Vinyl siding cost in Dubuque, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,100 sq ft of wall)
- $8,200 – $24,600
- Per sq ft of wall
- $3.90 – $11.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $16,800
- Rank of 300 metros
- #134
- 1 = most expensive
Dubuque homeowners pay roughly $8,200 to $24,600 to install vinyl siding at 2,100 sq ft of wall, or $3.90 to $11.50 per sq ft of wall (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dubuque is almost level. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 2,100 sq ft of wall in Dubuque, IA, standard level
$13,100 to $19,700
About $6.25 to $9.35 per sq ft of wall before permits. Labor is about 52% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,300 | $9,450 |
| Labor | $6,800 | $10,200 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $13,100 | $19,700 |
Cost breakdown for 2,100 sq ft of wall in Dubuque, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,950 | $7,850 | $11,800 | 48% |
| Labor | $4,250 | $8,500 | $12,800 | 52% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $8,200 | $16,400 | $24,600 | 100% |
What is behind the Dubuque number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $28.89 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Dubuque is 1.01 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 52% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dubuque metro is 93.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,100 sq ft of wall comes to $7,850, compared with $8,400 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (87.3) and land at $0 to $0.
Data note: 10% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Dubuque. The wage table below marks each row.
Pick a size, pick a tier: vinyl siding pricing in Dubuque
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dubuque 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
$8,200 to $14,700
Basic clapboard siding, simple house
Standard
$13,100 to $19,700
Mid-grade panels, standard trim and corners
Premium
$18,000 to $24,600
Premium or board-and-batten, many corners and gables
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (1,200 sq ft of wall) | $4,700 – $8,450 | $7,500 – $11,200 | $10,300 – $14,000 |
| average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) | $8,200 – $14,700 | $13,100 – $19,700 | $18,000 – $24,600 |
| large house (3,000 sq ft of wall) | $11,700 – $21,100 | $18,700 – $28,100 | $25,700 – $35,100 |
When to schedule vinyl siding in Dubuque
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Dubuque Rgnl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Dubuque (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March 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.
Dubuque gets about 38 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 43 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (5.2 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 27 | 11 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 26 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 58 | 37 | 4.1 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 59 | 5.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 52 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 28 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 32 | 17 | 1.8 | Cold |
How Dubuque compares
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Dubuque. Iowa City is the lowest at about $15,500 (midpoint, 2,100 sq ft of wall), 75 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubuque, IAthis page | $8,200 – $24,600 | $16,400 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA45 miles | $8,250 – $24,700 | $16,500 | +1% |
| Iowa City, IA75 miles | $7,750 – $23,200 | $15,500 | −6% |
| Davenport, IA75 miles | $8,400 – $25,300 | $16,800 | +3% |
| Madison, WI80 miles | $8,600 – $25,800 | $17,200 | +5% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $8,050 – $24,100 | $16,100 | −2% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $8,100 – $24,300 | $16,200 | −1% |
| United States | $8,400 – $25,200 | $16,800 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Dubuque comes in at #134 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, Dubuque is 1% above the Iowa figure.
Other Iowa metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $8,250 – $24,800 | $16,500 | +1% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $8,400 – $25,300 | $16,800 | +3% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $8,250 – $24,700 | $16,500 | +1% |
| Iowa City, IA | 93,760 jobs | $7,750 – $23,200 | $15,500 | −6% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $8,050 – $24,100 | $16,100 | −2% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $7,850 – $23,500 | $15,700 | −4% |
Cities with a workforce like Dubuque's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dubuque against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PA | 58,650 jobs | $8,250 – $24,700 | $16,500 | +1% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $6,850 – $20,600 | $13,700 | −16% |
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $8,500 – $25,500 | $17,000 | +4% |
| Wheeling, WV | 58,130 jobs | $7,850 – $23,600 | $15,700 | −4% |
Vinyl siding: what moves the price in Dubuque
Style
Clapboard vinyl siding runs $4-$7 per sq ft installed; board-and-batten is $5-$9 (HomeGuide).
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.
What nearby projects cost in Dubuque
Because every project leans on different trades, Dubuque's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, attic insulation runs level and roof replacement −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,550 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,250 – $4,000 | −4% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,350 – $14,300 | −4% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,050 – $4,000 | level |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,450 – $30,400 | −7% |
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 Dubuque is 1.01 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $28.89 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.41 and $30.47 an hour. BLS counts 260 of them working in the area, 44.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 30% of the weighting: a median of $23.46 an hour, 4% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.37 and $28.85 an hour. About 500 work in the metro. That is 85.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Dubuque metro, so we used the Iowa statewide median: $31.95 an hour against $29.71 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.78 and $36.58 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.47 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $270. At the 25th percentile ($23.41) it shrinks by about $950. The total moves by 1.7% or 5.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 58,470 jobs in the Dubuque area. That makes it the 292nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $23.41 | $28.89 | $30.47 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $22.37 | $23.46 | $28.85 | $22.66 | 1.04 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 10% | $23.78 | $31.95 | $36.58 | $29.71 | 1.08 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
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Detailed vinyl siding report for Dubuque, IA, $9
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Vinyl siding in Dubuque: your questions
+How much does it cost to install vinyl siding in Dubuque?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, expect $8,200 to $24,600 in the Dubuque area. A standard-spec job lands at $13,100 to $19,700. 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 Dubuque?
About $3.90 to $11.50 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 Dubuque or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 2,100 sq ft of wall there is $16,500, which is 1% more than Dubuque ($16,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dubuque?
About 52% at the midpoint, or $8,500 out of $16,400. Materials are 48% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) cost in Dubuque?
$8,200 to $24,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does vinyl siding need a permit in Dubuque?
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 Dubuque area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dubuque expensive for vinyl siding compared with the rest of Iowa?
Dubuque is 1% above the Iowa statewide estimate ($16,200 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Iowa; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Dubuque?
The BLS median is $28.89 an hour in the Dubuque area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.41 to $30.47.
+What do basic and premium vinyl siding work cost in Dubuque?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, basic work runs $8,200 to $14,700 and premium work $18,000 to $24,600. 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 Dubuque?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October 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 Dubuque
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.