How we estimate siding replacement cost
Every estimate combines a national price for each part of the job with a local labor adjustment for your state. Here is exactly how that works and where the numbers come from.
The formula
For each line item we multiply a quantity (driven by your exterior wall area, number of stories, siding material, and whether the old siding is removed) by a national unit cost, then apply a quality-grade factor. A regional labor multiplier is applied to the labor portion only — materials are priced nationally. We show the itemized result as a ±18% range.
National unit costs
| Line item | National unit cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Old siding removal | $0.70 / sq ft | ref |
| House wrap / weather barrier | $0.40 / sq ft | ref |
| Siding material | $2.70 / sq ft | ref |
| Installation labor | $3.20 / sq ft | ref |
| Trim, corners & wrap | $3.50 / sq ft | ref |
| Disposal | $0.25 / sq ft | ref |
Regional labor multipliers
Each state's labor multiplier is its mean carpenter wage relative to the national mean, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (Carpenters, SOC 47-2031) — used as a proxy because siding installation has no dedicated occupation code (the BLS files siding work under carpenters). Multipliers are bounded to a sane range and applied to the labor share of each line item, so materials stay nationally priced while labor tracks local wages.
Data vintage & limitations
Compiled June 2026 from public cost aggregators and government wage data — these are derived estimates, not live contractor quotes. Local prices vary with project complexity, access, and material availability; always confirm with a licensed contractor before budgeting.