11 Shed Siding Options - Best Siding Materials
Updated: Apr 29
The siding you choose for your shed will make a massive difference to your budget, maintenance, and appearance. Whether you use your backyard shed for storage for your tools or lawnmower, as a man cave or she-shed, home office, or playroom, there’s one fundamental question you need to ask yourself:
What is the best siding for shed construction?
Let’s look at some shed siding options. Then, we’ll give you some information to help you decide which shed siding materials are best for you.
Why Does Your Shed Siding Material Matter?
Your shed walls serve several critical functions.
Not only are they the face of your shed, but they also protect the shed’s structure from Mother Nature. They should be aesthetically pleasing too.
For these reasons, finding the best backyard shed siding materials matters:
Value: The shed siding you choose impacts the quality and value of your shed and, ultimately, the value of your property in case you decide to look for buyers.
Quality: Not all shed siding is created equal. Cheap might mean quick but could lead to problems later. So it’s often better to go for quality shed siding rather than cheap options.
Maintenance: Some shed siding is low maintenance and others need more. Consider how much maintenance will be needed and how easy it is.
Aesthetically pleasing: When considering shed siding, decide what you want to coat it with. Some options are better for painting, or staining, while others need no finishing coat at all.
Durability: Ideally, you want to invest in shed siding that withstands the elements and your little darlings throwing a ball up against it.
Installation: How easy is it to install? Do you need special tools or a construction adhesive? Will you need to call on the pros to install it?
11 Most Popular Shed Siding Options
When choosing shed siding, you want something that looks fantastic, functions how you want it to, and withstands whatever the weather can throw at it. Consider the following shed siding options:
1. Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding is made using polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and you’ll find vinyl in a wide range of colors, textures, and various styles.
Budget-friendly: Yes
Durability: High
Lifespan: 60+ years
Maintenance: Little to none required
Price: Average price per square foot is from $3.50 to $8
Water-resistant: Yes
Pros
Available in a range of textures and colors.
The finish can be customized to meet your needs.
Vinyl resists moisture damage, rot, and bug damage.
Very DIY friendly.
Cons
Vinyl can be cold if not insulated.
2. Metal / Steel
Metal or steel siding will give your shed a very industrial look. Generally, metal or steel siding comes already painted.
Budget-friendly: Yes
Durability: If properly taken care of, metal siding is long-lasting.
Lifespan: 20-40 years
Maintenance: Low maintenance
Price: Average price per square foot ranges from $4 to $8
Water-resistant: Yes
Pros
A metal shed is an environmentally friendly option.
No problems with rotting.
Does not warp.
Pest, weather, and fire-resistant.
Easy to install.
Cons
The industrial look of a metal shed might not suit everyone.
3. Traditional Wood Siding
Traditional wood siding is a very popular option because of its classic and understated appearance. Whether you choose plywood or redwood, it can blend in with the surroundings, or you can choose to make a statement with an eye-catching finish.
Budget-friendly: Yes
Durability: High, if you’re meticulous in maintaining it.
Lifespan: 20-40 years
Maintenance: Requires painting every 5 to 10 years and repairs as needed.
Price: Average price per square foot is between $7 to $12
Water resistance: No
Pros
Wood siding blends seamlessly with your home.
A wide range of different woods is available (plywood, cypress, etc.).
A variety of finish options, such as colored paint and stains.
Cons
Wood siding materials require painting at least every five years.
4. Engineered Wood Siding
Engineered wood siding is made using natural wood strands or fibers that are treated with resins. Look for engineered wood products with low emitting resins for your shed’s siding.
Budget-friendly: Yes
Durability: High
Lifespan: 20-40 years
Maintenance: Little to none, but you will need to inspect engineered wood for cracks, leaks, and other wear at least once a year.
Price: Average price per square foot is from $5 to $10
Water resistance: No
Pros
Can withstand bumps and bashing well.
Moisture resistant.
It looks like real wood but is longer lasting.
Engineered wood is environmentally friendly.
