Vinyl siding cost in Chicago, IL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,100 sq ft of wall)
- $10,100 – $30,400
- Per sq ft of wall
- $4.80 – $14.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +21%
- US $16,800
- Rank of 300 metros
- #5
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install vinyl siding in Chicago, plan on $10,100 to $30,400 for 2,100 sq ft of wall, all in. Per sq ft of wall, that is $4.80 to $14.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 21% higher than the national one. Carpenters earn a median of $38.68 an hour in the Chicago area, 33% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 2,100 sq ft of wall in Chicago, IL, standard level
$16,200 to $24,300
About $7.70 to $11.50 per sq ft of wall before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $7,200 | $10,800 |
| Labor | $9,000 | $13,500 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $16,200 | $24,300 |
Cost breakdown for 2,100 sq ft of wall in Chicago, IL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,500 | $9,000 | $13,500 | 44% |
| Labor | $5,600 | $11,200 | $16,900 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $10,100 | $20,300 | $30,400 | 100% |
What is behind the Chicago number
Labor is 56% 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 Chicago the blended ratio comes out at 1.34.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Chicago metro is 107.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,100 sq ft of wall comes to $9,000, compared with $8,400 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (103.6) and land at $0 to $0.
Why two Chicago quotes can differ
Old siding removal
Taking the old siding off costs $0.70-$2.00 per sq ft. Check that disposal is included.
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.
Chicago labor market for vinyl siding
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 Chicago is 1.34 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $38.68 an hour, which is 33% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.26 and $54.79 an hour. BLS counts 14,220 of them working in the area, 31.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $29.27 an hour, 29% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.25 and $48.44 an hour. About 26,690 work in the metro. That is 59.1 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 $45.82 an hour, which is 54% above the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $29.04 and $52.11 an hour. BLS counts 2,430 of them working in the area, 5.4 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 ($54.79 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $2,800. At the 25th percentile ($28.26) it shrinks by about $1,800. The total moves by 13.8% or 8.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 4,513,280 jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin area. That makes it the 3rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 2.90% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $28.26 | $38.68 | $54.79 | $29.12 | 1.33 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.25 | $29.27 | $48.44 | $22.66 | 1.29 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 10% | $29.04 | $45.82 | $52.11 | $29.71 | 1.54 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.34 | |||||
What nearby projects cost in Chicago
Because every project leans on different trades, Chicago's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, roof replacement runs +30% and window replacement +10%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $8,200 – $16,000 | +30% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,600 – $5,050 | +21% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $5,000 – $16,500 | +10% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,150 – $4,500 | +12% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $14,100 – $41,300 | +30% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: vinyl siding pricing in Chicago
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Chicago 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
$10,100 to $18,200
Basic clapboard siding, simple house
Standard
$16,200 to $24,300
Mid-grade panels, standard trim and corners
Premium
$22,300 to $30,400
Premium or board-and-batten, many corners and gables
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (1,200 sq ft of wall) | $5,800 – $10,400 | $9,250 – $13,900 | $12,700 – $17,400 |
| average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) | $10,100 – $18,200 | $16,200 – $24,300 | $22,300 – $30,400 |
| large house (3,000 sq ft of wall) | $14,500 – $26,000 | $23,100 – $34,700 | $31,800 – $43,400 |
Climate in Chicago: timing your vinyl siding job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Chicago Midway Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Chicago (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Chicago gets about 34 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.1 inches in May). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 1.9 and 2.4 inches. The station averages about 20 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 | 33 | 19 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 23 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 32 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 60 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 52 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 62 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 68 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 66 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 59 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 63 | 47 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 35 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 25 | 1.8 | Cold |
Is Chicago cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (2,100 sq ft of wall), priced for the nearest metros. Chicago is the priciest of the group. Niles is the cheapest at $15,700.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, ILthis page | $10,100 – $30,400 | $20,300 | |
| Niles, MI55 miles | $7,850 – $23,500 | $15,700 | −23% |
| Kenosha, WI55 miles | $8,850 – $26,500 | $17,700 | −13% |
| Racine, WI70 miles | $8,450 – $25,400 | $16,900 | −17% |
| Rockford, IL75 miles | $9,050 – $27,200 | $18,100 | −11% |
| Milwaukee, WI80 miles | $8,650 – $26,000 | $17,300 | −14% |
| Illinois (statewide) | $9,850 – $29,600 | $19,700 | −3% |
| United States | $8,400 – $25,200 | $16,800 | −17% |
Across 300 US metros, Chicago comes in at #5 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, Chicago is 3% above the Illinois figure.
Other Illinois metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peoria, IL | 166,020 jobs | $9,350 – $28,000 | $18,700 | −8% |
| Rockford, IL | 137,650 jobs | $9,050 – $27,200 | $18,100 | −11% |
| Champaign, IL | 105,500 jobs | $8,950 – $26,800 | $17,900 | −12% |
| Springfield, IL | 100,810 jobs | $9,400 – $28,200 | $18,800 | −7% |
| Bloomington, IL | 88,110 jobs | $9,300 – $27,800 | $18,600 | −8% |
Cities with a workforce like Chicago's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chicago against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $9,700 – $29,100 | $19,400 | −4% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $7,900 – $23,700 | $15,800 | −22% |
| New York, NY | 9,492,000 jobs | $9,900 – $29,600 | $19,800 | −2% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $7,750 – $23,300 | $15,500 | −23% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $16,200 to $24,300 for Chicago, IL is attached.
Detailed vinyl siding report for Chicago, IL, $9
Multi-page report for Chicago, IL: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Vinyl siding in Chicago: your questions
+How much does it cost to install vinyl siding in Chicago?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, expect $10,100 to $30,400 in the Chicago area. A standard-spec job lands at $16,200 to $24,300. 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 Chicago?
About $4.80 to $14.50 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 Chicago or Niles?
Niles is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 2,100 sq ft of wall there is $15,700, which is 23% less than Chicago ($20,300). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chicago?
About 56% at the midpoint, or $11,200 out of $20,300. Materials are 44% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) cost in Chicago?
$10,100 to $30,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does vinyl siding need a permit in Chicago?
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 Chicago area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chicago expensive for vinyl siding compared with the rest of Illinois?
Chicago is 3% above the Illinois statewide estimate ($19,700 at the midpoint). We cover 6 metros in Illinois; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Chicago?
The BLS median is $38.68 an hour in the Chicago area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $28.26 to $54.79.
+What do basic and premium vinyl siding work cost in Chicago?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, basic work runs $10,100 to $18,200 and premium work $22,300 to $30,400. Basic means: basic clapboard siding, simple house. Premium means: premium or board-and-batten, many corners and gables.
+When is the best time to install vinyl siding in Chicago?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and November are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
Vinyl siding near Chicago
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.