How much does fence installation cost?
New fence installation costs $1,500 to $4,000 for most homeowners, with a national average near $2,550. Expect $1 to $45 per linear foot installed depending on material. Wood projects average about $2,700, chain link $1,900, vinyl $3,500 and brick or stone $4,600. A typical residential backyard perimeter is 150 to 170 linear feet.
National average
$2,550
Typical low
$1,500
Typical high
$4,000
Per linear foot
$1 – $45
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Estimated project cost
$136 – $816
Most homeowners pay around $476
Compare fence material
Cost by material
Installed pricing per linear foot.
| Option | Installed cost |
|---|---|
| Barbed wire | $1 – $6 |
| Electric / invisible | $1 – $6 |
| Woven wire | $2 – $4 |
| Metal chain link | $5 – $40 |
| Wood & privacy | $10 – $20 |
| Composite & Trex | $15 – $45 |
| Vinyl / PVC | $20 – $25 |
| Aluminum or steel | $20 – $30 |
| Wrought iron | $20 – $35 |
| Brick, stone or block | $30 – $60 |
Fence cost by length
Installed price ranges by total linear feet. A typical residential backyard perimeter is 150 to 170 linear feet.
| Linear feet | Cheaper (wire or electric) | Moderate (wood) | Premium (composite or vinyl) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ft | $1 – $6 | $10 – $20 | $25 – $45 |
| 8 ft | $10 – $50 | $100 – $200 | $200 – $400 |
| 100 ft | $100 – $600 | $1,000 – $2,000 | $2,500 – $4,500 |
| 150 ft | $150 – $1,000 | $1,500 – $3,000 | $3,500 – $7,000 |
| 300 ft | $300 – $1,800 | $3,000 – $6,000 | $7,500 – $13,500 |
Fence cost per acre
Enclosing acreage costs $1,000 to $38,000 per acre. Longer runs usually lower your effective per-foot price because pros buy material at volume.
| Acres | Cheaper (wire or electric) | Moderate (wood) | Premium (composite or vinyl) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter acre | $400 – $2,500 | $4,200 – $8,500 | $10,500 – $20,000 |
| Half acre | $600 – $3,500 | $6,000 – $12,000 | $15,000 – $27,000 |
| 1 acre | $1,000 – $5,000 | $8,000 – $17,000 | $21,000 – $38,000 |
| 2 acres | $1,200 – $7,000 | $12,000 – $23,500 | $30,000 – $53,000 |
| 5 acres | $2,000 – $11,000 | $19,000 – $37,500 | $47,000 – $84,000 |
| 10 acres | $2,500 – $16,000 | $26,500 – $52,800 | $66,000 – $120,000 |
| 20 acres | $4,000 – $22,000 | $38,000 – $75,000 | $95,000 – $170,000 |
| 40 acres | $5,500 – $32,000 | $53,000 – $106,000 | $132,000 – $240,000 |
Where the money goes
A typical project budget, broken down by line item.
- Materials55% · $1,403
- Labor35% · $893
- Prep, permits & disposal10% · $255
Cost by region
Labor markets move the number more than any other single factor.
Northeast metro (Boston, NYC)
$1,875 – $5,000
+25% vs. national average
West Coast metro (SF, Seattle, LA)
$1,800 – $4,800
+20% vs. national average
Mountain West (Denver, Salt Lake)
$1,575 – $4,200
+5% vs. national average
Midwest (Chicago, Minneapolis)
$1,500 – $4,000
At the national average
South & Southeast (Dallas, Atlanta, Tampa)
$1,380 – $3,680
-8% vs. national average
Rural nationwide
$1,275 – $3,400
-15% vs. national average
Common add-ons
Line items that show up on most quotes but rarely in the headline price.
Walk gate (per gate)
Driveway or double gate
Automatic gate opener
Old fence removal & haul-off
Per linear foot
Property survey
Building permit
Stain or seal wood fence
Per linear foot
Post-hole drilling in rock
Per post surcharge
DIY vs. hiring a pro
Hire a pro
$1,500 – $4,000
Do it yourself
$700 – $2,000
DIY saves the labor half of the job but a 150-foot fence is roughly 30 post holes and a full weekend for two people. Rocky soil, slopes and any fence over 6 feet are worth handing to a pro.
Ways to save
Practical levers that lower the bill without cutting quality.
- Get three bids: fence pricing spreads 20–40% between contractors in the same ZIP.
- Build in the off-season (late fall or winter) when crews are hungry for work.
- Share the cost with a neighbor on a shared property line — many split 50/50.
- Keep the run straight and simple; every corner, gate and grade change adds labor.
- Choose 4-foot picket instead of 6-foot privacy where privacy is not needed to cut roughly 15%.
- Do the demo and brush clearing yourself to save $3 to $5 per foot.
- Buy the material yourself only if the pro allows it — most get volume discounts you cannot match.
Questions to ask your contractor
- 01Is the quote per linear foot, and does it include gates, posts and concrete?
- 02Who pulls the permit and confirms the property line?
- 03What post depth and spacing do you use for our frost line?
- 04Is old fence removal and disposal included?
- 05What warranty covers leaning posts or warped boards?
Frequently asked questions
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Get fence quotesFence Installation cost by city
Local labor rates, permits and climate change the number. Pick your city for prices near you.
Fence Installation cost in Los Angeles, CA
$1,860 – $4,960
Fence Installation cost in San Diego, CA
$1,770 – $4,720
Fence Installation cost in San Jose, CA
$2,070 – $5,520
Fence Installation cost in San Francisco, CA
$2,175 – $5,800
Fence Installation cost in Oakland, CA
$1,980 – $5,280
Fence Installation cost in Sacramento, CA
$1,620 – $4,320
Fence Installation cost in Fresno, CA
$1,470 – $3,920
Fence Installation cost in Long Beach, CA
$1,830 – $4,880
Fence Installation cost in Anaheim, CA
$1,800 – $4,800
Fence Installation cost in Santa Ana, CA
$1,785 – $4,760
Fence Installation cost in Irvine, CA
$1,890 – $5,040
Fence Installation cost in Riverside, CA
$1,590 – $4,240
Fence Installation cost in San Bernardino, CA
$1,545 – $4,120
Fence Installation cost in Bakersfield, CA
$1,455 – $3,880
Fence Installation cost in Stockton, CA
$1,530 – $4,080
Fence Installation cost in Modesto, CA
$1,500 – $4,000
Fence Installation cost in Chula Vista, CA
$1,725 – $4,600
Fence Installation cost in Fremont, CA
$2,025 – $5,400
Fence Installation cost in Pasadena, CA
$1,920 – $5,120
Fence Installation cost in Glendale, CA
$1,875 – $5,000
Fence Installation cost in Santa Clarita, CA
$1,740 – $4,640
Fence Installation cost in Torrance, CA
$1,845 – $4,920
Fence Installation cost in Oxnard, CA
$1,710 – $4,560
Fence Installation cost in San Mateo, CA
$2,100 – $5,600