How Much Does Cedar Siding Cost?
Installed cedar siding typically costs about $10 to $25 per square foot, with premium grades and trim pushing some projects higher. Pick the wrong profile, grade, or prep scope, and a bid can look low until labor, flashing, and removal add thousands. This guide breaks down price by siding profile, wood grade, and the hidden prep items that change installed cost fastest.
Typical cost range
For planning purposes, cedar siding usually lands above many common siding options because the wood itself costs more and installation takes more time. A practical starting point is $10 to $25 per square foot installed for cedar, while broader siding jobs often fall within $6 to $15 per square foot installed across materials. Home shape, stories, region, and prep work all move the total. Two similar houses can still quote very differently.
Cedar pricing at a glance
Wood siding starts around $2 per square foot, but cedar usually moves well above that once you add waste, fasteners, labor, and site prep. The average cost of replacing siding is $11,435, and the average house siding cost is reported between $5,576 and $17,529. Cedar often sits toward the upper end of those ranges.
| Cedar profile | Material-only range | Installed range | Typical waste allowance | Most likely add-ons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar shakes | $8–$14 per sq. ft. | $16–$30 per sq. ft. | 10%–20% | Tear-off, wrap, flashing, scaffolding, trim repair |
| Cedar shingles | $6–$12 per sq. ft. | $12–$24 per sq. ft. | 10%–15% | Tear-off, wrap, flashing, trim repair |
| Cedar lap siding | $4–$9 per sq. ft. | $10–$20 per sq. ft. | 10%–15% | Tear-off, wrap, flashing, scaffolding, trim repair |
| Beveled cedar siding | $5–$10 per sq. ft. | $11–$22 per sq. ft. | 10%–15% | Tear-off, wrap, flashing, scaffolding, trim repair |
What changes the price?
Cedar siding installation cost changes with species, grade, thickness, exposure, wall shape, and regional labor rates. The same square footage can quote very differently if the house has many corners, two stories, dormers, or complicated rooflines. Material-only pricing and installed pricing also need to stay separate, or the quote is hard to judge.
Species and grade
Western red cedar is the common premium cedar siding species, and it appears in lap siding, shingles, and shakes. Higher grades generally have fewer knots and a cleaner face, which increases material cost. Lower grades can reduce the lumber price, but they may limit finish choices or raise the amount of sorting on site.
Finish choice matters too. Factory-finished boards usually cost more upfront than unfinished wood, but they can reduce early maintenance work. Unfinished cedar may save money on the bid, then need staining or sealing soon after installation if you want to slow weathering.
Thickness, exposure, and board width
Cedar shingles and shakes are often priced by thickness and exposure rating. Thicker pieces usually cost more and can take more labor. For lap siding, board width and reveal affect labor because tighter reveals and more cuts slow the crew down.
Home height, wall shape, and labor time
Labor costs average around $2 to $12 per square foot, and cedar installation often leans toward the higher end when walls are tall or complex. Second-story walls, gables, and lots of trim lines add setup time and cutting time. Scaffolding or staging can also slow the crew if the elevations are steep.
Region and contractor pricing
Siding installation costs vary by material, labor, location, and exterior wall area. A contractor in a high-cost market may quote more for the same cedar profile than a contractor in a lower-cost market. Identical houses can produce very different bids because labor, access, and local overhead are not the same.
Say your 2,000-square-foot house has a plain rectangle shape and easy access. The siding bid may stay near the lower end of the installed range. Suppose the same house has a rear gable, a second story, and lots of trim. The labor line often rises fast, even if the square footage stays the same.
How much do cedar shakes cost?
Cedar shake siding usually costs more than cedar shingles because the texture, grading, and installation time push the price up. Cedar shake siding is commonly reported at about $16 to $30 per square foot installed, with material-only pricing often around $8 to $14 per square foot. Grade and exposure rating can move the quote noticeably.
Why shakes cost more to install
Shakes have a thicker, more textured appearance, and that irregular look usually takes more sorting and fitting. Labor often weighs more than material on the final invoice. If the wall has many openings, corners, or transitions, the labor share can rise further.
For a 1,000-square-foot wall area, the installed price can run from about $16,000 to $30,000 before major repair surprises. That is why a low material quote does not tell you much by itself.
How much do cedar shingles cost?
Cedar shingles are usually a bit more uniform than shakes, and that often puts them below shakes in total installed cost. Cedar shingle siding is commonly reported at about $12 to $24 per square foot installed, with material-only pricing often around $6 to $12 per square foot. Thickness, grade, and finish choice still change the number.
