and doors are typically 10 to 15 percent of wall area.
Squares
Supplier unit
net area ÷ 100
Siding is ordered and priced by the square.
Installed price
Cost
$4 to $22 per sq ft by material
Vinyl is cheapest; fiber cement and wood cost more installed.

Common starting points

Common US homes with vinyl siding and 12 percent openings.

Tap a preset in the calculator above to load a typical job, then adjust the numbers to match your site.
Starting points: 1,500 sq ft vinyl · 2,500 sq ft vinyl · 2,500 sq ft fiber cement · 2,500 sq ft wood · 3,500 sq ft, two storeys

Rather hire it out?

See installed prices and permit rules for siding calculator.

Service costs

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How to use the siding calculator

Measure the walls, deduct openings, then compare bids on the same material and trim package.

1
Measure the walls
Perimeter times height, plus gable triangles.
2
Deduct openings
Windows and doors are usually 10 to 15 percent of wall area.
3
Pick the material
Vinyl is cheapest, fiber cement lasts longer, wood suits historic homes.
4
Check the wrap
House wrap and flashing are where water gets in if they are skipped.

Mistakes that cost homeowners money

!
Ordering exactly the net area with no waste for cuts and gables.
!
Skipping house wrap to save a line item, then dealing with moisture.
!
Nailing vinyl too tight, which leads to buckling in heat.
!
Choosing colour before confirming the trim and soffit package.

Siding calculator FAQ

How much does siding cost?

Vinyl siding installed runs about $4 to $12 per sq ft, fiber cement $7 to $22 and wood $6 to $20. A 2,500 sq ft wall area costs roughly $17,600 in vinyl at the typical rate.

Divide the net wall area by 100. A 2,500 sq ft wall with 12 percent openings is 2,200 sq ft, or 22 squares, plus 10 percent waste.

Vinyl lasts 20 to 40 years, fiber cement 30 to 50 and wood 20 to 30 with paint every five to seven years. Installation quality matters more than the brand.

Fiber cement costs more upfront but holds paint longer and resists rot and impact. In hail-prone states it often pays back through fewer repairs.

Siding replacement returns roughly 65 to 80 percent at resale and is one of the highest-return exterior projects, especially on older homes.

Vinyl can be a DIY project on a single wall, but whole-house installs involve wrap, flashing and trim. Most homeowners hire out for warranty and safety reasons.

Using the calculator defaults, 1,500 sq ft vinyl gives Siding area: 1,320 and Typical installed: $10,800, with a typical range $5,460 to $16,140. Change the waste allowance, material or thickness to match your site.

Using the calculator defaults, 3,500 sq ft, two storeys gives Siding area: 3,080 and Typical installed: $28,816, with a typical range $14,528 to $43,104. Change the waste allowance, material or thickness to match your site.