How Many Pieces Of Siding In A Box?

Are you planning on siding or residing your house, shed, or weekend getaway? Considering whether to do it yourself or hire the pros? If you’re wondering how many pieces of siding in a box and how many cartons you’ll need, we can help.

The length and width of the vinyl determine the number of pieces in a box. A carton of siding contains between 14 and 24 pieces and will cover 100 ft² or 200 ft². A box may contain twenty 6”x10’ lengths, twenty-five 8”x12’ pieces, sixteen 12”x12’-6” panels, or other dimensions and quantities.

In this guide, we’ll identify different sizes of vinyl siding, how many pieces are in a box, how much a box of siding will cover, and what a box will cost. We’ll also explain how to figure out the amount of siding you’ll need and how to convert that to boxes, and we’ll work through some examples with you. This guide will assist you in calculating the rough cost of a DIY possibility.

Common Vinyl Siding Sizes

Vinyl siding is a low-maintenance, strong, light-weight PVC sheet used to clad structures. It provides a dent, moisture, wind, and bio-resistant finish. Vinyl siding comes in different thicknesses, widths, lengths, profiles, and textures, as well as a plethora of colors.

Vinyl is available in both horizontal and vertical profiles. Standard horizontal profiles are clapboard, Dutch lap, beaded clapboard, shake, shingle, scallop, and log, while vertical is pretty much limited to board and batten or board pattern. The profile affects the widths of the vinyl boards. The face coverage or exposure is the portion of the siding that is visible and ranges from 6” to 12”.

The nailing strip and interlocking flange disappear once the next course is added and commonly adds 1” to 1-1/4” to the overall panel width depending on the manufacturer. To determine the visible exposure, measure from the underside of the profile to the bottom edge of the interlocking lip.

Vinyl siding lengths vary among manufacturers but are commonly 10’, 12’, and 12’-6” lengths. However, they are available in lengths up to 25’ depending on the brand to minimize overlaps or seams. Additionally, some manufacturers will also cut to measure, which saves time and reduces waste.

Shingle, cedar shake, and scallop or rounded vinyl profiles come in single, double, or triple courses of 10’ or 12’ lengths or as shorter panels, so it’s best to see what is available in your area.

Common Vinyl Siding Sizes
Profile Name	Profile Description	Sheet Width	Exposure	Coverage per 10’ Sheet	Coverage per 12’ Sheet	Coverage per 12’-6” Sheet
Single 6-1/2” Bead	A single beaded profile per sheet	7-3/4”	6-1/2”	5.42 ft²	6.5 ft²	6.77 ft²
Smooth 6” Lap	A single lap profile per sheet	7-1/4”	6”	5.0 ft²	6.0 ft²	6.25 ft²
Smooth 7” Lap	A single lap profile per sheet	8-1/4”	7”	5.83 ft²	7.0 ft²	7.29 ft²
Smooth 8” Lap	A single lap profile per sheet	9-1/4”	8”	6.67 ft²	8.0 ft²	8.33 ft²
Double 3”	Two courses of 3” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	7-1/4”	6”	5.0 ft²	6.0 ft²	6.25 ft²
Double 4”	Two courses of 4” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	9-1/4”	8”	6.67 ft²	8.0 ft²	8.33 ft²
Double 4-1/2”	Two courses of 4-1/2” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	10-1/4”	9”	7.5 ft²	9.0 ft²	9.38 ft²
Double 5”	Two courses of 5” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	11-1/4”	10”	8.3 ft²	10.0 ft²	10.42 ft²
Double 6”	Two courses of 6” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	13-1/4”	12”	10.0 ft²	12.0 ft²	12.5 ft²
Triple 3”	Three courses of 3” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	10-1/4”	9”	7.5 ft²	9.0 ft²	9.38 ft²
Triple 4”	Three courses of 4” Dutch lap or clapboard per piece	13-1/4”	12”	10.0 ft²	12.0 ft²	12.5 ft²
6” Board & Batten Single	Vertical profile with a 4-1/4” board and 1-3/4” batten or 4-1/2” & 1-1/2”	7-1/4”	6”	5.0 ft²	6.0 ft²	6.25 ft²
7” Board & Batten Single	Vertical profile with a 5-1/4” board and 1-3/4” batten or 5-1/2” & 1-1/2”	8-1/4”	7”	5.83 ft²	7.0 ft²	7.29 ft²
8” Board & Batten Single	Vertical profile with a 6-1/4” board and 1-3/4” batten or 6-1/2” & 1-1/2”	9-1/4”	8”	6.67 ft²	8.0 ft²	8.33 ft²
Double 5” Vertical	Two vertical courses of 5” boards per piece	11-1/4”	10”	8.3 ft²	10.0 ft²	10.42 ft²
Log	A curved log profile with a diameter or width of 6-1/2”	7-3/4”	6-1/2”	5.42 ft²	6.5 ft²	6.77 ft²

