Siding replacement is sold by square foot, but the square footage on a real quote is wall area plus waste, not the home listing size. Angi reports a broad national installed project range of about $5,560 to $17,724. Common material ranges run from roughly $3 to $12 per square foot for vinyl and $5 to $14 for fiber cement, while premium masonry and complex work can run far higher.
The outside finish is only one layer. Removal can expose wet sheathing, missing flashing, failed housewrap, insect damage, or trim that cannot be reused. A low estimate that assumes every hidden layer is sound and a higher estimate with defined repair allowances are not the same scope. Plan the visible product and the water-management assembly together.
Typical national planning ranges
Installed costs vary by wall area, material, stories, architectural detail, removal, substrate condition, trim, finish, permits, and local labor.
| Scope | Range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Typical siding project | $5,560-$17,724 | Materials and professional installation |
| Vinyl | $3-$12 per sq. ft. | Installed national planning range |
| Fiber cement | $5-$14 per sq. ft. | Installed national planning range |
| Wood | $1-$15 per sq. ft. | Wide species, grade, and finish range |
| Steel | $4-$16 per sq. ft. | Profile and coating affect price |
Range source: Angi 2026 siding replacement cost guide. Angi reports a $5,560 to $17,724 typical project range and installed per-square-foot ranges by material.
What actually drives the price
Wall area starts the calculation. Contractors subtract some openings, add gables and bump-outs, then include waste for cuts and breakage. Two homes with the same floor area can have very different exterior area. A two-story box may be efficient to cover, while a house with dormers, bay windows, porches, corners, bands, and mixed materials takes more measuring, staging, trim, and detailed cuts.
Material changes both product and labor. Vinyl is light and fast to install but needs correct movement clearances. Fiber cement is heavier, dusty to cut, and often needs field finishing. Wood requires careful flashing and ongoing coating. Metal profiles need compatible fasteners and trim. Brick and stone systems are a separate weight, support, drainage, and trade conversation rather than a simple swap for lap siding.
- Measured wall area, waste, stories, corners, and architectural detail
- Material, profile, thickness, color, and factory finish
- Removal and disposal of one or more existing layers
- Sheathing, framing, flashing, and moisture damage repairs
- Housewrap, insulation, trim, soffit, fascia, paint, and permits
What moves the number up or down
A basic one-story installation over sound, ready walls sits toward the lower side. Multiple stories, difficult access, detailed trim, premium profiles, mixed materials, and extensive removal move it upward. Lead-safe practices may be required when disturbing older painted components. If the house has asbestos-containing siding or another regulated material, testing and proper handling can change both schedule and cost.
Do not use added foam or housewrap as a substitute for fixing bulk-water entry. Windows, doors, decks, roof-wall intersections, utility penetrations, and the base of walls all need correct flashing. A contractor should explain how the new assembly drains and dries. The cheapest moment to correct those transitions is usually while the wall is open, but only documented necessary repairs belong in the change order.
How to tell what you need
One cracked panel, loose board, or small impact area may be repairable if matching material exists and the wall behind it is dry. Widespread warping, rot, repeated paint failure, loose sections, soft sheathing, and water entry at several elevations make a larger scope more likely. Fading by itself is usually an appearance issue. Surface dirt or algae may call for cleaning, not replacement.
Walk the perimeter from the ground. Look for open seams, swollen edges, missing caulk where the system requires it, corrosion, insect channels, and gaps around penetrations. Check interior walls below windows and roof intersections for stains. Note every problem by elevation. A qualified siding contractor should probe suspicious areas and show why repair, partial replacement, or full replacement is recommended.
What a fair siding quote includes
A complete proposal names the measured area, manufacturer, product line, profile, color, exposure, accessories, housewrap or weather barrier, flashing approach, starter and finish details, trim, vents, removal, disposal, permits, and cleanup. It states whether soffit, fascia, gutters, shutters, lights, outlets, and utility fixtures are removed and reinstalled. Painting or touch-up should be explicit.
Hidden repairs need a method. The quote can include an allowance, unit prices for sheathing and framing, or a documented change-order process after removal. Ask who photographs concealed conditions and who authorizes added work. Compare labor and manufacturer warranties separately and confirm any registration steps. At completion, inspect alignment, clearances, joints, penetrations, trim, and site cleanup before final payment.
When to get matched with a siding pro
Schedule an inspection quickly if siding is loose overhead, water is entering, or the wall feels soft. For an appearance-led project, define the material and trim standard before collecting quotes so the numbers stay comparable. Ask for repair and replacement scopes when the damage is limited enough that both are plausible.
Bob Can Fix Your House is a matching service that arranges free quotes, not a contractor. We connect homeowners with independent participating siding providers. Matched pros inspect the wall assembly, recommend the scope, and set their own prices. You are free to accept, decline, or keep comparing.
How to compare quotes without losing the plot
Give each provider the same project facts and ask for a written scope. Compare quantities, products, preparation, labor, removal, repairs, permits, cleanup, schedule, payment milestones, and warranties before comparing the bottom line. Circle every allowance, exclusion, and unit price. Those are the places where two similar-looking totals can separate after work begins.
Ask what the provider has confirmed and what remains hidden, then how added work is approved. A fair proposal does not have to predict every concealed condition, but it should explain the process. Verify licensing and insurance where required in your area. Read the contract and keep changes in writing. Never let a verbal upgrade or repair float outside the signed scope.
Ready for a local number?
Get matched for siding
Use the guide to define the job, then talk with a participating local provider about the property itself. The quote is free, and there is no obligation to hire. We may be paid by the provider you choose.
Go to the siding pageRelated cost guides
Frequently asked questions
How is siding square footage calculated?
Contractors measure exterior wall surfaces, gables, and details, account for openings according to their method, then add waste for cuts. Floor area is not siding area. Ask the bidder to state the measured quantity and waste assumption.
Can new siding go over old siding?
Sometimes, but the existing wall must be flat, dry, secure, and compatible, and local rules must allow it. Removing old material reveals sheathing and flashing. Ask what inspection is lost by covering it and how windows, doors, and drainage will be detailed.
Is vinyl or fiber cement less expensive?
Vinyl typically has a lower installed range and is lighter to handle. Fiber cement often costs more and may require painting, but material selection also involves climate, fire exposure, maintenance, appearance, and installer experience.
Does siding replacement include insulation?
Not automatically. Some scopes add rigid foam or another continuous insulation layer, while others replace only the cladding and weather barrier. The quote should name the product, thickness, fastening, flashing changes, and expected wall impact.
How long does siding replacement take?
A straightforward house may take roughly one to two weeks once work begins, but size, stories, weather, material, detail, and hidden repairs change the schedule. Ask for a realistic sequence and how the home stays weather-protected during work.