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Wood Siding Cost Calculator — 2026 Cedar, Pine & Redwood Estimator
Price a 2026 wood siding job by species (cedar, pine, redwood), grade (Clear vs Knotty), profile (clapboard, shake, shingle), and region.
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What You'll Need
Miller Shingle 18" #4 Undercourse Cedar Kiln Dried Sidewall Shingle 1 Square Carton, Natural
$210.00
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Miller Shingle 18 Inch Rebutted and Rejointed (R&R) Natural Groove Cedar Sidewall Shingles 1/2 Square Carton
$288.00
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bingaai Cedar Tongue and Groove Wall Panels – ½" Thick (12mm) Western Red Cedar Wood Planks for Walls, Sauna, Accent Wall & DIY Projects | 3 ft Long | Covers 9.7 sq ft
$79.99
View on AmazonMiller Shingle 18" #4 Undercourse Cedar Kiln Dried Sidewall Shingle 1 Square Carton, Natural
$210.00
View on AmazonMiller Shingle 18 Inch Rebutted and Rejointed (R&R) Natural Groove Cedar Sidewall Shingles 1/2 Square Carton
$288.00
View on Amazonbingaai Cedar Tongue and Groove Wall Panels – ½" Thick (12mm) Western Red Cedar Wood Planks for Walls, Sauna, Accent Wall & DIY Projects | 3 ft Long | Covers 9.7 sq ft
$79.99
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Price as of Jul 24, 2026. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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Frequently Asked Questions
QHow much does wood siding cost per square foot installed in 2026?
Cedar siding runs $6–$16/sqft installed, averaging $11.70/sqft. Cedar clapboard is $6–$12/sqft (easiest install), shake $7–$16/sqft, shingle $6–$15/sqft. Pine and redwood fall in similar ranges; engineered wood (LP SmartSide) sits at $4–$9/sqft as the budget option.
- Cedar clapboard: $6–$12/sqft installed
- Cedar shake: $7–$16/sqft installed
- Cedar shingle: $6–$15/sqft installed
- Pine: $4–$9/sqft installed
- Redwood: $8–$18/sqft installed
| Species / Profile | Per sqft Installed | 1,500 sqft Surface Total |
|---|---|---|
| Engineered wood (LP SmartSide) | $4–$9 | $6,000–$13,500 |
| Pine clapboard | $4–$9 | $6,000–$13,500 |
| Cedar clapboard | $6–$12 | $9,000–$18,000 |
| Cedar shake / shingle | $7–$16 | $10,500–$24,000 |
| Redwood | $8–$18 | $12,000–$27,000 |
QHow much to install cedar siding on a 2,000 sq ft house?
Cedar siding on a 1,500 sqft siding surface (typical 2,000 sqft home) averages $17,550 at $11.70/sqft. Full-house totals $16,000–$30,000 depending on species, grade (A Clear vs Select Knotty), and region. PNW and Northeast labor for wood specialty runs 20–30% above the national average.
- Cedar on 1,500 sqft: ~$17,550 average
- Full-house total: $16,000–$30,000
- A Clear grade: +30–40% over Select Knotty
- PNW/Northeast wood labor: +20–30%
- Re-stain cost: $1.50–$3/sqft every 5–7 years
QWhich wood siding lasts longest?
Western red cedar and redwood both reach 30–40 years with stain maintenance every 5–7 years. Pine needs repainting every 3–5 years and typically lasts 15–20 years. Engineered wood (LP SmartSide) lasts 30+ years with paint — better life than pine at a similar price point.
- Cedar/redwood: 30–40 yr (with stain every 5–7 yr)
- Pine: 15–20 yr (paint every 3–5 yr)
- Engineered LP SmartSide: 30+ yr
- Stain interval: 5–7 yr for cedar; 3–5 yr for pine
- Clear grade lasts longer than Knotty
QHow much should I pay upfront for wood siding installation?
Typical deposit is 10–30% of the contract; material-order deposit up to 30% is common because cedar is priced volatile and suppliers require upfront payment. Tie any material deposit to a supplier invoice, not the contractor’s general account. Full payment before start is a red flag — walk away.
