Siding Calculator

Start with gross wall area (length times height for each wall, added together), then subtract the area of windows and doors since siding doesn't cover openings. The result is your net siding area, which converts into siding squares (1 square equals 100 sq ft) for pricing, then into panels or pieces based on your material's coverage per unit.

Example: A home with 1,800 sq ft of gross wall area and 200 sq ft of windows and doors has a net siding area of 1,600 sq ft, or 16 siding squares.

Panel count depends on net wall area and the coverage of a single panel, which varies by material. Standard vinyl siding panels cover about 16 square feet each, while fiber cement planks typically cover around 12.5 square feet depending on width and exposure. Divide net area by panel coverage, then round up and add waste. For 1,600 sq ft of net wall area, that's about 100 vinyl panels before waste — closer to 110 once you add a 10% allowance for cuts and overlaps.

Like roofing, siding is often priced and quoted by the square, where 1 square equals 100 square feet of wall area. Converting net wall area into squares makes it easier to compare material and labor quotes across different siding types and contractors. A home with 1,600 sq ft of net wall area is 16 siding squares.

Vinyl siding is the most common residential choice due to its lower cost and simple installation, with panels typically covering about 16 sq ft each. Fiber cement (Hardie Board) costs more but offers better durability and fire resistance, with plank coverage varying by width, commonly in the 12 to 12.5 sq ft range per piece. Material choice affects not just cost per square but also fastener type and installation labor time. Switch the calculator's project type to set the right coverage and waste defaults for each material, then fine-tune the coverage to match your specific product.

Beyond the siding panels themselves, most projects need J-channel around window and door openings, corner posts at each outside corner, and a starter strip along the base of each wall. Underestimating trim is a common cause of mid-project material shortages, since these accessories are easy to overlook when focusing only on panel count. This calculator estimates the linear feet of each accessory from your wall and opening dimensions, then converts it into the number of stock pieces to buy.

House wrap (or building wrap) is standard under most siding types to provide a moisture and air barrier, protecting the sheathing behind the siding. It is especially important on new construction and full tear-off re-side projects. Turn on the house wrap option and the calculator estimates the number of rolls based on your gross wall area and the coverage of a standard 9 ft by 150 ft roll (about 1,350 sq ft), which you can adjust to match your product.

Siding cost depends on material type, wall area, trim, and local labor rates. Material is usually priced per square; labor may be quoted per square and rises for taller or more complex homes. A re-side also adds tear-off and disposal of the old siding. Turn on "Estimate Cost & Budget" to combine material, house wrap, trim, labor, tear-off, and delivery into a single total — in your choice of 150+ currencies.

• Ranch Home: 150 ft of total wall length at 9 ft tall is 1,350 sq ft gross. After deducting ten 3 ft × 4 ft windows (120 sq ft) and two 3 ft × 6.67 ft doors (about 40 sq ft), net area is roughly 1,190 sq ft — about 12 siding squares, or 82 vinyl panels with 10% waste.
• Two-Story House: 220 ft of wall at 18 ft tall is 3,960 sq ft gross. With sixteen windows and two doors deducted, expect roughly 37 to 38 siding squares plus 3 rolls of house wrap.
• Fiber Cement Re-Side: 160 ft of wall at 10 ft is 1,600 sq ft gross; after openings, about 14 net squares at roughly 12.5 sq ft per plank means well over 100 planks with waste.