How do I calculate how much siding I need?

Measure each exterior wall's length times height, sum them, subtract about half the area of large openings, and add 10 percent for waste. A 2,000 sq ft two-story home typically has about 2,100 sq ft of wall. Contractors do a formal material takeoff for the final number.

Is it cheaper to install siding over old siding?

It saves the $1 to $2 per square foot tear-off cost, but it hides rotted sheathing and adds weight, and some jurisdictions limit layering. Most contractors recommend tear-off for a full replacement so the substrate can be inspected and housewrap installed.

How much extra does a two-story house cost to side?

About 15 percent more than a single-story with the same wall area, for scaffolding, staging, and slower work at height. Three stories add roughly 25 percent.

Siding Replacement Cost Per Square Foot in 2026

Q: How much does siding cost per square foot installed?

In 2026: vinyl $4 to $12, fiber cement $7 to $18, engineered wood $6 to $12, cedar $8 to $14, aluminum $5.60 to $10.30, stucco $9.30 to $16.90, and brick veneer $15 to $20 per square foot of wall, installed. These are materials-plus-labor prices.

In 2026, siding replacement costs $4 to $20 per square foot of wall installed: vinyl $4 to $12, fiber cement $7 to $18, engineered wood $6 to $12, cedar $8 to $14, aluminum $5.60 to $10.30, stucco $9.30 to $16.90, and brick veneer $15 to $20. Tear-off of old siding adds $1 to $2 per square foot, and two-story homes cost about 15 percent more than single-story for staging and access.

Per-square-foot pricing is how siding contractors think, and it is how you should compare bids. This guide gives the 2026 installed rates by material, explains how to measure your wall area correctly, and shows which adders turn a $14,000 quote into a $22,000 one.

Installed cost per square foot by material

These are installed prices (materials plus labor) per square foot of wall, from 2026 cost guides. Vinyl: $4 to $12. The volume choice: cheap, fast to install, no painting ever. Insulated vinyl with foam backing runs $7 to $11 and adds meaningful wall R-value. Fiber cement (James Hardie and similar): $7 to $18. The durability pick: heavy boards, 50-plus-year life, excellent fire and impact resistance, needs repainting every 12 to 15 years. Engineered wood (LP SmartSide): $6 to $12. A wood look with treated-engineered durability and a 25 to 30 year life. Cedar / natural wood: $8 to $14. Beautiful and high-maintenance: staining every 3 to 7 years in harsh climates. Aluminum: $5.60 to $10.30. Fire-resistant and insect-proof, good for coastal areas, but dents. Stucco (three-coat): $9.30 to $16.90. Great insulation value and 50 to 80 year life where the foundation stays still; expensive to repair. Brick veneer: $15 to $20. The forever option at 100-plus years, and priced like it.

How to measure your wall area

Wall area is not floor area. A 2,000 sq ft two-story home typically has about 2,100 sq ft of wall, but gables, dormers, bump-outs, and tall walls change the number. The rough method: measure each wall's length times height, add them, subtract large openings (garage doors, big window banks) at about half their area, and add 10 percent waste. The professional method is the contractor's material takeoff, which every serious bid includes. If a bid prices from floor-plan square footage without a wall takeoff, treat the number as a placeholder.

The adders that move the total

Tear-off and disposal: $1 to $2 per square foot. Removing old siding is standard on full replacements; installing over one existing layer is allowed in some jurisdictions but hides substrate problems. Stories: 2-story adds ~15%, 3-story ~25%. Scaffolding, staging, and slower work at height. Substrate repair: budget 10% contingency. Tear-off reveals rotted sheathing often enough that you should plan for it. Trim, soffit, and fascia: frequently quoted separately; ask. Lead paint (pre-1978 homes): $1,500 to $4,000 for EPA RRP-compliant handling. Housewrap: should be in every full replacement; if a bid omits it, ask why.

Worked example

A 2,100 sq ft two-story home, vinyl siding, tear-off included: 2,100 sq ft x $6 mid-range = $12,600, x 1.15 for two stories = $14,490, plus tear-off at $1.50/sq ft ($3,150) = about $17,640. The same home in fiber cement at $9 mid-range: 2,100 x $9 = $18,900, x 1.15 = $21,735, plus tear-off $3,150 = about $24,885. The calculator on this site's homepage runs this math with your inputs and shows the full range instead of just the midpoint.

How to compare bids honestly

Normalize every bid to installed dollars per square foot of wall, then check scope parity: same material grade (not just "vinyl" but which product line), same underlayment, same trim and accessory package, same tear-off and disposal terms, same warranty on labor. A bid that is 20 percent cheaper usually differs on one of these, not on efficiency. And never accept a bid that prices siding without seeing the walls; the takeoff is the job.

The bottom line

Budget $4 to $12 per square foot for vinyl and $7 to $18 for fiber cement in 2026, measured on wall area, plus $1 to $2 for tear-off and ~15 percent for a second story. Get three bids with material takeoffs, normalize to per-square-foot, and compare scope before price.

Figures current as of October 2026. Sources: This Old House / Homewyse 2026 cost data, contractor-published 2026 pricing guides.

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