- Labor deposit: 10–20%
- Material deposit: up to 30% via supplier invoice
- Cedar price volatility justifies material deposit
- 50%+ upfront = scam signal
- Progress payment after tear-off + delivery
QDoes wood siding require more maintenance than fiber cement?
Yes. Cedar needs re-stain every 5–7 years at $1.50–$3/sqft; pine every 3–5 years. Fiber cement with ColorPlus needs repaint only every 15 years. Over a 30-year horizon, wood maintenance can add $15,000–$25,000 on a 1,500 sqft surface compared to fiber cement — bake that into the decision.
- Cedar re-stain: every 5–7 years ($1.50–$3/sqft)
- Pine repaint: every 3–5 years
- Fiber cement repaint: every 15 years
- 30-year wood maintenance: $15,000–$25,000 add-on
- Factor in when comparing lifetime cost
QWhy do cedar siding quotes vary so much?
Cedar grade (A Clear vs Select Knotty) swings material cost 40%. Labor varies 30–50% because profile type (clapboard vs shake vs shingle) and nailing pattern each affect time per square. Shake and shingle profiles are 2–3x slower to install than straight clapboard, which is why labor quotes spread widely.
- Grade spread: A Clear vs Select Knotty = 40% material
- Profile labor: shake/shingle is 2–3x slower than clapboard
- Regional labor spread: 30–50%
- Pre-finish (factory stain) adds $1–$2/sqft
- Expected 3-quote spread: 25–40%
Example Calculations
11,500 sqft cedar clapboard on Northeast colonial
Inputs
Siding surface1,500 sqft
Species/ProfileCedar clapboard, A Clear
Tear-offOld cedar
Stories2
RegionNortheast
Result
Typical installed quote$16,000 – $22,000
Two-story surcharge+20% labor
A Clear grade premium+30–40% on material
Cedar clapboard on a two-story colonial is the signature Northeast look. A Clear grade + two-story labor hits the upper part of the range.
21,800 sqft cedar shake on PNW home
Inputs
Siding surface1,800 sqft
Species/ProfileWestern red cedar shake
Tear-offOld cedar shake
Stories1.5 (craftsman)
RegionPacific Northwest
Result
Typical installed quote$22,000 – $30,000
Shake vs clapboard labor+2–3x time per square
PNW cedar-specialty labor+20–30%
Shake on a Pacific Northwest craftsman is peak cedar pricing: slow install profile + premium wood-specialty labor + material volatility.
31,200 sqft engineered LP SmartSide on Midwest starter
Inputs
Siding surface1,200 sqft
Species/ProfileLP SmartSide lap
Tear-offOld vinyl
Stories1
RegionMidwest
Result
Typical installed quote$5,800 – $9,500
Paint warranty15 years
Material savings vs cedar40–50%
Engineered wood gives you the wood look at vinyl-adjacent pricing. Best value pick when you want cedar aesthetics without the maintenance tail.
Formulas Used
Wood siding cost driver breakdown
Quote = Panels + Profile-labor + Pre-finish + Tear-off + Regional premiumWood quotes are labor-sensitive because shake/shingle profiles install 2–3x slower than clapboard. Pre-finish (factory stain) saves field-paint labor but adds $1–$2/sqft upfront.
Where:
Panels= Cedar $3–$8/sqft material; pine $2–$4; redwood $4–$10Profile labor= Clapboard = 1x baseline; shake/shingle = 2–3xPre-finish= Factory stain adds $1–$2/sqft, saves ~$1/sqft in field laborTear-off= $0.50–$2/sqft depending on existing materialRegional premium= PNW + Northeast wood-specialty labor: +20–30%Wood Siding Costs in 2026: What Buyers Actually Pay
1
What Wood Siding Actually Costs in 2026
Wood siding splits into three species bands. Pine clapboard is the cheapest at $4–$9/sqft installed — a budget choice with 15–20 year lifespan when maintained. Cedar sits in the middle at $6–$16/sqft depending on profile, with 30–40 year lifespan on stain-maintained installs. Redwood tops the range at $8–$18/sqft, supply-constrained due to harvest restrictions but prized for natural rot resistance in wet climates. Engineered wood products like LP SmartSide deliver a cedar aesthetic at $4–$9/sqft with 30+ year paint life and a fraction of the maintenance.
