Cut out old solid wood over intake bays
Perforated vinyl or aluminum soffit cannot breathe if it is nailed straight over old solid 1960s plywood soffit. Make sure the crew cuts air slots into the old wood so cool air reaches the rafter baffles.
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Vented Soffit Panels · Aluminum Fascia Wrap · Sub-Fascia Rot · Gutter Re-HangReplacing soffit and fascia runs $9 to $28 per linear foot ($1,450 to $4,500 for 160 feet of eave), plus $3 to $6 per foot if seamless gutters must be detached and re-hung or rotted wood sub-fascia boards rebuilt. Price your eaves by material and story height, and see why attic intake vents stop winter ice dams.
Reviewed 25 October 2026 · Written by Mantu Kumar
See the illustrated inspection guide · Interactive system diagram
Sources: 2026 International Residential Code (IRC Section R806 Roof Ventilation), NRCA eave/drip-edge standards, and U.S. exterior siding/gutter contractor benchmarks.
2026 planning ranges
Diagram, part by part
The soffit and fascia replacement drawing above has 9 numbered parts, from Vinyl soffit + alum. fascia to Permit and disposal. Each card below frames one of them, and after you run the calculator it shows what that part adds to your estimate.
$9–$20/ft
Vinyl soffit under the eaves with aluminum coil wrapped over the fascia board is the most common and lowest-maintenance pairing. Perforated soffit panels let air into the attic.
What moves it: Eave and rake length, overhang depth and corners.
On the quote: Check that vented soffit is used where the attic needs intake air.
$12–$26/ft
All-aluminum vented soffit and heavier fascia resist sagging in hot climates and last longer than vinyl. Heavier gauge aluminum dents less from ladders and hail.
What moves it: Length, gauge and color.
On the quote: Ask for the aluminum gauge, such as .019 or .024 inch.
$15–$36/ft
Wood or fiber cement boards suit older homes and painted trim. They look crisp but need priming, caulking and repainting over time.
What moves it: Length, board size and painting.
On the quote: Ask whether priming and painting are included.
+$6–$14/ft
The sub-fascia is the wood board behind the trim that the gutters hang on. Rot here, usually from overflowing gutters, means replacing boards before new trim goes on.
What moves it: How much of the board is soft.
On the quote: Get a per-foot price for rotten sub-fascia before work starts.
+$3–$6/ft
Gutters must come down to replace fascia and go back up afterwards with new hangers. It is a separate line on most quotes.
What moves it: Gutter length and condition.
On the quote: Check whether gutters are reinstalled or replaced, and whether hangers are new.
Part of a good install
Drip edge laps over the fascia so water drips into the gutter, not behind it. It ties the roof edge to the new trim.
What moves it: Whether the roof edge is opened.
On the quote: Confirm drip edge is included if the roof edge is opened.
About 22% more
Second-story eaves need taller ladders, ladder standoffs or a lift, and every move takes longer. Rakes on gable ends are the hardest to reach.
What moves it: Height, pitch and ground access.
On the quote: Ask how upper eaves and rakes will be reached.
No extra cost when planned
Soffit vents are the intake half of attic ventilation. Insulation baffles keep the air path open from the soffit into the attic, so the ridge vent can work and ice dams are less likely.
What moves it: Attic ventilation design and insulation depth.
On the quote: Ask whether baffles are installed where insulation blocks the soffit.
$0–$250
Trim replacement rarely needs a permit, but some towns require one when structural wood is replaced. Old trim and boards must be hauled away.
What moves it: Your town and the amount of debris.
On the quote: Ask whether disposal is included.
Underneath the roof edge
Two common shortcuts ruin a soffit and fascia job: wrapping thin aluminum coil stock over spongy, water-rotted wood sub-fascia (so the gutter screws pull right out in the first snowstorm), and nailing perforated vinyl soffit directly over solid plywood without cutting ventilation openings.
Three parts of the same picture, each tied to a line on a soffit and fascia estimate. These close-ups are crops of the same AI-generated illustration.
Perforated vinyl or aluminum soffit cannot breathe if it is nailed straight over old solid 1960s plywood soffit. Make sure the crew cuts air slots into the old wood so cool air reaches the rafter baffles.
Aluminum fascia wrap is a thin protective skin—it has zero structural strength to hold a rain-filled gutter. Probe the wood fascia board at downspout corners and replace soft lumber ($6–$14/ft) before wrapping.
The top lip of the fascia wrap must tuck underneath the metal roof drip edge so water cannot wick behind the fascia board. Re-hang gutters using hidden screw-in hangers spaced every 24 inches.
