To ensure we provide the most precise and current cost estimates to you, we compile costs from industry data, licensed contractors, our users completed projects, and home improvement industry experts. We may earn commission from our partners when you utilize the services through our website. Our editorial integrity and quality remains our top priority, and recommendations do not affect our opinion or evaluations. Learn more about us and our editorial process, and read our advertiser disclosures.

Wood and Cedar Siding Cost

$9.10 Per Square Foot Installed

The average cost to install wood or cedar siding is $9.10 per square foot when quality siding is professionally installed. Based on cost factors, the total wood siding price range is $4.25 to $18.00 per square foot.
Average DIY
$6.25 / Sqft
Average Pro
$9.10 / Sqft
Typical Range
$7.80 – $12.95 / Sqft
Low End
$4.25 / Sqft (DIY)
High End
$18.00 / Sqft (Pro)
Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

Updated: December 15, 2023

How Much Does it Cost to Install Wood or Cedar Siding on Your House?

Low
$4.25 – $7.75/sq.ft.
Average Cost
$7.80 – $12.95/sq.ft.
High
$11.00 – $18.00+/sq.ft.
Material Cost $1.95 – $5.85/sq.ft. $4.50 – $9.25/sq.ft. $8.00 – $14.00+/sq.ft.
DIY No No No
Material Pine or Cedar Mostly Cedar Cedar
Cedar Grade Builders Grade to Midrange Midrange to Premium Premium
Difficulty Easy to Average Average Average to Difficulty
Remove Old Siding Yes or No Yes or No Yes

Sections: Overview | Product Costs | Installation Cost | DIY or Pro

Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

wood siding installed on home

Overview of Wood and Cedar Siding

Wood siding exudes classic elegance and looks fantastic on homes in any architectural style. It’s a beautiful choice whether the home is entirely sided in wood or the wood is used in tandem with a mixture of stone siding, to enhance the appearance.

A wide range of wood and cedar siding types, detailed below, allows you to customize the look you want for your home. Wood is the choice of discriminating homeowners who also understand the required maintenance that comes with it. Like many home maintenance projects, expect to stain or paint your wood siding every 3-7 years based on the siding you choose and your local climate factors. With proper maintenance and regular exterior home inspections, wood lasts 100+ years, demonstrated on homes around the world.

This cedar and wood siding cost estimate focuses on quality wood siding rather than cheap wood composite panels like T1-11. It covers retail costs of the various siding types. Retail and installation cost factors are discussed, so you can closely estimate what your wood or cedar siding price might be when you get estimates or shop for siding.

You’ll also find wood siding cost comparisons from reliable estimating sites and project costs submitted by homeowners. If you have any type of genuine wood siding installed, consider returning to Costimates to submit your costs for the benefit of other readers.

Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

Product and Installation Supplies Cost Details

Wood Siding Price Factors

Wood and cedar siding cost installed by a professional is $5.25 to about $18.00 per square foot on most jobs based on these key factors.

The first set of factors related to materials. The rest regard installation.

  • Wood Type – Pine is much more affordable than cedar but lacks the visual appeal. Most is painted. It is more susceptible to insects and rot, so lifetime pine siding maintenance costs are higher. Redwood siding is no longer produced. Cost rises yearly as supplies dwindle. What’s the cost of redwood siding now? One seller says about premium Heart Wood Redwood siding, “Call for a price quote, if you dare ;-)”
  • Wood Grade – Generally, you’ll pay more for clear grades of wood than for knotty boards. For example, cedar lap siding graded Clear costs about 50% more than Near Clear and 100% more than Mill Select or Customer Select. Grade names vary by seller, but most are similar to this example.
  • Where you Buy – This is related to wood grade/quality. Home improvement stores and lumber yards stock low/midrange grades. Specialty sellers have a wider range of stock including premium options at higher prices.
  • Style – There are slight variations in cost based on style – Tongue & groove, beveled clapboard, lap siding, wavy-edge rough-hewn, etc.
  • Imperfections – Large discounts are available on siding with imperfections, or “character” such as heavy knotting, black knots, a small amount of worm tracing or dry rot per board.
  • Factory Primed, Painted or Stained – Cheaper grades are available in pre-primed or painted options. Better grades can be pre-stained from some sellers. This option raises cost by up to $1.50 per square foot.
  • Removing Old Siding – If this is a siding replacement job, expect estimates of $1.50 to $2.50 to remove old siding if necessary. Tip: This is a good place to save money, since removing old vinyl or aluminum siding is relatively easy when it can be done safely.
  • Job Complexity – Features of the home such as 6+ corners, upper levels, dormers and a large amount of cutting/trimming around doors and windows raise cost. A few homeowners choose diagonal installation – at a significantly higher labor cost.
  • Who Installs the Siding – Most wood siding is installed by exterior remodelers with a lot of cedar siding experience. You’ll probably save money hiring a less-experienced crew, but the results might suffer. Large remodeling companies have higher overhead and prices than smaller companies. Size doesn’t determine quality of installation; experience is the key.

