METAL SIDING COST ESTIMATOR
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Metal Siding Cost Calculator
Metal siding has moved from barns and shops onto houses, especially on modern and farmhouse designs. Prices swing widely between a simple corrugated panel and a standing seam wall. This metal siding cost calculator prices your walls by panel type, adds trim, flashing, furring, tear-off and labor, and gives you Budget, Standard and Premium totals with a full line-item breakdown.
- Free planning estimate
- No obligation
- 6 metal panel types
Four short steps. Enter your wall area or estimate it from your home size. Choose a metal panel type, set your labor market, then choose tear-off and add-ons such as furring strips. ZIP code is required so we can match you with local metal siding contractors. It does not change the estimate. Planning estimate only. Not a quote.
Enter your wall area, or estimate it from your home size.
Choose from corrugated, ribbed, standing seam, steel lap, shake or insulated panels.
Set your labor market for local installer rates.
Choose tear-off and add-ons such as furring strips. ZIP code is required for matching and does not change the estimate.
How to read your result
The large number is the Standard estimate: mid-grade panels in your chosen type with a quality coating, quality trim and an established installer. Budget assumes a thinner gauge and independent installer rates. Premium assumes heavier gauge, a premium coating and a specialist installer. Standing seam and shake panels cost considerably more than corrugated or ribbed, mostly in material and labor.
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.
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How a metal siding bid breaks down
The calculator splits a metal siding bid the way an installer prices it:
- Materials: metal panels with a waste allowance, fasteners, closures, flashing and sealant, trim at each window and door, house wrap and optional furring strips.
- Labor: installation hours for the chosen panel type, trim and wrap labor, and a mobilization and cleanup charge.
- Removal and disposal: tear-off and haul-away if old siding is coming off.
- Equipment / scaffolding: scaffolding or lift rental for upper stories.
- Permit / inspection: an optional allowance.
- Repairs and project extras: sheathing repair, soffit and fascia, and lead-safe work practices for older homes.
Metal siding gauge guide
| Gauge | Typical use |
|---|---|
| 29 gauge | Budget walls, sheds and shops |
| 26 gauge | Standard residential |
| 24 gauge | Standing seam, high-wind and hail areas |
| 22 gauge | Commercial and exposed sites |
Most homes use 26 gauge, with 24 gauge common for standing seam. Ask for the gauge, the coating system and the finish warranty in writing.
How much does metal siding cost?
In this calculator's planning assumptions, ribbed steel panels on 1,800 sq ft of wall, with tear-off and house wrap, come to about $18,700 at Standard prices, or about $10.38 per sq ft, within a Budget-to-Premium range of $13,200 to $26,300. Corrugated panels bring that down to about $18,100, and standing seam raises it to about $28,200. These are planning numbers, not quotes. Panel type is the single biggest driver, and the gap between the cheapest and most expensive metal option is wide.
Metal siding cost by panel type
Each option is priced on the same sample job: 1,800 sq ft, one story, simple walls, 12 windows and doors, house wrap, no tear-off and an average U.S. labor market.
| Option | Budget | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corrugated steel | $6.22 | $8.87 | $12.62 |
| Ribbed / R-panel steel | $6.44 | $9.19 | $13.05 |
| Standing seam steel | $10.09 | $14.47 | $20.74 |
| Steel lap siding | $8.35 | $11.99 | $17.41 |
| Steel shake & shingle | $10.50 | $14.84 | $21.58 |
| Insulated metal panel | $9.61 | $13.24 | $18.46 |
Note: Installed price per sq ft of wall. Planning assumptions only.
- Corrugated steel is the least expensive and has a wavy, utilitarian look.
- Ribbed / R-panel covers walls fast and is the calculator's default.
- Standing seam hides the fasteners under raised seams and costs the most to install.
- Steel lap gives a conventional house profile with metal durability.
- Steel shake and shingle is the priciest option per sq ft and is usually an accent.
- Insulated metal panels are foam-backed, stiffer and flatter.
Exposed fasteners vs. concealed fasteners
This is the main technical choice in metal siding. Exposed-fastener panels (corrugated and ribbed) are screwed through the face with screws that have rubber washers. They cost less and install quickly. The washers age faster than the panels do, so plan on having them inspected and some replaced over the years. Concealed-fastener panels (standing seam, steel lap, shake) clip or lock together so no screws show. They look cleaner, keep water away from the fastener holes, and cost noticeably more in both material and labor. On the sample job, standing seam runs about $28,200 against $18,700 for ribbed.
Does gauge matter?
Yes. For steel, a lower gauge number means a thicker panel. Most homes use 26 gauge, with 24 gauge common for standing seam. Ask for the gauge, the coating system and the finish warranty in writing. (See the gauge table in “How a metal siding bid breaks down” above.)
Rust, coatings and coastal homes
Bare steel rusts, so every panel relies on its coating. Most steel siding uses a metallic coating over the steel plus a factory paint finish on top. Cut edges and deep scratches are the weak points, which is why installers use matching touch-up paint and why panels should be cut with shears or a blade made for metal rather than an abrasive wheel that throws hot sparks onto the finish. Near salt water, ask specifically about coastal-rated coatings and fastener materials. Some warranties exclude or limit coverage within a set distance of salt water.
