Cedar Shake & Shingle Siding Cost Calculator
Turn your wall area into cedar bundles and a cost, with the higher waste factor shakes and shingles demand and a contingency on top.
Cedar shakes on 500 sq ft with 15% waste is about 23 bundles and $5,500.00. Shakes and shingles have a small exposure and a high waste factor (~15%+) — more bundles and more labor than lap; use the exposure the manufacturer specifies.
1 Enter your numbers
Cedar shakes and shingles are installed at a small exposure — often around 5 in of visible face per course — so they take many more pieces per square than a wide lap panel, and their irregular butts and keyways waste more. Both effects push the material count up: a higher waste factor and a low coverage per bundle. This estimator converts your net wall area into bundles at the coverage and waste you set, then prices the job by the square foot you enter.
The default 15% waste is the shake/shingle planning typical; drop it for a simple rectangle or raise it for a diagonal or heavily-cornered elevation. It is a labeled default, not a fixed rule.
Formula
A bundle count on the waste-loaded area, and a cost closed over a contingency:
area_with_waste = net_area × (1 + waste)
bundles = ceil(area_with_waste ÷ bundle_coverage)
total = (net_area × price_per_sqft) × (1 + contingency)
Waste is applied to the quantity (you buy extra bundles for cuts, keyway offsets and the extra courses), while the cost is priced on the measured area at your installed rate — the contingency then buffers the dollars. Bundles round up: a partial bundle is a full bundle on the invoice.
Worked example
500 sq ft of wall, a 15% shake waste factor, cedar shingle at 25 sq ft a bundle, an installed price of $10.00/sq ft and a 10% contingency:
- Area with waste: 500 × 1.15 = 575 sq ft
- Bundles: ceil(575 ÷ 25) = 23 bundles
- Cost: (500 × $10.00) × 1.10 = $5,500
At roughly 4 bundles to the square, 575 sq ft is about 5.75 squares of coverage — the 23-bundle figure is exactly that, rounded up. Tighten the exposure and the bundle count climbs.
Exposure and waste do the damage
Two levers move a cedar job more than anything else:
- Exposure. The visible height of each course sets how many pieces cover a square. A 5 in exposure needs more courses — and more bundles and labor — than a 7 in exposure. Use the exposure the manufacturer specifies for your product and wall.
- Waste. Keyway offsets between courses, hip and valley cuts, and any diagonal or staggered pattern all raise waste; 15% is a floor for shakes, not a ceiling.
Confirm the bundle coverage on the manufacturer’s wrapper — it is stated for a specific exposure. This is a planning estimate from your numbers; get itemized written quotes from licensed, insured siding contractors, and note that repainting or restaining existing cedar is a different job (that is paintingcalcs), not covered here.
Reference table
Labeled cedar coverage — confirm on the manufacturer’s wrapper for your exposure:
| Material | Typical exposure | Coverage per bundle |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar shingle / shake | ~5–8" | 25 sq ft |
1 square = 100 sq ft, so at 25 sq ft a bundle it takes about 4 bundles to cover a square at ~5 in exposure.
Frequently asked questions
How many bundles of cedar shingles do I need?
Load your area with waste, divide by the bundle coverage and round up: bundles = ceil(area × (1 + waste) ÷ coverage). For 500 sq ft at 15% waste and 25 sq ft a bundle, that is ceil(575 ÷ 25) = 23 bundles. A tighter exposure needs more.
Why is the cedar waste factor so high?
Shakes and shingles install at a small exposure with staggered keyways, so cuts and offsets waste more than wide lap. 15% is the shake/shingle planning typical; a diagonal or heavily-cornered elevation can run higher. It is a labeled default you can adjust.
How much does cedar shake siding cost?
It is your measured area times your installed price per square foot, plus a contingency. In the example, 500 sq ft at $10.00/sq ft with 10% contingency is about $5,500. Cedar sits at the premium end and needs the most upkeep; enter your own quoted price.
What does exposure change?
Exposure is the visible height of each course. A smaller exposure means more courses, more pieces per square, more bundles and more labor. Always use the exposure the manufacturer specifies rather than a rule of thumb — see the exposure reference.