CostGuideHQ

Exterior Trim Installation Cost: $1,000–$3,503 (Average $1,950) in 2026

Author: CostGuideHQ Editorial·✓ Fact-checked·Updated July 2026·6 min read·5 sources·US national averages, USD
Quick answerQuick answer: Most homeowners pay $1,000 to $3,503 to install exterior trim, averaging around $1,950 nationally, or $5 to $15 per linear foot depending on trim type. Material choice, home size, and architectural detail drive the spread from a $500 partial job to a $9,000 full-house project.
  • A typical exterior trim project costs $1,000 to $3,503, averaging about $1,950 nationally (Angi, HomeAdvisor).
  • Cellular PVC is the cheapest material for exterior trim at $0.50 to $5 per linear foot in materials, with fiber cement close behind at $0.70 to $5.50 (This Old House, HomeAdvisor).
  • Installed, fascia runs $6 to $12 per linear foot, window and door casing $5 to $15, and corner boards $6 to $14 (Angi).
  • Small partial-facade jobs run $600 to $2,250, while large homes with complex architectural features can reach $2,400 to $9,000 (Angi).

How much does exterior trim installation cost?

National average
$1,950
total project
Typical range
$500–$9,000
Most projects
Whole project
$1,000–$3,503
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Cost by material / type

TypeLowHigh
Fascia (installed, per linear ft)$6$12
Window & door casing (installed, per linear ft)$5$15
Corner boards (installed, per linear ft)$6$14
Decorative molding (installed, per linear ft)$10$25
Wood (material only, per linear ft)$1$10
Cellular PVC (material only, per linear ft)$1$5
Fiber cement/composite (material only, per linear ft)$1$6
Vinyl (material only, per linear ft)$1$30
Estimate your cost
—

Rough estimate only — get local quotes for exact pricing.

What affects the cost?

  • Material choice — cellular PVC runs cheapest for materials at $0.50-$5 per linear foot and fiber cement close behind at $0.70-$5.50, while wood runs $0.60-$10 and vinyl spans $0.80-$30 depending on profile (This Old House, HomeAdvisor)
  • Trim type — fascia installed runs $6-$12 per linear foot, window and door casing $5-$15, corner boards $6-$14, and decorative molding $10-$25, each with different cutting and fitting complexity (Angi)
  • Project size — a small home or partial-facade job (100-150 linear feet) runs $600-$2,250 versus a large home with complex features (400-600 linear feet) at $2,400-$9,000 (Angi)
  • Architectural complexity — bay windows, dormers, wraparound porches, and a higher count of windows, doors, and corners all add linear footage and labor (Angi)
  • Labor rates — exterior trim carpenters and siding pros charge $40-$90 per hour (Angi), while HomeAdvisor cites a similar $65-$105 per hour range
  • Old trim removal and disposal, typically $0.60-$1.20 per linear foot on top of new material and installation (HomeAdvisor)
  • Painting or staining unfinished trim after install, adding $1-$3 per linear foot or roughly $200-$2,000 for a full project (HomeAdvisor)
  • Permits — required in some areas or for historic homes, typically $50-$300 (Angi)

How much does exterior trim installation cost?

A typical whole-home exterior trim project runs $1,000 to $3,503, averaging around $1,950 nationally. Angi puts the average at $1,800 with a normal range of $1,000 to $4,500, while HomeAdvisor reports a close $2,103 average with a $919 to $3,503 typical range for exterior trim replacement — the two cluster tightly enough to treat as one consensus figure. Per linear foot, expect $6 to $15 depending on trim type and material (Angi). Project size matters most: a small home or partial-facade job covering 100 to 150 linear feet runs $600 to $2,250, a medium home with full trim (200 to 300 linear feet) runs $1,200 to $4,500, and a large home with complex architectural features (400 to 600 linear feet) can reach $2,400 to $9,000 (Angi). That’s why full-project quotes range so widely — footage and complexity, not just material, set the ceiling.

What affects the cost?

A handful of factors explain most of the gap between a $1,000 job and a $9,000 one:

  • Trim type. Installed, fascia runs $6 to $12 per linear foot, window and door casing $5 to $15, corner boards $6 to $14, and decorative molding $10 to $25 (Angi).
  • Material. Cellular PVC materials run $0.50 to $5 per linear foot, fiber cement $0.70 to $5.50, wood $0.60 to $10, and vinyl $0.80 to $30 (This Old House, HomeAdvisor).
  • Project size. More linear footage means a higher total — small partial-facade jobs (100–150 linear ft) cost far less than large, complex homes (400–600 linear ft) at $2,400 to $9,000 (Angi).
  • Architectural complexity. Bay windows, dormers, wraparound porches, and a higher count of windows, doors, and corners all add footage and labor time (Angi).
  • Labor rates. Exterior trim carpenters and siding pros charge $40 to $90 per hour (Angi), while HomeAdvisor cites a similar $65 to $105 per hour.
  • Old trim removal. Tearing out and hauling away old trim typically adds $0.60 to $1.20 per linear foot (HomeAdvisor).
  • Finishing. Painting or staining unfinished trim adds $1 to $3 per linear foot, or roughly $200 to $2,000 for a full project (HomeAdvisor).

