Vinyl Siding Costs: Everything You Need to Know

_{* Partial units are typically rounded up to the next whole square.}

Cost by Style

The style of the vinyl siding affects the cost of installation. Often, higher grade vinyl is used along with colorfast pigments that resist fading. Siding can be molded to look like shake shingles, lap, board and batten, and several other styles.

Shake

Shake style vinyl siding costs an average of $645 per square. Shake vinyl siding may range from a low of $315 to a high of $975 per square.

Shake siding looks like thick wood shingles with deeply textured wood grain. This simulated shake effect can look smooth and finely milled or rustic and roughly split.

Traditional Lap

Traditional lap vinyl siding starts at a low of $200 per square and runs up to a high of $600 per square. On average, traditional lap vinyl siding costs $400 per square.

Traditional lap vinyl siding has the long, horizontal lines reminiscent of older homes’ interlocking top-to-bottom lap panels. Lap siding is clean and simple, plus it’s easy to maintain.

Vertical

Vertical style vinyl siding ranges from $385 to $1,010 per square. On average, vertical vinyl siding costs $695 per square.

Vertical vinyl siding turns the boards 90 degrees so that they run up and down instead of side to side. Vertical siding is often used to highlight certain architectural features rather than to side the entire house.

Dutch Lap

Dutch lap vinyl siding costs $535 per square on average. The cost of Dutch lap vinyl siding ranges from $265 to $800 per square.

A horizontal style siding, Dutch lap siding’s smooth, concave face has a notch at the bottom, creating a unique, shadowed look.

Board and Batten

Board and batten vinyl siding costs an average of $615 per square. On average, board and batten siding’s cost ranges from $350 to $875 per square.

Board and batten siding is characterized by narrow vertical boards called battens that cover seams between backing boards. More battens can be added for a different look, but these additional battens are not functional.

Scalloped

The average cost of scalloped style vinyl siding is $650 per square, with a range of $400 to $900 per square.

Scalloped siding’s half circle design gives a home a Victorian appearance. Because the look is so strong and eye-catching, it’s best to use scalloped siding sparingly and confine it to smaller accent areas like gables.

Cost by Type

Opting for insulated siding, hollow siding, or conventional siding affects the overall cost of the siding installation.

Insulated Siding

Insulated siding starts at $600 per square, runs to a high of $1,050 per square, and costs an average of $825 per square.

Heavier, weather-tolerant insulated siding has thin sheets of foam insulation attached to the back. This also creates a solid, rigid siding that stands up well to damage.

Hollow Siding

The cost of hollow vinyl siding ranges from $5,420 to $8,130 per home.

Hollow vinyl siding is essentially insulated siding with the insulation removed—resulting in a hollow cavity.

DIY vs. Professional Installation

Installing vinyl siding is nearly always a project for professionals. Though vinyl siding is one of the easier types of siding to install, the scale of the project and its learning curve can tax the abilities of most DIYers.

Experienced DIYers will find that vinyl siding materials cost about $100 to $150 per square. This includes budget-level vinyl siding, along with necessary peripheral materials like starter strips, J-channels, and corner pieces.

5 Signs Your Vinyl Siding Needs to be Replaced

You’ll know it’s time to replace your vinyl siding when you notice any of the following:

• Poorly installed siding: Vinyl siding that was inexpertly installed may simply need to be stripped off and replaced. Check the limited warranty to see if the cost of re-installation is covered.
• Major house damage: Damage to a house’s studs, sheathing, windows, or doors translates to irreparable damage to the vinyl siding.
• Melted siding: Vinyl siding melted by barbecues or fires, or even by intense sunlight reflected by windows, must be removed and replaced.
• Mold behind the siding: Large sections of mold and mildew trapped behind the vinyl siding usually mean that the siding itself should be removed and replaced.
• Siding past its prime: If the vinyl siding has reached a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, it’s usually time to consider replacing it.

Vinyl Siding Life Expectancy

Vinyl siding can be expected to last for about 25 years before it needs to be replaced. Well-maintained vinyl siding may even last up to 30 or 40 years.

Though vinyl siding is more durable than before, it still has a shorter life expectancy than another popular siding: fiber-cement material. Fiber-cement siding is fire-resistant, insect-proof, and can last up to 50 years.

How to Save Money on Vinyl Siding Installation

Trim the cost of vinyl siding with tried-and-true methods:

• Solicit multiple quotes: Compare prices from different vinyl siding installers to find the best deal.
• Consider a different style: With vinyl siding costs as varied as $200 per square for traditional style siding on up to $900 per square for scalloped or board and batten siding, it may be worth choosing a different style that costs less.
• Use a different texture: Lightly textured siding with shallow embossing will be less expensive than heavily textured siding.
• Schedule work in the off-season: Talk to the vinyl siding company about potential discounts for scheduling work during low seasons.
• Take advantage of tax breaks/rebates: Insulated siding may qualify for energy efficiency tax breaks on a federal, state, or city level. Also check with your local power utility about possible rebates.
• Remove old siding yourself: Though installing your own vinyl siding isn’t usually an option, you can remove existing siding yourself just before the installers arrive.
• Use standard grade siding: Choose a standard grade of vinyl siding rather than premium grades.
• Consider all brands: Contractors or salespeople may try to direct you to certain preferred brands. But consider all brands of vinyl siding for better deals.