How Much Does Siding Replacement Cost in 2026?

Siding replacement costs around $11,580 on average in the U.S. in 2026, with most homeowners paying $5,560–$17,725 for a full job, labor and materials included. At the low end, basic vinyl on a small home runs about $6,000 total (~$4 per square foot installed); at the high end, brick or stone veneer on a large or complex home can reach $35,000–$100,000+. The material you pick is the single biggest price lever — cheapest to priciest roughly triples the budget. See our home improvement cost guides for more project pricing.

Siding Replacement Cost at a Glance

Siding Replacement Cost by Material

Material choice is the budget tripler. Every figure below is per square foot of wall, installed (materials + labor).

Vinyl: $4–$12 per sq ft

Vinyl is the cheapest full siding and the market leader for a reason: $4–$12/sq ft installed, no painting ever, 20–40 year life, and installers everywhere. A basic vinyl job on a small home starts around $6,000. It is also the fastest to install — crews can side a simple home in a week or less — and its color runs through the panel, so scratches barely show. Downsides: it can crack in extreme cold and fade in intense sun, and it adds little curb appeal on high-end homes. Foam-backed insulated vinyl adds $1–$2/sq ft and improves energy performance.

Fiber Cement: $5–$15 per sq ft

Fiber cement (the category James Hardie’s Hardie board made famous) runs $5–$15/sq ft installed, with real-world bids clustering at $8–$14. You pay ~27% more than vinyl for 30–50 year life, fire and insect resistance, and paint that lasts 15–20 years. It is heavy — installation labor is higher — and it needs periodic repainting, but its ~88% resale recoupment is the best of any mainstream siding.

Engineered and Natural Wood: $6–$15 per sq ft

Engineered wood ($7–$12) is a composite product with real-wood looks at mid-range prices and decent durability. Natural cedar or redwood ($6–$15) is the traditional premium: beautiful, paintable or stainable, but maintenance-hungry — repainting every 3–7 years — and vulnerable to rot and insects. Wood is a looks-first choice, not a budget one.

Metal Siding: $6–$17 per sq ft

Aluminum ($6–$10) is lightweight, rust-proof, and easy to install; steel ($10–$17) is far tougher and lasts 40–70 years but dents show and installation costs more. Metal reads modern — it suits contemporary designs and is growing in coastal and fire-prone markets.

Brick Veneer and Stucco: $6–$28 per sq ft

Stucco ($6–$12, three-coat) is a bargain in the Southwest where crews are plentiful, lasting 50–80 years when done right. Brick veneer ($9–$28) is the classic premium: expensive because it is essentially masonry work, but nearly zero maintenance for decades. Both demand experienced crews — bad masonry is expensive to undo.

Siding Replacement Cost by Project Size

Contractors price by wall square footage, often quoted per “square” (100 sq ft of wall).

The labor share inside your bid

Install labor is 30–50% of the total project cost — $1.50–$6 per sq ft depending on region, or $40–$70/hour in some metro markets. Material and labor are usually bundled in the bid, but knowing the split matters when comparing quotes: a bid that looks cheap on materials can hide expensive labor, and vice versa.

Why floor area misleads

Rule of thumb: 1,200–1,600 sq ft of siding wall per 1,000 sq ft of living space — and a two-story home often has less wall area than a one-story ranch of the same floor area, because the footprint is smaller. Corners, gables, and dormers add waste (5–15%) and slow crews down. When getting bids, have contractors measure the wall area themselves rather than quoting off your floor plan.

Siding Replacement Cost Factors

Material choice

The dominant factor — vinyl at $4/sq ft versus brick veneer at $9–$28/sq ft is a ~3× swing on the same wall. Pick the material tier before anything else; every other decision is fine-tuning.

Home size and wall area

Total cost scales almost linearly with wall square footage. The per-sq-ft rate itself barely changes with size — big homes cost more because there is more wall, not because the rate rises.

Design complexity

Gables, dormers, jogs, bump-outs, and mixed materials slow installation and add 5–15% waste. A simple rectangular ranch is the cheapest shape to side; a Victorian with three gables is among the priciest.

Regional labor rates

Urban coastal markets run notably above Midwest and Southeast averages — the same vinyl job can cost thousands more in California than in Ohio. This is the same geography effect that drives exterior painting costs and roof replacement quotes.

Stories and access

Two-to-three-story work needs scaffolding or lifts, steep lots add 10–20%, and tight side yards slow material handling. Everything above one story costs more per square foot of wall.

Old siding removal and disposal

Tear-off runs $0.50–$2.00/sq ft plus $300–$800 for the dumpster — typically $1,000–$3,000 total. Asbestos siding (common on mid-century homes) adds $550–$1,650 per 100 sq ft for licensed abatement. Like-for-like replacements sometimes skip the permit, but removal itself is never free.

Hidden sheathing damage

The nightmare discovery after tear-off: rot or water damage in the sheathing underneath. Section repairs run $400–$1,500; major rot jobs run $2,500–$5,000. Smart contractors warn you about this possibility upfront and include a contingency line — budget for it even if the bid does not.

Additional Siding Replacement Costs

A realistic all-in example: a 2,000 sq ft home with vinyl siding at $12,000, plus tear-off ($2,000), trim replacement ($1,500), and a permit ($250) totals $15,750 — about 30% above the bare siding bid. Ask for itemized quotes so you can see these lines.

How to Save Money on Siding Replacement

• Get 3+ contractor bids. The spread on identical specs can exceed 30% — this is the single highest-ROI hour of the project.
• Choose standard vinyl in a simple profile. At $4–$12/sq ft it is the cheapest material, needs the least maintenance, and lasts 20–40 years.
• Schedule in the off-season. Contractors discount when demand dips — avoid the fall-spring rush that books the best crews.
• Keep existing trim where it is sound. Trim, soffit, and fascia replacement adds $1,000–$3,000 — if it is solid, keep it.
• Repair vs. replace. Localized damage repairs run $200–$1,500; full replacement only pays when damage is widespread or the material is at end of life.
• Do not layer new siding over failing old siding. It voids most manufacturer warranties and traps moisture; the removal you skipped becomes remediation that costs more.

How We Get Our Cost Data

Our pricing is cross-checked against national remodeling cost surveys (including annual Cost vs. Value resale data), contractor pricing guides from multiple metros, a national construction cost-estimating database’s 2026 baselines, and home-improvement publisher cost calculators. Per-square-foot material figures and project-size averages are confirmed by at least two independent sources each; ranges reflect 2026 U.S. pricing, labor included. Data last updated October 2026.

The siding decision comes down to material tier and honest wall measurements. Basic vinyl on a simple home lands near $6,000; fiber cement on an average home lands at $14,000–$30,000; premium brick or stone veneer runs $35,000–$100,000+. Get three itemized bids by wall area, budget a contingency for sheathing, and remember the resale numbers — siding is one of the few renovations that pays most of itself back. For the other big exterior project homeowners price alongside siding, see how much roof replacement costs.