PVC vs. wood vs. composite: which material costs less?

On paper, PVC and fiber-cement composite trim cost about the same as wood in raw materials — cellular PVC runs $0.50 to $5 per linear foot, fiber cement $0.70 to $5.50, and wood $0.60 to $10 (This Old House, HomeAdvisor). The difference shows up after installation, not at checkout. This Old House general contractor Tom Silva notes that cellular PVC is a reliable choice for exterior trim because it won’t rot, stands up well to the elements, and holds paint over time — properties that let it skip the recurring paint and caulk cycle wood trim needs. Vinyl trim has the widest published range, $0.80 to $30 per linear foot, because it spans everything from basic flat stock to detailed profile work (This Old House). For a home in a wet or coastal climate, or anywhere rot has been a recurring problem, the lower long-term maintenance of PVC or fiber cement tends to offset a similar or even slightly higher upfront material cost versus wood.

How to lower your exterior trim installation cost

  • Choose cellular PVC or fiber cement over premium wood for the trim itself — materials alone can run from $0.50 to $10 per linear foot depending on the pick (This Old House, HomeAdvisor).
  • Limit the project to what actually needs replacing. A partial-facade job (100–150 linear ft) runs $600 to $2,250, well under a full-house re-trim (Angi).
  • Skip decorative molding profiles where they aren’t essential — decorative work runs $10 to $25 per linear foot versus $5 to $15 for standard casing or corner boards (Angi).
  • Remove old trim yourself if it’s safe to do so, avoiding the $0.60 to $1.20 per linear foot removal and disposal fee (HomeAdvisor).
  • Get multiple quotes, since labor alone ranges from $40 to $105 per hour across sources (Angi, HomeAdvisor) and swings the total by hundreds of dollars on a mid-size home.

Prices vary by region, home size, and material, so treat the figures above as a planning budget. Confirm whether removal, painting, and permits are included in your quote before signing off on a final number.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to install exterior trim on an average house?
A typical whole-home project runs $1,000 to $3,503, averaging around $1,950 (Angi, HomeAdvisor). Angi's overall range spans $500 for a small partial-facade job up to $9,000 for a large home with complex architectural features.
What's the cheapest material for exterior trim?
Cellular PVC is the least expensive for materials alone at $0.50 to $5 per linear foot, with fiber cement close behind at $0.70 to $5.50 (This Old House, HomeAdvisor). Wood runs $0.60 to $10 and vinyl spans $0.80 to $30 depending on profile.
How much does window and door casing cost per linear foot?
Installed window and door casing runs $5 to $15 per linear foot, similar to corner boards at $6 to $14 and fascia at $6 to $12 (Angi).
Does PVC or wood cost less for exterior trim?
PVC costs less in materials, at $0.50 to $5 per linear foot versus $0.60 to $10 for wood (This Old House, HomeAdvisor). PVC also skips the repainting wood needs, which lowers its cost over time even though sourced prices are close on the low end.
How much does labor cost for exterior trim installation?
Exterior trim carpenters and siding pros charge $40 to $90 per hour (Angi), while HomeAdvisor cites a similar $65 to $105 per hour range depending on region and project complexity.
Does the price include removing old trim?
Usually not — it's typically billed separately. HomeAdvisor puts removal and disposal at $0.60 to $1.20 per linear foot on top of new material and installation.
Do I need a permit to replace exterior trim?
Sometimes, especially for historic homes or areas with strict building codes. Angi cites permit costs of $50 to $300 when one is required.
Why do exterior trim cost estimates vary so much between sources?
Whole-project averages cluster around $1,800 to $2,103 for a typical home (Angi, HomeAdvisor), but window-specific figures like Fixr's $176 average per window use a much smaller unit — casing for a couple of windows, not a full-house trim job — so the totals aren't directly comparable.

