Vinyl siding cost in Iowa City, IA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,100 sq ft of wall)
- $7,750 – $23,200
- Per sq ft of wall
- $3.70 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $16,800
- Rank of 300 metros
- #194
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for new vinyl siding in the Iowa City area: $7,750 to $23,200 for 2,100 sq ft of wall. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 8% lower than the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $23.89 an hour in the Iowa City area, 18% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 2,100 sq ft of wall in Iowa City, IA, standard level
$12,400 to $18,600
About $5.90 to $8.85 per sq ft of wall before permits. Labor is about 49% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,300 | $9,450 |
| Labor | $6,100 | $9,100 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $12,400 | $18,600 |
Cost breakdown for 2,100 sq ft of wall in Iowa City, IA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,950 | $7,850 | $11,800 | 51% |
| Labor | $3,800 | $7,600 | $11,400 | 49% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $7,750 | $15,500 | $23,200 | 100% |
What is behind the Iowa City number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: carpenters at 60%, construction laborers at 30%, sheet metal workers at 10%. Weighted together, Iowa City wages are 0.90 times the national level. Labor makes up about 49% of the midpoint estimate (50% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Iowa City is at 93.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $8,400 nationally becomes $7,850 here (midpoint, 2,100 sq ft of wall). Permits follow the all-items index of 91.5: $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 Iowa City. The wage table below marks each row.
Planning more than one job in Iowa City?
Jobs that often go together with vinyl siding are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Iowa City wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, attic insulation comes out highest (level) and roof replacement lowest (−9%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| 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 | $4,200 – $14,000 | −7% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $1,000 – $4,000 | level |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,450 – $30,400 | −7% |
The best months for vinyl siding in Iowa City
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Iowa City Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Iowa City are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, 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.
Iowa City gets about 36 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 2.2 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 19 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31 | 15 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 36 | 19 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Mar | 50 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 40 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 73 | 52 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 62 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 86 | 66 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 63 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 54 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 42 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 30 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 36 | 20 | 1.4 | Cold |
Who does the work: Iowa City trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Iowa City the blend is 0.90.
Carpenters (47-2031), 60% of the weighting: a median of $23.89 an hour, 18% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.98 and $29.70 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 38.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 30%) the local median is $23.05 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.87 and $28.74 an hour. BLS counts 800 of them working in the area, 85.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 10% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Iowa City 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.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $1,000 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $330. That is a swing of roughly 2.1% to 6.5% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Iowa City has 93,760 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 214th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $21.98 | $23.89 | $29.70 | $29.12 | 0.82 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $21.87 | $23.05 | $28.74 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 10% | $23.78 | $31.95 | $36.58 | $29.71 | 1.08 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Why two Iowa City 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.
Cost by quality level and size in Iowa City
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Iowa City. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from small house (1,200 sq ft of wall) to large house (3,000 sq ft of wall).
Basic
$7,750 to $13,900
Basic clapboard siding, simple house
Standard
$12,400 to $18,600
Mid-grade panels, standard trim and corners
Premium
$17,000 to $23,200
Premium or board-and-batten, many corners and gables
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| small house (1,200 sq ft of wall) | $4,400 – $7,950 | $7,050 – $10,600 | $9,750 – $13,300 |
| average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) | $7,750 – $13,900 | $12,400 – $18,600 | $17,000 – $23,200 |
| large house (3,000 sq ft of wall) | $11,100 – $19,900 | $17,700 – $26,500 | $24,300 – $33,200 |
How Iowa City compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Iowa City. Waterloo comes closest at about $16,100.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IAthis page | $7,750 – $23,200 | $15,500 | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA40 miles | $8,250 – $24,700 | $16,500 | +7% |
| Davenport, IA60 miles | $8,400 – $25,300 | $16,800 | +9% |
| Dubuque, IA75 miles | $8,200 – $24,600 | $16,400 | +6% |
| Waterloo, IA80 miles | $8,050 – $24,100 | $16,100 | +4% |
| Des Moines, IA110 miles | $8,250 – $24,800 | $16,500 | +7% |
| Iowa (statewide) | $8,100 – $24,300 | $16,200 | +5% |
| United States | $8,400 – $25,200 | $16,800 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Iowa City ranks #194 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Iowa City is 4% below the Iowa figure.
Elsewhere in Iowa
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $8,250 – $24,800 | $16,500 | +7% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $8,400 – $25,300 | $16,800 | +9% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 139,260 jobs | $8,250 – $24,700 | $16,500 | +7% |
| Waterloo, IA | 84,260 jobs | $8,050 – $24,100 | $16,100 | +4% |
| Sioux City, IA | 75,010 jobs | $7,850 – $23,500 | $15,700 | +1% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $8,200 – $24,600 | $16,400 | +6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Iowa City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $8,250 – $24,700 | $16,500 | +6% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $9,250 – $27,700 | $18,500 | +20% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $9,150 – $27,500 | $18,300 | +19% |
| Bremerton, WA | 93,740 jobs | $9,200 – $27,500 | $18,400 | +19% |
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 $12,400 to $18,600 for Iowa City, IA is attached.
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The report lays out the vinyl siding numbers for Iowa City, IA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. 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 Iowa City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install vinyl siding in Iowa City?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, expect $7,750 to $23,200 in the Iowa City area. A standard-spec job lands at $12,400 to $18,600. 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 Iowa City?
About $3.70 to $11 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 Iowa City or Cedar Rapids?
Cedar Rapids is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 2,100 sq ft of wall there is $16,500, which is 7% more than Iowa City ($15,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Iowa City?
About 49% at the midpoint, or $7,600 out of $15,500. Materials are 51% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) cost in Iowa City?
$7,750 to $23,200. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does vinyl siding need a permit in Iowa City?
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 Iowa City area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Iowa City expensive for vinyl siding compared with the rest of Iowa?
Iowa City is 4% below 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 Iowa City?
The BLS median is $23.89 an hour in the Iowa City area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.98 to $29.70.
+What do basic and premium vinyl siding work cost in Iowa City?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, basic work runs $7,750 to $13,900 and premium work $17,000 to $23,200. 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 Iowa City?
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 Iowa City
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.