How shingles differ from shakes
Shingles tend to present a more even surface, while shakes read as more textured. That difference affects both the purchase price and the labor time. Shingles are often compared directly with shakes, but the installed cost is usually lower because the material is more regular and easier to lay out.
Finish and maintenance impact
Factory finish can raise the initial cost, but it may slow early weathering and reduce immediate maintenance tasks. Unfinished cedar is more exposed from day one, so the homeowner may need to budget sooner for stain or sealant. That choice affects lifetime cost, not just day-one cost.
What add-ons should you expect?
Hidden prep work can move a cedar quote by thousands. Tear-off and disposal, house wrap, flashing, staging, and repair of damaged trim or sheathing are common extras. Some contractors include part of this work in the base price, while others list it separately, so line-item checks matter.
Tear-off and disposal
Siding removal for about 1,000 square feet costs $700–2,000. That number can climb if the old siding is stubborn, the disposal method is expensive, or the crew finds damage under the existing cladding. If the quote says “remove and dispose,” check whether dumpster fees are included.
House wrap and flashing
House wrap or weather barrier installation costs $150–$300, and flashing typically costs $50–$200. Those figures are useful for scope checks, but real projects can run higher if windows, doors, or rooflines need more detailed work. Moisture control is not optional; it belongs in the quote.
Scaffolding or staging
Scaffolding or ladder rental can add $150–$400. That range is most relevant when the house has second-story walls, steep grades, or hard-to-reach elevations. If access is difficult, the crew may also work more slowly, which shows up in labor.
Trim repair and sheathing fixes
Rot, soft sheathing, or failed trim can add cost quickly. These repairs are not fixed-price constants because the damage depth changes from house to house. A bid that skips this line item may look lower at first and then jump once the wall is open.
A common mistake is pricing cedar siding by the board-foot quote alone and overlooking stain, trim, and removal costs. If one contractor includes removal, wrap, and flashing while another excludes them, the cheaper quote may be the more expensive project in the end.
How do you estimate a cedar quote?
Start with exterior wall area, not floor area. Then add waste, starter pieces, and likely prep work. That method gives a quick installed-cost estimate and helps you compare bids line by line instead of guessing from the headline number alone.
- Measure the exterior wall area to be sided.
- Choose the profile: shakes, shingles, lap, or beveled.
- Add 10%–20% waste, depending on cuts and wall complexity.
- Include tear-off, wrap, flashing, and scaffolding if the house needs them.
- Check whether trim repair or sheathing replacement is excluded.
- Compare the total to the installed ranges in the table above.
For example, a 1,200-square-foot wall area with cedar shingles at $12 to $24 per square foot installed points to a base siding cost of $14,400 to $28,800 before removal or repair. Add old siding removal, and the total can move noticeably higher.
Frequently asked questions
How much does cedar siding cost per square foot?
Cedar siding typically costs about $10 to $25 per square foot installed, depending on profile, grade, region, and prep work. Material-only pricing is lower, but you should not compare material price to an installed quote. That mistake makes a bid look cheaper than it really is.
How much does new cedar siding cost?
For a full project, a 1,000-square-foot home typically costs $6,000–$15,000 for siding installation overall, while a 2,000-square-foot home typically costs $12,000–$25,000. Cedar can run above those broad averages once premium grades, removal, and extra prep are included.
How much does cedar shake siding cost per square foot?
Cedar shake siding usually lands around $16 to $30 per square foot installed. Shakes often cost more than shingles because of the texture, material grading, and labor time. If a quote is far below that range, check whether it excludes tear-off, wrap, or flashing.
How much does cedar shingle siding cost?
Cedar shingle siding often costs about $12 to $24 per square foot installed. Thickness and grade change the material price, and factory finish can raise the upfront total. Shingles usually compare favorably with shakes on price, while still keeping the cedar look many homeowners want.
How much does cedar lap siding cost?
Cedar lap siding often falls around $10 to $20 per square foot installed. Board width, reveal, and finish choice affect labor time, so the quote can move if the wall has many corners or transitions. Primed boards may cost more up front than unfinished boards.
Is cedar siding expensive?
Yes. Cedar is generally a premium siding option compared with many common materials. It costs more than lower-priced wood siding starting around $2 per square foot, and installed cedar often sits above the broader $6 to $15 per square foot siding range. The upside is a distinctive wood look.
How.much does cedar cladding cost
If you mean cedar cladding in general, a fair planning range is still about $10 to $25 per square foot installed, with shakes and high-grade profiles going higher. The exact number depends on whether the bid is for material only or for full installation with tear-off and prep.
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