SIDING COST ESTIMATOR
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Siding Replacement Cost Calculator
This siding replacement cost calculator prices the whole job: tearing off the old siding, hauling it away, fixing what is underneath and installing new siding. Tell it what is on your walls now, what you want instead and how big the house is, and it builds a line-by-line planning budget with Budget, Standard and Premium totals. Use it before you call contractors so you know what a fair replacement quote should include.
- Free planning estimate
- No obligation
- Tear-off included
Siding Replacement Estimator
Four short steps. Enter your wall area or let the calculator estimate it from your home size. Choose the new siding, then tell us what is coming off: the old siding type, how many layers and the likely wall condition. ZIP code is required so we can match you with local siding contractors. It does not change the estimate.
Planning estimate only. Not a quote.
How to read your result
The large number is the Standard replacement estimate: mid-range new siding, quality accessories and an established siding company, including tear-off and disposal. Budget and Premium are calculated separately with different product prices, labor rates and allowances. The removal and disposal lines change with the old siding you selected, so a wood or fiber cement tear-off costs more than vinyl.
Scroll the line-item table to see every quantity and rate. Categories that do not apply to your project are left out.
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- Planning estimate only
This is an estimated project budget based on typical U.S. planning assumptions, not a quote or a guaranteed price. Actual contractor pricing may vary based on location, conditions, material choice, labor market and project complexity. Hidden conditions such as water-damaged sheathing, rotted framing or old flashing are often found only after the old siding is removed. Always get written quotes from qualified siding contractors.
COST BREAKDOWN
What a siding replacement bid includes
A siding replacement bid has two halves, taking the old siding off and putting new siding on. The calculator shows both:
Materials
New siding with a waste allowance, fasteners, flashing tape and caulk, window and door trim, and optional house wrap or foam board.
Labor
Installation hours for the new siding, trim and wrap labor, and a mobilization and cleanup charge.
Removal
Crew hours to strip the old siding. Heavier materials and a second layer take longer.
Disposal
Dumpster and dump fees, scaled by how heavy the old material is.
Equipment / scaffolding
Scaffolding or lift rental for two- and three-story walls.
Permit / inspection
An optional allowance. Your local fee may be different.
Repairs and project extras
Sheathing repair, soffit and fascia, painting for primed or raw siding, and lead-safe work practices.
What it costs to tear off different old siding
| Old siding | Removal time per 100 sq ft | Removal + disposal | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | 1.2 crew hrs | $2,140 | Light and fast to remove; panels unlock and stack. |
| Aluminum | 1.2 crew hrs | $2,075 | Light; some haulers accept it as scrap metal. |
| Hardboard / composite | 1.6 crew hrs | $2,835 | Often swollen or soft at the bottom edges; check the sheathing behind it. |
| Wood lap or shingles | 1.8 crew hrs | $3,150 | Many nails and heavier debris; older paint may contain lead. |
| Fiber cement | 2.2 crew hrs | $3,905 | Heavy boards; more dumpster weight. |
| Asbestos-cement shingles (suspected) | Specialist | $9,900 | Common on homes built before the 1980s. Have it tested; removal rules vary by state. |
Standard removal plus disposal for 1,800 sq ft, one story, one layer, average U.S. market. Planning assumptions only.
Image 3 placeholder — Dumpster beside a house filled with old siding (alt: “Dumpster filled with old siding during a tear-off”). Image still needed.
How much does it cost to replace siding?
In this calculator's planning assumptions, replacing one layer of old vinyl with new vinyl on 1,800 sq ft of wall, with house wrap, comes to about $14,900 at Standard prices, or about $8.25 per sq ft, within a Budget-to-Premium range of $10,300 to $21,800. Replacing the same walls with painted fiber cement comes to about $25,600.
These are planning numbers, not quotes. Your price depends mostly on wall area, the new siding you choose, what has to come off, and what the crew finds underneath.
Signs it is time to replace siding:
Replacement makes sense when repairs no longer keep water out or the damage is spread across several walls. Common signs:
- Warped, buckled or loose panels on more than one wall
- Rot, soft spots or holes that keep coming back after repairs
- Faded or chalky siding where matching replacement pieces are no longer available
- Peeling paint inside, or water stains around windows
- Higher heating and cooling bills from drafty walls with no weather barrier
If only a few boards are damaged, a repair usually costs far less. Use the Siding Repair Cost Calculator to compare.
Replacement vs. new installation:
A new installation on bare walls only prices the new siding. A replacement adds three costs that new construction does not have:
- Tear-off labor. Someone has to unlock, pry or cut off every piece of the old siding and pull the nails.
