How Much Does Aluminum Siding Cost?

Aluminum Siding Installation Cost Range

The cost of installing aluminum siding on a house is between $6.90 to $16.35 per square foot for most projects when professionally installed. There are several factors that may impact the cost, including the brand and quality of the siding materials, the size and complexity of your home, and the rate you’re charged by the contractor who installs the siding.

Average Cost

The average cost to have aluminum siding installed is $11.60 per square foot with quality aluminum siding and professional installation. This is a significant cost increase from just 5 years ago.

For the DIY homeowner, you can get aluminum siding and installation supplies for roughly $5.35 per square foot.

Overview of Aluminum Siding

Aluminum has made a comeback. It effectively mimics genuine wood siding but at about half the cost and without the maintenance hassles. Homeowners like its brick siding like durability, style and improved coatings that reduce chalking. It is an eco-friendly alternative to vinyl siding and fiber cement siding as well, containing recycled material, and it can be recycled again when removed.

According to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost to Value review, building material like aluminum siding has an ROI of about 88%. For example, if you spend $20,000 on aluminum siding, your home’s market value will get a boost of about $17,600. Siding ROI is higher than most exterior renovation projects like having your windows replaced.

This aluminum siding cost estimate details cost factors, retail cost for the materials and installation labor costs. The goal is to allow you to develop a clear idea of what your costs will be before you get aluminum siding price estimates from local contractors.

We’ve gathered aluminum siding estimates from reliable sites for you to compare. And there’s space below for homeowners to submit their siding costs. Feel free to return to Costimates to share your aluminum siding cost once siding is installed.

Aluminum Siding Cost Factors

These factors determine whether your cost will be less than $10.00 or closer to $16.00 per square foot.

• Siding Quality – Better aluminum siding is thicker and has premium coating that improves resistance to chalking, scratches and fading.
• Panel Type – Standard horizontal and vertical panels cost about the same. Architectural panels mimicking wood shingles and shakes cost 30% to 50% more.
• Insulated Siding – A thin layer of foam insulation can be attached to aluminum siding to produce R-2.0 to R-3.0 insulative value. Cost is $0.50 to $0.85 per square foot higher than non-insulated siding. Tip: Attaching foam board insulation to your home’s sheathing prior to adding siding offers more insulation and better long-term cost savings in climates with extreme temperatures.
• Accessories – Soffit, gable vents and other accessories are usually part of the estimate. Cost varies among the options available. For example, decorative gable vent covers cost more than basic covers.
• Tear-off – When old siding must be removed, vs. new construction, cost will increase by $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot. Dumpster rental could be an extra charge.
• Sheathing Repair – If the house sheathing has water damage, cupped edges or requires other repairs, cost will increase.
• Job Difficulty – Homes with more than one level, more than 4 corners, dormers and other challenges take longer, so cost estimates are higher.
• Who Installs the Siding – Handyman services typically cost less than siding/remodeling contractors. Small companies often give more competitive aluminum siding estimates than large companies because they have lower overhead.
• Additional Work Completed at the Same Time – Replacing the siding on your home is going to require removal of the gutters and downspouts at minimum. Now is the perfect time replace your seamless gutters if you can afford it, though it will cost a bit extra.

The only way to know how these factors will affect cost is to get written estimates from several local siding installers. While choosing the cheapest estimate might be attractive, it is important to be sure the installing crew is licensed, experienced and has a track record of quality installation.

Cost Aluminum Siding and Installation Supplies

You can get a ballpark estimate of how much siding you’ll need by doing your own calculations. The basic calculation is linear feet times the height of the walls plus gables.

Linear Feet: Measure the footprint of your home. The measurements are on the blueprint if you have it. A home 60×32 has a footprint of 60+32+60+32 or 184 linear feet.

Wall Height: Take the linear feet and multiple it by exterior wall height. For a home with 9-foot walls, the calculation for our example is 184 x 9 = 1,656 square feet of siding. There’s no need to try to subtract the area of windows and doors. That extra siding is needed to account for trimming and waste.

Gables: The area of a gable is Base x Height x .5, the area of a triangle.  In our example, the equation might be 32 x 9 x .5 = 144 square feet for each gable end.

That would bring the total to 1,656 + 288 for two gable ends = 1,944 total square feet of siding.

Trim is calculated by measuring the linear feet required around windows, doors and the roof line plus the totals for all inside and outside corners. Note: Our cost estimates include siding, trim and all installation accessories.

Many siding manufacturers have siding calculators on their site, like this one from Mitten, that walk you through the same basic calculations and do the math for you.

On most jobs, materials account for 60% to 65% of the total cost with labor making up the rest.