Profile within each species drives another 20–40% spread. Clapboard (horizontal lap boards) is the cheapest to install — fast, predictable labor. Shake and shingle installs are labor-intensive because crews hang hundreds of individual pieces with hand-placed stagger patterns. The table below shows 2026 installed costs by species and profile so you can anchor expectations against whatever bids you are collecting.
| Species / Profile | Low ($/sqft) | Mid ($/sqft) | High ($/sqft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine clapboard | 4 | 6.5 | 9 |
| Cedar clapboard | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| Cedar shake | 7 | 11.5 | 16 |
| Cedar shingle | 6 | 10 | 15 |
| Redwood clapboard | 8 | 12.5 | 18 |
| Engineered wood (LP SmartSide) | 4 | 6.5 | 9 |
A 1,500 sqft cedar clapboard job at the $11.70/sqft national average comes to $17,550 installed. The same home in engineered wood at $6.50/sqft lands at $9,750 — $7,800 less for a product that looks and performs like cedar but needs 1 repaint instead of 5 restains over 30 years.
2
Species and Profile: What Actually Drives Your Price
Species and profile are the two biggest levers on wood siding. Cedar and redwood are naturally rot-resistant because of the oils and tannins in the heartwood; pine is not, which is why pine siding requires painting within 90 days of install and repainting every 5–7 years. Cedar lasts 30–40 years with stain maintenance every 5–7; redwood 40–50 years with minimal maintenance in the right climate; pine 15–20 years with diligent paint upkeep.
Grade within species matters too. A Clear cedar (no knots, uniform grain) carries a 30–40% material premium over Select Knotty (small knots, grade variation). Which one is right depends on finish plans: painted siding hides knots, so Select Knotty is fine; clear-stain finishes showcase the wood grain and need A Clear to look professional. The list below walks the full decision sequence.
| Spec | Pine | Cedar | Redwood | Engineered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installed cost ($/sqft) | $4–$9 | $6–$16 | $8–$18 | $4–$9 |
| Life expectancy | 15–20 yrs | 30–40 yrs | 40–50 yrs | 30+ yrs |
| Maintenance interval | Paint 5–7 yrs | Stain 5–7 yrs | Stain 7–10 yrs | Paint 15+ yrs |
| Rot resistance | Low | High | High | Treated |
- Clear stain finish desired: spec A Clear grade (material +30–40%)
- Painted finish planned: Select Knotty saves money with no visual downside
- Wet coastal climate: cedar or redwood beats pine on rot resistance
- WUI fire-code zone (CA): Class A treated cedar or redwood only — verify before bid
- Hands-off maintenance: engineered wood (LP SmartSide) over natural species
- Always use stainless or hot-dipped galvanized nails on cedar — bright nails cause black tannin streaks
3
30-Year Life-Cycle Cost: Wood vs Fiber Cement
The decision between cedar and fiber cement is rarely an upfront-cost comparison; it is a 30-year total-cost-of-ownership question. A $17,550 cedar install needs restaining every 5–7 years at $1.50–$3/sqft — roughly $3,500–$5,000 per cycle on a 1,500 sqft surface area. Over 30 years that is 4–5 restain cycles totaling $14,000–$25,000 in maintenance, putting full 30-year cost at $31,500–$42,500 for cedar versus roughly $24,000 for Hardie fiber cement with ColorPlus (one repaint at $6,000 at year 15).
