Cost guide · National edition
Fence Installation Cost in 2026
Fences are priced by the linear foot, which makes quotes easy to compare once you know your footage — and full of traps around gates, corners and post depth. Here is the 2026 cost picture for the fence most people actually build.
- $2,400
- low end — simple spec, DIY-friendly scope
- $4,800
- typical — most homeowners pay near this
- $9,500
- high end — premium materials, complex site
- $32
- per linear ft installed, typical wood privacy fence
Typical project used for these figures: 150 linear ft of 6 ft wood privacy fence with one walk gate, posts set in concrete. Ranges are 2026 US national averages for a professional installation unless stated.
What it costs, and why the range is wide
A new fence costs most homeowners between $2,400 and $9,500 in 2026. The typical project — 150 linear ft of 6 ft wood privacy fence at about $32 per linear ft — lands near $4,800. Per linear foot installed: wood privacy runs $20–$45, chain-link $12–$30, vinyl $30–$60, and aluminium $45–$75. Height matters almost as much as material: an 8 ft fence needs longer posts set deeper, longer pickets, and often a third rail, and typically costs 25–40% more than the same fence at 6 ft.
Two things routinely surprise people. First, gates are not fence: a framed walk gate with proper posts and hardware adds $200–$450 each, and a wide double gate for vehicle access $600–$1,200. Second, removal of the old fence is a real line item — $300–$700 for a typical run — and some quotes include it while others "forget" it until demo day.
Measure your runs before you shop. Fence quotes are built from linear feet, post count and gate count, and the Fence Calculator turns your measurements into exactly those numbers, including the concrete bags that many homeowners end up buying themselves for DIY builds.
Cost breakdown: where the money goes
Inside the typical $4,800 quote — 150 linear ft of 6 ft wood privacy fence, one gate:
| Line item | Materials | Labour | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Posts, concrete & gravelAbout 20 posts at 8 ft spacing plus corners and gate posts, set in concrete | $520 | $480 | $1,000 |
| RailsTwo rails per section, spanning post to post | $380 | $320 | $700 |
| Pickets6 ft dog-ear pickets including a waste and warp allowance | $950 | $750 | $1,700 |
| Walk gateOne 4 ft framed gate with hinges, latch and reinforced posts | $260 | $190 | $450 |
| Fasteners & post capsGalvanised or coated screws/nails, caps for exposed posts | $130 | $70 | $200 |
| Old fence removal & disposalPulling the old run, breaking out or cutting old posts, hauling | $50 | $450 | $500 |
| Layout, permits & cleanupLine marking, utility locate call, permit where required, site cleanup | $60 | $190 | $250 |
| Total for the typical fence150 linear ft at about $32 per linear ft installed | $2,350 | $2,450 | $4,800 |
Materials and labour are split the way contractors build a quote, so you can compare a real bid line by line. Figures are for the typical project above and will move with your spec — the next sections explain what moves them.
Cost by fence material
Per linear foot installed for a 6 ft fence with posts in concrete, 2026 national averages:
| Fence type | Per linear ft | 150 ft project | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain-link | $12–$30 | $1,800–$4,500 | Cheapest and fastest; privacy slats add cost and wind load |
| Wood privacy (pressure-treated) | $20–$45 | $3,000–$6,750 | The default suburban fence; budget for stain in year one or two |
| Cedar privacy | $30–$55 | $4,500–$8,250 | Better looking and more stable than treated pine; same maintenance cycle |
| Vinyl privacy | $30–$60 | $4,500–$9,000 | No staining, washes clean; brittle in deep cold, repairs are panel swaps |
| Aluminium (ornamental) | $45–$75 | $6,750–$11,250 | Pool and front-yard favourite; see-through, so privacy is not its job |
| Composite | $45–$70 | $6,750–$10,500 | Wood look without the warp; heavy panels need stout posts |
What a standard quote includes — and what it leaves out
Usually included
- Posts set in concrete at the spacing the quote states
- Rails, pickets or panels, and standard fasteners
- One standard walk gate where the quote lists it
- Utility locate (811 call) before digging
- Hauling of installation debris and packaging
Commonly billed as extras
- Removal and disposal of the existing fence, unless listed
- Stump, rock or root removal on the fence line
- Surveying the boundary — quotes assume the line you show them
- Staining, sealing or painting the new wood
- HOA application fees and fines for non-compliant fences
- Landscaping or grade work where the yard slopes across the run
DIY or hire a pro?
