Siding Installation Cost Guide (2026): Vinyl, Hardie, Wood, Stucco Per Sq Ft
By Fabio Freire, Founder & General Contractor at EZ-Estimates. Published 2026-05-01.
Siding Installation Cost Guide (2026): Vinyl, Hardie, Wood, Stucco Per Square Foot
Siding is the most visible exterior change a homeowner makes. They get 4-6 bids on every job. Pricing it right means knowing the real installed cost per square foot for every material, plus the upcharge for tear-off, complex layouts, and access.
Here are the 2026 siding rates that win bids and protect margin.
How Siding Is Priced
Siding is priced per square foot of wall area, including:
- All wall area minus windows and doors
- Trim, corners, and J-channel
- Tear-off if replacing existing
- Disposal of old material
- Insulation board if specified
- Permits
Per square foot installed (2026):
- Vinyl: $4-9/sq ft installed
- Engineered wood (LP SmartSide): $5-10/sq ft
- Fiber cement (Hardie): $7-14/sq ft
- Wood (cedar shingle, lap): $8-15/sq ft
- Stucco (3-coat): $8-16/sq ft
- Brick veneer: $15-30/sq ft
- Stone veneer: $20-40/sq ft
- Metal panel: $10-20/sq ft
These rates include material + labor + standard trim. They exclude tear-off, scaffolding, and significant repairs.
Siding Material Costs (2026)
Vinyl:
- Standard horizontal lap: $1.20-2.50/sq ft material
- Insulated vinyl: $2.50-4.50/sq ft material
- Premium thicker gauge: $2.00-3.50/sq ft material
- Trim coil and accessories: $0.40-0.80/sq ft
Engineered wood (LP SmartSide):
- Lap siding: $2.50-4.00/sq ft material
- Panel siding: $2.00-3.50/sq ft material
- Trim: $2-4 per linear foot
Fiber cement (Hardie, Allura, Nichiha):
- HardiePlank lap: $2.50-5.00/sq ft material
- HardiePanel: $2.00-4.00/sq ft material
- HardieShingle: $3.00-6.00/sq ft material
- Trim and accessories: $3-7 per linear foot
Wood:
- Cedar lap: $4-8/sq ft material
- Cedar shingles: $5-10/sq ft material
- Pine T-111: $1.50-3.00/sq ft material
- Pre-finished engineered wood: $4-7/sq ft
Stucco:
- 3-coat traditional: $1.50-3.50/sq ft material
- Synthetic (EIFS): $3-6/sq ft material
- Lath and metal accessories: $0.50-1.50/sq ft
Stone and brick veneer:
- Manufactured stone veneer: $6-12/sq ft material
- Natural thin stone: $8-18/sq ft material
- Brick (modular): $4-8/sq ft material
- Mortar and adhesives: $0.50-1.50/sq ft
Underlayment and accessories:
- House wrap (Tyvek): $0.15-0.30/sq ft
- Rigid foam (1 inch): $0.80-1.50/sq ft
- Window flashing: $30-60 per window
- Soffit and fascia: $5-15 per linear foot
Siding Labor Costs
Per square foot labor only:
- Vinyl: $2-4/sq ft
- Engineered wood: $2.50-5/sq ft
- Fiber cement: $4-8/sq ft (heavier, more cuts)
- Wood: $4-8/sq ft
- Stucco (3-coat): $5-10/sq ft (3 separate days)
- Brick veneer: $10-18/sq ft (mason rate)
- Stone veneer: $12-22/sq ft
Tear-off labor:
- Vinyl removal: $0.75-1.50/sq ft
- Wood/cedar removal: $1.00-2.00/sq ft
- Stucco removal: $2-4/sq ft (slow, dusty)
- Brick removal: $3-6/sq ft (heavy)
- Disposal/dump fees: $200-600 per dumpster load
Crew rates:
- Siding crew lead: $30-50/hour wage
- Installer: $22-35/hour wage
- 2-3 person crew: $90-150/hour burdened
Site Conditions That Change Pricing
- Two-story or three-story homes: scaffolding required, +$1.50-3/sq ft
- Lift rental for tall sections: $300-700/day
- Complex layouts (gables, dormers, alcoves): +20-40% labor
- Painted or stained finish: +$1-3/sq ft if not factory-finished
- Fascia and soffit replacement: $7-15/lin ft
- Window/door trim replacement: $50-150 per opening
- Rotted sheathing repair: $2-5/sq ft of repair area
- Existing house wrap removal: +$0.30-0.60/sq ft
- Painted aluminum gutters need removal: $1-3/lin ft
Markup and Margin
Standard markup on residential siding: 25-40%. Margin is decent because materials are predictable and crew productivity is consistent.
Most siding contractors run a healthy 25-30% net profit on full-house jobs done at scale. Calculate your right markup using the free markup calculator.
Common Mistakes That Kill Margin
1. Underbidding tear-off. New construction siding is straightforward. Replacement siding requires tear-off, sheathing inspection, repairs, and dumpster fees. Most underbids on siding jobs come from skipping tear-off line items.
2. Forgetting house wrap and flashing. Code requires WRB (weather-resistive barrier) under siding. House wrap, window flashing, and seam tape are required line items.
3. Ignoring complex layouts. A simple ranch with 2 gables takes 2 days. A 3-story Victorian with bay windows, dormers, and alcoves takes 8 days for the same square footage. Quote based on complexity, not square footage alone.
4. Skipping the painting line item. Pre-finished cedar or factory-painted Hardie costs more upfront but saves the painting cost. Field-painted siding adds $1.50-3/sq ft for prep, prime, and 2 coats.
5. Not factoring waste on patterns. Diagonal patterns, board-and-batten with offsets, and shingle layouts add 15-25% waste. Standard horizontal lap is 8-10% waste.
Sample Estimate: 2,200 sq ft Hardie Reside (Single Story Ranch)
| Item |
Qty |
Unit |
Unit Cost |
Total |
| Tear-off existing vinyl |
2,200 |
sq ft |
$1.00 |
$2,200 |
| Disposal (2 dumpsters) |
2 |
each |
$400 |
$800 |
| House wrap |
2,200 |
sq ft |
$0.20 |
$440 |
| HardiePlank material |
2,200 |
sq ft |
$3.50 |
$7,700 |
| Hardie trim accessories |
1 |
lot |
$1,200 |
$1,200 |
| Window flashing (12 windows) |
12 |
each |
$45 |
$540 |
| Soffit + fascia |
280 |
LF |
$9 |
$2,520 |
| Labor (Hardie install) |
2,200 |
sq ft |
$5.50 |
$12,100 |
| Painting (touch-up) |
1 |
lot |
$400 |
$400 |
| Permit |
1 |
lot |
$250 |
$250 |
| Subtotal cost |
|
|
|
$28,150 |
| Markup (32%) |
|
|
|
$9,008 |
| Total bid |
|
|
|
$37,158 |
| Per sq ft |
|
|
|
$16.89 |
Calculator and Templates
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