Metal Siding Calculator — Steel, Aluminum, Corrugated & Standing Seam

Standard corrugated metal uses about 1.5 screws per square foot — two screws per panel overlap seam, one per edge. Hurricane zones double this to 3 screws per sq ft. For standing seam with concealed clips, you need one clip every 12–16 inches along each panel side.

29 gauge is the lightest and most economical — fine for pole barns, utility sheds, and low-wind areas. 26 gauge is residential-grade and meets most building codes. 22–24 gauge standing seam is premium, rigid enough for vertical walls and high-wind hurricane zones.

Galvanized steel (G90 minimum) resists rust for 20–30 years, but scratches and cut edges are vulnerable. Aluminum never rusts but is more expensive. Premium metal siding uses PVDF or SMP paint systems that last 30+ years without fading or chalking.

Pole barn wall area = 2 × (width + length) × wall height. A 40′ × 60′ barn with 12′ walls needs 2 × 100 × 12 = 2,400 sq ft of siding. Add gables if present: gable area per end = base × peak ÷ 2. Use our pole barn toggle above for automatic calculation.

Yes — vertical metal siding installs with the same profiles but runs panels top-to-bottom instead of left-to-right. Coverage is identical per panel, but layout changes: vertical panels need more flashing at top/bottom edges, and you typically need 15% extra waste for cutting around windows horizontally.