Cons
You may have moisture issues if the engineered wood siding is not installed correctly.
5. LP Smartside Siding
LP Smartside Panels are a form of engineered wood but treated with zinc borate for improved protection. Before you install LP Smartside Siding or something like LP Smartside Trim, there are some things to consider.
Budget-friendly: Yes
Durability: better than standard engineered wood
Lifespan: 20-40 years
Maintenance: You need to repaint it every 5 to 7 years.
Price: Average price per square foot is $2 to $4.
Water resistance: No
Pros
LP siding resists fungal decay and termite damage.
Environmentally friendly.
Wall sheathing and shed siding in one.
LP Smartside shed panels are pre-primed, and you can paint them in any color.
Cons
Extra care is needed when installing it.
6. Bevel Siding (Clapboard)
Bevel shed siding is often called clapboard. Bevel siding is long thin planks that are nailed horizontally to exterior walls. The planks are thinner at one edge, hence the name.
Budget-friendly: No
Durability: The wood used is often naturally resistant to rot and wood-boring bugs.
Lifespan: 20-40 years
Maintenance: Requires painting or staining, and this will need to be repeated at regular intervals.
Price: Average price per square foot of cedar bevel siding is between $25 and $68.
Water resistance: No
Pros
Available in a range of different woods.
Can be painted or stained.
Attractive finish.
Cons
Challenging to install for an amateur.
7. Cedar Shingles
If you want your shed to look like a cute country cottage, this is the material to use.
Budget-friendly: No
Durability: As long as installed correctly, they are long-lasting.
Lifespan: 75+ years
Maintenance: The finish needs renewing at regular intervals.
Price: Average price per square foot is between $6 and $12.
Water resistance: No
Pros
Elegant, clean appearance.
Sheds rainwater very well.
Improve its finished look with paint, preservative, semitransparent or solid-color stain.
Cons
Very time-consuming to install.
8. Grooved Plywood (T1-11)
T1-11 is available in two grades: plywood sheathing or Oriented Strand Board (OSB). Plywood T1-11 is more expensive but better quality.
Budget-friendly: Yes
Durability: If maintained correctly, it can last for many years.
Lifespan: 20+ years
Maintenance: Requires painting or refinishing every 3-5 years.
Price: Average price per square foot is between $3.50 and $7.20.
Water resistance: No
Pros
Adds structural strength.
Doesn’t dent.
Available in several styles.
Cons
It comes unprimed and has a rough side.
9. Fiber-cement
Fiber-cement is a mixture of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers rolled into a sheet and pressed to produce a pattern.
Budget-friendly: No, as it requires specialist installation.
Durability: It is as durable as cement.
Lifespan: 30+ years
Maintenance: Refinishing may be necessary after 15 years, but otherwise, doesn't need much care.
Price: Average price per sq. ft, ranges from $5 to $25 installed. The materials alone cost between $0.70 and $15 per sq. ft.
Water resistance: Yes
Pros
Has an attractive wood grain appearance.
Heat, water, fire, and insect resistance.
Cons
It can be challenging to work with.
10. Board-and-Batten
Board and batten siding is one of the most traditional types of shed building materials. It is a series of wide boards and narrow wood strips (battens). The boards and strips can be installed horizontally, but more commonly, they are vertical.
Budget-friendly: Yes
Durability: Boards can last for many years if treated and maintained correctly.
Lifespan: 30+ years
Maintenance: Has to be stained, painted, or varnished regularly.
Price: Average price per sq. ft. is between $0.70 and $10.
Water resistance: No
Pros
There are no standard sizes of boards, and they can be made from virtually any size of lumber.
Certain types of boards offer better protection against rot and insects.
Natural look.
Cons
Can be prone to buckling, splitting, warping, and rot.
11. Channel Siding
Channel siding is softwood lumber such as pine or cedar siding with a lip at the bottom or a rabbeted groove that overlaps the top face of the plank below it. The result is a lap siding finish with channels.
