How much does a fence cost?
Typical US ranges from cost guides reviewed in 2025–2026, for professional installation per linear foot: chain link about $8 to $20, wood privacy about $15 to $35, vinyl privacy about $25 to $55, and aluminum about $20 to $55. A typical backyard fence of 100 to 200 feet therefore runs from a couple thousand dollars to well over $6,000. Doing it yourself commonly saves a large share, because labor is a big part of an installed fence. Prices vary 30–50% or more by region, season, terrain and contractor, and the published figures disagree widely, so treat the numbers on this page as planning estimates, not quotes.
The calculator above uses editable example prices. Replace them with written quotes from local fence companies and current prices from your lumber yard.
How the estimate works
Price per ft at your height = preset price × (0.5 + 0.5 × height ÷ reference height)
Pro total = run × installed price per ft + gates × gate price + removal + permit
DIY total = run × materials price per ft + gates × gate materials + tool rental + removal + permit
The preset prices are for 6 ft wood and vinyl privacy fences and 4 ft chain link and aluminum fences. For other heights between 3 and 8 ft the calculator assumes half the cost is fixed (posts, concrete, labor) and half grows with height. That is a rough rule, not a quote. Outside 3 to 8 ft it asks you to type your own prices per foot, and when you do, the height adjustment is switched off.
Worked example: 100 ft of 6 ft wood privacy fence with one gate
These are the calculator's defaults: wood privacy at $25 installed or $14 in DIY materials per foot, one 4 ft gate at $500 installed or $200 in DIY materials, $75 of tool rental and extras for DIY, and a $100 permit.
- Fence run: 100 − 4 = 96 ft.
- Pro fence: 96 × $25 = $2,400. Add the gate ($500) and permit ($100): $3,000, or $30 per linear foot overall.
- DIY materials: 96 × $14 = $1,344. Add the gate ($200), tool rental ($75) and permit ($100): $1,719, or $17.19 per linear foot overall.
- Difference: $3,000 − $1,719 = $1,281, before the value of your time.
Choosing a 6 ft vinyl fence with the same setup gives $4,248 installed versus $2,679 in DIY materials. A 150 ft wood fence (146 ft of run with one gate) comes to $4,250 installed versus $2,419 in DIY materials.
Fence cost ranges by material
| Material | Installed per ft: budget / typical / high | 100 ft before gates: budget / typical / high | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain link (4 ft) | $8 / $14 / $20 | $800 / $1,400 / $2,000 | Cheapest. Little privacy. Vinyl coating costs more than galvanized. |
| Wood privacy (6 ft) | $15 / $25 / $35 | $1,500 / $2,500 / $3,500 | Needs staining or sealing. Cedar and custom designs sit at the high end, and some guides go higher. |
| Vinyl privacy (6 ft) | $25 / $38 / $55 | $2,500 / $3,800 / $5,500 | Higher up front, little upkeep. |
| Aluminum (4 ft) | $20 / $35 / $55 | $2,000 / $3,500 / $5,500 | Decorative fence. A pool barrier must meet local pool-barrier code, which a standard 4 ft fence may not. Sources disagree a lot. |
Other published figures for the extras: published figures for a single gate range widely, from roughly $150 to $2,000 installed depending on material and size, with drive gates costing thousands. Removing an old fence is often quoted at about $3 to $5 per linear foot. Permit fees are often $30 to $200 but can run higher depending on the town.
What drives the cost
- Material. Chain link is cheapest, vinyl and aluminum cost the most up front, and wood is in the middle but needs upkeep.
- Height. Taller fences need more material, stronger posts and sometimes engineering.
- Terrain. Slopes, rock, roots and high water tables slow digging and raise labor costs.
- Gates. Each gate adds hardware, framing and a stronger post. Drive gates cost far more than walk gates.
- Removal and prep. Tearing out an old fence, clearing brush and marking the property line all add cost.
- Access. A yard with no truck access means carrying every post and bag of concrete by hand.
- Permits and rules. Your town or HOA may set height, style, setback and permit requirements.
DIY or hire a pro?
Wood and chain link fences are the most common DIY fences, and aluminum panels can be DIY-friendly too. The work is mostly digging post holes, setting posts plumb and in line, and fastening rails and pickets. It is physical, and crooked or shallow posts lean and fail early. Renting an auger saves hours but is not a gentle tool. Vinyl fencing needs careful layout and specific fittings, and a drive gate needs strong posts and a proper opener.
Before you build, confirm your property line (a survey is cheap compared with moving a fence), check local height and setback rules, any HOA requirements and whether a permit is needed, and call 811 to have underground utilities marked before you dig. Fences taller than your town's limit may need a variance or engineered posts. Hire a pro for long runs, steep slopes, tall privacy fences and anything involving retaining walls or drive gates.
How to save money on a fence
- Get at least three written quotes that list material, height, post spacing, concrete, gates, removal and permit separately.
- Choose the right height. Dropping from 6 ft to 5 ft, or using a shorter fence on the street side, can trim material.
- Reuse sound posts or panels where the old fence is in good shape, and haul away the old fence yourself.
- Keep the run straight and the gate count low. Every corner and gate adds posts and labor.
- Do the digging and post-setting yourself, then hire a crew to hang the panels, or the reverse.
- Buy lumber and hardware in bulk from a lumber yard, and ask about contractor or delivery pricing.
- Build in the off-season, when installers are less busy.
Where these numbers come from
The installed ranges above come from published consumer cost guides reviewed in 2025–2026 (including RemodelAI and Inch Calculator; NerdWallet covers only chain link and vinyl), which report installed prices per linear foot. The sources disagree, especially for aluminum and chain link, so the installed defaults sit in the overlapping middle of each range, rounded. The DIY preset prices, the gate and tool allowances and the height scaling are our own rough estimates: the DIY presets are roughly 50–65% of the installed price, informed by one published wood DIY materials figure of about $12 to $20 per foot. For exact counts of posts, rails, pickets and concrete bags, use the fence calculator, and for post-hole concrete the concrete calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 100-foot fence cost?
With the calculator's example prices, a 100 ft, 6 ft wood privacy fence with one 4 ft gate costs about $3,000 installed and about $1,719 in DIY materials, tool rental and permit. Published wood privacy ranges of roughly $15 to $35 per foot would put 96 ft of fence between about $1,440 and $3,360 before the gate.
How much does a 150-foot fence cost?
With the example wood privacy prices and one 4 ft gate, 150 ft costs about $4,250 installed or about $2,419 in DIY materials, tool rental and permit. Vinyl, aluminum, taller fences and sloped yards cost more. Use your own quotes in the override fields.
What is the cheapest type of fence?
Chain link is usually the cheapest, at roughly $8 to $20 per linear foot installed in published guides, but it gives almost no privacy. Wood privacy fences are the next step up, and vinyl and aluminum typically cost the most up front.
Is a vinyl fence worth the extra cost?
It depends on how long you will stay and how you feel about upkeep. Vinyl typically costs more than wood up front, but it does not need staining or painting. Wood costs less to install but needs sealing or staining and usually replacement sooner. Compare the long-run cost against your own plans.
How much does a fence gate cost?
Published figures for a single gate run from roughly $150 to $2,000 installed, depending on material, width and hardware, while drive gates and automatic openers cost thousands. Enter your own gate prices in the calculator.
How much does it cost to remove an old fence?
Published estimates are roughly $3 to $5 per linear foot, more for tall, concrete-set or hard-to-reach fences. Enter the length of old fence and your quoted removal price per foot. It is added to both the DIY and professional totals.
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