Sources

Figures synthesized and cross-checked across these sources (retrieved 2026-07-28):

  • Angi — The cost to install exterior trim ranges from $500 to $9,000, with an average project costing $1,800. Normal range for the U.S. is $1,000 to $4,500. Homeowners can expect to pay between $6 and $15 per linear foot. By project size: small home/partial facade (100-150 linear ft) $600-$2,250; medium home/full trim (200-300 linear ft) $1,200-$4,500; large home/complex features (400-600 linear ft) $2,400-$9,000. By trim type per linear foot: fascia $6-$12; soffit $4-$10; window/door casing $5-$15; corner boards $6-$14; decorative molding $10-$25. Labor $40-$90/hour. Permits $50-$300. Repairs run $100-$500. Annual maintenance $50-$300.
  • HomeAdvisor — Normal range $919-$3,503; average $2,103. Cost by trim width per linear foot: 0.5 inch $0.50-$1.50; 0.75 inch $1.50-$3; 1 inch $3-$6. Cost by material per linear foot: wood $0.60-$10; plastic $0.80-$15; metal $2-$20; fiber cement $0.70-$5.50; vinyl/PVC $2-$30. Cost by style per linear foot: colonial $1-$10; craftsperson $1-$10; flat stock $1-$8; ranch $2-$10; Victorian $3-$15; J channel $2-$8. Labor rate $65-$105/hour. Removal/disposal $0.60-$1.20 per linear foot. Painting $200-$2,000 total or $1-$3 per linear foot. Trim repair $100-$300 per window.
  • HomeAdvisor — General trim installation (interior and exterior): average cost $1,389; cost range $634-$2,263. Per linear foot by material: wood $1-$10; exotic wood $10-$45; MDF $1-$3.50; PVC $0.50-$5; polyurethane $2-$6; polystyrene/foam $1-$2; plaster $6-$15. Labor $75-$125 per hour. Painting/staining adds $1-$4 per linear foot.
  • Fixr — National average $176 per window; average range $164-$187; low end $36; high end $191. Per linear foot by material: wood $0.88-$6.86; MDF $1.13-$3.38; vinyl $2.10-$17.25; polyurethane $0.83-$14.67; composite $1.88-$8.67. Trim carpenter $66-$121/hour; handyman $37-$68/hour. Casing installation for an average window: $67-$85. Budget scenario (2 windows, basic pine): $36-$58. Mid-range (2 windows, colonial style): $164-$187. High-end (2 windows, oak architectural): $191-$232.
  • This Old House — Exterior window trim materials, average price per linear foot: vinyl $0.80-$30; fiber cement $0.70-$5.50; cellular PVC $0.50-$5; wood $1-$10. Interior trim materials per linear foot: hardwood $0.75-$5.50; reclaimed wood $1.25-$12; MDF $0.60-$7; polyurethane $2-$6. This Old House general contractor Tom Silva notes cellular PVC is a reliable choice for exterior trim because it won't rot, stands up well to the elements, and holds paint over time.

National average ($1,950) synthesizes two whole-project averages that land close together: Angi's $1,800 (normal range $1,000-$4,500, full range $500-$9,000) and HomeAdvisor's $2,103 (normal range $919-$3,503) for exterior trim replacement. range_low_usd/range_high_usd ($500-$9,000) use Angi's full low-to-high span, which covers everything from a small partial-facade trim job to a large home with complex architectural features. project_low_usd/project_high_usd ($1,000-$3,503) use the overlap between Angi's and HomeAdvisor's 'normal range' figures -- the band where a typical whole-home exterior trim project actually falls, excluding both sources' outlier extremes. Fixr's window-trim-installation page reports a much smaller unit -- $176 average per window, $36-$191 range -- which is a different scope (per-window casing, not a whole-home trim project) and is not used for the headline figures, but corroborates that window/door casing work alone runs far cheaper than a full-house trim job. HomeAdvisor's separate general 'install-trim' page (which covers interior and exterior trim together, primarily interior) reports a national average of $1,389 (range $634-$2,263) -- lower than the exterior-specific page because it's not exterior-only, so it's cited as cross-check context rather than a headline anchor. by_type blends two kinds of figures and labels each explicitly: Angi's trim-type rows (fascia, window/door casing, corner boards, decorative molding) are installed prices (materials + labor); HomeAdvisor's and This Old House's material rows (wood, cellular PVC, fiber cement, vinyl) are materials-only per linear foot, and agree closely where they overlap (fiber cement $0.70-$5.50 is identical on both). This guide covers new/replacement exterior trim installation -- fascia boards, window and door casing, corner boards -- as a whole-house or partial-facade project, distinct from soffit/fascia-specific replacement or repair work and from interior trim (baseboard, crown molding) covered in separate guides.