Pricing guide
How Much Does a Fence Cost?
Fencing is priced per linear foot installed, driven mostly by the material and the height. Each material is costed below, plus what a typical yard comes to once gates and corners are counted in.
Founder, Smarfle · Published June 27, 2026
Average fence (installed)
$15 to $60 / linear ft
Per linear foot installed, by material. Fencing an average yard (about 150 ft) runs roughly $2,500 to $8,000.
Quick answer
A fence typically costs $15 to $60 per linear foot installed depending on material. Chain link is cheapest, then wood, vinyl, and aluminum. Fencing an average yard (about 150 linear feet) runs roughly $2,500 to $8,000.
Fencing price list
| Service | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Chain link (per ft) | $15 to $30 |
| Wood / privacy (per ft) | $20 to $45 |
| Vinyl (per ft) | $25 to $60 |
| Aluminum / metal (per ft) | $30 to $70 |
| Average yard (~150 ft) | $2,500 to $8,000 |
| Gate (each) | $150 to $600 |
Prices are typical U.S. ranges and vary by region, scope, and condition. Always get a written quote.
Cost by material (per linear foot, installed)
| Material | Per ft | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
| Chain link | $15 to $30 | 15 to 20 yrs |
| Wood (privacy) | $20 to $45 | 15 to 20 yrs |
| Vinyl | $25 to $60 | 20 to 30 yrs |
| Aluminum | $30 to $70 | 30+ yrs |
Cost by yard size (wood privacy fence)
| Perimeter | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| 100 linear ft | $2,000 to $4,500 |
| 150 linear ft | $3,000 to $6,750 |
| 200 linear ft | $4,000 to $9,000 |
| 300 linear ft | $6,000 to $13,500 |
What affects the cost
Material
Chain link is the most affordable; wood, vinyl, and aluminum climb from there. Material is the biggest driver of the per-foot price.
Height and style
A taller privacy fence uses more material and labor than a short picket or chain-link run.
Terrain and posts
Sloped ground, rocky soil, and the number of posts, corners, and gates all add labor.
Gates and removal
Each gate adds $150 to $600, and removing an old fence is a separate line item.
What you are actually paying for
The parts of a fencing quote that never appear as a line item, from the side of the business that has to cover them.
Material is bought by the run and the offcuts are yours
A ninety-seven foot fence is built from material sold in fixed lengths, so you pay for a hundred. Angles, slopes and short sections all increase that waste, which is why an irregular boundary costs more per foot than a straight one of the same total length.
Locates and lines happen before anyone digs
Utility locating is free but takes days, and if the boundary is genuinely unclear a survey is the honest answer. A contractor who schedules around that is protecting you from putting a fence on someone else's land, and the wait is part of why the job starts later than you expect.
Panels and stretching need two pairs of hands
Setting posts plumb, hanging panels square and tensioning wire are all two-person operations, so the labor floor is two wages for the duration. A quote that seems to assume one person working alone is usually a quote that will run long.
Where the money goes
Fence pricing is material plus labor per linear foot, with gates and old-fence removal added separately. Posts set in concrete, corners, and slopes raise labor. A simple flat-yard run is cheapest; a sloped lot with multiple gates costs more.
Should you DIY or hire a pro?
A short, flat chain-link or panel run is DIY-able if you can set posts in concrete and keep lines straight. Long runs, privacy fences, sloped lots, and anything near property lines are best left to a pro, both for the labor and to avoid boundary disputes.
How to save on fencing
- Split the cost of a boundary fence with your neighbor.
- Choose wood or chain link over vinyl and aluminum if the budget leads.
- Keep the line straight and the gates few. Angles create material waste you pay for and corners take time.
- Give every bidder the same footage, height and material so you are comparing the same fence.
- Get utility locates started early. The wait runs to days and it holds up the start, not the finish.
What the federal data shows
No federal wage series covers fence installers. Carpenters, at a $60,580 median for May 2025, is the closest published trade and a fair proxy for the labor line on a wood fence. Material choice moves the total more than labor does here, which is why the same run of fence varies so widely by picket.
Run a fencing business? Here is what to charge
If you run a fencing business, price per linear foot by material and height, count posts, corners, and gates carefully, and quote removal separately. Accurate measuring is where fencing margin is won or lost.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to install a fence?+
A fence typically runs $15 to $60 per linear foot installed depending on material. Fencing an average yard (about 150 ft) runs roughly $2,500 to $8,000. Chain link is cheapest; vinyl and aluminum cost more.
How much does a wood privacy fence cost?+
A wood privacy fence typically runs $20 to $45 per linear foot installed, so a 150-foot yard is roughly $3,000 to $6,750 depending on height, wood type, and terrain.
What is the cheapest type of fence?+
Chain link is the most affordable at about $15 to $30 per linear foot installed. Wood is the next step up and offers privacy that chain link does not.
Does fence cost include gates and removal?+
Usually not by default. Each gate adds $150 to $600, and removing an old fence is a separate line item. Confirm both are in the quote.
More pricing guides
Where these numbers come from
The dollar ranges on this page are our own editorial estimates, not survey data. We build them from the federal wage figures cited below, which set the labor floor for the trade, plus the typical job scopes we see in the field. Materials, permits, access and local demand move every one of them. Treat the ranges as a starting point for a conversation with a contractor, not as a quote.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Carpenters (May 2025)There is no federal wage series for fence installers specifically. Carpenters, at a $60,580 median, is the nearest published trade and the closest proxy for the labor rate on a wood fence.
Last reviewed September 2026.
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