How Much Does Wood Siding Cost?

Wood Siding Cost Per Square Foot

Wood siding usually ranges from $1 to $5 per square foot, plus installation charges of $2 to $5 per square foot, for a total of $3 to $10 per square foot. For complex layouts, expect to pay upwards of 25% more. 

The type of wood siding you choose also affects both cost and aesthetics.

Cost Factors 

The factors that increase wood siding costs include the size of the area where siding is being installed, the layout of your home, local labor costs, and the quality of lumber you choose to install.

Size of Home 

1,500 square feet is a rough guideline homeowners can follow for adding siding to their home. However, for larger homes, 2,000 or more square feet of materials may be needed to cover the space. This will increase both labor costs and material costs for your project.

You'll also need to factor in the cost to paint a house if that's in your plans after installation.

Home Design / Accessibility 

Homes on hills, homes that are surrounded by forest or trees, and other accessibility issues could drive up labor costs. Get multiple quotes from local siding contractors to find someone who fits your budget and is willing to work in your particular space.

Labor 

Prep work, junk removal, insulation, siding installation and final touches are steps a contractor or homeowner must take to install wood siding. $2,000 to $5,000 is the rough estimate for a regular size home to cover these steps.

Quality 

Wood quality can drastically change your final price tag. More affordable woods like cypress might cost half as much as redwood or cedar, for example. If you're tackling the project yourself, look for a reputable local lumber vendor who sources only quality wood.

Wood Siding Cost By Type

The type of wood you choose for siding will also affect how much you pay. For example, certain wood, like cedar, resists rot. Although it costs more initially, it might last longer than other options. Learn more below.

Cedar

Cedar siding costs $3 to $10 per square foot. Because it can be stained and is rot resistant, cedar is easily one of the most popular siding choices. Western Red and Eastern White are most often used. 

Pine

Pine is more affordable at just $1 to $5 per square foot. Homeowners choose it for its price point, along with its multiple design and color (white, blue stain, knotty, and gray). 

Pine is available throughout the United States. Pressure treated pine is very rot and insect resistant and is available in most locations up to twice the price of untreated pine.

Redwood

Redwood is a softwood that costs between $4 and $14 per square foot. IF you live in the western part of the United States, you may pay less for it as it's more abundant.

Cypress

Cypress costs $1 to $5 per square foot, making it another economical option. Similar to redwood, it's more abundant in the southeast, meaning you may be able to score a better deal in a state like Georgia or Florida.

Douglas Fir

Douglas Fir costs $2 to $6 per square foot. Another economical softwood like pine, it can be purchased for a fair market rate in most markets in the U.S.

Hardwood (Teak, Ipe, Cumaru)

Hardwoods like teak, Ipe, and Cumaru cost around $5 to $8 per square foot. These tropical woods offer unique looks to your home, and are easily sourced and often less expensive than some U.S.-based softwoods.

Accoya

Accoya is technically a type of Pine tree that costs $4 to $9 per square foot. The difference is it undergoes a process of acetylation which makes it nearly rot proof and structurally stable (it won't warp or swell as much). The process uses fast growing and sustainable forests with a toxic-free process making it a good environmental siding option without sacrificing quality.

Masonite/Hardboard

Masonite siding, a type of manufactured wood, costs around $2.50 per square foot. It's made from wood fibers, resin, and often includes wax placed under heat and pressure. It looks like wood but with low maintenance and no swelling, shrinking, or warping.

Composite 

Lastly, composite wood siding costs $3 to $7 per square foot. It, like masonite, is a type of engineered wood that typically uses sawdust or chips along with glues and resin under heat and pressure creating a composite material.

Hardwood vs. Softwood 

There are advantages and disadvantages when deciding to install softwood or hardwood siding on your home.

Softwoods are readily available and economically priced in the U.S. However, most are less rot resistant than hardwoods and engineered woods. Hardwoods have a much higher rot resistance and structural stability, but can be harder to work with and tend to be more expensive than softwoods.

Engineered Wood

Engineered woods come in a wide range of quality standards and are manufactured using different processes. They cost less (usually $7 per square foot or less) for products like masonite, composite, plywood, or other types of engineered wood. New products emerge almost every year.

The benefits of engineered wood is they don't warp or shrink, are rot resistant, and they are structurally more sound than softwood. Engineered wood is also much easier to paint.

Wood Siding Installation Cost By Design Type 

Installation can run anywhere from $1 to $6 square foot or more, depending on the style of wood you choose, your home's configuration, and current market rates for contractors.

From shake and shingle to lap and log, wood wears many styles. Some require professional installation and vary in the amount of labor needed. 

Board and Batten 

Board & Batten costs $1 to $2 per square foot for installation. Generally, it's hung vertically with one piece covering the seam of the butt joint of two underlying strips. This style is popularly reproduced with plywood and panel styles. 

Shiplap 

Shiplap, also called Dutch, clapboard, bevel, and channel wood siding, costs $1.50 to $3 per square foot to install. This popular option is typically cut from the less expensive softwoods such as pine and fir. Hardwood will increase the cost considerably. Lap siding gets its name from its pattern, which is a horizontal overlapping of boards. 

Log 

Log siding costs $1 to $5 per square foot to install. It gives your home the appearance of a log cabin without using actual logs. Log is typically more expensive because of the volume of wood needed to give it the desired aesthetic.

Shake and Shingle

Shake costs $2.50 to $6 per square foot to install. It looks almost exactly like shingles that overlap each other, except the wood gives it a more rustic than modern look. It's a very popular option for homeowners for this reason.

Tongue and Groove

Tongue and groove wood siding costs $2 to $5 per square foot to install. Overlapping each other, each tongue fits into the next groove, giving it a sleek, smooth appearance in your home. Its fit-together structure makes it a popular design for those taking the DIY route.

FAQs

Is wood cheaper than vinyl siding? 

Generally speaking, vinyl siding is cheaper than wood siding. Some more affordable options, though, such as engineered woods, could rival vinyl siding costs if you want to give your home a different look. Vinyl siding costs start around $6,000 for installation.

How long does wood siding last? 

Wood siding can last 40 years or more, but requires far more maintenance than vinyl siding. Especially if you install softwood, which can become susceptible to rot or termite infestations.

Repairing wood siding costs range from $600 to $2,400.

How much does it cost to put wood on a 1,500-square-foot house? 

$12,500 is a good guideline to start with for putting wood siding on a 1,500-square-foot-house.. But you could pay far less by opting for less expensive wood siding options or going the DIY route with installation.