Cedar Siding Replacement Cost: 2026 Price Per Sq Ft & Total

If you're a homeowner in the Kirkland, Bellevue, or greater Seattle area weighing your options, understanding cedar siding replacement cost is the first step toward making a confident decision. Cedar remains one of the most popular siding choices in the Pacific Northwest for good reason, it handles our wet climate well, looks stunning on nearly any home style, and can last decades with proper care. But it's not cheap, and pricing varies significantly depending on the grade of wood, the style you choose, and who's doing the work.

We install and replace cedar siding across the Eastside and Seattle metro as part of our work at Legacy Exteriors LLC. Through hundreds of residential siding projects, we've seen firsthand how costs shift based on factors like shake vs. shingle profiles, board grades, and the condition of what's underneath the old siding. That hands-on experience is exactly what shaped this guide, not generic national data, but real-world pricing context relevant to Washington homeowners.

This article breaks down current 2026 material and labor costs per square foot, total project price ranges for common home sizes, and the specific variables that push your final number higher or lower. Whether you're replacing damaged sections or re-siding your entire home, you'll walk away with a clear picture of what to budget and the knowledge to evaluate any quote you receive.

Why Cedar Siding Replacement Costs Vary

Cedar siding replacement cost isn't a single number you can look up and apply directly to your home. It's a range shaped by several compounding variables: wood grade, profile style, home size, the condition of what's underneath the old siding, and local labor rates. In the Pacific Northwest, labor rates run above national averages, which means homeowners in Kirkland, Bellevue, and Seattle typically see higher bids than national cost guides suggest. Knowing what drives that range before you request quotes puts you in a much stronger position to evaluate the proposals you receive.

Understanding each cost driver helps you spot underbids that cut corners and avoid paying a premium that isn't justified.

Wood Grade and Profile Style

Cedar is not one uniform product. It comes in several grades ranging from clear (premium) to knotty or economy, and each grade carries a meaningfully different price per square foot. Clear cedar has no knots, holds stain and paint evenly, and resists moisture better over time. Knotty grades cost less upfront but can require more maintenance down the road. The grade you select can move your material cost by $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot or more before a single board goes up.

Profile style adds another layer of variation. Cedar shakes are split rather than sawn, which gives them a rougher, more textured surface many Pacific Northwest homeowners prefer. Cedar shingles are sawn on both faces for a smoother, more uniform look. Lap and bevel siding offer a traditional horizontal profile at a lower per-unit cost. Each profile installs differently, with shakes requiring more labor time per square foot than flat-profile boards, which directly affects what you pay.

Home Size and Structural Complexity

Total square footage drives overall cost, but the shape and features of your home matter just as much. A two-story home with dormers, multiple gable ends, and decorative trim takes significantly more labor hours than a single-story ranch of the same square footage. Every angle, corner, and penetration requires precise cuts and careful detailing that adds time to the job.

Features like bay windows, chimney surrounds, and exterior light fixtures force the crew to work around obstacles, which slows installation. Homes with limited staging areas can add to the billed hours as well. If your home has any of these features, expect your per-square-foot labor cost to land toward the higher end of the typical range.

Substrate Condition and Removal Scope

What the crew finds once the old siding comes off can shift your budget considerably. Rotted sheathing, damaged house wrap, or moisture-compromised framing all require repair before new cedar goes on. These discoveries are not uncommon in western Washington given our wet winters, and they can add several thousand dollars to a project that looked straightforward from the outside.

Removal and disposal of your existing siding also contributes to cost. Tearing off fiber cement, stucco, or multiple layers of old material is more labor-intensive than pulling off single-layer wood siding, and disposal fees in King County factor into the final number. If your home allows for installing over existing siding, you'll save on removal costs, but you may face other tradeoffs near windows and doors where added wall thickness becomes an issue.

Labor Rates and Permitting in Washington

Labor typically represents 40 to 50 percent of total project cost, sometimes more on complex homes. In the greater Seattle metro, including Kirkland, Redmond, and Bellevue, licensed and insured siding crews charge more per hour than contractors in rural markets. That higher rate reflects the cost of proper licensing, insurance, and the level of skill required to install cedar correctly in a climate where improper installation leads to premature rot and moisture damage.

Permits add to the budget as well. Most full siding replacements in Washington require a building permit, and the cost varies by city and total project valuation. Skipping the permit is never worth the risk.

