Vinyl siding is a popular choice for homeowners because it’s durable, easy to maintain, and aesthetically pleasing. Vinyl siding costs are typically affordable, which means you can upgrade your home design even while on a budget.
As a contractor, there’s nothing more satisfying than helping people replace their siding and upgrade their homes. That’s why I’ve created this guide on how much vinyl siding costs using RSMeans data, online research, and insights from other home improvement experts. In addition to learning about the overall costs of vinyl siding, you’ll find out how to best approach this project yourself or with help from a siding contractor or roofer.
What Is the Cost of Vinyl Siding?
Installing vinyl siding on your home typically costs between $7,250 and $23,200, or $15,225 on average. The price can reach $32,800 when installing premium vinyl materials on a large 3,500-square-foot home. Materials range from $3 to $11 per square foot, and you’ll pay another $2 to $5 per square foot for labor.
Vinyl Siding Costs
| Type of Cost | Amount |
| Average Cost | $15,225 |
| Highest Cost | $32,800 |
| Lowest Cost | $4,000 |
What Is the Cost of Vinyl Siding by Style?
Vinyl siding comes in many styles, ranging from $3 to $11 per square foot. Smooth and clapboard house siding styles are the most affordable, while log siding comes with premium prices. Use the table below to explore the price range for each design.
Vinyl Siding Cost by Style
| Vinyl Siding Style | Cost Per Square Foot |
| Smooth | $3–$4.50 |
| Clapboard | $3–$5 |
| Beaded | $4–$6 |
| Dutch lap | $4–$6 |
| Cedar texture | $4–$6 |
| Shake profile | $6–$7 |
| Scalloped | $4–$9 |
| Board and Batten | $5–$9 |
| Log Look | $5–$11 |
Smooth
Smooth siding costs $3 to $4.50 per square foot. This style has a smooth, untextured surface that creates a clean, modern look. The plain surface makes the color pop, helping improve your home’s curb appeal instantly.
Clapboard
The price of clapboard siding is between $3 and $5 per square foot. Also known as traditional lap siding, this style features long boards installed horizontally with a slight overlap. In addition to looking fantastic, this design elevates vinyl’s natural weather-resistant properties.
Beaded
Expect to pay around $4 to $6 per square foot for beaded vinyl siding. A true Southern classic, this style has a small bead or groove along the bottom of each board. Although the details are small, beaded siding can make homes look more sophisticated and refined.
Dutch Lap
Dutch lap siding costs around $4 to $6 per square foot. This style has handcrafted appeal due to the bevel cut at the top of each plank. The distinctive shadow line creates a classic look that many homeowners favor.
Cedar Texture
The price of cedar texture siding is around $4 to $6 per square foot. The realistic cedar grain adds visual appeal without having to worry about the drawbacks of wood siding. You can get cedar texture on vinyl boards, shakes, and other popular styles.
Shake Profile
If you want vinyl shake siding, it’ll cost about $6 to $7 per square foot. The shake shingle profile makes it look like real cedar, but it won’t weather and break apart like wood eventually does. The hand-sawn texture creates a unique exterior design that emits rustic charm.
Scalloped
Scalloped vinyl siding costs anywhere from $4 to $9 per square foot. Its design is similar to cedar shakes, except each piece has a rounded edge at the bottom. Although it’s often used as gable accents, it’s particularly striking when used as the primary siding choice.
Board and Batten
Board and batten siding costs anywhere from $5 to $9 per square foot. This vertical vinyl siding style has wide boards separated by thin batten strips installed over the seams. Its vertical pattern has a retro vibe, setting your home design apart from the rest.
Log Look
Vinyl log look siding is around $5 to $11 per square foot. This material is reminiscent of log cabin but with plenty of modern flair. You can get yours with a subtle wood grain or go with the rough-cut style for rural elegance.
What Does Vinyl Siding Cost by Size?
The total cost of your vinyl siding project largely depends on the size of your home. Larger homes require more materials and labor hours. If you live in an 800-square-foot home, you may pay as little as $4,000. Re-siding a 3,500-square-foot home starts at $10,250 and can reach $32,800.