Budget-friendly: No
Durability: Channel siding is extremely durable, and the natural preservatives protect it from decay, rot, and insect damage.
Lifespan: 20-40 years
Maintenance: Needs to be stained or painted regularly.
Price: The average price per sq. ft. is between $6 and $12.
Water resistance: No
Pros
All-natural wood and durable.
Choose whatever color you want.
Environmentally sustainable.
Cons
This shed siding is prone to splitting, cracking, warping, or bowing.
Interested in available options, ideas and materials for other parts of your shed?
Check our dedicated guides on:
Conclusion
The best type of shed siding material is whatever fits your needs. Exposure to weather, sunlight, and temperature are the primary factors that affect the lifespan of shed siding, and these depend mainly on where you live.
Your budget and aesthetic preference are also going to influence your choice of material. Now you know more about each option, you can pick the right one from the list of different materials.
FAQs
1. HOW THICK SHOULD SHED SIDING BE?
It depends on what qualities you’re looking for and the material you choose. Tongue and groove siding, for example, is made using a 3/4-inch thick board.
2. WHAT TYPE OF SIDING LASTS THE LONGEST?
Several factors determine how long siding on sheds will last. For example, is the shed subject to heavy sun exposure? Does the area where you live experience frequent storms and high winds? Are you going to paint, stain, power wash, or perform other types of cleaning?
Here are some average lifespans of the most popular siding materials for sheds:
Vinyl siding: 60+ years
Fiber-cement siding: 50+ years
Metal siding: up to 40 years
Wood siding: 20-40 years
3. WHAT IS THE CHEAPEST MOST DURABLE SHED SIDING?
Vinyl siding is considered the most economical material for a shed. It’s easy to work with, trim to size when fitting around windows and the door frame, plus it doesn’t need to be painted. It's also resistant to rot, weather, and insects.
Wood is another option if you can find some really cheap siding for your shed. Reclaimed wood is another option, for example, from a building that’s being demolished. People have even been known to use wood from pallets for shed siding.
4. CAN I USE PINE FOR SHED SIDING?
Yes, you can use pine for shed siding. It will do wonders to enhance the beauty and elegance of your shed. You can also paint or stain it to create an attractive finish. Pine also delivers immense value and durability.
5. WHAT IS THE MOST WEATHER-RESISTANT SIDING?
Vinyl is virtually indestructible under normal circumstances. It is weather- and insect-proof and fade-resistant. However, it does have a downside. It can melt, burn, or crack, and it might also make a rattling noise in high winds.
A relatively new alternative is plastic siding. It is much thicker than vinyl siding, which makes it more expensive. On the other hand, it has good weather resistance and is less prone to damage.
6. DOES SHED SIDING NEED TO BE PRESSURE TREATED?
If you decide that wood is the best option for your new shed, the next decision is whether to use pressure-treated wood or not. Pressure-treated wood lasts longer without rotting and resists insect damage. But there are occasions when untreated wood will work just as well for a shed. Let’s look at some examples.
The wood will be in direct contact with a source of moisture
You should use pressure-treated wood when there’s a possibility of direct contact between wood sheds and a source of moisture. For example, posts in contact with the ground, wall framing, any lumber touching concrete or masonry. If there’s a good chance that moisture will reach the wood, the shed plans should include pressure-treated wood. Shed siding panels will be exposed to rain.
The wood will come into contact with people and pets
Chemicals are used to pressure treat the wood, and it is these chemicals that resist the damaging effects of moisture and insects. Arsenic will have been used in all older pressure-treated lumber, while copper is more widely used in the newer pressure-treatment formulas.
If you, your family, or pets are going to touch the siding and then rub their eyes or eat some food, you could ingest something which could make you sick over time.
Larger sheds where pets and kids spend time regularly should be built with non-treated wood. A far better compromise is to use rot-resistant natural wood such as cedar for such sheds.
Add a sealant to increase safety
Applying an oil-based sealant is the best protective measure for sheds if you’re using pressure-treated wood siding for shed construction and are concerned about the risks