How Many Square Feet Are There in a Box of Vinyl Siding?

Have you ever wondered how many square feet are there in a box of vinyl siding?

When you start a new construction project, you should try your best to find the exact amount of material necessary. Some construction materials can be very costly, so you can easily overshoot the budget if you’re not careful during planning.

By calculating the length and width of vinyl siding within a box, you will be much closer to making the right assessment.

What is vinyl siding?

Vinyl sidings are used for home and apartment exteriors. Besides decoration, they are also utilized for waterproofing and are a great replacement for aluminum counterparts. The product was initially developed in the 1950s, but it took a while to become popular.

The amazing thing about vinyl sidings is that they’re easy to maintain and fairly strong. Because of their versatility, you can use them on almost any exterior and under any angle. Sidings are a great way to protect your home from wind, moisture, potential dents, and a bio-resistant finish. You can choose between products of different thicknesses, profile, length, width, and texture.

Perhaps the most important decision is whether you need vertical or horizontal profiles. Common sidings include Dutch lap, clapboard, scallop, shake, shingle, beaded clapboard, log, board pattern, as well as board and batten. Depending on an item that you bought, a siding will have specific width, which will be really important when calculating the necessary material.

Main things to consider when buying vinyl siding

If you need one of the more common profiles, you can easily get them from the local lumberyard or DIY store. The great thing about these shops is that you can make a purchase based on the number of panels you need, not on the number of boxes.

Still, if you need a specific color or style, you will have to go with a larger supplier. Before making a purchase, you will have to think about the content of the box, potential material waste, and adjustment, as well as esthetics.

Box content

Each box has enough sidings to cover 100 or 200 square feet of the surface. However, the panels will be of different sizes, and you will have to find the right combinations to cover the whole exterior of the house. Not only that, but you will also have to consider angles, windows, and other obstacles that will reduce the utilization of sidings.

Material waste

There will always be some material waste when using sidings. Gables are especially troublesome as they will force you to cut the angles on panels. You will have to multiply the height and length of the gable and multiply it by 0.75 to estimate how much siding you need. Of course, there are a few other situations where you will have to throw away material.

Appearance

Most contractors install siding strips so that one closest to the front can overlap with the farthest away strip. By doing so, the seams will be less visible. However, if a wall is a bit more prominent and has a width of 12 feet or less, it is much better to place the whole siding to eliminate seams.

Accounting for doors and windows

Homeowners calculate the overall surface of the house that will be covered by sidings and then reduce it by the door and window surface. Some homeowners neglect smaller windows when making the calculation and buy a few more boxes that required.

Common sizes for vinyl slidings

As mentioned, one box is good for 100 to 200 feet of surface area. Most sidings are from 6 to 12 inches long, but you can also find 25-feet products.

The siding panels are connected with nailing strips and interlocking flanges. Once you place one panel over another, these sections will no longer be visible. However, connecting them will add between 1 to 1,25 inches to the overall width. This will vary based on the manufacturer and specific type of panels.