The largest factor is the quality of the wood siding you choose. We recommend talking to several wood siding installers to get estimates on various grades and styles to find the best fit for your home and your budget.

Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

Cost of Installation and Supplies

Determining the square footage required to cover your home starts with measuring the length x the width of rectangular wall sections and adding the total.

The area of a gable is determined using the area of a triangle: 1/2xLxH.

Subtract the area covered by windows, doors, chimneys, etc. and then add 10% to the total to cover waste.

Here are retail costs for materials. The cost is per square foot of coverage and considers necessary overlap.

  • $1.45 – $2.95 per square foot | Pine Board Siding
  • $2.95 – $5.15 per square foot | Builders Grade or Mill Select Cedar Siding from home improvement stores
  • $7.75 – $11.25 per square foot | Midgrade or Near Clear Cedar Siding
  • $9.75 – $15.00 per square foot | Premium or Clear Cedar Siding
  • $7.00 – $9.50 per square foot | Redwood Sap Wood Siding (while supplies last)
  • $18.00 – $24.00+ per square foot | Redwood Heart Wood Siding (while supplies last)
  • $0.50 – $1.25 per square foot | Cost per Coat of Stain, Primer or Paint

About Wood and Cedar Siding

Wood siding gives you plenty of options for styles from rustic to contemporary and modern. It is the siding that vinyl siding and aluminum siding seek to mimic.

Basic Options

Pine is the affordable choice. It is usually painted, but can be stained too. Cedar offers better durability and aesthetics at a higher cost. Most cedar is clear-coated or stained rather than painted.

Patterns include:

  • Lap siding is available in many styles such as Dutch lap, shiplap and rustic lap. The plank features uniform width in the middle and a unique overlapping design at the edges. Most lap siding is installed horizontally, but shiplap and rustic lap are among the styles that can be installed vertically too.
  • Wavy edge siding is a lap siding with a lower edge cut to provide a very rustic look.
  • Beveled siding is another type of lap siding. The board width is not uniform, but cut at an angle, so that one edge is twice as thick as the opposite edge.
  • Tongue & Groove siding is available in many styles. It can be installed horizontally or vertically.

Other Features:

  • Finish options include bare, primed, stained and painted. Pine and cheaper grades of cedar siding are often primed or pre-painted. Better grades of cedar can be bought bare or with one or two coats of stain.
  • Warranties are not offered on wood siding. At least not from the manufacturer. There are too many variables about installation quality and location, maintenance and care, to risk a warranty. However, your wood siding installer should offer a workmanship warranty of at least 12 months. Coatings on pre-painted or stained products range from 12 months to 15 years.
Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

Top Wood and Cedar Siding Brands

There are regional brands of cedar and pine siding in most parts of the country. They might save you money due to lower shipping costs.

A few of the top brands and retailers include:

  • Buffalo Lumber cedar siding
  • Kimberly Bay pine and cedar siding, sold at Home Depot
  • Best Quality Cedar (Menards)
  • Real Cedar Western Red Cedar siding
  • JW Lumber
  • East Tennessee Building Supply (Eastern White Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Cedar and Cypress siding)

Permits, Inspection, Related Costs and Installation Time

Permits and Inspection Cost

  • $0 | No permit is needed for siding installation or replacement.

Related Costs and Installation Time

Professional installation of wood siding costs about the same as the labor cost to install vinyl and aluminum.

Here are costs for the labor and installation supplies like fasteners and caulk, when needed.

  • $3.35 – $4.85 per square foot | Small Wood Siding Contractor
  • $3.80 – $6.55 per square foot | Large Siding Contractor

The Cost Factors listed above account for the price ranges.

Crew size and your home’s shape determine how long wood siding installation takes.

A small company might send a crew of 2-3 people while larger companies might show up with a crew of 4+ installers.

Here’s a common timeframe with a 2-person crew. A 4-person crew would complete the job in about half the time.

  • Up to 1 Day | Remove Old Siding (if needed)
  • 1-2 Days | Repairs, if needed, to the home’s sheathing
  • Up to 1 Day | House Wrap Replacement (if needed)
  • 3-4 Days | Siding Installation on Homes up to 1,200 square feet
  • 5-7 Days | Siding Installation on Homes up to 2,500 square feet

DIY or Hire a Pro?

While most homeowners opt for pro installation, those with very good carpentry skills might consider tackling the project. Like any siding installation, whether it’s vinyl, aluminum, wood or stone, it takes attention to detail.

You have to inspect and prepare the sheathing or underlying siding to make sure it is in excellent condition. House wrap or other required moisture barrier must be properly installed. The first horizontal or vertical pieces need to be near-perfectly level or plumb to get the job off to a good start.

Each siding type and profile has its own installation requirements and techniques. Pay close attention to installation materials and tutorials, and then take your time until you get the hang of it.

If you want an accurate picture of what you can save with DIY installation, it makes sense to get estimates from several siding contractors in your area.

Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes

Get Free Siding Advice, Repair and Installation Quotes