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How much does fence installation cost?
Cost insights
$3,000 to $8,250- Most residential fences cost $20 to $55 per linear foot installed, depending on material.
- A standard 150 linear foot yard runs about $3,000 to $5,250 in wood privacy and $4,500 to $8,250 in vinyl.
- Chain link is the budget option at $12 to $25 per foot. Aluminum sits at the top at $30 to $60.
- Gates, slopes and old fence removal are the three usual surprises. Price them as separate lines.
Fences are priced by the linear foot, which makes quotes easy to compare once you know your footage. Measure the run, pick the material, and the table below puts you within a few hundred dollars of most quotes. The rest of the guide covers the lines that get added later if you do not ask first.
Fence cost calculator
Linear feet times the installed rate for your material. Gates are priced in the factors below.
Fence cost by length
Six foot privacy height where the material offers it, one walk gate included.
| Length | Wood privacy | Vinyl privacy | Chain link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 linear ft | $2,000 to $3,500 | $3,000 to $5,500 | $1,200 to $2,500 |
| 150 linear ft | $3,000 to $5,250 | $4,500 to $8,250 | $1,800 to $3,750 |
| 200 linear ft | $4,000 to $7,000 | $6,000 to $11,000 | $2,400 to $5,000 |
| 300 linear ft | $6,000 to $10,500 | $9,000 to $16,500 | $3,600 to $7,500 |
Cost by material
| Material | Cost per linear ft | Lasts | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood privacy | $20 to $35 | 15 to 20 years | Full |
| Vinyl privacy | $30 to $55 | 20 to 30 years | Full |
| Chain link | $12 to $25 | 15 to 20 years | None without slats |
| Aluminum | $30 to $60 | 20 years or more | None, open pickets |
What determines the price?
Height
Six feet is the privacy standard. Eight feet adds material and often a stricter permit conversation. Front yard fences are height-limited in most cities, commonly to four feet.
Gates
A walk gate runs $200 to $600 installed and a double drive gate $600 to $1,800. Gates are the first thing to sag and the first line to get priced clearly.
Removal and terrain
Old fence removal and haul-off adds $3 to $8 per foot when it is not included. Slopes need stepped or racked panels, and rocky soil slows every post hole.
Property lines and rules
A survey runs $300 to $600 and settles the only argument a fence cannot win later. HOA rules and city setbacks decide height, material and which side faces out in many neighborhoods.
Cost breakdown
| Item | Share of a typical job |
|---|---|
| Materials, panels and posts | About 45 to 55% |
| Labor | About 35 to 45% |
| Gates, removal and permits | About 10 to 15% |
DIY vs hiring a pro
DIY
A fence is a classic DIY project with two hard parts: straight lines and post depth. Renting an auger and a laser level for a weekend is money well spent. Set posts in concrete below the frost line.
Hiring a pro
Long runs, steep slopes, pool code fences and any line that touches a neighbor dispute belong with pros. Pool fences carry legal requirements that vary by city and are not a place to improvise.
Pool owners: most US cities require a four-sided pool barrier with self-closing, self-latching gates, separate from the yard fence rules. Check your city code before you design the run, not after the inspection fails.
Ways to reduce the cost
- Measure and price by the foot so quotes compare cleanly.
- Get the survey first if any line is even slightly uncertain.
- Price gates and removal as separate written lines.
- Consider wood posts with vinyl panels only if your installer has done the combination before.
How we get this cost data
Our ranges are built from published US material pricing, labor rate data including US Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, and homeowner project reports. We update this page when prices move, and we show the updated date at the top. Ranges are national planning numbers. Your city and project condition will move your quote inside, or occasionally outside, the range.
Questions homeowners ask
How long does fence installation take?
Two to four days for a typical yard once materials are on site, including post setting and cure time.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
Many cities require one above a set height, and almost all regulate front yards and corner lots. The check is quick and cheaper than a stop-work tag.
Which fence lasts longest for the money?
Vinyl privacy is hard to beat on cost per year. Chain link wins on pure installed price and loses on privacy and looks.