What a fence costs in 2026
Fences are priced by the linear foot installed, and the material sets most of it:
| Material | HomeGuide, installed per ft | Fixr, installed per ft | This calculator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood | $20 to $50 | $15 to $35 | $15 to $50 |
| Vinyl | $30 to $60 | $15 to $40 | $15 to $60 |
| Chain-link | $9 to $30 | $12.25 to $40 | $9 to $40 |
| Aluminum | $25 to $75 | $15 to $40 | $15 to $75 |
| Composite | $20 to $85 | $22 to $40 | $20 to $85 |
| Wrought iron | $50 to $85 | $50 to $85 |
Fixr puts the average fence at $4,500, most between $3,000 and $7,000; HomeGuide at $4,000 to $12,000 for 200 linear feet.
What moves the price
Height. A 6 ft privacy fence uses more material per foot than a 4 ft picket, and 8 ft panels need heavier posts set deeper. Ground. Slopes need stepped or racked panels, and rock or roots at the post holes slow every hole. The extras: HomeGuide puts removing an old fence at $10 to $20 per linear foot, a permit at $40 to $150 and a property survey at $200 to $1,200.
The post count uses 8 ft spacing, a common layout for wood privacy fences, plus one to finish the run. Gates and corners add posts.
Pricing a fence as a contractor
Take 150 ft of 6 ft wood privacy fence on flat ground:
| Line | How it's figured | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Posts, rails, pickets, concrete and hardware at $12 a foot | $1,800.00 |
| Labor | 3-person crew for 2 days, 48 hours at $45 an hour, fully burdened | $2,160.00 |
| Equipment | Auger rental | $150.00 |
| Cost | $4,110.00 | |
| Price at a 20% margin | $4,110 divided by 0.8 | $5,137.50, about $34 a foot |
That is inside the published $15 to $50 a foot for wood. Say who confirms the property line and whether the permit is included on the fence estimate template; those are the two lines fence disputes usually start from.
Questions about fence cost
How much does a fence cost per foot?+
HomeGuide puts installed fencing at $20 to $60 per linear foot on average; Fixr's ranges run from about $9 for chain-link to $40 for vinyl and composite. Wrought iron runs $50 to $85.
How much does a 150 ft fence cost?+
About $2,250 to $7,500 in wood at the published $15 to $50 a foot, before removing an old fence or pulling a permit. Chain-link costs less; vinyl and aluminum can cost more.
Do I need a survey before building a fence?+
Not always, but it settles where the property line is. HomeGuide puts a survey at $200 to $1,200, which is less than moving a fence built on a neighbor's land.
How this calculator works
The price range for the size of the job comes from the published guides below, from the lowest low to the highest high where they differ. Where your job lands inside that range is our method: each answer that makes the work harder or slower moves it toward the top, and each that makes it easier moves it down. Extras use each guide's published price for that item, and the likely price uses the middle of the extra's range.
Prices checked September 28, 2026.