If you’re planning on installing new siding or remodeling your current exterior house siding, you might be wondering how much siding you’ll need for your siding project.

Siding is generally estimated by the square or the standard unit of area measurement. A Square in a siding is equal to 100 square feet. Therefore, it helps determine the number of sidings needed based on its total square footage.

When deciding on house siding installation, it’s crucial to know how much siding and squares, and how to measure the total house area to ensure proper siding installation.

Read our comprehensive guide about the standard number of sidings in a box and how to measure a house for siding to become informed.


How Many Pieces Of Siding Are In A Box?

The total quantity of vinyl siding may vary depending on the width and length of the vinyl siding. But in general, a carton or box of vinyl siding contains either a standard quantity between 14 or 24 pieces.

In addition, a box of vinyl siding may also contain 20 pieces if the vinyl siding piece is 6″  x10′ long. If the vinyl siding is 8″ x12′ long, a box may have 25 pieces, while a box of 12″ x12’-6″ vinyl sidings may contain 16 pieces. 

modern house siding
Image credit: Canva

The standard box of cedar siding typically contains 8 pieces, but some cedar siding products can be bought per piece in other stores. For the fiber cement siding, a box or bundle typically contains 18 to 20 pieces, depending on the dimensions and types.

The main differences in product quantities between various types of siding may vary depending on the specific size, shape, and manufacturer.


What Is A “Square” Of Vinyl Siding?

Vinyl siding is commonly estimated and priced by square to determine how much material and labor is needed. 

Square is a standard unit of area measurement for vinyl siding, which is equal to 100 square feet of material. The term “square” is often used by vinyl siding professionals, building suppliers, contractors, and installers.  In addition, a box of vinyl siding contains an average of 2 squares of material or 200 square feet.


What Is A “Box” Of Vinyl Siding?

A box of vinyl siding refers to the bundle or the standard number of pieces of vinyl siding when purchased in stores. Also, the number of vinyl siding pieces inside a carton or box may vary, depending on the length and width of the pieces.


How Many Square Feet In A Box Of Vinyl Siding?

A box of vinyl siding is enough to cover 100 or 200 square feet, depending on the vinyl siding pieces’ length and width. In general, if the box has 14 pieces inside, it may cover 100 square feet, and a box with 24 pieces will cover 200 square feet.


How Big Is A Square Of Siding?

One square or one unit of vinyl siding is equal to covering 100 square feet of a surface.


How Many Pieces Of Vinyl Siding In A Square?

In general, there will be about 14 to 20 pieces of vinyl siding to cover one square.

However, the accurate estimate of the number of pieces may differ, depending on the vinyl siding piece’s dimension, including its width and length.


How Many Squares Of Siding Do I Need?

Before installation, it’s important to determine the number of materials needed. You can do this by measuring the square footage.

You need to find the number of materials you need by measuring the square footage. If your house is 1500 square feet, you have to divide that number by 100. So for your house, your 1500 square feet house would need approximately 15 squares of vinyl siding.

But if you don’t know the square feet of your house’s surface yet, you can follow this calculation.

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To calculate the squares of a siding for an installation, the first thing is to measure the height and width in feet of each wall. Next is to multiply the height and width to get the total wall area in square feet. Finally, divide the square feet of the wall area by 100 to get the number of squares for the wall siding installation. 

For example, one of the walls on your house measures 60ft tall and 40ft wide. 

60ft x 40ft = 2400 square feet. After getting the answer, you can now divide the total wall square feet by 100.

2400 sq.ft. ÷ 100 = 24 squares.


How To Measure A House For Siding

You can measure a house by starting by measuring the width and the height of each house wall. Then, multiply each height and width measurement to get the square footage of each wall.

After that, add all the square footage of each wall to get the total house square footage.

Height (feet) X Width (feet) = Total wall sq.ft.

siding installation
Image credit: Canva

For example:

  • Wall 1 is 50ft x 40ft = 2000 sq.ft.
  • Wall 2 is 60ft x 30 ft = 1800 sq.ft. 
  • Wall 3 is 50ft x 40ft = 2000 sq.ft.
  • Wall 4 is 70ft x 50ft = 3500 sq.ft.

