Siding cost by house size
The table below is the siding calculator’s 2026 installed range by exterior wall area — not floor area. As a rough guide, a single-story ranch of about 1,500 sq ft of living space has roughly 1,500–1,800 sq ft of wall to cover; a two-story 2,000 sq ft home has about 2,000–2,500 sq ft of wall. Each figure includes tear-off of the old siding, house wrap, trim, soffit, and labor.
| Wall area | Vinyl | Fiber cement | Cedar |
|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | $11,700 – $19,200 | $13,400 – $22,200 | $19,200 – $31,800 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $16,100 – $26,500 | $18,700 – $30,900 | $27,300 – $45,100 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $20,600 – $33,700 | $24,100 – $39,600 | $35,300 – $58,200 |
| 2,500 sq ft | $25,100 – $40,900 | $29,400 – $48,200 | $43,100 – $71,000 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $29,500 – $48,100 | $34,700 – $56,900 | $50,800 – $83,700 |
Siding cost by material
Material is the biggest single lever. Holding the house at about 2,000 sq ft of wall, the installed range runs from vinyl at the low end to brick and stone at the top:
| Material (2,000 sq ft wall) | Installed range | Notes |
|---|
| Vinyl | $20,600 – $33,700 | Cheapest; low maintenance; 20–40 yr life |
| Fiber cement (Hardie) | $24,100 – $39,600 | Fire- and rot-resistant; paintable; 30–50 yrs |
| Engineered wood | $30,300 – $50,100 | Real-wood look, lighter than fiber cement |
| Stucco | $32,100 – $53,000 | Common in the Southwest; crack-prone in freeze/thaw |
| Metal (steel/aluminum) | $33,400 – $55,100 | Durable, modern; dents on impact |
| Cedar | $35,300 – $58,200 | Natural wood; needs periodic stain/seal |
| Manufactured stone | $42,100 – $69,100 | Stone veneer accent or full wrap |
| Brick veneer | $55,400 – $90,400 | Longest-lived; highest upfront |
Vinyl and fiber cement account for most residing jobs. Vinyl is the value pick; fiber cement (James Hardie) costs about 15–20% more but is fire-resistant, holds paint for 10–15 years, and reads as a premium upgrade to buyers — which is why it consistently tops resale-value surveys for siding.
What drives the price beyond size and material
- Tear-off — removing and hauling the old siding. Re-siding over existing is cheaper but not always advisable.
- Stories and access — a two- or three-story wall needs staging and scaffolding, adding labor.
- Trim, corners, and openings — every window, door, and corner is hand-detailed; a cut-up facade costs more per square foot than a plain box.
- House wrap and insulation — a weather-resistive barrier is standard; adding rigid foam or insulated siding raises material cost but cuts energy bills.
- Soffit and fascia — often replaced at the same time, priced by linear foot.
Because so much of the cost is labor and prep that doesn’t change with the board, the material premium is smaller than the sticker difference suggests — the frame, wrap, trim, and crew are the same whether you finish in vinyl or fiber cement.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to side a house?
For a typical two-story home with about 2,000 sq ft of wall, siding runs about $20,600–$33,700 installed in vinyl and $24,100–$39,600 in fiber cement in 2026, including tear-off, house wrap, trim, soffit, and labor. Smaller homes (1,000–1,500 sq ft of wall) run $11,700–$26,500 in vinyl; larger 2,500–3,000 sq ft homes $25,100–$48,100.
How much does vinyl siding cost?
Vinyl is the least expensive mainstream siding — about $20,600–$33,700 installed on a 2,000 sq ft wall in 2026, or roughly $11,700–$19,200 on a small 1,000 sq ft wall. It includes tear-off, wrap, trim, and labor. Insulated vinyl costs more but improves energy performance.
How much does fiber cement (Hardie) siding cost?
Fiber cement runs about $24,100–$39,600 installed on a 2,000 sq ft wall — roughly 15–20% more than vinyl. In exchange you get a fire-resistant, rot-proof board that holds paint for 10–15 years and lasts 30–50, which is why it leads siding resale-value rankings.
Is it cheaper to reside over existing siding?
Siding over the existing layer skips tear-off and haul-away, which can save a few thousand dollars, but it hides any moisture or rot underneath, adds thickness at windows and doors, and voids some manufacturer warranties. Most pros recommend tearing off so they can inspect and wrap the sheathing.
Which siding adds the most home value?
Fiber cement and manufactured stone veneer consistently top national cost-vs-value surveys for exterior projects, recovering a large share of their cost at resale. Vinyl recovers a solid share too at a lower price point. The best value pick depends on your neighborhood and how long you plan to stay.