How Many Pieces of Vinyl Siding in a Box?

The number of pieces in a box depends upon the width and length of the profile sheets, and on the manufacturer, so it is best to check before ordering. The number of pieces in a box range from 14 to 26. A run through of different manufacturers and distributors netted the information in the table below.

Number of Vinyl Siding Pieces in a Box
Width	6”	6-1/2”	7”	8”	9”	10”	12”
10’ length	20	18	17	15	13 or 26	24	20
12’ length	16	15	14	25	22	20	17
12’-6” length	16	15	14	24	21	19	16

How Many Square Feet in a Box of Siding?

The number of square feet of vinyl siding in a box depends on the length and width of the profile, and how many pieces in a box. A carton of siding will normally cover either 100 square feet or 200 square feet. Boxes of wider sheets commonly cover 200 ft² while narrow sheets do 100 ft².

How Many Pieces of Siding in a Square?

A square is a construction term that commonly refers to 100 square feet. Most boxes of vinyl siding contain either 1 or 2 squares, so 100 ft² or 200 ft². The length and width of the siding determine how many pieces are needed to cover a 1 square.

To determine the number of pieces, divide 100 ft² by the square footage one sheet will cover. The width of the face coverage or exposure of one sheet converted to feet and multiplied by the length will provide the coverage of one piece. The table below identifies the number sheets for different profile widths and lengths in a square.

Number of Vinyl Siding Pieces in a Square
Width	6”	6-1/2”	7”	8”	9”	10”	12”
10’ length	20	18.45	17.15	15	13.33	12.1	10
12’ length	16.67	15.38	14.28	12.5	11.11	10	8.33
12’-6” length	16	14.77	13.72	12	10.66	9.59	8

How Much Is a Box of Vinyl Siding?

The cost of siding depends on the dimensions, profile, color, manufacturer, distributor, and quality of the siding. A square of basic vinyl will cost between $90 and $145, a better selection between $126 and $190, and premium or best between $180 and $250. If the box contains 2 squares of siding, the prices would be double that for 1 square. Purchasing directly from the manufacturer or wholesaler is often cheaper than from a box store.

How To Estimate Vinyl Siding: How Many Boxes Do I Need?

To estimate the number of boxes required, determine the square footage of the surfaces to be covered. Some contractors take the perimeter of the building and multiply it by the height of the walls, and then add the area of the gable ends.

Remember to find the combined surface area of doors and windows and subtract it from the surface area of the walls. It’s helpful to sketch the building’s shape or what each wall looks like and add the measurements as you get them.

Siding on walls longer than the sheet needs to be overlapped by an inch or more. If installing on hot days, add 3/8” to the overlap as the vinyl will contract when it is cold. Additionally, there is a waste factor of 10% to 15% depending on distances between openings and corners, and wall lengths. Most vinyl siding suppliers have a material calculator, but it still requires the dimension information, so doing the calculations yourself is a good start.

