Cedar shake siding cost: 2026 Installed Price Calculator
Mike Martin, MA CSL, is the founder and construction cost editor of RemodelingExpense. His residential construction experience informs the site’s cost research, calculators, and homeowner project guidance.
Cedar shake siding cost runs about $12 – $22 per square foot installed, so a typical 1,000 square foot project lands around $12,000 – $22,000. The final price depends on cedar grade, exposure, shake or shingle pattern, gables, dormers, woven corners, finish type, and local labor rates.
Cedar shake siding is a more detailed version of wood siding because it uses individual cedar shakes or shingles instead of long boards or panels. That means more layout time, more courses, more cuts, and more labor around windows, corners, and rooflines.
Enter your ZIP code and square footage to estimate your project.
Not sure what square footage to enter? Use the outside wall area being covered, not indoor living space. If you are pricing gables, dormers, or accent walls only, measure just those sections.
Cost Calculator
Cedar Shake Siding Cost Calculator
Cedar shake siding cost depends on individual shakes or shingles, exposure, staggered pattern, grade, sidewall spacing, woven corners, gables, dormers, finish, and local labor rates.
Your estimated cost
For 1,000 sq. ft.
$12,000 – $22,000
About $12 – $22 per sq. ft.
Get Free Local Quotes| Cost item | Low estimate | High estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Material | $5,500 | $9,500 |
| Labor | $6,500 | $12,500 |
| Estimated installed cost | $12,000 | $22,000 |
| Installed cost per sq. ft. | $12 | $22 |
Why your price may change
- Local labor rates vary.
- Material quality affects the price.
- Old material removal, repairs, permits, or code updates can add cost.
- Hard-to-reach areas, complex layouts, rush jobs, or premium contractors may cost more.
Estimate includes local labor adjustments and may differ slightly from rounded national cost examples.
Cedar Shake Siding Cost vs Value
Cedar Shake Siding may recover about 55%–72% of its cost.
Bottom line: Cedar shake siding can add strong curb appeal and a natural wood exterior, but the value depends on grade, exposure, finish, maintenance, and whether the home benefits from a higher-end shake or shingle look.
Worth it: Gables, dormers, accent walls, coastal-style homes, higher-end exteriors, and homes where natural cedar fits the design.
Skip it: Homes where low maintenance or the lowest siding price matters more than natural cedar appearance.
ROI ranges are planning estimates and should not be treated as an appraisal. This is only an estimate. Real resale value depends on your home, neighborhood, market, project quality, and buyer demand.
Contractor Reality Check
Cedar shake siding is labor-heavy. The material matters, but the real cost jump usually comes from exposure, spacing, pattern layout, corners, gables, dormers, and finish work.
My rule of thumb: use cedar shakes where the look matters most before pricing a full-house install.
What to Confirm Before You Sign
A good quote is easy to read. If any of these are missing or vague, ask before you commit:
- Product type: confirm cedar shakes, cedar shingles, perfection shingles, or a staggered profile.
- Grade: ask if the material is clear, knotty, edge grain, or a lower grade.
- Exposure: confirm how much of each shake or shingle will show after overlap.
- Pattern: ask if the layout is straight, staggered, or random-width.
- Corners: confirm whether corners are woven, trimmed, or finished with corner boards.
- Finish: ask if the price includes stain, paint, weathering oil, or unfinished cedar.
- Buffer: budget an extra 10% to 20% for waste, gables, trim repairs, or finish upgrades.
Surprise Costs That Move the Price
These are the items that push a cedar shake siding quote above the basic price range, and roughly what they add.
| Item | Why It Adds Cost | Typical Add |
|---|---|---|
| Premium cedar grade | Clear, edge-grain, or higher-grade shingles cost more than lower-grade material | $2 – $6 per sq. ft. |
| Gables and dormers | Small angled sections require more cuts, staging, and layout time | $500 – $2,500+ |
| Staggered pattern | Irregular layouts take longer than straight-course installation | $1 – $4 per sq. ft. |
| Woven corners | Corner details take more skill and labor than simple trim boards | $300 – $1,500+ |
| Stain or finish | Cedar needs a protective finish unless the homeowner wants natural weathering | $1.50 – $5 per sq. ft. |
| Old siding removal | Tear-off adds labor, disposal, and repair risk | $1 – $2 per sq. ft. |
Cedar Shake Siding Cost by Type
| Type | Installed Cost per sq. ft. | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar shingles | $12 – $18 | Clean, uniform sidewall look |
| Cedar shakes | $13 – $22 | More rustic texture and depth |
| Perfection shingles | $12 – $20 | Gables, dormers, and classic accents |
| Staggered cedar shingles | $14 – $22 | Decorative front elevations |
| Cedar shake repair areas | Varies by project | Replacing damaged sections only |
Cedar Shake Siding Cost by Project Size
The larger the project, the more cedar shakes, trim, flashing, finish, staging, waste, and labor the job needs. These examples use estimated siding square footage, not indoor living space.
| Project Size | Estimated Installed Cost |
|---|---|
| 500 sq. ft. | $6,000 – $11,000 |
| 1,000 sq. ft. | $12,000 – $22,000 |
| 1,500 sq. ft. | $18,000 – $33,000 |
| 2,000 sq. ft. | $24,000 – $44,000 |
| 2,500 sq. ft. | $30,000 – $55,000 |
Is Cedar Shake Siding Worth It?
Cedar shake siding is worth it when the home benefits from natural cedar texture, coastal style, gable accents, dormers, or a higher-end wood exterior.
It may not be worth it if low maintenance or the lowest siding price matters most. Fiber cement, engineered wood, or vinyl shake-style siding can cost less to own over time.
References – Cedar Shake Siding Cost
- Installation Reference: Cedar Shake and Shingle Sidewall Manual
- Material Pricing: Cedar Wood Shingle Siding, Home Depot
- Material Pricing: Cedar Siding and Exterior Materials, Lowe’s
- Product Reference: Western Red Cedar Siding Grades
- Labor Wage Data: Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Labor Burden Data: Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Last Updated: 6/19/26
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