Contractors price soffit and fascia by the linear foot of roof eave and gable rake (most 1,800 to 2,400 sq ft homes have 140 to 200 linear feet). Total installed rates depend on material, overhang width (12-inch vs 24-inch wide soffit), story height, and whether the underlying wood sub-fascia is sound:
| Material Combination | Combined Rate / Linear Ft | 160 Linear Ft Home Total | Durability & Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perforated Vinyl Soffit + Aluminum Fascia Wrap | $9 – $20 / linear ft | $1,440 – $3,200 | 25–30 yrs; most popular low-maintenance residential package |
| All-Aluminum Vented Soffit + .024" Fascia Wrap | $12 – $26 / linear ft | $1,920 – $4,160 | 30–40+ yrs; won't sag on wide 24" overhangs or crack in sub-zero cold |
| Primed Pine or Cedar Wood Soffit & Fascia | $15 – $32 / linear ft | $2,400 – $5,120 | 20–30 yrs; required by historic districts; needs painting every 5–7 yrs |
| Fiber-Cement (James Hardie) Soffit & Fascia | $18 – $36 / linear ft | $2,880 – $5,760 | 40–50 yrs; rot-proof, fire-resistant, impervious to woodpeckers & squirrels |
| Add-On: Rotted Wood Sub-Fascia Board Rebuild | +$6 – $14 / linear ft | +$960 – $2,240 (if full) | Replacing spongy 1×6 or 2×6 structural fascia lumber before wrapping |
| Add-On: Detach & Re-Hang Existing Gutters | +$3 – $6 / linear ft | +$480 – $960 | Required whenever gutters hang on the fascia board being replaced |
Because K-style gutters bolt directly through the fascia board into the rafter tails—and the top of the fascia tucks under the roof's metal drip edge—replacing soffit and fascia as a standalone project means paying a crew to set up ladders/pump jacks, take down the gutters, pry up the drip edge, and put the old gutters back up. Upgrading to new 5-inch or 6-inch seamless aluminum gutters at the same time eliminates the $480–$960 detach/reset fee.
Under IRC Section R806 (Roof Ventilation), a vented attic requires 1 square foot of Net Free Ventilating Area (NFA) for every 150 to 300 square feet of attic floor, split 50/50 between low intake vents at the soffits and high exhaust vents at the roof ridge.
| Line Item | 2026 Planning Range |
|---|---|
| Perforated vinyl soffit & aluminum fascia wrap (160 linear ft) | $1,440 – $3,200 |
| Detach & re-hang existing gutters (160 linear ft × $3–$6/ft) | $480 – $960 |
| Permit & disposal allowance | $0 – $250 |
| Planning total (assuming sound wood sub-fascia) | $1,920 – $4,410 |
If overflowing gutters have rotted 40 linear feet of the 1×6 wood sub-fascia board underneath, add $240 to $560 ($6–$14/ft) for new lumber.
The calculator's default soffit and fascia replacement job, repriced for each of its six regions. At the national average it runs $1,920 – $4,410; South / Lower Midwest is the lowest at $1,670 – $3,837, and West Coast metro is the highest at $2,496 – $5,733, a gap of about $1,361 at the midpoint.
| Region | Planning range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| National average | $1,920 – $4,410 | $3,165 |
| South / Lower Midwest | $1,670 – $3,837 | $2,754 |
| Mountain / Plains | $1,824 – $4,190 | $3,007 |
| Mid-Atlantic / Upper Midwest | $2,150 – $4,939 | $3,544 |
| Northeast metro | $2,419 – $5,557 | $3,988 |
| West Coast metro | $2,496 – $5,733 | $4,114 |
Every other input stays at its default and only “Soffit & fascia material” changes. The cheapest choice, Perforated vinyl soffit + aluminum fascia wrap, comes to $1,920 – $4,410; the most expensive, Fiber-cement (James Hardie) soffit & fascia, comes to $3,360 – $6,970.
| Choice | Planning range | Midpoint vs default |
|---|---|---|
| Perforated vinyl soffit + aluminum fascia wrap (default) | $1,920 – $4,410 | — |
| All-aluminum vented soffit & heavy .024-inch fascia | $2,400 – $5,370 | +$720 |
| Primed pine / cedar wood (painted) | $2,880 – $6,330 | +$1,440 |
| Fiber-cement (James Hardie) soffit & fascia | $3,360 – $6,970 | +$2,000 |
Every other input stays at its default and only “Underlying wood sub-fascia condition” changes. The cheapest choice, Wood sub-fascia is solid (wrap/clad only), comes to $1,920 – $4,410; the most expensive, Full wood sub-fascia lumber replacement (+$6–$12/ft all), comes to $2,880 – $6,330.