Once you have the surface area to be covered, have subtracted the area of openings, and added the 10% or 15% waste factor, you’ll have a rough estimate of square feet to be covered. Since siding comes in boxes of 100 ft² or 200 ft², divide the surface area by 100 or 200 to determine the number of boxes. Remember to round up to the nearest full box. Unless it is a special order, most retailers will take undamaged returns.

For example:

A 24’x24’ 2 bay garage with 8’ high walls, a hipped roof and two 2’x3’ windows needs siding.

The math: 24’ x 4 walls = 96’ x 8’ high walls = 768 ft²

2 garage doors 8’x7’ = 112 ft²

2 windows 2’x3’ = 12 ft²

768 ft² – (112 ft² + 12 ft²) = 644 ft²

Increasing that by 10% is 708 ft² and 15% is 740 ft² (This also includes the overlap)

The rough estimate would be 7 or 8 boxes of 100 ft² or 4 boxes of 200 ft²

Vinyl Siding Calculator Square Footage

Calculating the square footage of vinyl siding requires the dimensions of each wall to be clad, less the area of the windows and doors. Most suppliers offer online calculators to help with estimates. Some suppliers also provide the service for free in the hopes you’ll buy from them, while others charge for it and deduct the charge if you purchase from them.

When selecting an online calculator, look for one that calculates individual walls and requires window and door dimensions or area, not just the number of openings, they are more accurate. A good calculator also identifies additional siding components that will be required for the project too – an important consideration if the color isn’t commonly carried.

How Much Siding Do I Need for a 1,200 Square Foot House?

The dimensions of the house, wall heights, window and door openings, and roofline all contribute to the amount of siding required. A 1200 ft² house may be rectangular or ‘L’ shaped, have numerous combinations of dimensions, plus the wall heights could be 8, 9, or 10 feet. Gable ends are often clad in the same siding, so also need to be added to the calculation.

Accurate measurements will produce better estimates, which means use a tape measure and don’t rely on guesswork or eyeballing. Measure the length of each wall and multiply by the height to be clad. Most 1200 ft² homes with 8’ walls range from 1120 ft² to 1280 ft² of wall surface. Those with 9’ walls from 1260 ft² to 1440 ft². Gables may add another 80 ft² to 150 ft² too.

Patio doors, windows, and access doors don’t need to be sided, so are subtracted from the area to be covered. Again, careful measurement is important. Each home is unique – although some subdivisions defy that thought – so do the calculations. A home with one entry door and a 5’ patio door, plus standard bedroom and living room windows could have between 100 ft² and 150 ft² of openings.

Depending on the wall heights and lengths, plus gable ends, less the area for openings, plus the 10% or 15% for waste, a 1200 ft² home will require between 12 and 15 squares or 1200 to 1500 square feet of siding. It’s interesting to note that the 10% or 15% of the wall surface, the amount you add for waste, cuts, and errors after subtracting the area of the openings from the wall area, is pretty much what you subtracted for the openings..

How Much Will Siding Cost for 2,000 sq ft House?

A 2000 ft² house could be a single- or two-story structure, side or back-split, rectangular, square, or ‘L’ shaped plan, or some other configuration. The wall heights or elevations and lengths, plus gable areas determine the coverage required. Window and door areas are subtracted from the coverage area, and the 10% or 15% added on for cuts, waste, or errors.

The cost of siding for any home depends on the area to be covered, the profile, and the cost per square of that profile quality which typically runs from $90 to $250 a square. A 2000 ft² structure may require between 16 and 25 squares, which, depending on all factors, could range between $1,440 on the low end to $6,250 or more.

Conclusion

The number of pieces of vinyl siding in a box depends on the width and length of the pieces. A carton typically contains between 14 and 24 panels and covers 100 ft² or 200 ft², or 1 or 2 squares, and will cost from $90 to $250 a square.

Hopefully, you have a better understanding of the measurements and calculations required to estimate how much siding your project will require and its cost.