James Hardie is a well-recognized fiber cement siding that boasts exceptional durability and curb appeal. Hardie Board siding also has a high ROI and can boost your home’s resale value.
The average cost of Hardie Plank siding for a 1,500 sq. ft. house is $12,000-19,500. This is an equivalent of $8 to $13 per square foot installed.
In lower income areas, homeowners may pay less to install Hardie Board siding, around $11,000-15,500 for the same size house.
This price includes all materials and installation for standard colors, or primed (unpainted) Hardie Plank siding.
Average Cost of Hardie Board Siding
The cost is notably higher compared to other types of siding, since James Hardie is considered a premium quality product among other fiber cement and engineered wood siding options.
Factors like accessibility, location and job complexity can greatly increase or lower your total siding installation cost.
Moreover, depending on your desired siding board exposure and color, material prices for James Hardie will vary significantly. Also, keep in mind that you need to include the cost of trim, be it wood or PVC / AZEK trim board. We will discuss trim prices below.
Lastly, siding removal and disposal will add $1,500-2,500 to the total cost, depending on the size of the house and the type of old siding you have.
You can use our dedicated Hardie Siding Calculator to estimate how much it will cost to install James Hardie on your home.
James Hardie Siding Cost Per Square Foot
Overall, Hardie siding costs $3.75-4.5 per square foot for materials only.
This includes the cost of the siding boards, stainless steel nails, trim (at least $1 -2 per 1 square foot of the job size), house wrap (underlayment/vapor barrier) and any other materials needed for the install.
Hardie Plank siding costs about $1.60 per square foot for pre-primed (unpainted) boards, and $1.90 per square foot for factory painted siding.
IF you are interested in less expensive, but high quality fiber cement siding, consider Nichiha.
An average house requires about 22.5 squares of siding boards, which costs $3,600 – $4,275.
You can use our Siding Calculator to estimate your costs for installing James Hardie, as well as other siding materials.
While there is about 7-10% waste factor on materials, we do not subtract the area of windows, so in the end it all works out to be about equal.
Prices do not include sales tax which can range in US from 0% in NH to 9.45% in Tennessee.
Hardie Plank Siding Cost vs. Vinyl vs. Fiber Cement vs. Wood
Many homeowners and architects prefer houses that are sided with James Hardie compared to cheaper siding alternatives.
This is another reason why so many people choose to replace their old siding with Hardie siding and why its the preferred siding for many upscale new construction homes.
Lets take a closer look at how the cost of Hardie Board siding stacks up against its competitors: vinyl siding, other popular fiber cement siding brands, such as Allura, engineered wood siding, real cedar wood siding, and stucco.
Estimated siding prices include materials and professional installation.
| Material | Cost per sq.ft. | Cost to install 2,000 sq.ft. |
|---|---|---|
| Hardie Board siding | $7 – 13 | $14,000 – 26,000 |
| Fiber Cement siding | $4.5 – 9 | $9,000 – 18,000 |
| Vinyl Siding | $2.5 – 5.5 | $5,000 – 11,000 |
| Aluminum Siding | $2.75 – 4.5 | $5,500 – 9,000 |
| Engineered Wood Siding | $6.5 – 11 | $13,000 – 22,000 |
| Cedar Wood Siding (mid grade) | $6 – 7.5 | $12,000 -14,000 |
| Cedar Wood Siding (top grade) | $8 – 15 | $16,000 – 30,000 |
| Stucco | $7.5 – 11.5 | $15,000 – 23,000 |
| Stone Veneer | $15 – 30 | $30,000 – 60,000 |
Hardie Siding Cost Based On Board Exposure
When choosing James Hardie siding for your house, keep in mind that the cost of materials is based on “exposure”, or how much of each board is visible, and how much is concealed.
Among Hardie Plank lap siding options, there is clap board exposure that is 4″, 5″ 6″ and 7″ inches wide. This means that each row is 4-7″ inches apart vertically. The most popular exposures are 4″ and 5″. 6″ and 7″ exposure boards are considered “premium” and cost more.
The bigger exposure you have, the lower is your siding cost per square foot. The difference comes from the fact that each board has a 1.25″ nailing strip, so the wider the exposure, the less siding material you actually use (percentage wise).
At the same time, contractors usually charge MORE for wider exposure siding, because it’s considered “premium”.
