While premium siding options like brick may not fit every homeowner’s budget, the good news is that cheap siding can still meet your needs in terms of look and quality.
Inexpensive siding comes in a variety of materials and even more numerous styles and structures.
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Average Total Cost Of The Cheapest Siding Options
Redoing the siding of a property can be an expensive endeavor, so choosing a relatively affordable siding option is a smart decision.
Installing the cheapest vinyl siding on an average home with an exterior wall area of about 1,500 square feet costs homeowners at least $4,500, with labor included. If the previous siding needs to be removed beforehand, add another $1,000 to this sum.
The cost of siding can change significantly depending on various factors, including the material.
Siding materials come in a vast price range, so a you still have many siding choices even on a limited budget.
Here are the cheapest siding materials on the market and the average cost of covering 1,500 square feet of your exterior walls.
| Siding Type | Total Price for 1,500 Square Feet |
|---|---|
| Vinyl | $4,500-$18,000 |
| Aluminum | $2,250-$10,500 |
| Natural Wood | $9,000-$18,000 |
| Engineered Wood | $5,250-$13,500 |
| Fiber Cement | $7,500-$18,000 |
| Stone Veneer | $21,000-$33,000 |
| Stucco | $7,500-$13,500 |
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Siding Cost By Square Foot
Here’s how much different siding materials cost per square foot, with installation included.
| Siding Type | Cost per Square Foot (With Labor) |
|---|---|
| Vinyl | $3-$12 |
| Aluminum | $1.50-$7 |
| Natural Wood | $6-$12 |
| Engineered Wood | $3.50-$9 |
| Fiber Cement | $5-$12 |
| Stone Veneer | $14-$22 |
| Stucco | $5-$9 |
Pro Tip: You can calculate the budget you should prepare for siding based on the size of your home.
To get an estimate of the square footage of your exterior walls, add up the length of each wall and then multiply the number you get with the walls’ height. You can do more precise calculations by subtracting your window area from the total.
Multiply your exterior wall area by the price of your choice of siding, and you’ll get a good idea about the budget you’ll need.
You can use our Siding Cost Calculator to estimate the cost of installing siding on your house.
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What Is The Cheapest Siding?
Each type of siding comes in a large price range, so it can be difficult to determine which siding type is the cheapest.
Vinyl is often a favorite cheap siding choice due to its versatility and affordability. However, there are also more expensive, higher quality vinyl siding brands, such as CertainTeed to consider.
Vinyl siding panels consist of two layers, with a more durable outer layer and a cheaper inner layer. This allows for favorable prices while still maintaining resistance to the elements.
Some basic types of vinyl siding can be as cheap as $1 per square foot (minimum $3 per square foot installed).
Vinyl siding is easy to install and can be placed directly over the surface of your home, which means your old siding may not need to be removed. This can save a lot of money on labor and potential hazardous waste disposal fees if you’re covering asbestos siding.
Inexpensive vinyl siding will add less value to your property than expensive stone or natural wood, but it’s still fairly weather-resistant.
Despite vinyl siding’s notable properties, there is not perfect material at this price range.
Vinyl siding is less resistant to impact as more costly siding and if installed improperly or exposed to harsh elements, the material can be prone to peeling, cracking, and warping.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Put Siding On A House?
Going the DIY route may seem like the cheapest way to install siding on a house, but it opens you up to mistakes that can be detrimental to the quality of the result. It can also be dangerous when ladders and saws are involved.
In the long run, investing in quality siding installation pays off more generously.
Siding installation may cost from $2-$15 per square foot.
The labor expenses for each material vary depending on how difficult and time-consuming the siding is to install. Your best bet to save on siding installation is to choose a material that is generally easy to install.
There are other things aside from the siding material that will affect the siding cost. The size and shape of the property will play an important role as well.
Intricate architecture will require more customization when cutting and fitting the siding, which means a more demanding (and more expensive) installation process.
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What Is The Cheapest Type Of Vinyl Siding?
One of the greatest advantages of vinyl is that it comes in countless styles and colors.
The cheapest type of vinyl siding is clapboard, which starts from the low price of only $1-$6 per square foot.
Board and batten, log, vertical, and shake vinyl are also rather cheap and popular siding choices, starting from $2.50 for board and batten.
Uninsulated vinyl siding is cheaper than insulated types. The latter starts from $5 per square foot installed.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Side A Shed?
If you’re looking to clad your shed in the cheapest way possible, aluminum siding is the way to go.
Aluminum siding is often available at lower prices than vinyl.
Aluminum siding is not used for homes as often today since it’s prone to discoloring and denting, and doesn’t increase the value of the property.
Aluminum siding is still a fantastic choice for sheds, workshops, and similar structures, particularly because it’s impervious to moisture, resistant to rust, and comes as cheap as $1.50-$2 per square foot.
Properly installed aluminum siding can last up to 50 years with regular maintenance.
Did you know? Aluminum siding was homeowners’ favorite between the 1940s and 1970s because it’s so lightweight and easy to install. With the introduction of more options, including vinyl, it slowly fell out of favor. Homeowners today usually skip aluminum siding for their property as it has an industrial look, alongside other drawbacks, but it’s still a popular option for barns and sheds.
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What Is The Most Economical Siding?
You’ll need to factor in the longevity, durability, and maintenance costs besides the initial investment to determine which siding option is the cheapest in the long run.
All things considered, vinyl siding is an economical choice thanks to its relative longevity considering its cheap initial cost.
