Cedar Shake & Shingle Siding Calculator — Coverage, Waste & Cost
Split-face shake and sawn-face shingle are two completely different wood siding profiles — each with its own exposure, waste factor, bundle count, and finish requirements. Enter your wall area, pick your exposure, and the calculator below returns shake numbers.
For full wall-by-wall takeoff including gable formulas and opening deductions, run the main siding calculator, then come back here to convert those numbers into shake-specific bundles and stain cost. For step-by-step measuring instructions, see the square footage guide.
Exposure Decision Matrix — Pick Your Look, Get Your Bundle Count
Exposure controls how much of each shake shows, which directly controls how many bundles you order. Wider exposure = more coverage per bundle = fewer bundles to buy.
Shake @ 8″ exposure
Split-face shake, most common siding application. 8″ exposure is the standard for walls.
Shake @ 10″ exposure
Rustic look, larger shingles. Higher coverage = fewer bundles.
Shake @ 12″ exposure
Bold look on wide walls. Highest waste because large shake sizes mean more cutting.
Shake vs. Clapboard — Why Waste Factors Are Night & Day
Shake = irregular shapes = higher waste. Clapboard = uniform boards = lower waste.Photo: UnsplashWaste factor by profile
Shake waste is 2–3× vinyl waste because every split-face shake is unique. Installers cull knots, splits, and warps before placing each piece. Round up your bundle count generously — a shake job that runs short on a Saturday cannot pull a single piece from a random home improvement store.
Finish & Stain — The Maintenance Cost You Should Budget Up Front
Cedar shake and shingle must be stained or sealed every 2–7 years depending on climate and stain type. Budget for it up front or schedule the maintenance now — shake that is left unsealed turns gray, cups, and splits within 3–5 years.
Clear / Transparent
Lets natural grain show. Least UV protection. Fastest maintenance.
Semi-transparent
Slight color, visible grain. Balances protection and appearance. Most popular choice.
Solid stain / paint
Full coverage, hides grain. Longest maintenance interval. More labor-intensive to apply.
Staining shakes on the wall is harder than staining flat on sawhorses. Have your supplier pre-stain or prime the bundles, or rent a spray rig and stain them ground-side before the installer hangs them. Save 30–40% on stain labor.
Each bundle is graded separately. Mixing different bundles on the same wall creates visible color and texture mismatches. Assign each elevation to one or two bundles, and have your installer stage them together before hanging.
Caulk traps moisture between courses and causes rot. Shake sheds water through overlap alone. The only places that need sealing are around penetrations (window flashings, electrical outlets) and where shakes meet non-shake surfaces (metal valleys, masonry walls).
Compare Other Wood Siding Calculators
Hardie & Fiber Cement
Coverage, cost, and board count for James Hardie 7.25″/8.25″...
Vinyl Siding
Vinyl Double 4, 4.5, 5 coverage tables, shake siding, board-...
Wood Siding
Cedar lap, clapboard, shake, and shingle coverage, board foo...
Metal Siding
Corrugated, ribbed, standing seam, steel lap, and aluminum s...
Board & Batten
Board width and batten spacing tables, center exposure formu...
Garage & Shed Siding
Garage and shed siding takeoff: 5 standard size presets, gar...
Linear Feet Converter
Convert siding square footage to linear feet and board feet ...
Siding Cost
Siding cost calculator for 6 materials: vinyl, fiber cement,...
Takeoff & Waste
8-step siding takeoff with waste factors by material, nail c...
Coverage & Exposure
Coverage for all 10 siding profiles: D3–D6 vinyl, lap 4–8 in...
Repair or Replace
Siding repair cost calculator: patch prices for vinyl, cedar...
Square Conversion
Unit converter for siding: square feet to squares, cartons, ...
Other Materials
Coverage and cost for less-common siding: brick veneer at 35...
Log Siding
Log siding coverage by diameter and overlap — D-log, square ...
Stucco & Cement
Two-tab calculator: stucco 3-coat cement/lime/sand mix bags ...
Brick & Stone
Brick, thin brick, natural stone veneer, and faux stone cove...
Mobile Home
Vinyl siding calculator for single-wide and double-wide mobi...
T1-11 & Plywood
T1-11 grooved plywood, 4x8 OSB, and plywood siding coverage ...
ROI & Value
Return on investment calculator for vinyl, Hardie, wood, and...
Gable & Triangle
Dedicated calculator for triangular gable siding — slope hei...
Related Guides for Wood Siding
Calculate Siding Without Measuring — Photo Upload, Address & Rule of Thumb Estimates
Five ways to estimate siding coverage without pulling a tape measure — satellite images, address lookup, photo upload, blueprint trace, and the 1.2× living-area rule of thumb.
How to Calculate Square Footage for Siding — Step-by-Step Formula by Wall Type
Precision tutorial: rectangular wall formula, gable formula with roof-pitch rise conversion, irregular wall decomposition, opening deductions, unit conversion chain, and waste factor stacking.
Siding Squares, Cartons & Linear Feet — Unit Conversion Cheat Sheet
Complete unit conversion chain for siding: square feet to squares to cartons to pieces to linear feet — why the trade uses five different units and how to convert between any two.