Common Vinyl Siding Sizes
Profile Name	Profile Description	Sheet Width	Exposure	Coverage per 10’ Sheet	Coverage per 12’ Sheet	Coverage per 12’-6” Sheet
Single 6-1/2” Bead	A single beaded profile per sheet	7-3/4”	6-1/2”	5.42 ft²	6.5 ft²	6.77 ft²
Smooth 6” Lap	A single lap profile per sheet	7-1/4”	6”	5.0 ft²	6.0 ft²	6.25 ft²
Smooth 7” Lap	A single lap profile per sheet	8-1/4”	7”	5.83 ft²	7.0 ft²	7.29 ft²
Smooth 8” Lap	A single lap profile per sheet	9-1/4”	8”	6.67 ft²	8.0 ft²	8.33 ft²
Double 3”	Two courses of 3” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	7-1/4”	6”	5.0 ft²	6.0 ft²	6.25 ft²
Double 4”	Two courses of 4” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	9-1/4”	8”	6.67 ft²	8.0 ft²	8.33 ft²
Double 4-1/2”	Two courses of 4-1/2” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	10-1/4”	9”	7.5 ft²	9.0 ft²	9.38 ft²
Double 5”	Two courses of 5” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	11-1/4”	10”	8.3 ft²	10.0 ft²	10.42 ft²
Double 6”	Two courses of 6” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	13-1/4”	12”	10.0 ft²	12.0 ft²	12.5 ft²
Triple 3”	Three courses of 3” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	10-1/4”	9”	7.5 ft²	9.0 ft²	9.38 ft²
Triple 4”	Three courses of 4” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	13-1/4”	12”	10.0 ft²	12.0 ft²	12.5 ft²
6” Board & Batten Single	Vertical profile with a 4-1/4” board and 1-3/4” batten or 4-1/2” & 1-1/2”	7-1/4”	6”	5.0 ft²	6.0 ft²	6.25 ft²
7” Board & Batten Single	Vertical profile with a 5-1/4” board and 1-3/4” batten or 5-1/2” & 1-1/2”	8-1/4”	7”	5.83 ft²	7.0 ft²	7.29 ft²
8” Board & Batten Single	Vertical profile with a 6-1/4” board and 1-3/4” batten or 6-1/2” & 1-1/2”	9-1/4”	8”	6.67 ft²	8.0 ft²	8.33 ft²
Double 5” Vertical	Two vertical courses of 5” boards per piece	11-1/4”	10”	8.3 ft²	10.0 ft²	10.42 ft²
Log	A curved log profile with a diameter or width of 6-1/2”	7-3/4”	6-1/2”	5.42 ft²	6.5 ft²	6.77 ft²

 

How many pieces of vinyl siding can you find in a box?

Given that every box of vinyl siding should cover the same surface area, the number of panels you get in a box will differ depending on the width and length of the sidings. You can get anywhere from 14 to 26 panels, so make sure to inquire with a manufacturer before making a purchase.

Number of Vinyl Siding Pieces in a Box
Width	6”	6-1/2”	7”	8”	9”	10”	12”
10’ length	20	18	17	15	13 or 26	24	20
12’ length	16	15	14	25	22	20	17
12’-6” length	16	15	14	24	21	19	16

How much does a box of vinyl sidings cost?

Several things affect the price of vinyl sidings:

• Dimensions
• Color
• Quality
• Profile
• Manufacturer
• Distributer

A simple, cheap box of vinyl siding can cost anywhere between $90 to $145. A higher category of a product will go from $125 to $190, which the best quality items will cost from $180 to $250. Often, homeowners purchase panels directly from manufacturers to avoid box stores’ high margins.

If you wish to make nice savings, we suggest that you go with products that are more durable. They might not be esthetically pleasing as some other alternatives, but they will do the job for a long time.

How many boxes of siding do you need?

You should always start by measuring the overall surface that needs to be covered. The best way to do this is to measure the length of the perimeter and multiply it with the height of the house. Once you get a number, add the total area of gable ends.

Most people will reduce this number by the total surface of windows and doors. However, this might lead to some errors as you will have to cut separate pieces. If money is not the problem, you might even consider going with the initial number without reducing it for the window/door surface. Anyway, it is best that you add 10% to 15% waste factor to the equation so that you’re not surprised when you start working.

Contractors usually sketch the whole house and measure each wall. That way, they can calculate how long panels should be to cover specific areas around doors and windows. You can even use this nifty Lowe’s calculator if you need additional assistance.

Last thoughts

Due to the nature of the product and the fact you will have to cut it and modify it, homeowners should be very careful with sidings.

While this material is not that expensive, the price can ramp up if you’re doing a major renovation. Once you install sidings, there is a very low chance you will use them again. So, there is no point in keeping the surplus in your garage as you will likely never use these panels again.