Cost guides › Fence installation
United States
Fence installation cost per linear foot
Building 98 ft of 6 ft pressure-treated wood privacy fence with one walk gate typically costs $4,000 before sales tax, with most quotes between $3,100 and $5,200. A galvanized chain-link fence of the same length is about $2,550, and a vinyl privacy fence with heavier posts and caps runs around $6,050. Pick cedar, aluminum or composite in the calculator to price them, and add removal of an old fence, a drive gate, a slope or rocky ground.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $2,800 | $4,700 | $6,500 |
| Illinois | $2,700 | $4,500 | $6,350 |
| California | $2,750 | $4,400 | $6,400 |
| Massachusetts | $2,800 | $4,400 | $6,550 |
| Washington | $2,750 | $4,400 | $6,450 |
| Alaska | $2,800 | $4,350 | $6,500 |
| New York | $2,700 | $4,300 | $6,350 |
| Connecticut | $2,700 | $4,100 | $6,350 |
| Minnesota | $2,750 | $4,100 | $6,400 |
| New Jersey | $2,600 | $4,100 | $6,150 |
Show all regions
| Colorado | $2,700 | $4,050 | $6,350 |
| District of Columbia | $2,800 | $4,050 | $6,500 |
| Indiana | $2,500 | $4,050 | $6,000 |
| Maine | $2,700 | $4,050 | $6,350 |
| Maryland | $2,550 | $4,050 | $6,050 |
| Nevada | $2,550 | $4,050 | $6,000 |
| Oregon | $2,700 | $4,050 | $6,300 |
| Vermont | $2,700 | $4,050 | $6,350 |
| Michigan | $2,500 | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Missouri | $2,500 | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| New Hampshire | $2,700 | $4,000 | $6,300 |
| Ohio | $2,500 | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Rhode Island | $2,650 | $4,000 | $6,300 |
| Wisconsin | $2,600 | $4,000 | $6,150 |
| Arizona | $2,500 | $3,950 | $6,000 |
| Delaware | $2,500 | $3,950 | $5,950 |
| Montana | $2,700 | $3,950 | $6,300 |
| New Mexico | $2,500 | $3,950 | $5,950 |
| Pennsylvania | $2,550 | $3,950 | $6,050 |
| Iowa | $2,500 | $3,900 | $6,000 |
| Kansas | $2,500 | $3,900 | $6,000 |
| North Dakota | $2,550 | $3,900 | $6,100 |
| Wyoming | $2,500 | $3,900 | $5,950 |
| Virginia | $2,500 | $3,850 | $5,950 |
| Idaho | $2,550 | $3,750 | $6,100 |
| Kentucky | $2,450 | $3,750 | $5,850 |
| Utah | $2,550 | $3,750 | $6,050 |
| Florida | $2,450 | $3,700 | $5,850 |
| Georgia | $2,450 | $3,700 | $5,900 |
| Louisiana | $2,400 | $3,700 | $5,750 |
| Nebraska | $2,500 | $3,700 | $5,950 |
| South Carolina | $2,450 | $3,700 | $5,850 |
| Tennessee | $2,450 | $3,700 | $5,850 |
| Alabama | $2,400 | $3,650 | $5,800 |
| Arkansas | $2,400 | $3,650 | $5,800 |
| Mississippi | $2,300 | $3,650 | $5,600 |
| North Carolina | $2,450 | $3,650 | $5,900 |
| South Dakota | $2,400 | $3,650 | $5,800 |
| Texas | $2,450 | $3,650 | $5,850 |
| West Virginia | $2,300 | $3,650 | $5,650 |
| Oklahoma | $2,400 | $3,600 | $5,800 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Laying out the fence line from your survey pins and calling 811 to mark buried utilities
- Digging post holes with a power auger
- Setting every post in concrete to the depth your area needs
- 6 ft pressure-treated pine privacy pickets on 4x4 posts and 2x4 rails
- Galvanized nails or screws and hardware
- One 4 ft walk gate with hinges and a latch
- Cleaning up the dirt from the post holes and leftover material
What affects the cost
Material
Chain-link is the cheapest per foot, pressure-treated pine is the usual budget privacy fence, and cedar, vinyl, aluminum and composite cost progressively more. Vinyl and composite skip the staining that wood needs every few years.
Height
Most backyard privacy fences are 6 ft. Going to 8 ft adds roughly a quarter to a third to the price because of longer posts, deeper holes and more boards, and many towns cap backyard fences at 6 ft without a variance. A 3 to 4 ft front-yard fence costs noticeably less per foot.
Ground and frost depth
A slope means stepping or racking the panels, which takes longer. Rock, heavy clay and roots can call for a jackhammer or a rock auger. In cold states posts go below the frost line, which means longer posts and more concrete.
Gates
One walk gate is included. A double drive gate needs heavy posts and a sag-proof frame and costs several times as much as a walk gate; automatic openers and keypads cost extra again.
Tearing out the old fence
Removing and hauling away an old fence adds a few dollars per foot. Posts set in concrete take the most time, because the footings have to be dug out or broken up.
Length and layout
Short runs cost more per foot because setup, travel and the gate are spread over fewer feet. Many corners and end posts add material and labor too.
How to save
- Build to 6 ft rather than 8 ft unless you really need the height; it saves material and usually a permit question.
- Ask the neighbor whether they will share the cost of a fence on the shared line.
- Take down the old fence yourself if the posts are wood and not set in concrete.
- Book in late fall or winter, when fence crews are less busy, as long as the ground is not frozen.
Grants, tax and rules
Permits, HOA and property lines
Many cities require a permit for a new fence and set height limits, and HOAs often dictate style and color. Check both before you order, and have your property corners marked so the fence sits on your side of the line.
Sales tax
Our figures are before sales tax. Tax on materials varies by state, and labor is often not taxed, though the rules vary.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fence cost per linear foot?
A 6 ft pressure-treated wood privacy fence averages $4,000 for 98 ft with one gate. Divide by the length for your per-foot price, remembering the gate is in the total. Chain-link costs less, and vinyl, aluminum and composite cost more.
What is the cheapest fence to install?
Galvanized chain-link is the cheapest common fence, at about $2,550 for the same length with one gate. It gives no privacy, so for a privacy fence pressure-treated pine is the lowest-cost option.
Is vinyl fencing worth the extra cost over wood?
Vinyl costs more up front but never needs staining and does not rot. Over 20 years, a wood fence usually needs several stain coats and some board and post replacement, which narrows the gap.
How long does it take to install a fence?
Most residential fences of a hundred or so feet go in within two to four days. The concrete around the posts is left to set before rails and boards are hung, and slopes or rock can add a day or two.
Do I need a permit to build a fence?
Often yes, but it depends on your city. Height limits are common, especially for front yards and corner lots, and pool fences follow their own rules. Check with the city and your HOA before you sign.
Does removing an old fence cost extra?
Yes. Tearing out and hauling away an old fence adds a few dollars per foot, more when the posts are set in concrete. Select it in the calculator to add it to your estimate.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 20.4 · Labour: $1,748 · Materials: $2,237
Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates; market check: 30 m (98 ft) of 6 ft pressure-treated wood privacy fence + one walk gate. HomeGuide wood privacy $25-50/lf (Dec 2025), HomeGuide fence cost 100 lf $2,000-6,000 (Feb 2026), HomeAdvisor avg $3,276 / $23 per lf all materials (Jun 2026), HomeAdvisor gates $150-1,200.
Last reviewed September 26, 2026 · How we calculate costs · Editorial policy