Skip to main content
True Trade Path

Cost guide

Siding Replacement Cost

Removing and replacing exterior siding on a home, including house wrap and trim.

Typical range
$8,000–$35,000
Most people pay
$15,000
Service life
20–40 years for vinyl; 30–50 for fiber cement; 15–25 for wood

National cost range

National range, per home, 2,000 sq ft wall area

$8,000 – $35,000

Most homeowners pay around $15,000. The spread is real, not hedging — the drivers below determine which end of it you land on.

Low end
$8,000
Simple access, like-for-like
Typical
$15,000
What most jobs come in at
High end
$35,000
Upgrades, difficult access, code work

What you are actually paying for

Find the row that matches your situation. Quotes that differ wildly from each other usually differ in scope, not in price.

ScenarioTypical cost
Vinyl siding, single-story ranchThe most economical full re-side.$6,000–$12,000
Fiber cement (Hardie), two-storyThe most popular mid-range choice.$12,000–$22,000
Vinyl with trim, soffit, and fasciaFull exterior refresh including trim package.$10,000–$18,000
Engineered wood sidingLP SmartSide or similar; good paint retention.$10,000–$20,000
Siding plus sheathing repairSheathing rot found during tear-off is the common surprise.$14,000–$28,000

What moves the price

In descending order of impact. These are also the questions worth asking a contractor whose quote sits outside the range above.

  1. Siding material

    Vinyl is the least expensive. Fiber cement (Hardie) costs 30 to 50% more. Wood and engineered wood sit between. Stone veneer accents add significantly per square foot.

  2. Wall area and stories

    Siding is priced per square foot of wall area, not floor area. A two-story home has more wall area than a ranch of the same footprint. Scaffolding adds labor on multi-story homes.

  3. Sheathing and wrap condition

    Rotted sheathing discovered during tear-off must be replaced before new siding goes on. House wrap or rigid foam insulation adds $1 to $3 per square foot.

  4. Trim, soffit, and fascia

    Replacing corner boards, window trim, soffit, and fascia alongside siding is common and adds 15 to 25% to the total.

  5. Removal of existing siding

    Tearing off one layer of vinyl or wood is standard. Multiple layers, asbestos siding, or lead paint require abatement at significant cost.

Can you do it yourself?

Limited DIY scope

Vinyl siding is the most DIY-friendly material but still requires proper flashing, J-channel, and starter strip knowledge. Fiber cement requires specialized cutting tools and is best left to experienced installers. Two-story work needs scaffolding.

Permits and inspection

A building permit is required in most jurisdictions for full siding replacement. Asbestos siding abatement requires a separate environmental permit.
Run the DIY vs. pro decisionCheck a quote you already have

When this cannot wait

  • Soft or rotted siding that allows water behind the wall
  • Warped, cracked, or missing siding panels exposing sheathing
  • Preparing a home for sale with visibly deteriorated exterior

Common questions

How much does it cost to replace siding on a 2,000 square foot house?
Vinyl siding runs $8,000 to $14,000. Fiber cement runs $12,000 to $22,000. These figures are for wall area, not floor area — a 2,000 square foot two-story home has roughly 2,800 square feet of wall.
What is the cheapest siding option?
Vinyl siding at $4 to $8 per square foot installed is the least expensive. It requires minimal maintenance and lasts 20 to 40 years. Fiber cement costs more but offers better fire resistance and paintability.
How long does siding replacement take?
A single-story home takes 3 to 7 days. A two-story home takes 5 to 10 days. Weather, sheathing repairs, and trim work extend the schedule.
Can you put new siding over old siding?
One layer of vinyl over existing siding is sometimes allowed if the underlying surface is flat and structurally sound. Fiber cement should not be installed over old siding. Tear-off is almost always the better decision — it reveals sheathing damage.
Siding blew off during a storm — emergency repair cost?
Emergency siding patch runs $200 to $600 per section. If wind exposed rotted sheathing, repair runs $500 to $2,000 per area. Full replacement after storm damage runs $8,000 to $14,000 for vinyl on a 2,000 square foot home — insurance may cover sudden wind damage.
Holes in siding with squirrels getting in — repair or replace cost?
Patching individual holes runs $100 to $300 per area. If squirrels damaged sheathing behind the siding, repair runs $500 to $2,000 including exclusion work. Widespread damage across multiple walls triggers full replacement at $8,000 to $14,000.
Siding melting on the side facing a neighbor's window — vinyl replace cost?
Heat-reflecting windows can warp vinyl siding on adjacent walls. Affected sections replacement runs $1,000 to $3,000. Full-house vinyl replacement runs $8,000 to $14,000. Fiber cement ($12,000 to $22,000) resists heat distortion. Address the window reflection source with screening ($200 to $500).
Water getting behind siding with mold inside the wall — replacement cost?
Moisture behind siding rots sheathing invisibly. Tear-off revealing rot adds $2,000 to $5,000 to a standard siding job. Full vinyl replacement with sheathing repair runs $10,000 to $19,000. Fix flashing and drainage before re-siding or the problem recurs.
Insurance says siding match is not covered — partial replacement cost?
Matching existing weathered siding is often impossible. Partial replacement of damaged sections runs $1,500 to $4,000. If color and profile cannot match, full replacement runs $8,000 to $14,000. Document the mismatch issue with your adjuster — some policies cover reasonable matching.
Asbestos siding on an old house — removal and replace cost?
Asbestos siding abatement runs $3 to $5 per square foot — $8,400 to $14,000 for a 2,800 square foot wall area. New vinyl or fiber cement installation adds $8,000 to $22,000. Total: $16,000 to $36,000. Abatement must be done by licensed contractors — do not saw or break asbestos siding.

Decide what to do next

Other cost guides

Find carpenters near you