Siding Replacement Cost Calculator — Cost to Replace Siding

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How the estimate works

Siding is priced per square foot of exterior wall — material and labor blended together. The calculator takes your wall area (roughly 1.5× your home's footprint, more with gables and extra stories), multiplies by the material's installed cost per square foot, then scales for the number of stories and your region. Tear-off of the old siding is added separately, at about $1–$3 per square foot.

Each material carries a national installed-cost range — from about $4–$12 per sq ft for vinyl up to $10–$25 for brick veneer. The result is an honest low-to-high range, because real siding bids vary that much depending on trim detail, material grade, and access.

What drives the price

Material is the biggest lever — brick veneer or fiber-cement can cost 2–3× a basic vinyl job.
Wall area grows with stories, gables, and dormers — a complex two-story has far more siding than its footprint suggests.
Tear-off and sheathing repair are the wildcards — rotten sheathing or failed house wrap hidden behind old siding is the most common budget-buster.
Region swings labor by 40% or more between rural areas and coastal metros.

Common mistakes

Estimating by footprint, not wall area. A 2,000 sq ft house can have 1,500–2,000+ sq ft of wall once height and gables are counted.
Skipping the weather barrier. New siding over old or missing house wrap traps moisture and shortens its life.
Forgetting tear-off and disposal. Stripping old siding and hauling it off is real labor and dumpster cost.
Taking one bid. Siding bids for the same job routinely vary 30–40%. Always get three.

When this calculator is the wrong tool

Use a pro inspection for: structural or sheathing repairs, full stucco re-application over lath, masonry restoration, insurance-claim scope, or homes with extensive rot. This tool estimates a standard residential re-side.

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FAQ

Questions, answered

How much does it cost to replace siding?

For a typical 2,000 sq ft, two-story home (about 1,500 sq ft of exterior wall) most homeowners pay roughly $6,000–$18,000 to re-side in vinyl, with the national midpoint around $12,000. Fiber-cement, wood, metal, brick, and stucco cost more — fiber-cement (Hardie) commonly runs $12,000–$30,000 on the same house. Your final price depends on wall area, material, tear-off, stories, and local labor rates.

How do I figure out my exterior wall square footage?

Wall area is roughly 1.5× your home's footprint — so a 2,000 sq ft floor plan has around 1,500–2,000 sq ft of siding, more if you have gables, dormers, or extra stories. For a tighter number, measure each wall (length × height), add them up, and subtract large windows and doors. This calculator takes wall area directly and defaults to 1,500 sq ft.

Is fiber-cement (Hardie) worth the extra cost?

In most climates, yes. Fiber-cement resists fire, rot, and pests and lasts 30–50 years, versus 20–30 for vinyl — and it consistently posts one of the best cost-recovery numbers in Remodeling's Cost vs Value report. It costs more up front and is heavier to install, but the longer life and resale bump make it the strongest ROI for a forever home.

Should I tear off the old siding?

Usually. Removing the old siding lets the crew inspect the sheathing and house wrap, find and fix hidden rot, and install a proper weather barrier. Tear-off adds roughly $1–$3 per square foot, but siding over damaged or uneven walls hides problems that get expensive later. Budget a 10–15% contingency in case the crew finds rot underneath.

Is this an exact quote?

No — it's a planning estimate built from national average cost ranges. Siding prices swing widely by region, material grade, trim detail, and crew. Always get 3 written bids from licensed local siding contractors before budgeting.