Siding Costs & Pricing
What siding replacement costs in 2026 by material and house size — with a transparent per-square breakdown.
New siding costs about $3 to $17 per square foot installed in 2026 — roughly $7 for vinyl, $9 for fiber cement, $10 for engineered wood, and $12 for natural wood, material and labor included. For a typical 2,000 sq ft two-story house, most re-sides land between about $12,000 and $28,000 before tear-off, with the exact number driven by the material you pick and how much wall you actually have.
What drives the price
Two things move a siding bid more than anything else: the material grade and the amount of wall to cover. Siding is measured by wall area, not floor area, so a 2,000 sq ft two-story house has roughly 2,800 sq ft of actual wall — about 28 "squares," since siding is ordered and priced per square (100 sq ft). A second story, steep gables, dormers, and lots of windows all add area and access difficulty.
Labor is roughly half of every installed price, which is why the shape of your house often matters more than the material name on the box. The same wall in budget vinyl versus natural wood can swing the total by around $14,000. To get a number for your exact footprint, wall height, roof style, and opening count, run the numbers in the siding cost calculator at /siding/cost.
Cost by material
Vinyl is the value pick at $3–$12 per square foot (typically $7), or about $700 per square — cheap, low-maintenance, and the most common choice. Fiber cement runs $5–$14 (typ $9) for a more premium, fire- and rot-resistant look. Engineered wood sits at $6–$15 (typ $10), and natural wood is the premium tier at $7–$17 (typ $12).
On the typical 2,000 sq ft two-story house, those mid-grade rates work out to roughly $19,600 in vinyl, $25,200 in fiber cement, $28,000 in engineered wood, and $33,600 in wood. The $12,000 low end of the overall range reflects builder-grade vinyl on a smaller or simpler home; higher grades and premium materials climb from there. For a material deep-dive, see the individual guides linked from this hub.
What to know before you commit
The quiet extras decide whether a bid is honest. Tearing off old siding adds $0.75–$2 per square foot (about $2,000–$5,600 on the example house), and a re-siding permit runs $100–$400 — both are line items thin quotes like to leave out. Tear-off can also expose rotten sheathing, which is never included in a siding price and becomes a change order.
Region matters too: the same job prices roughly 8–10% under the national average in low-cost states like Texas or Georgia and 30%+ above it in California or the Northeast. Ask for itemized bids so material, labor, tear-off, and permit are all visible before you compare quotes.
| Material | Installed cost per sq ft | Typical 2,000 sq ft house | Maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl | $3–$12 (typ $7) | ~$19,600 | Low — rinse occasionally; never needs paint |
| Fiber cement | $5–$14 (typ $9) | ~$25,200 | Low–moderate — repaint about every 10–15 years; recaulk seams |
| Engineered wood | $6–$15 (typ $10) | ~$28,000 | Moderate — keep sealed; repaint about every 7–15 years |
| Wood | $7–$17 (typ $12) | ~$33,600 | High — restain or repaint every 3–7 years; watch for rot and pests |
Guides in this topic
Siding Cost by House Size: 2026 Price Tables
Siding a 2,000 sq ft house costs $14,188 as a ranch and $20,792 as a two-story in vinyl. Engine-computed tables for 1,000–3,000 sq ft and four materials.
Updated August 14, 2026
Costs & pricingEngineered Wood Siding Cost in 2026 (LP SmartSide)
Engineered wood siding runs $6–$15 per sq ft installed in 2026 — about $35,100 on a typical two-story house, or $39,000 with tear-off. Full line-item math.
Updated August 14, 2026
Costs & pricingFiber Cement Siding Cost in 2026 (Hardie Board)
Fiber cement runs $5–$14 per sq ft installed in 2026 — about $31,700 on a typical two-story house, or $35,500 with tear-off. Full line-item math.
Updated August 6, 2026
Costs & pricingVinyl Siding Cost in 2026
Vinyl siding runs $3–$12 per square foot installed in 2026 — about $300–$1,200 per square. Grades, waste, trim, tear-off, and a worked example.
Updated July 6, 2026
Costs & pricingHow Much Does Siding Cost in 2026?
Siding costs $3–$17 per sq ft installed in 2026. Prices by material — vinyl, fiber cement, engineered wood, wood — with a 2,000 sq ft house example.
Updated July 6, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to side a 2,000 sq ft house?
- A 2,000 sq ft two-story house has about 2,800 sq ft of wall to cover — roughly 28 squares. At mid-grade 2026 rates that is about $19,600 in vinyl, $25,200 in fiber cement, $28,000 in engineered wood, or $33,600 in wood, before adding tear-off of the old siding and a permit.
- What is a "square" of siding?
- A square is 100 square feet of wall area — the unit contractors order and price siding in. The typical 2,000 sq ft two-story house is about 28 squares. At mid-grade, one square runs roughly $700 installed in vinyl, $900 in fiber cement, $1,000 in engineered wood, and $1,200 in wood.
- What is the cheapest siding material?
- Vinyl is the least expensive at $3–$12 per square foot installed (typically about $7), and it needs the least upkeep. Fiber cement costs a couple of dollars more per square foot but buys a more premium, fire- and rot-resistant finish — the most common upgrade homeowners weigh against vinyl.
- Does re-siding a house need a permit, and what extras should I budget?
- Usually yes — most U.S. municipalities require a permit for a full re-side, typically $100–$400. Budget separately for tearing off the old siding at $0.75–$2 per square foot, and know that any rotten sheathing found underneath is a separate repair, not part of the siding price. Confirm all of these are in a bid before comparing quotes.