| Choice | Planning range | Midpoint vs default |
|---|---|---|
| Wood sub-fascia is solid (wrap/clad only) (default) | $1,920 – $4,410 | — |
| Replace ~25% rotted wood sub-fascia (+$8–$14/ft on rot) | $2,240 – $4,970 | +$440 |
| Full wood sub-fascia lumber replacement (+$6–$12/ft all) | $2,880 – $6,330 | +$1,440 |
Using the default job, a $1,000 deductible and a 25-year expected life. At 10 years old, about $1,266 is held back as depreciation; a replacement cost policy releases it after the work is finished, while an actual cash value policy keeps it.
| Age | Wear | First check | Held back |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 years | 8% | $1,912 | $253 |
| 5 years | 20% | $1,532 | $633 |
| 10 years | 40% | $899 | $1,266 |
| 15 years | 60% | $266 | $1,899 |
| 20 years | 80% | $0 | $2,532 |
| 30 years | 80% | $0 | $2,532 |
Soffit and fascia quotes are easiest to compare by the foot.
| Stage | Typical time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Measuring | 30 – 60 minutes | Eaves, rakes and rot check. |
| Ordering | 1 – 2 weeks | Colors and coil stock. |
| Installation | 1 – 3 days | Including gutter removal and reinstall. |
| Paint (wood) | +1 – 2 days | For wood or fiber cement. |
Check the attic vents after the job; blocked soffits are a common cause of ice dams and hot attics.
Trim costs depend on length and rot.
Water and pests show the problem.
Installed soffit and fascia replacement runs $9 to $20 per linear foot for perforated vinyl soffit paired with aluminum fascia wrap, $12 to $26 per linear foot for all-aluminum soffit and fascia, and $15 to $36 per linear foot for painted wood or James Hardie fiber-cement.
Yes. Because gutters are fastened directly across the face of the fascia board, contractors must take the gutters down to replace rotted fascia wood or wrap it in aluminum coil stock ($3 to $6/ft detach and reset).
Aluminum fascia wrapping bends custom-fitted .024-inch painted aluminum coil over your existing wood fascia board ($6 to $12/ft). If the wood board underneath is rotted, it must be replaced with new 1x6 or 2x6 lumber ($6 to $14/ft additional) before wrapping.
Vinyl soffit is affordable ($6 to $12/ft) and won't dent. Vented aluminum soffit ($8 to $16/ft) is stiffer, won't sag across wide 24-inch eaves, and won't become brittle in extreme cold.
Perforated soffit panels allow cold outdoor air to enter at the eaves, travel up through rafter baffles, and exit out the ridge vent—keeping the roof deck cold so snow doesn't melt and refreeze into ice dams.
No. Rot and gradual water seepage from clogged gutters are excluded as maintenance issues. Insurance covers soffit and fascia only when damaged by sudden wind, hail, fire, or falling limbs.
Not unless the quote says so. Shingle prices cover the field, underlayment and usually the edge metal. Rotted fascia and ventilated soffit are a separate line. Ask before you sign.
Wind that tears soffit off can be a covered cause. Wood that rotted over years is maintenance. An actual cash value policy depreciates the old material. Gutters are a different trade.
In most homes, yes. Vented soffit is the intake for attic ventilation and works with ridge or roof vents to move air through the attic. Solid soffit is used where there is no attic to ventilate or where the design does not need intake at the eave.
Fascia is the board along the lower edge of the roof that the gutters attach to. It closes off the rafter ends and is often wrapped in aluminum for low upkeep.
Soffit is the underside of the roof overhang. Vented soffit panels let air into the attic, which keeps the roof deck cooler and helps prevent ice dams.
Vinyl and aluminum soffits often last decades with little care. They may sag in very hot climates if poorly supported, which is why heavier products are used there.
Yes, if the board underneath is sound. Aluminum coil wrapped over solid fascia gives a low-maintenance finish; rotten boards must be replaced first.
Most roofs need soffit intake vents to work with ridge or roof vents. Fully solid soffits can starve the attic of air.
Yes. Gutters hang on the fascia, so soft fascia lets gutters sag or pull away, which is why the two are often replaced together.
The next questions after a soffit and fascia estimate usually land on one of these.
Direct planning topics covered in the calculator and guide above.