- Disposal. The old material goes into a dumpster and is charged by weight or by load.
- Hidden repairs. Once the walls are open, soft sheathing, rotted trim and failed window flashing become visible and should be fixed before new siding goes on.
On the sample vinyl job, removal is about $1,510 and disposal about $630. That is roughly 14% of the Standard total before any repairs.
What it costs to tear off different old siding
The old material changes the tear-off price more than most homeowners expect. Light vinyl and aluminum come off quickly. Wood, hardboard and fiber cement take longer and fill the dumpster faster.
If your home has two layers, for example vinyl that was installed over the original wood, choose “Two layers.” The calculator raises removal and disposal by about 70%. In the sample, replacing two layers of old wood with new vinyl comes to about $18,100 instead of $14,900.
Image 2 placeholder — Close-ups of old vinyl, wood lap, aluminum and fiber cement siding (alt: “Types of old siding that are removed during a replacement”). Image still needed.
Asbestos-cement siding:
Many homes built before the 1980s have asbestos-cement shingles. They are hard, flat, often have a dimpled or wavy face, and are usually 12 by 24 inches. They are generally considered safe while intact, but breaking or cutting them can release fibers. Have the siding tested before any work starts.
If you choose “Asbestos-cement shingles (suspected),” the calculator swaps normal tear-off and disposal for a testing and licensed-removal allowance. On the sample job that allowance is about $9,900 at Standard prices. Rules on who may remove it and how it must be disposed of differ by state and locality, so confirm the requirements with your state environmental agency or a licensed abatement contractor.
Image 5 placeholder — Flat, gray, dimpled cement shingles on an older home, no people working (alt: “Older home with cement shingle siding that should be tested”). Image still needed.
New siding cost per square foot:
The new siding is the second big decision. The table shows the calculator's installed replacement cost per sq ft on a sample job with one layer of old vinyl removed, house wrap and average labor rates. Primed or raw siding includes painting.
| Option | Budget | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $5.74 | $8.25 | $12.13 |
| Insulated vinyl | $7.49 | $10.08 | $13.95 |
| Fiber cement | $10.07 | $14.21 | $20.60 |
| Engineered wood | $9.17 | $12.94 | $18.68 |
| Cedar / natural wood | $12.88 | $18.33 | $27.92 |
| Aluminum | $7.84 | $11.07 | $15.63 |
| Steel / metal panels | $9.21 | $13.07 | $18.84 |
Per sq ft of wall, including tear-off. Planning assumptions only.
Vinyl is the least expensive to buy and install. Insulated vinyl adds a foam backing that stiffens the panel. Fiber cement and engineered wood cost more because the boards are heavier or need sealed edges and painting. Cedar costs the most and needs the most upkeep. Aluminum and steel sit in the middle.
Labor for the new siding:
Installation labor is calculated from hours, not a percentage. The calculator uses 3 to 5.5 crew hours per 100 sq ft depending on the siding, then adds time for complex walls and upper stories. Crew labor is priced at $55, $70 or $90 per hour for Budget, Standard and Premium. Window and door trim is priced per opening because trimming 12 openings is real work on any replacement.
Hidden damage behind old siding:
The wall condition is the biggest unknown on a replacement. Water that got behind the old siding can rot the sheathing, the bottom plate or the trim around windows. The calculator offers a sheathing repair allowance of about 5%, 15% or 30% of wall area. On a two-story, 2,600 sq ft wood-siding replacement with moderate damage, the repair allowance alone is about $2,300.
Signs that you may need more repair:
- Soft or spongy spots when you press on the siding
- Stains or peeling paint on interior walls near windows
- Swollen, cracked or buckled siding near the ground or under windows
- Old siding that was caulked instead of flashed around windows
Image 4 placeholder — Exposed wall sheathing with a dark water stain below a window (alt: “Rotted wall sheathing found under old siding”). Image still needed.
Scaffolding for taller homes:
Two- and three-story walls usually need scaffolding or a lift for both tear-off and installation. The calculator adds an equipment allowance for upper stories and raises labor hours by 12% or 25% for the extra height.
Permits and older homes:
Some cities require a permit to replace siding, especially when sheathing, flashing or the weather barrier changes. Others do not. The permit option is an allowance only. If your home was built before 1978, painted siding and trim may contain lead. The lead-safe option adds an allowance for containment and cleanup. Ask your contractor whether lead-safe work rules apply to your job.
Budget vs. Standard vs. Premium replacement:
Budget: entry-level siding, basic accessories and independent installer rates.
Standard: mid-range siding, quality accessories and an established siding company with insurance and a written workmanship warranty.
