At a glance
- Most homeowners pay
- $1,900 – $4,750
- Common styles, installed
- $12 – $35 / ft
- Average backyard
- About 150 ft
- Walk gate, installed
- $250 – $850
Chain link and split rail cost least. Vinyl and aluminum cost more but need little upkeep. Call 811 before anyone digs post holes.
How much does a fence cost?
Most homeowners spend about $1,900 to $4,750 on a new fence, with national averages of roughly $3,200 to $4,500 depending on the source. Installed prices usually run $12 to $35 per linear foot for common styles, and up to $60 or more for tall, premium fences.
The biggest factors are the fence length, the material, the height, and the number of gates. Labor is roughly half of the total.
Fence cost by type
| Style | Usual height | Installed per linear ft | 150 ft fence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split rail | 4 ft | $8 – $30 | $1,200 – $4,500 |
| Chain link | 4 ft | $10 – $30 | $1,500 – $4,500 |
| Wood picket | 4 ft | $15 – $33 | $2,250 – $4,950 |
| Wood privacy | 6 ft | $18 – $45 | $2,700 – $6,750 |
| Aluminum | 4 ft | $20 – $55 | $3,000 – $8,250 |
| Composite | 6 ft | $20 – $50 | $3,000 – $7,500 |
| Vinyl privacy | 6 ft | $25 – $55 | $3,750 – $8,250 |
| Wrought iron | 5 ft | $25 – $65 | $3,750 – $9,750 |
Fence only. Gates, removal and permits are extra.
Fence cost by length
Typical installed prices, including one walk gate and a permit, at average prices:
| Length | 6 ft wood privacy | 6 ft vinyl privacy | 4 ft chain link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 ft | $2,250 | $2,650 | $1,650 |
| 100 ft | $3,800 | $4,650 | $2,650 |
| 150 ft | $5,400 | $6,650 | $3,650 |
| 200 ft | $6,950 | $8,650 | $4,650 |
| 300 ft | $10,100 | $12,650 | $6,650 |
Fence cost by height
Taller fences need longer posts, more material and more labor. Typical installed ranges across materials are about $10 to $36 per linear foot for a 4-foot fence and $25 to $60 for a 6-foot fence. Going to 8 feet adds roughly 25% to 35% over a standard-height fence, and many towns limit backyard fences to 6 feet without a variance.
How much fence do I need?
Walk the fence line with a measuring wheel or tape and add up each side. Leave out the house wall if the fence attaches to it, and subtract the width of any gates you're pricing separately. An average suburban lot of about 1/5 acre needs roughly 150 linear feet to enclose the backyard.
Posts and concrete
- Fence posts typically go every 6 to 8 feet, plus one at each end and extra posts at gates.
- A common rule is to bury about one-third of the post's length, which works out to about half the fence height, often 2 to 3 feet.
- With 10-inch-wide holes, each post takes about 2 bags of 80 lb concrete for a 4-foot fence and about 3 bags for a 6-foot fence. The calculator works this out for your fence.
What affects the cost
- Gates. A walk gate typically adds $250 to $850 installed. Driveway gates run about $1,000 to $6,000, more if automated.
- Removing an old fence. Tearing out and hauling away an existing fence usually costs about $3 to $10 per linear foot.
- Terrain. Slopes, rocky soil and tree roots slow post installation. Regrading can cost $1,000 or more.
- Permits and HOA rules. Permits usually cost about $30 to $200. HOAs often limit height, color and style.
- Location. Labor rates are higher in high cost-of-living areas.
Worked example
Replacing an old fence with 200 ft of 4-foot chain link, one walk gate and one driveway gate, at average prices:
- Chain link installed: 200 × $10 to $30 = $2,000 to $6,000.
- Walk gate: $250 to $850. Driveway gate: $1,000 to $6,000.
- Old fence removal: 200 × $3 to $10 = $600 to $2,000.
- Permit: $30 to $200.
- Total: about $3,900 to $15,050, with a typical price near $9,450. The driveway gate causes most of the spread, so price it carefully.
How to save on a new fence
- Get at least three quotes that list post size and spacing, post depth, materials, gates and haul-away.
- Split the cost with a neighbor on a shared property line; many neighbors will agree to share a fence that benefits both yards.
- Mix styles. Use privacy fencing only where you need it and cheaper chain link or split rail elsewhere.
- Book in the off-season when fence crews are less busy.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 150-foot fence cost?
A 150-foot, 6-foot wood privacy fence with one walk gate typically costs about $3,000 to $7,800 installed. The same length in 6-foot vinyl runs about $4,050 to $9,300, and 4-foot chain link about $1,800 to $5,550.
What is the cheapest type of fence?
Split rail and chain link are usually the cheapest, starting around $8 to $10 per linear foot installed. Wood picket is the cheapest option that also looks finished in a front yard.
Is vinyl or wood fence cheaper?
Wood is cheaper up front: a 6-foot wood privacy fence costs about $18 to $45 per linear foot versus $25 to $55 for vinyl. Vinyl usually lasts longer, about 20 to 30 years, and doesn't need staining.
How many fence posts and bags of concrete do I need?
Plan on one post about every 8 feet, plus one at the end and extra posts at each gate. A 150-foot fence needs about 21 posts. With 10-inch holes 3 feet deep for a 6-foot fence, each post takes about 3 bags of 80 lb concrete.
Do I need a permit to build a fence?
Many cities require one, especially for fences over a certain height or along the street. Permits usually cost about $30 to $200. Check your HOA rules too, and confirm your property line before building.
How long does a fence last?
Chain link typically lasts about 15 to 20 years, wood 10 to 25 years depending on the species and upkeep, vinyl 20 to 30 years, and aluminum up to 50 years.
How we calculate
Installed prices per linear foot blend data from HomeAdvisor, Fixr, Inch Calculator and NerdWallet (citing Angi). Gate, removal, permit, survey and regrading costs come from HomeAdvisor and Fixr. Lifespans come from HomeAdvisor and Long Fence; height effects follow HomeAdvisor's 4-foot, 6-foot and 8-foot ranges.
Some inputs are our own planning assumptions, stated so you can judge them: height scaling (a 6-foot fence costs about 1.5 times a 4-foot fence of the same style, and 8 feet about 30% more than 6 feet), lifespans for wrought iron (40 to 60 years) and composite (20 to 30 years), which sources describe as long-lasting without giving figures, post holes 10 inches wide and half the fence height deep (up to 3.5 ft) with 4×4 posts, and the cost-of-living setting moving prices by −10% or +15%. The "typical" price is the midpoint of the range.
This is an estimate, not a quote. Soil, slope, access and local labor rates vary widely. Always get written quotes and call 811 to have utility lines marked before anyone digs.
Sources
- HomeAdvisor: Fence installation cost
- Fixr: How much does it cost to install a fence? (2025)
- Inch Calculator: Cost to install a fence
- NerdWallet: Cost to install a fence (2025)
- Long Fence: Which fence material lasts the longest?