Vinyl siding cost in San Francisco, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,100 sq ft of wall)
- $10,900 – $32,700
- Per sq ft of wall
- $5.20 – $15.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +30%
- US $16,800
- Rank of 300 metros
- #2
- 1 = most expensive
San Francisco homeowners pay roughly $10,900 to $32,700 to install vinyl siding at 2,100 sq ft of wall, or $5.20 to $15.50 per sq ft of wall (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, San Francisco is 30% higher. Carpenters earn a median of $42.89 an hour in the San Francisco area, 47% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 2,100 sq ft of wall in San Francisco, CA, standard level
$17,400 to $26,200
About $8.30 to $12.50 per sq ft of wall before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $7,300 | $10,900 |
| Labor | $10,200 | $15,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $17,400 | $26,200 |
Cost breakdown for 2,100 sq ft of wall in San Francisco, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,550 | $9,100 | $13,700 | 42% |
| Labor | $6,350 | $12,700 | $19,100 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $10,900 | $21,800 | $32,700 | 100% |
What is behind the San Francisco number
Labor is 58% of the midpoint bill here, against 50% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (60%), construction laborers (30%), sheet metal workers (10%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In San Francisco the blended ratio comes out at 1.51.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the San Francisco metro is 108.5 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,100 sq ft of wall comes to $9,100, compared with $8,400 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (115.6) and land at $0 to $0.
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for San Francisco is 1.51 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $42.89 an hour, which is 47% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.45 and $48.26 an hour. BLS counts 14,010 of them working in the area, 59.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $34.91 an hour, 54% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $28.03 and $40.50 an hour. About 11,620 work in the metro. That is 48.9 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 10%) the local median is $49.35 an hour, which is 66% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $34.66 and $70.04 an hour. BLS counts 880 of them working in the area, 3.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($48.26 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $930. At the 25th percentile ($30.45) it shrinks by about $2,150. The total moves by 4.3% or 9.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,373,920 jobs in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area. That makes it the 12th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.53% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $30.45 | $42.89 | $48.26 | $29.12 | 1.47 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $28.03 | $34.91 | $40.50 | $22.66 | 1.54 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 10% | $34.66 | $49.35 | $70.04 | $29.71 | 1.66 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.51 | |||||
Why two San Francisco quotes can differ
Labor and season
Siding labor is $40-$80 an hour or $2-$6 per sq ft, and it is highest in warm months.
Wall area is not floor area
A 2,000 sq ft house usually has more wall area than floor area once you count gables and two stories. Measure the wall, not the floor.
Style
Clapboard vinyl siding runs $4-$7 per sq ft installed; board-and-batten is $5-$9 (HomeGuide).
When to schedule vinyl siding in San Francisco
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for San Francisco Dwtn (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in San Francisco: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
San Francisco gets about 23 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (4.8 inches in December). The station averages about 3 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | 47 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 48 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 62 | 49 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 50 | 1.6 | Workable |
| May | 64 | 51 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 67 | 53 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 66 | 54 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 68 | 56 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 70 | 56 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 54 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 51 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 58 | 47 | 4.8 | Workable |
Is San Francisco cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (2,100 sq ft of wall), priced for the nearest metros. San Francisco is the priciest of the group. Stockton is the cheapest at $18,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CAthis page | $10,900 – $32,700 | $21,800 | |
| Vallejo, CA40 miles | $9,700 – $29,100 | $19,400 | −11% |
| Napa, CA50 miles | $9,900 – $29,700 | $19,800 | −9% |
| Santa Cruz, CA55 miles | $9,750 – $29,200 | $19,500 | −11% |
| Stockton, CA55 miles | $9,300 – $27,900 | $18,600 | −15% |
| Santa Rosa, CA65 miles | $9,900 – $29,700 | $19,800 | −9% |
| California (statewide) | $9,750 – $29,200 | $19,500 | −11% |
| United States | $8,400 – $25,200 | $16,800 | −23% |
Across 300 US metros, San Francisco comes in at #2 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $22,700; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $13,500 (midpoints, 2,100 sq ft of wall). Statewide, San Francisco is 12% above the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $9,700 – $29,100 | $19,400 | −11% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $9,250 – $27,800 | $18,500 | −15% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $9,650 – $29,000 | $19,300 | −11% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $10,300 – $31,000 | $20,700 | −5% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $9,650 – $28,900 | $19,300 | −12% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $9,050 – $27,100 | $18,100 | −17% |
Cities with a workforce like San Francisco's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Francisco against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $8,100 – $24,300 | $16,200 | −26% |
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $9,900 – $29,700 | $19,800 | −9% |
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $9,550 – $28,700 | $19,100 | −12% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $9,550 – $28,700 | $19,100 | −12% |
San Francisco: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for San Francisco wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$10,900 to $19,600
Basic clapboard siding, simple house
Standard
$17,400 to $26,200
Mid-grade panels, standard trim and corners
Premium
$24,000 to $32,700
Premium or board-and-batten, many corners and gables
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (1,200 sq ft of wall) | $6,250 – $11,200 | $9,950 – $15,000 | $13,700 – $18,700 |
| average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) | $10,900 – $19,600 | $17,400 – $26,200 | $24,000 – $32,700 |
| large house (3,000 sq ft of wall) | $15,600 – $28,000 | $24,900 – $37,400 | $34,300 – $46,700 |
Planning more than one job in San Francisco?
Because every project leans on different trades, San Francisco's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, metal roof runs +28% and window replacement +16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $7,900 – $15,600 | +26% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,650 – $5,200 | +26% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,350 – $17,300 | +16% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,300 – $4,950 | +25% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $13,700 – $40,700 | +28% |
Get 3 local quotes
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Vinyl siding in San Francisco: your questions
+How much does it cost to install vinyl siding in San Francisco?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, expect $10,900 to $32,700 in the San Francisco area. A standard-spec job lands at $17,400 to $26,200. Small jobs usually cost more per sq ft of wall and large ones less.
+What is the price per sq ft of wall for vinyl siding in San Francisco?
About $5.20 to $15.50 per sq ft of wall for materials and labor, plus $0 to $0 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $4 to $12.
+Is vinyl siding cheaper in San Francisco or Vallejo?
Vallejo is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 2,100 sq ft of wall there is $19,400, which is 11% less than San Francisco ($21,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Francisco?
About 58% at the midpoint, or $12,700 out of $21,800. Materials are 42% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) cost in San Francisco?
$10,900 to $32,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does vinyl siding need a permit in San Francisco?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $0 to $0 for fees in the San Francisco area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Francisco expensive for vinyl siding compared with the rest of California?
San Francisco is 12% above the California statewide estimate ($19,500 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in San Francisco?
The BLS median is $42.89 an hour in the San Francisco area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.45 to $48.26.
+What do basic and premium vinyl siding work cost in San Francisco?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, basic work runs $10,900 to $19,600 and premium work $24,000 to $32,700. Basic means: basic clapboard siding, simple house. Premium means: premium or board-and-batten, many corners and gables.
+Is there a bad season to install vinyl siding in San Francisco?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
Vinyl siding near San Francisco
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does Vinyl Siding Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed price minus HomeGuide's $2-$6 per sq ft labor figure, which it says is around half the project cost.