This makes no sense at all, so if you plan to have Hardie siding installed on your house, you should negotiate with your installer to avoid paying a premium price for wider exposure.
Hardie Board Siding Dimensions
The planks come in 12 foot length, and to accommodate for different exposures, each board can be different width. See the table below:
| Board Size (width) | Board Exposure | Board Length | Pisces / Square (100 sq. ft.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.25″ | 4″ | 12 feet | 25 pcs. |
| 6.25″ | 5″ | 12 feet | 20 pcs. |
| 7.25″ | 6″ | 12 feet | 17 pcs. |
| 8.25″ | 7″ | 12 feet | 14 pcs. |
Cost of Unpainted vs Factory Painted Hardie Plank Siding
Its important to note that the total cost of Hardie siding varies depending on how the boards are painted.
There are two options:
- Pre – primed: you can paint Hardie siding any color you want after the installation is complete.
- Factory – painted (initially more expensive): you pre-order the siding color you want. There are 24 stock colors to choose from. There are pros and cons to both pre-primed and factory painted Hardie Plank lap siding. We will discuss these separately, as there is no clear answer to which is better.
Cost of Pre-primed (unpainted) Hardie Siding
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Note that these prices are for pre-primed (unpainted) boards, so you also need to account for hiring a painter to give your siding a finished look.
On average, you can expect to pay $1.5-2.75 per square foot to paint your fiber cement siding. So if your house has 1,800 sq. ft of siding, you will spend $2,700-4,950
Keep in mind that the cost of painting your house will vary greatly depending on local labor rates for painting pros, who you hire for the job, and what type of paint you use. For example, ceramic paint costs much more than regular exterior paint, but will last much longer.
James Hardie recommends painting its siding boards with 100% acrylic exterior paint, such as the Benjamin Moore Exterior SuperSpec.
| Board Exposure | Cost per 12′ Board | Cost / Square (100 sq. ft.) |
|---|---|---|
| 4″ exposure | $6.62 | $165 / square |
| 5″ exposure | $7.98 | $159.60 / square |
| 6″ exposure | $9.24 | $157.08 / square |
| 7″ exposure | $10.51 | $147.14 / square |
Cost of Painted Hardie Plank Siding
See the table below for Hardie Siding cost in a LIGHT MIST color. Note, that pricing may be different for other colors.
Because there is a total of 24 stock colors it would take forever to create a complete database of Hardie prices for all colors.
Basically your cost may differ by 5-6% up or down, depending on the color and supplier.
| Board Exposure | Cost per 12′ Board | Cost / Square (100 sq. ft.) |
|---|---|---|
| 4″ exposure | $8.11 | $202.75 / square |
| 5″ exposure | $9.64 | $192.80 / square |
| 6″ exposure | $11.20 | $190.40 / square |
| 7″ exposure | $13.27 | $185.78 / square |
We are once again looking at the same pricing pattern – the wider the exposure, the less materials cost.
Labor Cost To Install James Hardie Siding
When it comes to the cost of siding installation most pros charge 2 to 3 times the cost of materials for a particular job. Thus, a quote from a siding pro includes all materials, labor, overhead and profit in one final price.
So in our example of a 22.5 square job (2,250 sq.ft house) the materials cost $9,000 (2,250 x $4 per square foot).
Given this figure, a siding pro will quote you the total installation price between $18,000 – 27,000.
Keep in mind that your location can have a big impact on labor charges. Depending on where you live, local siding installers will have various labor rates. High income areas such as big cities in the Northeast and California will have the highest contractor fees.
On the other hand, Southern states have some of the lowest labor rates in the country. The difference in the final siding installation cost can vary by as much as 20% depending on your location.
Moreover, often contractors charge more to install premium brand name siding, such as James Hardie. This premium can be 5-10%
Other factors that may increase your overall siding installation cost are:
– Number of windows and doors (installing siding around them requires extra work)
– Configuration of the house (if your home has many gables, corners, or irregular shapes, this will increase the price)
– Number of stories (second/third floor siding installations are more time consuming and complex, and will incur extra charges)
– Overall complexity of the job
– Size of your house (the bigger the job the more it will cost. keep in mind that very small jobs under less than 1500 sq.ft. may actually incur a premium charge because the contractor has to spend time setting up and cleaning in the same as as for a bigger job)
– Additional reinforcement of the house structure to accommodate the heavy weight of Hardie Board siding.
