Siding Cost per Square Foot Calculator
Two directions on the same identity: multiply your area by a price per square foot to get a total, or divide a contractor’s quote by your area to see the price per square foot it really implies.
At $7.00/sq ft, 1,336 sq ft is $9,352.00. Installed siding runs about $4–13 a square foot all-in by material — a labeled sanity band; enter the real price from your quote to derive your own $/sq ft.
1 Enter your numbers
“Cost per square foot” is the number everyone compares on, and it is a simple ratio — but it only means something once you fix the area it is measured over. This tool runs the ratio in both directions. Enter a price and it returns the total for your area. Enter a real quote total and it returns the derived $/sq ft that quote actually represents, which is the honest way to compare two bids on different-sized jobs.
The catch bidders rely on: a low $/sq ft can simply mean no tear-off, a thinner product or fewer accessories, while a high one can mean fiber cement, hard access or a lot of trim. The ratio starts the conversation; it does not end it.
Formula
cost = area_sqft × $/sqft
derived $/sqft = quote_total ÷ area_sqftBoth are the same identity total = area × rate solved for a different unknown. The area must be the net siding area — walls plus gables minus openings — or the ratio is measured over the wrong base.
Worked example
At $7.00/sq ft over 1,336 sq ft:
cost = 1,336 × $7.00 = $9,352.00And a $12,000 quote over the same area:
derived = $12,000 ÷ 1,336 = $8.98 /sq ftThat $8.98 sits inside the $4–13/sq ft installed band, so the quote is in the plausible range — a labeled sanity flag, not an endorsement.
Reading a $/sq ft number honestly
- Same area, or the comparison lies. Two bids are only comparable per square foot if you divide each by the same measured net area.
- Material sets the band. Vinyl sits low (~$3–8), fiber cement high (~$6–13); a “cheap” fiber cement quote and an “expensive” vinyl one can be the same $/sq ft.
- What is bundled matters. Tear-off, house wrap, insulation, trim and permits all move the derived rate; ask for an itemized quote so you know what the number contains.
Reference table
| Material | Installed, all-in ($/sq ft) |
|---|---|
| Vinyl siding | $3.00–$8.00 |
| Engineered wood / LP SmartSide | $4.00–$9.00 |
| Aluminum siding | $4.00–$9.00 |
| Steel siding | $6.00–$12.00 |
| Wood / cedar siding | $5.00–$12.00 |
| Fiber cement / James Hardie | $6.00–$13.00 |
Labeled published planning bands — a sanity guide only, not a price you should plug in. Enter the real number from your quote; costs vary by material and exposure, wall and gable geometry, waste and trim, tear-off, house wrap and insulation, complexity, region and labor.