Vinyl Siding Cost by Home Size
| Home Size (by square feet) | Average Cost (Installed) |
| 800 | $4,000–$13,600 |
| 1,000 | $5,250–$16,800 |
| 1,500 | $6,250–$20,000 |
| 2,000 | $7,250–$23,200 |
| 2,500 | $8,250–$26,400 |
| 3,000 | $9,250–$29,600 |
| 3,500 | $10,250–$32,800 |
Which Factors Impact How Much Vinyl Siding Costs?
The vinyl siding style and the square footage of your home are important, but they’re not the only things to consider. Several additional factors can influence the total cost of your home improvement project regarding siding, including material quality and customizations.
Material Quality
Standard vinyl siding materials can make up $4,350 to $15,950 of the total cost of upgrading a 2,000-square-foot home. Getting a lower or higher quality siding material grade could change the price.
Builder’s grade siding is as little as $2 per square foot. The savings come at the expense of potential compromises in durability and aesthetics. It can work in a pinch, though, if you’re in immediate need of siding and have a limited budget.
Premium siding can cost nearly twice as much as standard grade, primarily due to its increased thickness. The robust finish increases durability and offers more protection from the weather. You can also get insulated vinyl siding that improves your home’s energy efficiency. Although you’ll pay more upfront, the extra insulation can save you money on utility bills.
Labor Rate
Professional installers charge around $2 to $5 per square foot to install vinyl siding. This usually works out to about $50 to $100 per hour. If your home is 2,000 square feet, you may pay around $2,900 to $7,250 for labor costs.
You might pay more than that if your home has a complex exterior design, multiple levels, or other factors that increase how long it takes to complete the installation process. Timing can also play a role in the total labor rate. Having the job done in the summer or other peak times can result in higher costs.
Home Design
Installing vinyl siding on single-story homes with straightforward exterior designs costs $15,225, according to the national average. If your home has a second story, the price could go up by 35% due to the need for additional materials and labor, increasing the total to $20,560.
Complex home designs, like Victorian and Queen Anne styles, can increase the price even more. Although these designs don’t usually need more materials, installers have to take additional time to measure, cut, and install each piece of siding.
Property Location
The location of your home can impact your vinyl siding project costs. If your home is in a remote area, delivery of materials could be more expensive. If you live in a big city, you might pay more for labor due to the higher demand for professional home improvement services.
Where you live also determines whether you’ll need to get a building permit and inspections. If so, you may pay hundreds of dollars more to complete your siding installation project regardless of whether you DIY or hire a professional.
Customizations
Adding your own personal touch to the siding installation can come at a hefty cost. Installers base their labor rate on a straightforward installation. If you want more flair, like a diagonal design, it’ll cost more for labor. Material costs could go up as well, depending on the exact cuts needed.
If you don’t like any of the vinyl colors, you can have the siding painted to the tune of $2,500 to $5,000. Going with a more decorative trim design can add $1,000 or more to the final price. Installing new gutters as a finishing touch? Expect to pay an additional $1,500 to $5,000.
When trying to save money on a vinyl siding project, don’t skimp on surface prep. Check the exterior wall surface for signs of rot or existing damage. Invest in the right sheathing, flashing, and insulation for your area. If your area gets a lot of rain, you’ll benefit from installing waterproof barriers. On the other hand, if your region regularly experiences extreme temperatures, don’t forget the foam insulation.
What Are the Benefits of Investing in Vinyl Siding?
Vinyl siding offers many benefits that set it apart from other options, which makes it a worthwhile investment. Vinyl comes in various styles, colors, and textures, allowing you to customize your home’s exterior design to your liking. It’s also quick to install, so you can transform your home’s look in less than a week.
It’s particularly popular due to its excellent balance of affordability and durability. Although it’s the most cost-effective siding material, vinyl can last up to 40 years with minimal maintenance. In fact, it’s so low maintenance that you just have to clean it with a pressure washer once a year to keep it looking its best. You never have to paint it, either, as you would with fiber cement siding.