On strict cost math, fiber cement wins the 30-year comparison by $7,500–$18,000 on a typical 1,500 sqft surface. Cedar keeps rough parity only in low-sun, low-moisture exposures where restain intervals stretch to 8–10 years instead of 5–7. The offsetting factor is resale: in upper-tier markets where buyers value real wood, the cedar aesthetic can command a $15,000–$40,000 premium on list price that more than compensates for maintenance cost. The bar chart below visualizes the trade-off.
| Decision Factor | Cedar | Fiber Cement (Hardie) |
|---|---|---|
| Install cost (1,500 sqft) | $17,550 | $18,000 |
| 30-year maintenance | $14,000–$25,000 (4–5 restains) | $6,000 (1 repaint) |
| Total 30-yr cost | $31,500–$42,500 | $24,000 |
| Resale in upper markets | +$15,000–$40,000 | +$5,000–$15,000 |
If your market prices listings with cedar premiums (Pacific Northwest, Northeast, upper-tier coastal), the resale lift often covers the $8,000–$15,000 30-year maintenance gap. Outside those markets, fiber cement is almost always the cheaper and simpler choice.
4
Red Flags When Hiring a Wood Siding Contractor
Wood siding rewards experienced installers more than most trades. A shake or shingle job with wrong nailing spec, wrong stagger pattern, or missing rain-screen detail fails in 8–10 years instead of lasting 30–40. The single biggest vetting question: ask for the grade spec in writing — A Clear, Select Knotty, Number 2 Clear — and verify it is named in the contract. Contractors who dodge grade specification often deliver Select Knotty at Clear pricing, a common under-delivery.
Two details separate professional cedar installs from amateur ones. First, nailing spec: cedar requires stainless or hot-dipped galvanized nails. Bright, electro-galvanized, or duplex nails react with cedar tannins and cause black streaks within 6–12 months — irreversible without refinishing. Second, rain-screen detail: a 1/4″ gap between siding and house wrap via furring strips or specialty mesh. Skip the rain screen and siding rots from trapped moisture in 8–10 years regardless of species. Deposits follow the 10–30% rule; 20–30% is acceptable for material deposits on cedar (pricing is volatile). Demand written scope naming species, grade, profile, nailing, and rain-screen detail.
Require stainless or hot-dipped galvanized nails, a written rain-screen detail, and a grade spec in the contract. Those three line items separate a 30-year cedar install from a 10-year tannin-streaked rot project.
- Accepting a cedar quote without grade spec in writing (A Clear vs Select Knotty = 30–40% material diff)
- Using bright or electro-galvanized nails on cedar — tannin reaction causes black streaks
- Skipping rain-screen detail to save $500–$1,000 — siding rots in 8–10 years
- Not budgeting for restain every 5–7 years on cedar ($3,500–$5,000 per cycle)
- Paying 50%+ deposit because “cedar prices are going up” — use 20–30% mill-deposit rule
- Hiring a general siding contractor without shake/shingle portfolio references
- Ignoring WUI fire code in California — only Class A treated wood or redwood qualifies
5
Regional Wood Siding Pricing
Wood siding pricing varies more by region than any other siding material. Pacific Northwest markets (Seattle, Portland) sit at the low end for cedar because mills are local and trade density keeps labor competitive — cedar clapboard runs $6–$9/sqft installed. Northeast markets price cedar at $10–$14/sqft, a cultural premium in colonial and cape-style neighborhoods. The South sees less wood siding overall; pine dominates where wood is used. California has the most restrictive pricing because Wildland-Urban Interface fire code limits residential wood siding to Class A fire-rated treated products or naturally rot-resistant redwood — both at the top end of the range.
Within any region, full-house 2,000 sqft cedar clapboard totals run $12,000–$18,000 in the PNW, $18,000–$28,000 in the Northeast, and $16,000–$24,000 on average nationally. Engineered wood (LP SmartSide) prices similarly to pine nationwide at $8,000–$18,000 and is the right answer in fire-code regions where natural cedar is restricted.
| Region | Cedar Clapboard ($/sqft) | Full 2,000 sqft Cedar |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Northwest | $6–$9 | $12,000–$18,000 |
| South | $7–$10 | $14,000–$20,000 |
| Midwest | $8–$11 | $16,000–$22,000 |
| Northeast | $10–$14 | $20,000–$28,000 |
| California (WUI-restricted) | $12–$16 | $24,000–$32,000 |
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Last Updated: Jul 24, 2026
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