Cedar Siding Cost Per Sq Ft and Total in 2026

Most homeowners researching cedar siding replacement cost want two numbers: what they'll pay per square foot and what the total project will run. Both figures depend heavily on the grade and profile you select, but the ranges below reflect what licensed contractors in the greater Seattle and Eastside markets are actually charging in 2026, not averages pulled from national databases that don't account for Washington labor rates.

Material Cost Per Square Foot

Cedar materials alone typically run $3.00 to $8.00 per square foot installed, before factoring in labor. Clear-grade cedar sits at the top of that range and delivers the cleanest look with the fewest maintenance issues over time. Knotty or economy-grade cedar comes in at the lower end, which works well for certain aesthetic goals but may require more frequent sealing or staining.

The profile you choose affects both material cost and the labor hours required to install it, so never price materials without pricing the full install together.

The table below outlines typical 2026 material-only costs by cedar type for Washington homeowners:

Cedar Type	Material Cost Per Sq Ft
Clear cedar shingles	$5.00 - $8.00
Clear cedar shakes	$4.50 - $7.50
Knotty cedar lap/bevel	$3.00 - $5.00
Tongue and groove cedar	$4.00 - $6.50

These figures cover the siding boards themselves. Housewrap, flashing, fasteners, and trim materials add to the material line item and are sometimes quoted separately by contractors.

Total Project Cost by Home Size

When you combine materials and labor for a full replacement, most homes in the Kirkland, Bellevue, and Seattle area fall into predictable ranges based on square footage. Labor typically adds $3.00 to $6.00 per square foot on top of materials, with complex rooflines and multi-story homes pushing toward the higher end.

Here's what total replacement projects generally cost in this market:

Home Size (Sq Ft of Siding)	Estimated Total Cost
1,000 sq ft	$8,000 - $14,000
1,500 sq ft	$12,000 - $21,000
2,000 sq ft	$16,000 - $28,000
2,500 sq ft	$20,000 - $35,000

Your actual siding square footage is not the same as your home's living area square footage. A two-story 2,000 sq ft home could easily have 2,200 to 2,800 sq ft of exterior wall surface depending on ceiling heights and roof pitch. Always measure exterior wall area specifically when budgeting.

What Drives Your Price: Materials, Labor, and Add-Ons

Understanding your cedar siding replacement cost means looking beyond the sticker price on the boards themselves. Three core categories shape what appears on your final invoice: material grade and quantity, the labor required to install them correctly, and the add-ons that most homeowners don't anticipate when they first start budgeting.

Cedar Siding Material Grades

Clear-grade cedar represents the premium option, with tight grain and no knots, which holds finish longer and resists moisture penetration better than lower grades. Knotty or select-tight-knot cedar costs less per board but demands more frequent maintenance to prevent premature weathering, especially in western Washington's wet climate.

Beyond grade, the profile you select changes how much material you need to order. Shakes and shingles have significant overlap built into every course, which means your raw material quantity runs higher than the total wall square footage. Lap and bevel profiles are more efficient per square foot, which is one reason they often come in at a lower total material cost even when the individual board price is not dramatically different.

Labor: The Largest Variable

Labor consistently accounts for 40 to 50 percent of total project cost on most cedar siding jobs. In the greater Seattle and Eastside market, licensed crews with proper insurance charge more per hour than national averages reflect, and for good reason. Installing cedar incorrectly in a wet climate creates moisture pathways that lead to rot within a few years.

Paying for skilled labor upfront is far less expensive than tearing out improperly installed cedar siding three years later.

Complex rooflines, multiple stories, and tight staging areas all extend the hours required to complete your project. A crew that gives you a low per-square-foot labor rate on a straightforward home will likely adjust that figure once they see the actual site conditions.

Add-Ons That Affect Your Final Number

Several line items catch homeowners off guard when they review detailed bids. Housewrap and flashing replacement is often necessary when old siding comes off, and skipping these components to save money creates moisture problems down the road. Trim boards, corner caps, and window surrounds all require material and labor beyond the siding panels themselves.

Painting or staining the new cedar adds another layer of cost that some contractors price separately. Raw cedar needs a protective finish applied promptly after installation to handle Washington's rainfall, so factor that cost into your budget from day one rather than treating it as optional.

How to Estimate Your Cedar Siding Budget

Putting a realistic number on your cedar siding replacement cost before you call a contractor gives you a meaningful reference point when bids start coming in. Without your own rough estimate, it's difficult to tell whether a quote is reasonable or inflated. The process doesn't require professional tools, just accurate measurements and a clear understanding of how materials and labor stack up in your specific market.