Beyond that, vinyl is resistant to many things that affect other types of siding. Unlike wood, it won’t rot or get damaged by pests. It’s also unlikely to fade in the sunlight and doesn’t need to be sealed to keep moisture out. In comparison to stucco, vinyl siding won’t start warping or cracking from excess moisture or extreme temperatures. And it’s not as easy to dent as aluminum siding.
Professional Vs. DIY Vinyl Siding Cost
Vinyl siding installation is a straightforward project, but that doesn’t mean it’s simple. You have to accurately cut the material to size, line it up just right, and properly secure it to the exterior wall for optimal results.
This is why I recommend hiring a professional. You’ll only pay $2 to $5 more per square foot for their services and get peace of mind in return. Many siding installation companies also back their workmanship with a warranty, eliminating worry about the potential for future problems with the installation.
Installing Vinyl Siding Yourself
Installing the siding yourself might seem like a good way to save money. But it’s not always the right choice to make.
Unless you have a large crew available, you’ll have to climb up and down a ladder repeatedly to measure, cut, and put up the siding, which could be a safety risk. Moreover, getting the wall properly prepared and setting up the starter strip is crucial for ideal results.
Incorrectly installed siding can lead to problems down the line, like water damage, pest infestations, and poor energy efficiency. These issues can cost a lot more to fix than hiring a professional to do the siding replacement.
Hiring a Professional for Vinyl Siding
If you’ve decided to go with vinyl siding for your home, you might want to hire a professional to install it. With help from an expert, you can get the job done right and on time. For the best results, take your time in finding and hiring the right professional using the following five steps.
- Research siding experts: Find a reputable company to complete this project by researching siding and roofing experts in your area. You can browse online, ask friends and family for referrals, or check out the recommendations from your favorite publications, like Today’s Homeowner.
- Get at least three bids: Request quotes from at least three companies. This can help you understand the average price for siding installations in your area and give you negotiating power. You’ll also get to see what each expert offers, including the quality of materials.
- Review their portfolios: Review the portfolio of each roofer and siding company you’re considering. Look at photos of their past projects and even ask prior customers about the quality of service each company offers.
- Read through the contracts: Take a closer look at the price quotes to read the fine print at the bottom. In that section, you’ll find potential extra vinyl siding installation costs, project timelines, payment terms, and other important details about the job.
- Authorize the work: Sign the contract and issue the first payment once you find the right siding professional. They’ll put your project on the schedule soon after that, depending on their workload and your preferences.
So, Is Vinyl Siding Worth the Cost?
Vinyl siding can be a worthwhile investment in your home. If you like the look, want to keep maintenance to a minimum, and can afford it, vinyl is the perfect choice. Its durability and long lifespan bring immense value to the table, so you can enjoy your investment for decades to come.
If vinyl isn’t right for your home, you can consider other home siding materials. Wood, fiber cement, and metal siding also have their advantages, but they can’t beat vinyl in the price department. You can explore all the house siding costs when you call siding contractors and roofers in your area for quotes.
FAQs About Vinyl Siding
Is vinyl the cheapest siding?
Vinyl is the most affordable siding material. It’s typically $3.50 to $5.50 per square foot, with smooth and clapboard styles at the lowest end of the price range. You could spend up to $11 per square foot if you’d like more premium types of vinyl siding, like board and batten.
Does new vinyl siding increase home value?
Vinyl siding can increase your home value by over $15,000. The high return on investment makes it a worthwhile project if you’re planning to sell your residential property at any point down the line.
What is the process of installing vinyl siding?
The basic process of installing vinyl siding follows these steps:
- Remove and dispose of the old siding material.
- Secure the sheathing and flashing to the exterior wall.
- Place the starter strip, corner pieces, and corner trim.
- Add the side panels one by one, cutting them to fit.
- Complete the job by installing the J-trim and other finishing touches.
What goes behind vinyl siding?
Many materials can back vinyl siding, including foam board insulation, water-resistant barriers, and flashing. These materials attach to the wall sheathing to create a solid foundation for the siding material. You can also install the new vinyl over the existing siding, but it could lead to issues like trapped moisture and surface imperfections.