Cost of Hardie Siding Trim Board
Besides the siding itself, we also need to include the following items in our “price quote”. They are:
1) House wrap
2) Trim boards
3) Nails
4) Caulking
The most expensive item on this list is the siding trim board, if you go for quality products such as AZEK / PVC. While this trim material costs more, it is the most durable and longest lasting option.
I do not recommend using primed / pressure treated wood trim, as it will rot in just few short years and you will be repairing / replacing sections all around your house.
Vinyl siding trim is also not as durable and good looking, but costs a lot less than PVC, so if you are trying to save money, it can be a good option.
PVC trim boards should be 6×1 on all corners, at the bottom, top, and around doors. You can use less expensive 4×1 trim boards around windows.
Estimate how much siding trim you need
In our 22.5 square house we assume to have:
2 entrance doors
20 total windows
1 garage door
4 outside corners
In our hypothetical example the house has 18 feet of vertical wall to receive siding, and the ground dimensions are 50 x 25 which equals to 22.5 squares of exterior wall.
We will need 50 + 25 x 4 = 300 linear feet of horizontal 1×6 trim.
For corners we will need 18′ x 8 (2 boards for each corner) = 144 feet of 1×6 board.
For doors we will need 18 ln. ft. each door – 36 feet total.
For windows we will need about 15 feet of 1×4 trim board. 20 widows total x 15 feet each = 300 feet of board.
But the devil is in details!
To minimize waste we want to use appropriate size board. For example, PVC trim comes in 12, 16 and 18 feet lengths. So for doors we can use 18 boards and have almost no waste.
For windows we should use 16 foot boards (assuming each window is about 5 x 2.5′). So we will need twenty 16′ boards to trim all windows.
On vertical corners we can, in most cases, get away using 18′ boards and we will need 8 of these.
On horizontal runs, we can butt-join different lengths, so waste is not so much a factor.
Trim materials list
1×6″ Trim: We will need a total of 17 boards for horizontal runs + 8 boards for vertical runs + 2 boards for doors = 27 boards.
1×4″ Trim: As mentioned above, we will need one 16′ board per 5×2.5′ window. If there are 20 windows, we will need 20 pcs. of 1×4 board.
Cost of AZEK vs PVC trim board
First of all let me mention that AZEK will be a little more expensive than store brand PVC trim.
What you should look for is board density. If both the store brand and AZEK have similar density, go for the cheaper option.
But, in Home Depot they sell a line of really light PVC board (it is porous and has a lot of air inside), so in this case, go for AZEK, or another more dense option.
PVC trim board prices at Harvey BP Supply
| Harvey 1×6 PVC Trim Board – 18′ long | Harvey 1×4 PVC Trim Board – 18′ long |
|---|---|
| $37.63 each | $21.67 each |
So for our example, the cost of PVC trim will be:
1×6 board 27 * $37.63 = $1,016.01
1×4 board 20 * $21.67 = $433.40
Total $1,449
Hardie Siding Installation Considerations
James Hardie siding, as well as similar composite and wood siding materials are installed over a flat wall surface.
There is also a house wrap / moisture barrier installed between siding and house exterior walls.
Before siding is nailed on, all trim must be installed on corners, around windows and doors, and optionally at the bottom and under the roof line.
Pro Tip: if you plan to install James Hardie or other types of fiber cement siding, its best to install a weather resistant barrier under the siding.
This barrier will ensure that moisture will not penetrate under the siding, causing rot and mold.
Installing a weather resistant barrier is particularly important if you live in states that have high humidity throughout the year and a lot of rains on a regular basis.
Moreover, if your want the installation to be done correctly, its best to hire a siding pro who has extensive experience with Hardie siding.
Every siding material has different installation specs and nuances that a contractor needs to know and follow.
Moreover, even different brands in the same siding category will have certain variations in how they are installed.
Here is a quick Hardie siding installation video:
James Hardie Pros and Cons
Despite cheaper alternatives, Hardie Plank siding still remains one of the most popular siding materials among homeowners who are looking for premium quality siding with exceptional curb appeal.
