How Much Does It Cost to Replace Siding on a House in 2026?
You picture the fresh curb appeal and the end of the peeling paint — then the first siding quote arrives: five figures, far higher than you expected.
Siding is priced by wall square footage, not floor square footage — the first surprise for most homeowners. A 2,000 square foot two-story house carries 1,800 to 2,400 square feet of siding after windows and doors.
All prices are national US estimates checked Nov 2, 2026, from Angi, This Old House, HomeGuide, and Clear Home Projects. Your quote will vary by city, house size, and what the crew finds behind the old siding.
The Quick Answer
Siding replacement typically costs $7,000 to $18,000 in 2026, averaging near $11,500 per Clear Home Projects. Angi puts the average at about $11,579, with most homeowners paying $5,560 to $17,725.
Use this simple formula to budget:
Total = wall area in square feet × price per square foot installed + tear-off + house wrap + permit + 10% contingency
The contingency matters: rotten sheathing, damaged studs, or insulation problems only show up once the old siding comes off.
Siding Cost Per Square Foot by Material
Installed means materials plus labour. Material choice is the single largest line item, and the spread from vinyl to stone is roughly threefold.
| Material | Per sq ft installed | For 2,000 sq ft of wall |
|---|---|---|
| Vinyl (standard) | $3 – $12 | $7,000 – $14,000 |
| Aluminium | $3.50 – $7 | $7,000 – $14,000 |
| Engineered wood | $6.50 – $11 | $13,000 – $22,000 |
| Fiber cement | $5 – $14 | $12,000 – $26,000 |
| Wood / cedar | $8 – $14 | $16,000 – $28,000 |
| Stucco | $7 – $17 | $14,000 – $34,000 |
| Brick or stone veneer | $10 – $25 | $20,000 – $50,000 |
Some sources put fiber cement higher, at $7 to $18 or even $9 to $20 per square foot installed, as the heavy panels are slower to install. The $5 to $14 band from This Old House is most commonly cited; budget toward the high end if your house has a lot of trim, corners, or second-story work.
Vinyl: $3 to $12 Per Square Foot
Vinyl is the cheapest common siding and the most popular US choice. Standard vinyl runs $4 to $6 per square foot installed; premium or insulated vinyl $6 to $8, and some sources list up to $12.
Vinyl never needs painting, resists rot and insects, and lasts 20 to 40 years. Downsides are a less premium look than wood or fiber cement, and panels that can crack in very cold weather or warp in extreme heat. Repairs are easy: one panel can usually be swapped out.
Fiber Cement: $5 to $14 Per Square Foot
Fiber cement, sold most famously as James Hardie HardiePlank, is the mid-to-premium workhorse at $6 to $13 per square foot installed, with HardiePlank itself at $6.50 to $14.
It looks like wood, resists fire, rot, and insects, and lasts 30 to 50 years. Trade-offs are weight — slower installation, higher labour — and repainting every 12 to 18 years unless you buy the factory-finished ColorPlus line.
Wood and Cedar: $8 to $14 Per Square Foot
Real wood clapboard or cedar costs $8 to $16 per square foot installed, depending on the source. Cedar averages $11.70 per square foot installed, per This Old House.
Wood looks the best of any siding and can last 30 to 60 years with upkeep — but upkeep is the catch: repainting or re-staining every 4 to 7 years, plus watching for rot and insects. Engineered wood, like LP SmartSide, costs less at $6.50 to $11 and needs repainting only every 8 to 12 years.
Aluminium, Stucco, Brick, and Stone
Aluminium costs $3.50 to $7 per square foot installed and lasts 30 to 50 years, but dents easily. Stucco runs $7 to $17 and suits dry climates. Brick ($10 to $22) and stone veneer ($12 to $25) last 50 to 100 years or more, but are the most expensive options.
Why Published Averages Disagree
National averages range from about $11,500 to about $19,000. Both can be right, because they measure different things:
- Angi: about $11,579 average. Based on reported homeowner projects, which skew toward vinyl.
- Clear Home Projects: about $11,500 average, $7,000 to $18,000 range. A similar all-materials average.
- This Old House: about $19,000 average, $8,000 to $30,000 range. Covers the full material spread and larger homes.
A second source of confusion is square footage: some guides price by floor area, others by wall area. A 2,000 square foot house has roughly 1,800 to 2,400 square feet of wall, depending on stories and shape. Always check which number a quote uses before comparing.