Premium: a higher product line, upgraded trim and accessories, and a premium installer.
How to budget for siding replacement:
Start with the Standard estimate and add 10% to 15% for surprises if the house is older or you see signs of water damage. Ask each contractor for:
- A separate price for tear-off and disposal
- A per-sq-ft price for sheathing repair, agreed before work starts
- The exact new siding product, thickness or line, and its warranty
- Whether new house wrap, window flashing and trim are included
Compare at least three written quotes line by line. A low total that leaves out wrap, flashing or disposal is usually not the cheapest job in the end.
Area estimates by home size:
If you have not measured your walls, the calculator can estimate them from living area and stories:
| Home living area | 1 story | 2 stories | 3 stories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,180 sq ft | 1,668 sq ft | 2,043 sq ft |
| 1,500 sq ft | 1,445 sq ft | 2,043 sq ft | 2,503 sq ft |
| 2,000 sq ft | 1,668 sq ft | 2,359 sq ft | 2,890 sq ft |
| 2,500 sq ft | 1,865 sq ft | 2,638 sq ft | 3,231 sq ft |
| 3,000 sq ft | 2,043 sq ft | 2,890 sq ft | 3,539 sq ft |
| 3,500 sq ft | 2,207 sq ft | 3,121 sq ft | 3,823 sq ft |
| 4,000 sq ft | 2,359 sq ft | 3,337 sq ft | 4,087 sq ft |
Assumes a typical rectangular footprint, 9.5 ft of wall per story, a small gable allowance and about 15% of the wall taken up by windows and doors.
Image 6 placeholder — Cross-section of a wall showing sheathing, house wrap and siding (alt: “Cross-section of a wall showing sheathing, house wrap and siding”). Image still needed.
How much does it cost to replace siding on a house?
In this calculator's planning assumptions, replacing vinyl with new vinyl on 1,800 sq ft of wall, including tear-off, disposal and house wrap, is about $14,900 at Standard prices, or about $8.25 per sq ft.
How much does siding removal add to a replacement?
On the sample vinyl job, tear-off is about $1,510 and disposal about $630. Wood, fiber cement and second layers cost more to remove.
Do you have to remove old siding before installing new siding?
Usually, yes. Most manufacturers and many building departments expect new siding on a flat, sound wall with a proper weather barrier. Removal also lets the crew find and fix hidden damage.
What is the cheapest siding to replace with?
Vinyl, at a Standard replacement cost of about $8.25 per sq ft on the sample job.
Frequently asked questions
How much does siding replacement cost?
In this calculator's planning assumptions, replacing one layer of vinyl with new vinyl on 1,800 sq ft of wall is about $14,900 at Standard prices, within a range of about $10,300 to $21,800. That includes tear-off, disposal and house wrap. Fiber cement, wood and metal cost more.
How much does it cost to remove old siding?
For the 1,800 sq ft sample, Standard removal and disposal run from about $2,100 for vinyl to about $3,900 for fiber cement. A second layer adds about 70%. Asbestos-cement siding needs testing and a specialist, which costs much more.
What happens if the crew finds rot behind the old siding?
Damaged sheathing should be replaced before new siding goes on. The calculator lets you add an allowance for about 5%, 15% or 30% of the wall. Ask contractors for a per-sq-ft repair price in writing before work starts.
Can new siding go over old siding?
This calculator does not price siding installed over old siding. Many manufacturers and local codes expect a clean, flat wall, and covering old siding hides damage. Ask your contractor and building department what is allowed.
How do I know if my old siding contains asbestos?
Only a lab test can confirm it. Asbestos-cement shingles were common on homes built before the 1980s and are usually hard, flat 12-by-24-inch shingles. Do not break or cut them before testing. Rules for removal vary by state.
Does replacing siding need a permit?
It depends on your city or county. Some require one for any re-siding, and others only when sheathing or structure changes. The calculator offers an optional permit allowance, but it is not your local fee.
Does my ZIP code change the estimate?
No. ZIP code is used to match you with local siding contractors. Use the labor-market selector to reflect local labor costs.
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Image 7 placeholder — Siding contractor and homeowner looking at a sample board beside the house (alt: “Siding contractor reviewing replacement options with a homeowner”). Image still needed.
Planning estimate only. This is an estimated project budget based on typical U.S. planning assumptions, not a quote or a guaranteed price. Actual contractor pricing may vary based on location, conditions, material choice, labor market and project complexity. Hidden conditions such as water-damaged sheathing, rotted framing or old flashing are often found only after the old siding is removed. Always get written quotes from qualified siding contractors.