Here are Hardie’s main advantages:
– Rot and termite resistant
– 100% fire resistant
– Long lasting: you can easily get 25-35 years of service life
– Superior warranty: most Hardie products come with a limited 50 year warranty
– Designer wood grain appearance: masterfully replicates the look of cedar shingles and shakes
– Resists damage from hail and storms
– Multitude of color options: most color options come with a 15 year limited warranty
– Offers a very high ROI – James Hardie siding recoups 78-85% of the initial cost
– Ideal siding for upscale homes
– Green building material
Cons of James Hardie Siding
Here are some cons to keep in mind when you are researching whether Hardie siding would work for your house.
– At least 2 – 2.5 times more expensive than quality vinyl siding
– Difficult to find qualified installers
– Installation is longer and more challenging than other types of siding
– Heavy weight. Hardie siding boards typically weigh about 300 lbs, compared to 60-70 lbs for vinyl siding. This extra weight may mean that your house structure will require additional reinforcement. This can add an additional 10-15% to the total siding replacement cost.
– High maintenance: needs to be repainted about 12-16 years.
Hardie Board vs Hardie Plank Siding
(Image: https://www.jameshardie.com/)
James Hardie is a cement board siding, that is made of a mixture of wood pulp, sand, cellulose fibers, cement and other organic materials, which are molded to replicate the authentic look of wood siding.
As such, fiber cement siding is extremely durable, low maintenance, impervious to insects, rot and fire damage.
Essentially, it offers homeowners the look and feel of real wood (or close enough to it), without the high cost and the hassle of taking care of real wood siding.
Did you know? The terms Hardie Board and Hardie Plank siding are used interchangeably and mean the same thing.
Moreover, many people make the mistake of equating Hardie Board siding with fiber cement siding.
However, this is not the case. There are a number of different cement board siding manufacturers and James Hardie happens to be the most famous one.
James Hardie makes exclusively fiber cement siding and has a number of product lines:
1. HardiePlank (board) siding – this is a lap siding that comes in 6 different product options
2. HardiePanel siding – this is a vertical siding that comes in 4 different product options
3. HardieShingle siding – this is a shingle siding that comes in 4 product options
How You Can Save Money On James Hardie Siding
If you find that James Hardie is very expensive – the fact is, it is expensive because it’s a well established brand and is often a de-facto product for architects and builders!
There are other composite siding materials, such as LP SmartSide, that cost as much as 25% less than Hardie. They are not as well known, and need to keep prices down, to penetrate the market.
However, these materials are very similar in quality (if not better in some cases), and are worth considering!
Where To Get Hardie Siding Price Quotes
If you are planning to hire a pro to install new siding, you should get 3-4 free quotes from local siding pros.
IF you want to see whether or not you are getting a fair price quote, or if you are considering doing the install yourself, you can visit local siding suppliers in your area.
I get most of my material quotes from local suppliers in the Boston, MA area. Closest to me is Harvey BP in Waltham, MA. Harvey is actually more of an expensive materials supplier AND their stores are mainly in the North East US (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and New York).
You can try ABC supply, Beacon supply, Alside supply, as well as smaller lumber yards and local suppliers of building materials, roofing and siding.
Final Verdict: Is Hardie Board Siding Worth It?
(Image: https://www.jameshardie.com/)
With many attractive siding options out there, how can you figure out whether James Hardie siding is the right choice for your home?
Our siding pros share some tips that can help you make a smart decision on whether to install James Hardie, or go for a cheaper siding material:
1. You love the look of Hardie siding, and other siding brands you have considered don’t look as good.
2. You live in an upscale neighborhood where installing vinyl siding is not common and will make your house look cheap.
3. You plan to stay in your home for at least the next 7-10 years and want to enjoy a high-quality siding.
4. You have an expensive house that you are looking to sell and are replacing siding to get the highest ROI.
5. You want a siding material with a long proven track record of durability and longevity.
6. You are willing to spend $5,000-10,000 extra on Hardie Board siding, compared to more affordable siding materials.
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Washington state most definitely requires contractors to charge sales tax. There is a whole division dedicated to monitoring and collecting sales tax from contractors called Department of Revenue. Just an FYI for people who are advising from out of state.
I live in Washington state. I have a 1200 sq. Ft. Home one story, I recently got a siding estimate for $19,000.00 + tax of 10% using Hardy Lap Siding. Based on this info and siding calculators I feel it’s at least $4000.00 higher than it should be. We have a total of 6 windows, 2 doors and only 1 wall with cable box etc. I think it might be the easiest home to side.
Appreciate any feedback,
Tina,
Your home may be 1200 sq. ft., but your walls area is about 1500 sq. ft. or so (calculated here: https://www.remodelingcalculator.org/siding-calculator/ ).
