How Much Does It Cost to Install a Fence?
A fence is one of those projects where the price seems simple until you start getting quotes. Installing a fence costs about $3,276 on average, with most jobs landing between $1,860 and $4,845 — but two neighbours with the same 150 feet of fence can pay wildly different amounts. The difference is the material: chain link costs $15 to $25 a foot, and wrought iron costs $60 to $100. Same length, four times the price.
Most of the cost is not the fence itself. About half of every quote is labour — digging post holes, setting concrete, and hanging panels straight — and the other half is materials. This guide gives you the real prices by material and length, the extras that hide in quotes, and a worked example for a typical backyard.
Fence Installation Prices by Material
The table below shows typical installed costs per linear foot, checked Nov 6, 2026 (sources: BuilderMuse's cost guide, Angi's 2026 fencing data, and Quotsey's per-foot pricing). Prices include materials and labour.
| Material | Typical cost per linear foot | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Chain link | $15–$25 | Budget, pets, large yards |
| Wood (pine) | $13–$30 | Privacy on a budget |
| Cedar | $25–$45 | Privacy, looks, durability |
| Vinyl | $30–$60 | Low maintenance, clean look |
| Aluminium | $35–$60 | Pool fences, decoration |
| Wrought iron | $60–$100 | Security, curb appeal |
Wood is the most common choice because it is the cheapest way to get a solid privacy fence — pine at $13 to $30 a foot, cedar at $25 to $45. Cedar costs more but resists rot and insects without chemical treatment, so it lasts years longer with less work. Vinyl costs more upfront but needs almost no maintenance: no painting, no staining, no rotting boards. Wrought iron is the most expensive and the most durable, and it is usually chosen for front yards where looks matter more than privacy.
One warning about the cheapest option: chain link is cheap per foot, but it does almost nothing for privacy. If the goal is keeping the neighbours out of sight, chain link plus privacy slats costs nearly as much as wood — and looks worse.
Prices by Length: What a Typical Yard Costs
Per-foot prices only make sense when you multiply them by your fence line. The table below shows totals for common lengths using mid-range materials, checked Nov 6, 2026 (sources: Angi and Quotsey).
| Fence length | Wood (pine) | Vinyl | Wrought iron | |---|---|---| | 100 feet | $1,300–$3,000 | $3,000–$6,000 | $6,000–$10,000 | | 150 feet | $1,950–$4,500 | $4,500–$9,000 | $9,000–$15,000 | | 200 feet | $2,600–$6,000 | $6,000–$12,000 | $12,000–$20,000 |
A typical suburban backyard needs about 150 feet of fencing, which is why the national average of $3,276 lands where it does — a 150-foot wood fence at mid-range prices. Gates add $150 to $400 each, and most yards need at least one. A double gate wide enough for a lawn mower or a trailer costs $300 to $800.
Slope adds cost too. A flat yard is the cheapest install; a sloped yard needs stepped panels or racked panels, more concrete, and more labour — often 10% to 25% more than the same fence on flat ground. Rocky soil is the other surprise: hitting rock while digging post holes can add $50 to $100 per hole.
Labour: About Half the Bill
Labour is roughly 50% of a fence quote, and it is the part homeowners understand least. A professional crew of two to three people installs 100 to 200 feet of wood fence in one to two days. The work is digging 2- to 3-foot post holes, setting posts in concrete, waiting for it to set, then hanging rails and pickets level and plumb.
Labour rates run $30 to $60 per hour per worker in most areas, and higher in expensive cities. A quote that seems high often reflects a crew that does the job properly — posts set 2 feet deep in concrete, rails levelled, pickets spaced evenly — rather than a crew that rushes. A fence with shallow posts leans within two years, and fixing it costs more than installing it right the first time.
DIY saves the labour half, but it is not free. A 150-foot wood fence needs about $1,000 to $2,000 in materials, plus a post-hole auger rental ($50 to $100 a day), concrete, and two full weekends of work for two people. Most homeowners who price it honestly find the saving is smaller than expected once tools and time are counted.
A good written quote lists materials, labour, gates, permit, and haul-away as separate lines, and it names a warranty — typically one to five years on workmanship. Ask whether the price includes removing the old fence and whether the crew cleans up the concrete and offcuts. A quote that leaves those out looks cheaper on paper and costs more on the day. Get two or three quotes before you decide — the spread between them is often $1,000 or more.
Tariffs and Material Prices
Steel and aluminium prices have risen 15% to 25% since 2025, driven by tariffs on imported metal. That hits chain link, aluminium, and wrought iron fences hardest — a chain link fence quoted at $20 a foot in 2024 can cost $25 a foot today. Wood prices have been steadier, though cedar has crept up as well.
What this means in practice: get quotes in writing and ask how long the price is good for. A quote valid for 30 days protects you from a mid-project price rise, and a contractor who will not put a price in writing is a warning sign. If you are flexible on timing, late autumn and winter are often cheaper — fencing crews have less work in the cold months and may discount 5% to 10% to keep their teams busy.
A Worked Example: 150 Feet of Cedar Privacy Fence
Take a typical backyard: 150 linear feet, flat ground, one single gate, cedar privacy fence 6 feet high.
- Materials (cedar panels, posts, rails, concrete): $3,000
- Labour (2 workers, 2 days): $2,500
- Single gate: $300
- Permit: $100
- Haul-away of the old fence: $200
Total: $6,100 — near the top of the cedar range, because cedar is a premium wood and the permit and haul-away are included. The same 150 feet in pine would cost about $3,500: $1,500 in materials, $1,500 in labour, and $500 for the gate, permit, and haul-away. The same length in vinyl would run about $6,500, and in wrought iron about $12,000.
The cedar fence should last 15 to 20 years with a stain every three to four years. The pine fence lasts 10 to 15 years. Spread over its life, the cedar costs about $350 a year and the pine about $280 — the gap is smaller than the upfront price suggests.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Not checking the property line. A fence built six inches onto the neighbour's land can be ordered torn down. Get a survey if the line is uncertain.
- Skipping the permit. Most cities require one for a fence over 6 feet, and some for any fence. An unpermitted fence can block a home sale.
- Choosing by per-foot price alone. A $13-a-foot wood fence and a $30-a-foot wood fence are different products — different wood, different post depth, different warranty.
- Forgetting the gate. Gates are the most-used part of a fence and the first to sag. Budget $150 to $400 per gate and ask how it is braced.
- Ignoring the neighbours. A shared fence line is a shared cost in many areas — talk first, build second.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install a fence?
About $3,276 on average, checked Nov 6, 2026, with most jobs between $1,860 and $4,845. Chain link costs $15 to $25 a foot; wood $13 to $45; vinyl $30 to $60; wrought iron $60 to $100.
How much does a 150-foot fence cost?
About $1,950 to $4,500 in wood, $4,500 to $9,000 in vinyl, and $9,000 to $15,000 in wrought iron, before gates and permits.
Do I need a permit to install a fence?
Usually yes for fences over 6 feet, and in many cities for any fence. Permits cost $50 to $300. Check your city rules before the crew arrives.
How long does fence installation take?
One to two days for 100 to 200 feet of wood fence with a professional crew. Iron and vinyl take longer, and sloped or rocky ground adds a day.
Is it cheaper to install a fence myself?
You save the labour, about half the bill — but materials, tool rental, and two weekends of work eat into the saving. Most homeowners save $1,000 to $2,000 on a 150-foot fence, not the full labour cost.
