Siding Contractor Quote Checker
Divide a contractor’s quote by your net siding area to derive the real $/sq ft, then see whether it lands below, within or above the labeled installed band for the material.
A $12,000.00 quote for 1,336 sq ft works out to $8.98/sq ft — within the labeled band. A low number can mean no tear-off or cheaper material, a high one fiber cement, hard access or lots of trim; this only compares YOUR quote to a labeled band — always get itemized written quotes from licensed, insured siding contractors.
1 Enter your numbers
A single dollar total tells you almost nothing until you divide it by the area it covers. A $12,000 quote is cheap on a big fiber-cement house and expensive on a small vinyl one. This tool does that one honest reduction — quote ÷ area — and puts the resulting $/sq ft next to the labeled band for the material you chose, so you can see at a glance whether it is in the normal range.
Read the flag as a prompt, not a judgment. “Below band” is not automatically a bargain and “above band” is not automatically a rip-off; each has honest explanations. The value is that you now know which conversation to have with the contractor.
Formula
derived_$/sq ft = quote_total ÷ area_sqft
Then the derived rate is compared to the labeled band for the chosen material (or the full $4–13/sq ft all-in range when you pick “all”), and flagged below, within or above.
Worked example
A $12,000 quote for 1,336 sq ft, material set to “all-in”:
derived = $12,000 ÷ 1,336 = $8.98/sq ft
$8.98 sits inside the $4–13/sq ft all-in band → within the labeled band. Set the material to vinyl ($3–8) and the same $8.98 flags above — a fair prompt to ask what the extra is buying (insulated product, tear-off, hard access, lots of trim). The arithmetic is trivial; the point is the comparison.
Reading the flag honestly
- Below band can mean a genuinely competitive crew — or no tear-off, a cheaper product line, thin trim, or labor that skips house wrap. Ask what is included, not just what it costs.
- Above band can mean fiber cement, insulated siding, difficult two- or three-story access, extensive trim, or sheathing repair — or simply a busy contractor. It is a question, not a verdict.
- Match the material. Comparing a Hardie quote to the vinyl band guarantees an “above” flag that means nothing. Pick the actual material.
- Use the same net area the quote used. If the contractor priced gross wall and you enter net, your derived rate will read high; align the areas first.
Whatever the flag says, the only real defense is more than one itemized written quote from licensed, insured contractors.
Reference table
| Material | Installed, all-in (labeled band) |
|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $3–$8/sq ft |
| Engineered wood / LP SmartSide | $4–$9/sq ft |
| Aluminum siding | $4–$9/sq ft |
| Steel siding | $6–$12/sq ft |
| Wood / cedar siding | $5–$12/sq ft |
| Fiber cement / James Hardie | $6–$13/sq ft |
Labeled planning bands only — material plus labor, installed. Enter your own quoted price; confirm the figure with licensed, insured siding contractors.