Even if you end up needing to replace your siding due to damage, vinyl siding still provides great value because of its cheap installation.
Not every type of vinyl is created equal, and choosing the absolute cheapest siding option might not be the most economical decision in the long term.
If the cheapest siding option ends up being of poor quality, you may have to redo the siding sooner than you bargained for.
The price of slightly more expensive siding options is usually justified.
For instance, insulated vinyl siding costs more but will provide your home with an added layer of protection. Great quality insulation might lower your electricity bills, making this siding a smart, economical investment.
What Type Of Siding Lasts The Longest?
How long different types of siding will last is a highly individual matter.
Your region’s climate and how much time and money you invest in your siding’s maintenance are two of the key factors.
If the siding needs to be repainted regularly, the quality of the paint you use can also influence the siding’s longevity.
In normal weather conditions, vinyl is often the longest-lasting cheap siding.
You can get vinyl with 20- to 40-year manufacturer’s warranties, but with proper maintenance, it may last even longer than that.
Harsh sun can cause deterioration over time. If your property is located in a sunny climate, premium fiber cement may provide a more long-lasting siding solution.
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What Is The Easiest Siding To Install?
As mentioned, labor will make up a considerable portion of your siding expenses.
Each type of siding has a different installation process. The easier the siding is to install, the more money you can save on labor.
Generally, vinyl is the easiest siding to install. It comes in squares that can be cut to any size with ease to fit the property.
Vinyl siding also doesn’t require you to specially prepare your exterior prior to installation.
You shouldn’t try to cut corners when it comes to installation.
Despite being less demanding than other materials, vinyl siding installation is still time-consuming and requires precision for the best results.
Poorly installed vinyl siding will not last nearly as long as it should, so you may end up spending the money you saved on future repairs.
What Is The Most Maintenance-Free Siding?
If you’re looking for a siding material that will require little to no maintenance, check out fiber cement siding.
Fiber cement (cement fireboard, Hardie Plank, or Hardie Board) is a relatively new siding material on the market. It’s made from cement, clay, sand, wood pulp, and other materials, which create a durable but versatile result.
Fiber cement can be molded into any shape, so it suits most exteriors. It’s fade-proof and does not need to be painted, so you don’t have to worry about peeling paint as time goes by.
Once the fiber cement siding is installed you can technically forget about it, and your property will be just fine.
What Is The Most Durable Home Siding?
When speaking of the most durable home siding material, the debate is usually between aluminum and fiber cement.
While it’s difficult to argue the strength and durability of metal sidings, fiber cement siding often comes out as the winner, as it provides a better value overall.
Fiber cement siding is extremely strong, and it will keep this quality for decades.
Fiber cement siding requires much less maintenance than aluminum or basically any other type of siding.
Those who are looking for the strength and durability of natural stone often choose fiber cement since it’s a cheaper siding alternative with similar qualities.
Another durable siding option we must mention is stone veneer.
Often used for accents, stone veneers bring together the beauty of natural stone and extreme resistance to weather.
Stone veneers can work together with most other siding materials, including fiber cement, to create a stylish and durable result.
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What Type Of Home Is The Easiest To Maintain?
Fiber cement siding is one of the most maintenance-free siding materials out there. It technically requires no maintenance.
Fiber cement is by no means the cheapest siding material on the market. If you are ok with a bit of light maintenance, a cheaper siding alternative can also deliver great value.
Stucco comes at a similar price range as fiber cement and is similarly easy to maintain. You don’t have to do much after installation except occasional crack fixes.
Vinyl siding requires a tad more maintenance, but they are relatively simple tasks. You don’t usually need to paint vinyl siding, so scraping off peeling paint is not a concern. You don’t need to worry about rot or insects either.
Vinyl siding does need to be washed from time to time, and impact can cause cracks that will need to be repaired.
Did you know? Out of the more affordable siding options, stucco is the most difficult to install. The exterior’s surface needs to be treated before its application. The installation consists of several layers, with a 48-hour curing time before the process can be finished. You might need to wait up to 30-60 days before you can paint your exterior.
What Siding Does Not Need Painting?
Homeowners often prefer to avoid siding that requires painting, since it means demanding maintenance tasks down the line. The good news is that many of today’s siding types allow you to skip the paintbrush and bucket.
Out of the more affordable options, fiber cement and vinyl typically don’t require painting.
Both materials come in a vast color range, so their appearance is flexible.
Optionally, you can paint vinyl siding if you notice it has faded or want to change up its look.
Wood, aluminum, and stucco do better with an added layer of paint.
When it comes to pricier siding options, natural stone and stone veneers will never require painting either.
What To Consider When Choosing Your Home Siding
Price may be one of the key factors when choosing your siding, but there is more to siding than that. Take all of the following factors into consideration.
Your Budget
Determining your budget for this siding project is key. Calculating the square footage of material your home will require and comparing siding prices per square foot will help you with this.
Maintenance Required
Another factor to consider is the level of future maintenance.
The cheapest siding options might require slightly more maintenance than costlier materials, so they might not always save you money in the long term.
Your Home’s Appearance
Not all siding will fit all homes. You’ll need to consider the style of your property when choosing an appropriate siding option.
Vinyl is very versatile in this regard, as it comes in many different styles and can even imitate the look of other materials, like wood or stucco.
The Complexity of Installation
Finally, another thing to think about is how complex the installation process will be.
Whether your old siding needs to be removed is a key question, as this can greatly escalate the final cost of the project.
It’s better to stick with easy-to-install siding materials to keep the project cost low.