Add all the square footage of each wall to get the total home square footage: 

2000 + 1800 + 2000+ 3500 = 9300 sq.ft.

Other architectural elements should also be measured, including gables, dormers, etc.

The triangular areas like the gable roof have the same calculation, but the square footage of these areas will be divided in half or by 2.

(Height X Width) ÷ 2 = Total gable sq. ft

For example:

Gable 1: 30ft X 25ft ÷ 2 = 750 sq. ft

750  ÷ 2 = 375 sq. ft (total gable sq. ft.)

Perforations like doors and windows need to be measured too. After getting the measurements of the width and height of each window and door, the same formula can be used to calculate the total square footage of each window and door. Finally, add the square footage of the doors and windows, then subtract it from the total home sq. ft to get the final project sq. ft.

  • Door 1: Height X Width = Total door sq. ft.
  • Window 1: Height X Width = Total window sq. ft.

For example:

  • Door 1: 7ft X 3ft = 21 sq. ft.
  • Window 1: 2ft X 2ft = 4 sq. ft.
  • Window 2: 4ft X 4ft = 16 sq. ft.

Add all the square footage of the perforations, then subtract by the total home sq. ft.

 21 + 4 + 16 = 41 sq. ft.

Total home sq. ft. is subtracted by the sum of perforations.

9300 – 41 = 9,259 sq. ft. (final house project sq. ft.)

After calculating your house’s total square footage, it’s best to add 10% for the estimation if there are unnecessary accidents on the materials and potential waste.


How Much Siding Do I Need for a 1000 Square Foot House?

For a 1000 Square Foot House, you may need an estimated 10 boxes of siding to cover the total surface since one box of siding can cover 100 square feet. But it’s also recommended to add two or more boxes in case there are damages or potential waste on products to ensure you can cover the house adequately.

Today’s Homeowner Tips

For a more accurate calculation, you may use siding calculators or get an estimation from your local building professionals to know how much siding you need for a 1000 Square Foot House. 


How Much Siding Do I Need For A 24×24 Garage

You have to measure the exact length of the garage’s one side, even if the garage on each side is approximately 24 feet, to calculate how much siding you will need accurately. Then, measure the same garage wall’s height. After that, multiply the two dimensions to determine the wall area.

For example, when multiplied together, a garage wall that is 24 ft long and 9 feet high equals 216 sq. ft.

The next step is to subtract any openings or perforations in the garage wall you measured, such as doors and windows. Multiply the perforations first, and then subtract the square footage from the wall’s total square footage. 

For example, a side door is 4 feet by 7 feet. 

4 x 7 = 28 sq. ft.

216 – 28 = 188 sq. ft.

Ensure to add a waste factor or the percentage of the additional materials you need for mistakes. You may check with your siding manufacturer or material supplier to know the estimated waste factor needed.

However, a common waste factor is 10%. So, after getting the total garage wall area, multiply it by 0.1, and add that number to your total.

Editorial Contributors
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Alora Bopray

Staff Writer

Alora Bopray is a digital content producer for the home warranty, HVAC, and plumbing categories at Today's Homeowner. She earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of St. Scholastica and her master's degree from the University of Denver. Before becoming a writer for Today's Homeowner, Alora wrote as a freelance writer for dozens of home improvement clients and informed homeowners about the solar industry as a writer for EcoWatch. When she's not writing, Alora can be found planning her next DIY home improvement project or plotting her next novel.

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Roxanne Downer

Editor

Roxanne Downer is a commerce editor at Today’s Homeowner, where she tackles everything from foundation repair to solar panel installation. She brings more than 15 years of writing and editing experience to bear in her meticulous approach to ensuring accurate, up-to-date, and engaging content. She’s previously edited for outlets including MSN, Architectural Digest, and Better Homes & Gardens. An alumna of the University of Pennsylvania, Roxanne is now an Oklahoma homeowner, DIY enthusiast, and the proud parent of a playful pug.

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