What Is Board and Batten Siding?

Board and batten siding is made from a combination of vertically oriented planks and narrow strips, which are also called battens. This makes this type of siding distinct from other options like lap siding, shake siding, and scalloped shingle siding, giving your home a unique look and increasing its curb appeal.

On average, homeowners spend $7,864 to $14,309 to outfit their home with this vertical siding style, but exact costs depend on what material the siding is made from and how large your home is. Keep reading to learn all about the benefits of board and batten style siding, what material options it comes in, and what it may cost you.

Key takeaways

• The average U.S. homeowner pays between $7,864 and $14,309 to install board and batten siding on their home’s exterior. 

• Board and batten is a siding style, not a material, and it can be made from various types of wood, fiber cement, and vinyl.

• Board-and-batten siding is made from vertical boards divided by thinner strips, giving it a unique and timeless aesthetic that looks great on a home’s exterior and interior. 

What does board and batten siding look like?

Image source: Porter Family Exteriors

Unlike horizontal or shingle siding, board-and-batten siding is made with an alternating pattern of wide boards and thin strips, called battens, installed vertically. The pattern serves a practical purpose since the battens lay over the seams between the boards, thereby making the home more energy efficient and giving it a solid barrier against adverse weather conditions. However, it also has a distinct aesthetic appeal. 

Since each piece is installed vertically, this siding style looks like barn siding or the siding used in Nordic architectural styles. It perfectly blends rustic and modern sensibilities for a timeless look. The vertical lines also help a home look more grand and stately by drawing the viewer’s eye upward. 

This style's material and siding color options are also incredibly diverse, so you can get board-and-batten siding that holds up well in just about any climate and has a lot of creative wiggle room.

These elements make board and batten a popular choice for homeowners who want to update their homes' appearance. 

Board and batten siding costs

The average homeowner spends $7,864 to $14,309 to install board-and-batten siding on their home. As we’ve mentioned, though, this style of siding is available in a diverse assortment of materials. Options like redwood and cedar will cost more than cost-effective and low-maintenance alternatives like vinyl or fiber cement siding (like Hardie Board) in the board-and-batten style. 

Here’s a quick breakdown of the costs of installing different siding materials.

Board and batten siding installation costs by material

Siding material	Average installation price range (1,500 square feet)
Wood	$10,783–$19,618
Vinyl	$7,456–$13,566
Aluminum	$9,242–$16,814
Fiber cement	$5,485–$9,980

In addition to the costs of different materials, your installation prices for board and batten siding will also depend on the size of your home, where you live, and if you’re replacing old siding (as this will probably include around $500 to $1,200 in demolition costs).

All these factors make it hard—if not impossible—to predict precisely what your installation project will cost until you get a quote from a contractor who has seen your home. 

Where to use board and batten siding

Board and batten siding can be installed on an entire home’s exterior for a uniform look, but many homeowners like to mix and match the style with horizontal siding to give the home a varied aesthetic. 

For example, you can put lap siding on most of your home’s exterior but install board and batten siding on the gables to make them stand out. Alternatively, you could cover most of your home with board and batten siding but use stone or brick wainscoting around the bottom of your home. The number of ways you can combine siding styles like this is limitless.

You can even install board and batten siding inside your home! It can make an accent wall pop and give your home’s interior dramatic verticality.

This versatility means most homes could benefit from board and batten siding on the inside or the outside. 

Hire a contractor to install your board & batten siding

Board and batten is a stylish and durable siding option that can increase your home’s curb appeal and prolong its lifespan. And since the style is available in many different materials and colors, it allows for a lot of customization. Now that you know all there is to know about board and batten exterior siding, it’s time to hire a contractor who can install it for you. 

Board and batten siding FAQ

No, board and batten siding is generally not cheaper than standard vinyl siding. On average, installing board and batten siding costs most homeowners between $7,864 and $14,309, whereas vinyl siding typically costs $7,476 to $13,602. However, modern board and batten siding can be made from wood, engineered wood, metal, fiber cement, and even vinyl, and the exact costs will depend on the material used.

Yes, as long as it’s taken care of, board and batten siding can last longer than horizontal siding styles made from the same material. This type of siding's horizontal construction gives it a solid defensive barrier against rainwater, snowmelt, and pests. However, the longevity of board and batten siding greatly depends on its material.

There are only two significant downsides to board and batten siding: it isn’t very cheap, and the installation process can take longer than other siding types. On a related note, board and batten siding is more difficult to install than most horizontal siding types, so it’s a terrible idea to try installing the siding with your own two hands.