Furring strips and condensation
Metal is cold, so moist indoor air that reaches the back of a panel can condense on it. A furring strip layer creates a drainage and ventilation gap that lets the wall dry. The calculator offers furring as an add-on: on the sample job it raises the Standard total from about $18,700 to about $21,000. In humid climates or over a wall with no previous gap, it is worth discussing with your contractor.
Metal on the whole house vs. as an accent
Many homeowners who like the look of metal use it on part of the house rather than all of it: a gable, an entry wall, a wainscot band below lap siding, or a shop building that matches the main house. That keeps the cost down while still getting the effect. If you plan a mix, run the calculator once for the metal area and once for the other material, then add the two totals. Remember that where two materials meet you need a transition detail with flashing, which adds a little trim labor.
Planning the panel layout
With exposed-fastener panels, the rib spacing and where panels land at corners and windows change how the wall reads. Good installers plan the layout so ribs line up above and below openings and so you do not end up with a sliver panel at a corner. With standing seam, seam spacing is a design decision, and wider or narrower seams change both the look and the price. Ask for a layout drawing or at least a conversation about it before the order is placed, because panels are usually cut to length at the factory or on site and cannot be changed afterward.
Working with a metal roof
If your home has or will have a metal roof, ask whether the wall panels and the roof use the same coating system and color line. Matching two different manufacturers by eye rarely works, and colors that look the same on a sample chip can read differently at full scale and in different light. Ordering wall and roof panels together from one supplier avoids most of these problems.
Labor and installation
The calculator uses about 3.8 crew hours per 100 sq ft for corrugated and ribbed, up to 5.6 for standing seam, at $55, $70 or $90 per hour for Budget, Standard and Premium. Trim and flashing add labor because metal trim is usually bent on site. Complex walls add 15% or 30% to installation time, and a second or third story adds 12% or 25%. A 2,400 sq ft two-story home in standing seam comes to about $39,200 at Standard prices, including a scaffolding allowance.
Noise, dents and expansion
Metal siding is louder in rain and hail than thicker materials, though a wall with sheathing and insulation behind it muffles most of this. Steel dents less than aluminum but can still dent from hail. Metal expands and contracts with temperature, so panels need the right fastener holes and clearances. Long panels can show slight waviness, known as oil-canning, which is normal in the industry but worth seeing in person before you commit.
Pros and cons of metal siding
Pros: long service life, non-combustible, will not rot or feed insects, recyclable, and modern looks that are hard to get with other materials. Cons: costs more than vinyl, dents from hail, can rust where the coating is breached, noisier in storms, and standing seam needs an experienced installer.
Budget, Standard and Premium
Budget: thinner gauge panels, basic trim and independent installer rates. Standard: mid-grade panels and coating, quality trim and an established installer. Premium: heavier gauge, a premium coating and upgraded trim, installed by a specialist.
Estimated siding area by home size
| Home living area | 1 story | 2 stories | 3 stories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 sq ft | 1,180 | 1,668 | 2,043 |
| 1,500 sq ft | 1,445 | 2,043 | 2,503 |
| 2,000 sq ft | 1,668 | 2,359 | 2,890 |
| 2,500 sq ft | 1,865 | 2,638 | 3,231 |
| 3,000 sq ft | 2,043 | 2,890 | 3,539 |
| 3,500 sq ft | 2,207 | 3,121 | 3,823 |
| 4,000 sq ft | 2,359 | 3,337 | 4,087 |
All figures in sq ft.
How much does metal siding cost? In this calculator's planning assumptions, ribbed steel panels on 1,800 sq ft of wall with tear-off and house wrap are about $18,700 at Standard prices, or about $10.38 per sq ft. Standing seam costs more, at about $28,200.
What is the cheapest metal siding? Corrugated steel, at about $8.87 per sq ft installed on the calculator's sample job without tear-off.
Why is standing seam siding so expensive? The panels cost more and the fasteners are concealed, so installation takes longer. The calculator uses 5.6 crew hours per 100 sq ft versus 3.8 for ribbed panels.
Planning estimate only.
Frequently asked questions
How much does metal siding cost per square foot?
In this calculator's planning assumptions, ribbed steel is about $10.38 per sq ft installed with tear-off, or about $9.19 per sq ft without tear-off. Standing seam and steel shake cost more.
Is metal siding cheaper than vinyl?
No. Corrugated and ribbed steel cost more than standard vinyl, and standing seam costs much more. Metal lasts longer and is non-combustible.
What gauge metal siding should I use on a house?
Most homes use 26 gauge, with 24 gauge common for standing seam and in high-wind or hail areas. A lower gauge number means a thicker panel.
Does metal siding rust?
Bare steel rusts, so the coating does the work. Cut edges and deep scratches are the weak points. Use matching touch-up paint and ask about coastal-rated coatings near salt water.
Is metal siding noisy in rain?
It is louder than thicker materials, though sheathing and wall insulation muffle most of it. A furring gap behind the panels can also help.
Do I need furring strips behind metal siding?
Not always, but a furring gap lets the wall drain and dry, which matters because metal can collect condensation. On the sample job, adding furring raises the Standard total from about $18,700 to $21,000.
Does my ZIP code change the estimate?
No. ZIP code is used to match you with local metal siding contractors. The labor-market selector adjusts labor and other local costs.
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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.