Vinyl siding cost in Charleston, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (2,100 sq ft of wall)
- $7,700 – $23,100
- Per sq ft of wall
- $3.65 – $11
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $16,800
- Rank of 300 metros
- #198
- 1 = most expensive
Charleston homeowners pay roughly $7,700 to $23,100 to install vinyl siding at 2,100 sq ft of wall, or $3.65 to $11 per sq ft of wall (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Charleston is 8% lower. Carpenters earn a median of $24.22 an hour in the Charleston area, 17% below the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 2,100 sq ft of wall in Charleston, SC, standard level
$12,300 to $18,500
About $5.90 to $8.80 per sq ft of wall before permits. Labor is about 48% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $6,450 | $9,700 |
| Labor | $5,850 | $8,800 |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 |
| Total | $12,300 | $18,500 |
Cost breakdown for 2,100 sq ft of wall in Charleston, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,050 | $8,100 | $12,100 | 52% |
| Labor | $3,650 | $7,350 | $11,000 | 48% |
| Permits and fees | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Total | $7,700 | $15,400 | $23,100 | 100% |
Why Charleston prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.22 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Charleston is 0.87 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 48% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Charleston metro is 96.3 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 2,100 sq ft of wall comes to $8,100, compared with $8,400 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (101.0) and land at $0 to $0.
Why two Charleston quotes can differ
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 Charleston
Because every project leans on different trades, Charleston's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gutters runs −5% and roof replacement −9%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,500 – $11,400 | −9% |
| Gutters | 160 linear ft | $1,200 – $4,000 | −5% |
| Window replacement | 10 windows | $4,200 – $14,100 | −6% |
| Attic insulation | 1,000 sq ft | $900 – $3,700 | −8% |
| Metal roof | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $9,200 – $30,200 | −8% |
Cost by quality level and size in Charleston
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Charleston 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
$7,700 to $13,900
Basic clapboard siding, simple house
Standard
$12,300 to $18,500
Mid-grade panels, standard trim and corners
Premium
$17,000 to $23,100
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 | $9,700 – $13,200 |
| average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) | $7,700 – $13,900 | $12,300 – $18,500 | $17,000 – $23,100 |
| large house (3,000 sq ft of wall) | $11,000 – $19,800 | $17,600 – $26,400 | $24,200 – $33,100 |
When to schedule vinyl siding in Charleston
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Charleston City (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Charleston: 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.
Charleston gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (6.1 inches in August). The station averages about 25 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 | 44 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 46 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 52 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 72 | 60 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 68 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 84 | 74 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 77 | 5.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 77 | 6.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 73 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 63 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Nov | 67 | 53 | 2.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 61 | 47 | 2.9 | Workable |
How Charleston compares
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Charleston. Savannah is the lowest at about $14,500 (midpoint, 2,100 sq ft of wall), 95 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charleston, SCthis page | $7,700 – $23,100 | $15,400 | |
| Hilton Head, SC65 miles | $7,650 – $22,900 | $15,300 | −1% |
| Florence, SC80 miles | $7,650 – $22,900 | $15,300 | −1% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC85 miles | $7,400 – $22,100 | $14,800 | −4% |
| Columbia, SC95 miles | $7,550 – $22,600 | $15,100 | −2% |
| Savannah, GA95 miles | $7,250 – $21,800 | $14,500 | −6% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $7,650 – $22,900 | $15,300 | −1% |
| United States | $8,400 – $25,200 | $16,800 | +9% |
Across 300 US metros, Charleston comes in at #198 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, Charleston is 1% above the South Carolina figure.
Other South Carolina metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $7,650 – $22,900 | $15,300 | −1% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $7,550 – $22,600 | $15,100 | −2% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $7,750 – $23,200 | $15,500 | level |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $7,400 – $22,100 | $14,800 | −4% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $7,650 – $22,900 | $15,300 | −1% |
| Hilton Head, SC | 81,920 jobs | $7,650 – $22,900 | $15,300 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Charleston's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Charleston against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $7,550 – $22,600 | $15,100 | −2% |
| Boise, ID | 391,790 jobs | $7,800 – $23,400 | $15,600 | +1% |
| Des Moines, IA | 404,130 jobs | $8,250 – $24,800 | $16,500 | +7% |
| Tucson, AZ | 389,630 jobs | $7,600 – $22,900 | $15,200 | −1% |
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 Charleston is 0.87 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 60%) the local median is $24.22 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.37 and $29.52 an hour. BLS counts 1,240 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 $20.98 an hour, 7% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.00 and $24.49 an hour. About 3,710 work in the metro. That is 94.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For sheet metal workers (47-2211, weighted 10%) the local median is $28.68 an hour, which is 3% below the national $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $24.01 and $31.82 an hour. BLS counts 270 of them working in the area, 6.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 7.7), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($29.52 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $920. At the 25th percentile ($21.37) it shrinks by about $490. The total moves by 5.9% or 3.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 394,170 jobs in the Charleston-North Charleston area. That makes it the 66th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.25% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 60% | $21.37 | $24.22 | $29.52 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 30% | $18.00 | $20.98 | $24.49 | $22.66 | 0.93 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 10% | $24.01 | $28.68 | $31.82 | $29.71 | 0.97 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.87 | |||||
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Detailed vinyl siding report for Charleston, SC, $9
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Vinyl siding in Charleston: your questions
+How much does it cost to install vinyl siding in Charleston?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, expect $7,700 to $23,100 in the Charleston area. A standard-spec job lands at $12,300 to $18,500. 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 Charleston?
About $3.65 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 Charleston or Hilton Head?
Hilton Head is 65 miles away. The midpoint for 2,100 sq ft of wall there is $15,300, which is 1% less than Charleston ($15,400). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Charleston?
About 48% at the midpoint, or $7,350 out of $15,400. Materials are 52% and permits 0%. Nationally, labor is 50%.
+What would average house (2,100 sq ft of wall) cost in Charleston?
$7,700 to $23,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does vinyl siding need a permit in Charleston?
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 Charleston area (our national range of $0 to $0 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Charleston expensive for vinyl siding compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Charleston is 1% above the South Carolina statewide estimate ($15,300 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Charleston?
The BLS median is $24.22 an hour in the Charleston area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.37 to $29.52.
+What do basic and premium vinyl siding work cost in Charleston?
For 2,100 sq ft of wall, basic work runs $7,700 to $13,900 and premium work $17,000 to $23,100. 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 Charleston?
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 Charleston
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.