Measure Your Exterior Wall Square Footage

Start by measuring the perimeter of your home and multiplying it by the average wall height. For a two-story home, measure each story separately and add them together. Subtract openings like windows and doors, which typically account for 10 to 15 percent of total wall area on most residential homes. Use that adjusted figure as your working square footage.

Keep in mind that profiles like shakes and shingles require built-in course overlap, so contractors typically order 10 to 15 percent more material than the net wall area to account for waste and cuts. Factor that overage into your material estimate from the start to avoid surprises when the material invoice arrives.

Build Your Cost Estimate Line by Line

Once you have your square footage, apply the material and labor ranges covered earlier in this article. Use the table below as a working framework:

Line Item	Estimated Cost Per Sq Ft
Cedar materials (grade-dependent)	$3.00 - $8.00
Labor (installation)	$3.00 - $6.00
Housewrap and flashing	$0.50 - $1.50
Trim, corners, and window surrounds	$0.75 - $2.00
Finish (stain or paint)	$1.00 - $2.50

Running these numbers yourself before requesting quotes gives you a benchmark that immediately reveals whether a contractor's bid is competitive or out of range.

Adding these ranges puts most full replacement projects between $8.25 and $20.00 per square foot all-in, depending on grade, profile, and home complexity. That spread is wide, which is exactly why measuring correctly and selecting your grade before requesting quotes matters.

Account for Contingency

No exterior project in western Washington wraps up without at least one unexpected discovery. Once old siding comes off, rotted sheathing or damaged housewrap may need replacement, and that work carries real material and labor costs. Building a 10 to 15 percent contingency into your working budget is standard practice for any siding project in a high-moisture climate, not an overreaction.

Sharing your rough estimate with contractors you interview also signals that you've done your homework, which typically results in more detailed, itemized quotes rather than vague lump sums that are harder to compare.

Repair vs Replace and Ways to Keep Costs Down

Before committing to a full cedar siding replacement cost, it's worth determining whether targeted repairs can extend your existing siding's life at a fraction of the price. The right answer depends on how widespread the damage is, how old the cedar is, and what your goals are for the next 10 to 20 years. Replacing isolated boards on a home where the majority of the cedar is still sound is a completely reasonable approach that can buy you several more years before a full replacement becomes necessary.

When Repair Makes More Sense

Repair is the practical choice when damage is confined to a specific area, such as a single wall face or a section near a leaking gutter that has since been fixed. Replacing a handful of boards, re-caulking around windows, and applying a fresh coat of stain costs a fraction of a full re-side and can restore the exterior's integrity without a major budget commitment.

If less than 20 percent of your siding shows rot, warping, or significant moisture damage, repair is almost always the more cost-effective path.

A contractor can assess the scope accurately once they inspect the substrate behind the affected boards. Isolated surface weathering and minor cracking respond well to cleaning and refinishing, while boards with soft spots or visible rot need full replacement regardless of how they look on the surface.

When Full Replacement Is the Right Call

Widespread rot, extensive moisture infiltration, or siding that has reached the end of its useful life all point toward full replacement rather than piecemeal repair. Paying for multiple repair visits over two or three years often adds up to more than a single replacement project would have cost, without the benefit of starting fresh with correctly installed cedar and new housewrap.

If your siding is 30 or more years old and showing consistent failure across multiple elevations, a full replacement also gives you the opportunity to upgrade the grade, update the profile, and address any substrate issues that have been quietly developing behind the old boards.

Practical Ways to Reduce Your Total Cost

Several decisions within your control can bring cedar siding replacement cost down without compromising the quality of the finished project. Choosing a knotty or select-tight-knot grade instead of clear cedar reduces material cost while still delivering solid moisture resistance when properly finished. Scheduling your project in late winter or early spring, when contractor demand is lower, can also improve your negotiating position. Finally, bundling your siding project with gutter or trim work gives your contractor fewer mobilization costs to spread across multiple visits, which often translates to a better overall price on the combined scope.

Next Steps

You now have a solid understanding of what cedar siding replacement cost looks like in 2026, from per-square-foot material and labor ranges to the specific variables that push your project higher or lower. Armed with that knowledge, your next move is straightforward: get a detailed, itemized quote from a licensed contractor who knows your local market and can assess your home's actual condition, not just its square footage.

At Legacy Exteriors LLC, we work with homeowners across Kirkland, Bellevue, Redmond, and the greater Seattle area on exactly these projects. We provide locked-in price quotes so you know your final number before work begins, with no surprises at the end. Our team will walk your exterior, identify any substrate concerns, and give you a clear proposal that breaks down materials, labor, and finish costs line by line. Request your free siding estimate and get a number you can actually plan around.