Vinyl Siding Calculator — Squares & Linear Feet
Enter total wall area, subtract windows and doors, choose your siding profile, add a waste factor and get the squares of vinyl siding and linear footage to order.
sq ft
sq ft
%
Siding profile
1 square = 100 sq ft. Round up to nearest carton when ordering.
- 1
Net wall area
1,200 − 120 = 1,080 - 2
Gross area (with waste)
1,080 × 1.1 = 1,188Waste factor = 1 + 10% ÷ 100. - 3
Squares of siding needed
1,188 ÷ 100 = 11.88
How does this calculator work?
Vinyl siding is ordered in squares (1 sq = 100 sq ft). Net area = wall area − openings; apply a 10% waste factor. Squares = gross area ÷ 100; linear feet = gross area ÷ (exposure in ft). Round up to the nearest full carton and order trim, corner posts and J-channel separately.
Formula
How this is calculated
Vinyl siding is estimated and sold by the "square" — 1 square equals 100 square feet of coverage. Start with the total exterior wall area (perimeter × average wall height for a rectangle, plus triangular gable areas), then subtract the area of windows and doors. Many estimators skip the opening deduction for a conservative order that absorbs waste — the choice is yours.
A waste factor accounts for offcuts at corners, around windows and at gable peaks. Straight walls with few interruptions typically need 10%; homes with many corners, bay windows or complex gables can need 15–20%. Dividing the gross (waste-included) area by 100 gives squares, and dividing by the siding exposure in feet gives linear feet — useful for comparing run lengths or when carton specs list linear coverage.
Different profiles have different face exposures: the most common double-4 vinyl has an 8-inch face (two 4-inch laps visible), while double-5 and Dutch-lap styles show 10 inches per course. More exposure means fewer linear feet needed for the same area, but the coverage per square remains 100 sq ft regardless. Always round carton counts up, and order corner posts, J-channel and trim separately.
Frequently asked questions
A square is a unit equal to 100 square feet of wall coverage. If you need 12.3 squares, order 13 cartons (most cartons contain exactly one square) to have a small surplus for repairs.
You can, but many contractors don't on smaller jobs and let the waste factor absorb the savings. Deducting openings gives the minimum order; a 10% waste factor on top of the deducted area gives a safe total.
Measure each wall face separately: width × height for rectangles, then add triangular gable areas (base × height ÷ 2). Sum all faces. Measure from the bottom of the siding to the soffit or underside of overhangs, not to the peak of the roof.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Vinyl Siding Calculator — Squares & Linear Feet [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/vinyl-siding-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Vinyl Siding Calculator — Squares & Linear Feet." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/vinyl-siding-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Vinyl Siding Calculator — Squares & Linear Feet," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/vinyl-siding-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_vinyl_siding_calculator, title = {Vinyl Siding Calculator — Squares & Linear Feet}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/vinyl-siding-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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