Worked Example: A 2,000 Square Foot Home
A 2,000 square foot home with about 2,000 square feet of wall, one story, 12 windows and doors, and old vinyl siding to remove.
Vinyl, mid-range:
- Vinyl siding installed at about $6 per sq ft: $12,000
- Tear-off and disposal of old siding: $1,500
- House wrap, trim, soffit, and fascia: $2,000
- Permit: $300
- 10% contingency: $1,580
Total: about $17,380
Fiber cement, mid-range:
- Fiber cement installed at about $10 per sq ft: $20,000
- Tear-off and disposal of old siding: $1,500
- House wrap, trim, soffit, and fascia: $2,500
- Permit: $300
- 10% contingency: $2,430
Total: about $26,730
A smaller 1,500 square foot home runs $5,250 to $10,500 for vinyl and $9,000 to $19,500 for fiber cement, before tear-off. If a vinyl quote is far above $18,000 before extras, get a written breakdown and two more quotes.
What Else Affects the Price?
Tear-off. Removing the old siding adds about $1,000 to $2,000, or $0.75 to $1.50 per square foot including disposal. Two layers — common where vinyl went over original wood — run $1.50 to $2.50. Installing over existing siding saves money but hides defects and may not meet code.
Rotten sheathing. Sheathing replacement runs $70 to $110 per 4 by 8 sheet installed, and localised stud or rim repair $500 to $2,500 per area. Get a written per-sheet price in the contract before work starts.
Stories and shape. A two-story house costs more than a one-story house because of scaffolding and slower work; corners, gables, dormers, and trim all add labour and waste.
Insulation. Foam insulation board under new siding improves energy efficiency but adds cost: insulated vinyl runs $5 to $9 per square foot installed, against $3.50 to $7 for standard.
Location. Labour is roughly half the total and rates vary widely: the same house can cost 15% more in Hawaii and 15% less in Arkansas than the national average.
Does New Siding Add Value to a Home?
Yes — siding is one of the strongest exterior projects for resale. Zonda's Cost vs. Value report puts fiber cement's resale recoup near 88%, while more recent figures put vinyl at 67 to 69% and fiber cement at 70 to 77%. Fiber cement is one of the best resale performers of any remodel. New siding also seals out weather and transforms curb appeal.
DIY vs Hiring a Pro
Siding is a pro job for most homeowners. The panels are long, heavy, and easy to install badly: nailed too tight, a panel cannot expand and will buckle; nailed too loose, it will rattle and leak. Water behind siding rots sheathing quietly for years before you notice.
A pro crew re-sides a 2,000 square foot home in vinyl in 2 to 3 weeks, or 3 to 5 weeks for fiber cement or cedar. DIY saves labour — roughly half the total — but the work is slow, high, and unforgiving of mistakes. Make sure any quote covers tear-off, house wrap, trim, and disposal — not just panels.
How to Get an Accurate Price
Measure your wall area, choose a material, and decide whether to remove the old siding. Then get at least three written quotes listing materials, labour, tear-off, house wrap, trim, permit, and disposal.
Ask about the timeline, warranty, and per-sheet price if rot is found. The cheapest quote is not always best value if house wrap or flashing is skipped.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest siding to install?
Vinyl, at $3 to $12 per square foot installed — the most affordable durable option, and the most common US choice.
How much does it cost to side a 1,500-square-foot house?
About $5,250 to $10,500 for vinyl and $9,000 to $19,500 for fiber cement, installed, before tear-off ($1,000 to $2,000).
How long does siding replacement take?
About 2 to 3 weeks for a 2,000 square foot vinyl home, or 3 to 5 weeks for fiber cement or cedar, tear-off and trim included.
Can new siding be installed over old siding?
Sometimes, and it saves the tear-off cost. But it hides rot and defects, adds weight, and may not meet code. Tear-off lets the crew inspect sheathing and replace house wrap.
Does new siding add value to a home?
Yes. Vinyl recoups roughly 67 to 69% of its cost at resale, and fiber cement 70 to 88%, depending on the Cost vs. Value edition.
Sources: Angi, This Old House, HomeGuide, Clear Home Projects, and Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value report. Prices are national US estimates checked Nov 2, 2026, and are not a quote for your property.