How Much Does Vinyl Siding Cost?

Common Range: $4.75 – $16.25 / Sqft Installed

National Average: $8.30, Per Sqft Installed

Updated: November 17, 2023. Written by: Steve Hansen

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Vinyl Siding Installation Cost Range

The cost of installing vinyl siding on a house varies based on the quality of the materials, the size and complexity of your home, and the rate charged by the siding contractor. A typical cost range for vinyl siding and installation is between $6.35 to $12.65 per square foot. Cheap vinyl siding cost is less than $5.00 per square foot while premium vinyl siding with vinyl shingle accents costs closer to $15.00 per square foot.

Average Cost

The average cost to have vinyl siding installed is $8.30 per square foot with professional installation, and a good quality siding that is .042″ to .044″ thick. This makes the average cost to install vinyl siding on a home with a 2,000 square foot exterior around $16,500.

Average Do It Yourself Cost
$4.25 / Sqft
Average Contractor Installed Cost
$8.30 Per Sqft.
Typical Cost Range
$6.35 – $12.65 / Sqft

house with new vinyl siding installed

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Overview of Home Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding remains the most popular exterior siding type because it is affordable, comes in a wide array of colors and styles, and can really refresh the curb appeal of an older home. It requires very little maintenance compared with genuine wood and several other types of siding.

According to the highly respected Remodeling Magazine Cost to Value survey for 2023, vinyl siding has a return on investment of 94.7%. That means if you spend $15,000 on vinyl siding, your home’s market value should increase by $14,200. Compare this ROI to 88.5% for fiber cement siding.  Both have better ROI than more expensive or higher maintenance siding types like brick veneer siding and several others. Siding replacement yields a higher return as a percentage, than most interior or exterior home remodeling projects.

This cost estimate, or Costimate, breaks down vinyl siding types, cost factors and top brands. We’ve gathered cost estimates from other dependable estimating sites and offered homeowners the opportunity to share the scope and cost of vinyl siding for their home. Feel free to return to Costimates to share your vinyl siding price for the benefit of other readers once your project is complete.

Vinyl Siding Cost Factors

A price range of $4.30 to $7.65 is pretty wide. Material cost and installation factors both impact final price.

  • Siding Quality – This is related to thickness, but quality also includes the amount of strengthener and UV fade protection added to the material. The warranty length is a good indicator of quality.
  • Profile – Architectural shake/shingle/scallop panels cost 35% to 60% more than standard horizontal and vertical panels.
  • Thickness – For any brand, the thicker the material, the more it will cost. Vinyl siding starts at .038″ or .040″ for affordable vinyl up to .046″ and .048″ for premium materials.
  • Premium Colors – Deep, rich colors are often branded as “premium,” and cost is 30 to 70 cents higher per square foot.
  • Accessories – Vinyl vented soffit, gable vents and decorative elements like gingerbread raise the cost when they are part of the estimate.
  • Insulated Panels – As discussed above, the energy cost savings realized with insulated vinyl siding probably are not worth the higher material cost.
  • Where you Live – If you live in an area with a high cost of living, such as a large metro area along the coast, your vinyl siding price estimates will be higher than if you live in a smaller town or rural area.
  • Tear-off – If old siding is being removed, cost will be $1.50 to $2.75 per square foot higher. The cost of a dumpster might be additional.
  • Sheathing Work – If the sheathing beneath old siding must be repaired, cost might exceed those given above.
  • Installation Considerations – A 4-corner, single-story home is the easiest to side. With increased corners, a second level that requires working from ladders and other challenges come higher labor costs.
  • Other Exterior Work Done – When you hire a contractor to do siding plus windows and doors, or plantation shutters for example, a small discount might be given due to the larger volume of work.
  • Who Installs the Siding – DIY is cheapest, of course, if the job is done properly. We discuss whether vinyl siding installation is a DIY project to consider below. A handyman service costs less than a siding/remodeling contractor, and small contractors often charge less than large ones.