Keep in mind that in the last 3-6 months, manufacturers and suppliers have gone mad with price increases. I had a bump in price on my most bought product between April and August of 25%, and supplier is refusing to do anything better!
So while you may $19K does seem overpriced, it’s not as much as $4000… probably $1500-2500 over average.
One thing – DON’T pay sales tax to contractors. They have no business charging sales tax. It’s a scam! Unless WA has specific law requiring contractors to charge sales tax (which I highly doubt), they are scamming you! Don’t do business with any contractor wanting to charge sales tax! Homeowners SHOULD NOT be paying sales tax on home improvement! Especially that contractors already pay sales tax on materials.
Does an estimate for new siding include fascia and soffits?
No, those are typically considered part of the roofline along with the frieze board if it is desired.
How much is it for labor to install the 6 inch hardie board compared to the 8 inch and 10 inch, on a 3000 square foot house? Should it make a difference on labor price with whatever size I choose?
Sirena,
Labor is almost the same, and most contractors won’t even make any adjustments. However you do you a little bit less material, so probably you can get $25-40 / square off your bill.
Good luck
Could you please give me the total cost of putting Color Plus on my house it would be 4sq. ft of siding 8.85
witch would equal 275 sq ft. Max 50 pieces of siding I need installed price Thanks
This information helped tremendously. If you could refer me to a good supplier please do so.
Sincerely
Phillip Shemansky
Phillip,
I listed suppliers at the end of this guide. You can buy it from big national suppliers or even local lumber yards. I do recommend to avoid Harvey’s because they are 15-20% more expensive that many other suppliers – I have no idea why homeowners and contractors keep paying these crazy premiums for something you can buys elsewhere a lot cheaper!
On an average house you can save over $1000 by just going with less expensive supplier! 😀
BTW, here is our 7 tips to save on Hardie Siding
Good Luck!
When you change the siding, there is always work done on the windows, either repairing or replacing the wood or the window itself. How does that work with the replacement of the siding?
Hemachandran,
Changing a window does not affect Siding work in any way, unless you have new construction windows.
Repairing the wood around windows is only needed if that wood is rotten. In most cases only the window sill is rotted, and that’s not often.
If wood is rotted, it’s usually repaired with wood or PVC boards. If the job is vinyl siding then what is also capped with sheet metal.
If you’re replacing vinyl with Hardie, then you should probably also replace outside window frame with PVC, but that’s not necessary.
Basically, this is on case-by-case basis and not always. However if this work needs to be done it’s usually extra money per window.
I hope this helps. If you have other questions don’t hesitate to ask.
Sincerely, Leo
I was with you until the calculation of lineal feet required.
“We will need 50 + 25 x 4 = 300 linear feet ”
Why x4? I would think it would be x2.
John,
x4 because for hardie siding, contractors usually install trim on top and bottom – neither is necessary, but looks good. Also x4 presumes that your roof is either flat or HIP, meaning your siding/roof line is flat. If roof is Gable, than you need to account for roof angles on top.
If you want horizontal trim just at the bottom – then it (Width + Length) x 2
Again – neither top or bottom horizontal trim is necessary. Also some contractors do bottom trim using 2 pieces – 1×6 and 1×3. 1×6 is installed flat to the wall, and 1×3 is installed “almost” perpendicular – it’s cut at an angle on 1 side to give it a little slope down … something like this:
Thank you for sharing this information. Although I am on the west coast this is excellent to use as a checklist to make certain I have covered all the bases.
The only improvement I would suggest is a note section to cover other circumstances.
Electrical penetrations
Flashing requirements
Window sill trim below window.
Great job putting it together
What is the best way to cut outlets into hardie siding ,
Angle grinder with masonry blade
You can also use Jig-Saw – you will just go through a lot of blades, if you do a lot of cutting, because cement in Hardie planks will dull your blades fast.
However, cutting outlets with jig-saw is a lot cleaner and safer that using angle grinder with diamond blade.
Good luck
There are diamond jigsaw blades, but an oscillating tool (multi-tool)with a diamond blade works even better(its easier to control than a grinder)
The prices are just right. Thanks for sharing them. I got friends looking for this one, I will have to share your post.
Thanks Trish,
Yes please share it.
Trish, where are you located and what do you charge for installing Hardie?
Thanks