Retail Cost Range for Aluminum Siding Materials

• $2.40 – $2.90 per square foot | Builder’s Grade .019” Siding
• $2.75 – $3.40 per square foot | Mid-grade .022” Siding
• $3.65 – $4.35 per square foot | Premium .024” Siding
• $3.75 – $4.90 per square foot | Insulated Siding
• $4.15 – $7.50 per square foot | Architectural Panels and Accent Siding
• $1.80 – $2.45 per linear foot | Window, Door and Roofline Trim
• $1.20 – $7.25 per linear foot | Installation Accessories including Starter Strip and Inside/Outside Corners

Aluminum Siding Cost by House Size

House Size	One Story	Multi Story
1,200 Square Feet	$9,100 – $14,250	$10,700 – $15,850
1,500 Square Feet	$11,370 – $17,800	$13,350 – $19,800
1,750 Square Feet	$13,300 – $20,800	$15,575 – $23,100
2,000 Square Feet	$15,250 – $23,600	$17,800 – $26,000
2,400 Square Feet	$18,200 – $28,500	$21,350 – $31,700
2,750 Square Feet	$20,850 – $32,200	$24,500 – $36,300
3,000 Square Feet	$22,750 – $35,650	$26,700 – $39,600

The cost of aluminum siding on a 2,000 square foot home is $15,250 to $26,000 depending on the home’s layout and materials costs.

About Aluminum Siding

Like vinyl siding, aluminum siding is designed to mimic the look of wood siding. It can be smooth, like sanded wood, or textured to replicate natural wood grain. Baked-on finishes and acrylic and PVC coatings have improved in the last decade for better resistance to chalking and fading. Unlike exterior house painting, once aluminum is on your home, you don’t have to worry about paint for many years, if at all.

Basic Options

• Horizontal panels are 6” 8” or 10” wide. Most mimic one or two rows of wood siding. Common examples are Single-8, which is an 8” panel replicating one wood board, and Double-5, a 10” panel that looks like two 5” boards.
• Vertical panels are produced in Flat panels, but most are made to look like traditional board & batten style.
• Thickness of panels starts at .019” or roughly 1/50 of an inch. Most is either .022” or .024” thick. Architectural panels may be as thick as .033”
• Insulated aluminum siding is backed with a thin layer of foam insulation with a value of R-2.0 to R-2.7. In short, it is minimal in its effect on your home’s insulation.
• Trim includes top rails, corners and window trim. It is produced in a range of colors to complement the siding colors.
• Architectural panels are stamped to replicate the look of wood shingles and shakes. The material is often thicker than the aluminum used in panels.
• Colors range from white to charcoal gray as this selection of Ply Gem aluminum siding shows. RBP makes aluminum panels colored in variegated brown tones to mimic stained wood.
• Warranties provided by top brands are usually “Lifetime” for the initial owner of the home. If the home is sold, the warranty becomes a 50-year warranty that begins to be prorated after year 6 and drops by 10% per year. By year 14, the coverage is just 10%. This is the near-identical coverage from two top brands, Ply Gem Mastic and Gentek, among others. RBP is an exception. It offers a 25-year warranty prorated in years 6-25.

Top Aluminum Siding Brands

A handful of brands dominate aluminum siding sales. Cheap brands are sold at Menards and other retail building material stores.

Mid-grade and premium brands are typically sold wholesale directly to contractors. This makes it difficult or impossible for homeowners to purchase it without also setting up installation through a siding contractor.

Here are the leading brands:

• Ply Gem Mastic
• Gentek
• Kaycan
• Alsco
• Rollex
• Royal Building Products, RBP
• Quality Aluminum Products, QAP
• Reinke Shingles and Shakes
• Sell-Even (Menards)

Permits, Inspection, Related Costs and Installation Time

Permits and Inspection Cost

• $0 | No permit is needed if the home isn’t structurally altered. Sheathing replacement and repair does not require a permit.

Labor Costs and Installation Time

Pro installation cost varies by who does the job. In short, this is what you can save by DIY, a topic discussed next.

• $2.35 – $3.50 per square foot | Handyman Service
• $3.25 – $4.65 per square foot | Small Siding Contractor
• $3.50 – $5.00 per square foot | Large Siding Contractor

The size of the crew, the size of your home and the complexity of the work will determine how long it takes to side a home.

Home size, levels and number of corners plus the size of the crew are the factors that will determine how long it takes to install aluminum siding.

A two-person crew can install 35-45 square feet per hour, or up to 450 square feet in a 10-hour day.

Your schedule for a 2-person crew will look something like this:

• Up to 1 Day | Remove Old Siding (if needed)
• .5 – 1 Day | Replace House Wrap (if needed)
• 2 – 3 Days | Side Homes up to 1,200 square feet
• 4-6 Days | Side Homes 1,200 to 2,400 square feet

Related Projects

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DIY or Hire a Pro?

Installing aluminum siding is a moderately difficult project. We recommend pro installation to ensure the best-looking job.

For those that want to save on labor costs, it is a good idea to work with an experienced installer on a job or two before tackling your own house. Aluminum siding installation takes a variety of skills for the work to look professional.

The challenges include:

• Making sure the house’s sheathing is entirely smooth, so that no imperfections telegraph through the aluminum siding. Cupped and bowed sheathing boards must be sanded or replaced.
• Installing the starter strip perfectly level or straight to ensure the siding isn’t crooked.
• Nailing the siding securely but not too tight. The siding needs room to expand and contract with temperature changes to prevent buckling and warping.

If you’re inclined to install the siding, follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. You might want to start in a less-visible area and be prepared to make a few mistakes while getting the hang of it. Check and double-check your starter strip and first piece with your level before going further.

Protection for your eyes and ears if using a power saw to cut the metal and for your hands is essential.