In terms of the last factor, we recommend that you get multiple estimates, and check on quality and expertise, not just cost. A cheap job done poorly becomes costly quite quickly, while a pricey installation that looks good for decades is worth the money. Anyone you hire should be licensed and insured for liability and property damage.

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Cost of Siding and Installation Supplies

The amount of siding you need can be determined by measuring the footprint of your home in linear feet and then multiplying that number by the height of the walls. Consider a 30’x50’ home with 8’ ceilings. Total the linear feet of the four side this way: 30+50+30+50 = 160 linear feet x 8 = 1,280 square feet of siding before gables are considered. The same home with 10-foot ceilings would need 1,600 square feet of siding without gables.

Gable area can be determined by the formula for the area of a triangle – ½ the base x height. In our example, that would be 30 x 8 x .5 = 120 square feet for each gable or 240 square feet for two. Add the gable areas to the total to get a total of 1,520 square feet or 1,900 square feet for 10′ ceilings.

The cost breakdown for average vinyl siding is about 50/50 for the materials and the labor. If you choose premium siding, the material cost might be 60% of the total. Cheap siding accounts for roughly 40% of the total. How difficult the installation is affects the balance too.

Let’s look at your vinyl siding options and their retail cost ranges. There is more information on labor costs below.

  • $0.70 – $1.30 per square foot | Builder’s Grade .038” Siding
  • $0.90 – $1.60 per square foot | Light-duty .04” and .042” Siding
  • $1.25 – $2.10 per square foot | Standard .044” Siding
  • $1.95 – $3.15 per square foot | Premium .46” Siding
  • $2.15 – $3.20 per square foot | Insulated Siding
  • $3.65 – $4.95 per square foot | Architectural Panels & Accent Siding
  • $1.15 – $1.50 per linear foot | Trim for Doors, Windows and Roofline
  • Less than $1.00 – $3.50 per linear foot | Installation Materials – Starter Strip, F- & J-Channel, Corners, etc.

Vinyl Siding Cost by House Size and Complexity

These are installed costs. If you’re able to DIY, installed cost is $3 to $6 less per square foot.

Exterior
Average Cost
High Cost
1,000 $7,300 – $9,700 $9,800 – $15,000
1,250 $9,100 – $13,750 $13,800 – $18,750
1,500 $10,800 – $14,300 $14,400 – $22,500
1,750 $12,600 – $16,800 $16,900 – $26,300
2,000 $14,500 – $19,200 $19,300 – $29,600
2,400 $16,800 – $23,200 $23,300 – $35,500

About Vinyl Siding

Vinyl siding is produced to look like wood siding. It is made from PVC, a durable and versatile plastic used in a wide range of building materials.

The siding is extruded in two layers, base and capstock, and the layers are fused together. The capstock, or outer layer, is fortified with acrylics for strength and to prevent color fade.

Expect vinyl siding to last 20 to 30 years based on initial quality, climate factors such as heat and potential wind/hail damage and your tolerance for siding that looks a bit faded and shabby.

Basic Options in Vinyl

  • Horizontal panels are most common. A single panel about 12 inches wide mimics one to three boards. The options are called profiles. For example, a double-6 is a panel replicating two 6” boards, and a triple-4 is a panel mimicking three 4” boards.
  • Vertical panels are a growing segment of the vinyl siding market. Flat panels and those replicating board and batten styles are the most common.
  • Architectural panels are used as accents, in gables for example, or to side an entire home. They are formed to look like wood shingles, shakes, fieldstone, brick and other designs.
  • Texturing ranges from smooth to standard woodgrain to deep graining or rough-hewn wood.
  • Colors cover the spectrum from white to dark charcoal gray. Neutrals, light greens and blues and wood tones tend to be favored, and some homeowner associations have rules about colors.
  • Thickness varies significantly. Cheap vinyl siding is .038” or .04” thick. The next grade is .042”. Most residential vinyl siding is .044” (standard) or .046” – .05″ (premium). Warranties range from 10 years for builder’s grade vinyl and Lifetime for the best products.
  • Trim is available in matching and contrasting colors for all vinyl siding lines.
  • Insulated vinyl siding has a thin layer of insulating foam glued to the back side. This raises the cost by up to $1.00 per square foot for an R-value of just 2.0 to 2.7. It also makes the home slightly more airtight. While the insulation gives rigidity to the siding and delivers 1% to 11% energy savings, it takes years of lower energy bills to recoup the extra cost.