Fencing is one of the best DIY projects in this series: the materials for the typical fence are about $2,350, the skills are basic, and the work divides naturally into weekends. The genuinely hard parts are setting posts — a string line, a rented auger and concrete make the difference between straight and sad — and establishing the boundary line. Get the line wrong and you can be moving a finished fence at your expense after a neighbour's survey.
Practical splits that work: hire a post-setting crew or rent the auger and set posts yourself on day one, then hang rails and pickets at your own pace — pickets are the slow, easy, satisfying part. And whatever you do, call 811 (or your local utility locate service) before digging; it is free, it is often legally required, and a gas line does not care that you were saving money.
Honest difficulty rating: Low to moderate — post setting is the skill and effort bottleneck; pickets are beginner work.
What drives the cost up or down
- Linear footage and height. The two inputs every quote is built from. Going from 6 ft to 8 ft raises material quantities, post depth and labour together — budget 25–40% more.
- Gates. A walk gate is $200–$450 installed; a double drive gate $600–$1,200, because gates need bigger posts, bracing and real hardware to avoid sagging.
- Corners and terrain. Every corner needs a post and layout time. Slopes force a choice between racked panels (cleaner, dearer) and stepped sections (cheaper, small gaps under the low side).
- Ground conditions. Rock, dense roots or rubble fill turn a one-day dig into two. Contractors either price the risk in or charge it when they hit it — ask which.
- Removal of the old fence. Worth $300–$700 on a typical run, more if old posts are concreted in and must be broken out rather than cut at grade.
- Material and style. Board-on-board and shadowbox styles use 20–30% more pickets than a standard privacy run of the same length; horizontal fences use more and better lumber throughout.
How to keep the cost down
- Measure the runs and count the gates yourself, then get quotes against your numbers — the Fence Calculator produces the full materials list.
- Confirm the boundary line before anyone digs; a $400 survey is cheaper than relocating 150 ft of fence.
- Ask for the post depth and concrete spec in the quote — below frost line, in concrete, is the standard to compare on.
- Do the demolition yourself: pulling an old fence is unskilled work billed at skilled rates.
- Share a boundary fence? Talk to the neighbour first — cost-sharing on shared lines is common and halves your biggest line item.
- Choose screws over nails for pickets if the upgrade is offered cheaply; pickets stay put and boards are replaceable later.
Frequently asked questions
Most suburban backyards need 120–180 linear ft of fence. At $20–$45 per linear ft for wood privacy, that is $2,400–$8,100, with about $4,800 typical for 150 ft including one gate and old-fence removal. Vinyl runs roughly $1,000–$2,000 more at the same footage.
With standard 5.5 in pickets and a 1/4 in gap: about 209 pickets, or 220 with a 5% waste allowance. Butted tight with no gap it is about 219 before waste. The Fence Calculator works it out for your exact picket width, gap and gates.
For a privacy fence, yes — wind load on a solid 6 ft fence is substantial, and concrete-set posts below the frost line are what keep a fence straight through freeze-thaw cycles. Gravel-set posts are used in some regions and for agricultural fencing, but they need deeper holes and tamping discipline to match concrete.
Often not for a like-for-like replacement at the same height, but many cities require one for new fences, fences over 6 ft, or anything in a front yard or corner lot. HOAs frequently have their own approval and style rules on top. Checking first is free; moving a fence is not.
Posts are the lifespan: pressure-treated posts set in concrete last 20–30 years. Pickets last 15–25 years, less where sprinklers wet them daily. Stain or sealer every two to three years protects the wood you can see; nothing protects a post set shallow in wet soil.
Only if it is listed. Read the quote for the gate count and hardware description — a gate with strap hinges and a thumb latch is not the same product as one with self-closing hinges and a keyed lock, and the difference is a few hundred dollars per gate.
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