If your home is drafty or you want better insulation, be sure the house wrap is in good condition or is replaced before you install new siding. Adhering 1/2-inch to 1-inch foam board insulation to the home’s sheathing before installing the siding is a more cost-effective way to boost insulation value.

Top Vinyl Siding Brands

There are a handful of brands that sell nationally. You might also want to consider regional brands sold in your area that have a good reputation for quality and durability. Getting estimates from local siding contractors is a good way to find what they believe to be the best siding brands for your climate.

Here are leading national brands. All sell the full spectrum of profiles, styles, thicknesses plus insulated vinyl siding.

  • Alside
  • CertainTeed
  • Crane
  • Georgia Pacific
  • Mitten by Ply Gem
  • Norandex
  • Ply Gem Mastic
  • Royal / RBP
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Permits, Inspection, Related Costs and Installation Time

Permits and Inspection Cost

  • $0 | A permit is only required if structural changes are made.

Related Costs and Installation Time

If you hire a pro, here are cost ranges for the various types of installers. The costs include the installation of all materials.

  • $2.25 – $3.25 per square foot | Handyman Service
  • $2.75 – $4.25 per square foot | Small Siding Contractor
  • $3.35 – $4.85 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.

A two-person crew can install about 40 square feet per hour, or 400 square feet in a 10-hour day.

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

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

If so, head over to our Costimates Pro’s page, and help us make this page better and more accurate for both our visitors and your future customers.

DIY or Hire a Pro?

Successfully installing vinyl siding takes a collection of basic carpentry skills and tools.

The challenge is that it takes time to become proficient in the skills and techniques required. Just a few of the challenges are:

  • The house sheathing must be made smooth by sanding down raised edges. Otherwise, they will telegraph through the siding and be visible.
  • The starter strip and each row of siding must be near-perfect level or it will throw off the entire wall and be easily visible.
  • The nail or staple fasteners must but installed deep enough into the house sheathing to hold the siding for 25+ years. But if the nails or staples are driven so tight to the sheathing that they keep the siding from moving, the siding will buckle and crack as it expands in hot weather or split as it shrinks in cold temperatures.

We don’t recommend siding your own home if it’s your first attempt. You’ll be better prepared if you first help a friend with siding experience on a project they’re doing.

If you’re the lone ranger type, consider siding a storage building or shed first to learn the techniques and decide if you want to tackle your home. Video tutorials are available, but there is no substitute for hands-on learning from someone that knows what they are doing.

That’s our advice. Some readers will have enough confidence in their skills and experience to tackle the project. From 40% to 60% of the total cost can be saved by DIY, and that is very attractive.

Just keep in mind that if the results show flaws in installation, you’ll have to re-do the work, pay to have them repaired or live with them for quite a long time.

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Reviewed and edited by Steve Hansen of Costimates

steve hansen of costimates-sm Steve Hansen, that's me, the Senior Editor of Costimates. (Learn more about myself and our team) I'm an avid home improvement professional with more than 37 years experience working on all types of residential new home building, upfits, repairs and remodeling.

"Like most homeowners, I was frustrated with the lack of quality information available on specific home improvement repairs and renovations. In 2015, Costimates was formed to help homeowners learn as much as possible about various projects and their costs so they could make better financial decisions."