Quick scenario presets
Add up every run of fence. A typical backyard perimeter is 120-200 ft.
~$250 each installed
~$650 each (double/drive)
Total Fence Installation Cost
$4,750.00
150 linear ft of 6 ft Wood Privacy
Job Summary
Cost Breakdown
12,800+ estimates calculated this month
Last updated: 2026-06-03
What Fence Installation Actually Costs
Most homeowners price a fence by the panel at the box store and forget that the real cost is in the posts, the concrete, and the labor to set a straight line. A standard 6 ft wood privacy fence runs $25 to $45 per linear foot installed, so a 150-foot backyard lands around $4,500 to $6,000. Chain link comes in cheaper, vinyl and aluminum cost more, and rough ground or tall fences push every number up.
The calculator above splits the job into material, labor, gates, and old-fence removal so you can see exactly where the money goes. Enter your fence length, pick a type and height, set the terrain, and you get a per-foot breakdown you can hand a client or use to sanity-check a quote. Try EstimationPro free to turn that estimate into a branded proposal and let it follow up with the homeowner automatically so you win more of the bids you already send.
Fence Installation Cost by Material
| Fence Type | Installed Cost/Linear Ft | 150 ft Project | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain Link | $12-$25 | $1,800-$3,750 | 15-20 years |
| Wood Picket | $20-$35 | $3,000-$5,250 | 15-20 years |
| Wood Privacy | $25-$45 | $3,750-$6,750 | 15-25 years |
| Vinyl / PVC | $30-$60 | $4,500-$9,000 | 25-30 years |
| Aluminum / Ornamental | $35-$70 | $5,250-$10,500 | 40+ years |
Installed figures include material plus labor at a 6 ft height on flat ground, before gates and removal. Source: EstimationPro pricing reference, 2026 material and labor data.
Worked Examples by Tier
Budget: 50 ft chain link, 4 ft, flat ground, no gates
- Material: 50 ft x $9 x 0.8 (4 ft) = $360
- Labor: 50 ft x $8 x 0.8 x 1.0 (flat) = $320
- Total: $680 (about $13.60/linear ft)
Standard: 150 ft wood privacy, 6 ft, flat ground, 1 walk gate
- Material: 150 ft x $18 x 1.0 (6 ft) = $2,700
- Labor: 150 ft x $12 x 1.0 x 1.0 (flat) = $1,800
- Gates: 1 walk gate x $250 = $250
- Total: $4,750 (about $31.67/linear ft)
Premium: 400 ft vinyl, 8 ft, sloped ground, 1 walk + 1 drive gate, old fence removed
- Material: 400 ft x $28 x 1.3 (8 ft) = $14,560
- Labor: 400 ft x $14 x 1.3 x 1.2 (sloped) = $8,736
- Gates: $250 walk + $650 drive = $900
- Removal: 400 ft x $3 = $1,200
- Total: $25,396 (about $63.49/linear ft)
What Drives the Price Up
- Material choice. This is the biggest lever. Going from chain link to aluminum can triple the per-foot cost. Match the material to how long the owner plans to stay and what they want it to do.
- Height. An 8 ft fence uses more material per foot and takes longer to set and brace than a 4 ft run. I scale both material and labor up about 30% for 8 ft.
- Terrain. Post holes are where fence labor lives. Flat ground is fast; a slope adds about 20% and rock or heavy roots can add 40% or more.
- Gates. Each walk gate adds about $250 and a drive gate about $650 with the heavier posts and hardware. They add up fast on a property with multiple access points.
- Old fence removal. Tearing out and hauling off the existing fence runs about $3 a foot, and that is before you set a single new post.
Where Fence Crews Lose Money on Bids
The fastest way to eat your margin is quoting a flat per-foot price and ignoring terrain, gates, and removal. I price labor off the actual ground conditions, list every gate as its own line, and write a separate line for tear-out so a buried old footing on dig day is a conversation, not a fight. Call 811 before you dig too. Hitting a gas or fiber line turns a profitable fence into a very bad week.
Need the material counts first? Our fence calculator breaks out posts, rails, pickets, and concrete by linear foot, and the concrete bag calculator tells you how many bags to set the posts. Staining a wood fence? Size the job with the deck stain calculator.
When you are ready to send the real number, EstimationPro builds the line-item estimate, turns it into a professional proposal, follows up with the homeowner automatically so the bid does not go cold, and invoices the job when it is done. Try EstimationPro free.
How to Use This Calculator
Measure the total fence length
Add up every run of fence in linear feet. Walk the property line with a wheel or tape and total it. A typical backyard perimeter lands between 120 and 200 linear feet.
Pick the fence type and height
Chain link is the budget option, wood privacy and picket are the standard, vinyl and aluminum run the high end. Taller fences cost more per foot because they use more material and take longer to set and brace.
Set the terrain and gates
Flat, clear ground installs fastest. Sloped, rocky, or root-bound ground adds labor for every post hole. Add your walk gates (about $250 each installed) and drive gates (about $650 each).
Add old fence removal if needed
Tearing out and hauling off an existing fence runs about $3 per linear foot. Check the box and the total updates instantly with a full material, labor, gate, and removal breakdown.
Fence Installation Cost Formula
Material Cost = Linear Feet x Material Rate/Ft x Height Multiplier
Labor Cost = Linear Feet x Labor Rate/Ft x Height Multiplier x Terrain Factor
Gates Cost = (Walk Gates x $250) + (Drive Gates x $650)
Removal Cost = Linear Feet x $3 (if removing old fence)
Total Cost = Material + Labor + Gates + RemovalWhere:
- Material Rate/Ft
- = $9 chain link, $14 picket, $18 wood privacy, $28 vinyl, $32 aluminum (6 ft baseline)
- Labor Rate/Ft
- = $8 chain link, $11 picket, $12 wood privacy, $14 vinyl, $16 aluminum (6 ft baseline)
- Height Multiplier
- = 0.8 at 4 ft, 1.0 at 6 ft, 1.3 at 8 ft
- Terrain Factor
- = 1.0 flat, 1.2 sloped, 1.4 rocky/obstructed (labor only)
- Gates
- = ~$250 per walk gate, ~$650 per drive/double gate, installed
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install a fence?
A typical 150-foot wood privacy fence at 6 ft runs about $4,500 to $6,000 installed, or roughly $30 to $40 per linear foot. Chain link is cheaper at $12 to $25 per foot, while vinyl and aluminum push $30 to $70 per foot. The biggest swings are material, height, terrain, and gates.
How much does fence installation cost per linear foot?
Installed cost per linear foot by material: chain link $12-$25, wood picket $20-$35, wood privacy $25-$45, vinyl $30-$60, and aluminum $35-$70. Per the EstimationPro pricing reference, fence labor alone runs $5 to $16 per foot depending on material and ground conditions.
How do contractors estimate a fence installation for a client?
I measure the total linear feet, pick a per-foot material and labor rate for the fence type, then scale both for height. Flat ground is my base labor rate; I add 20% for slopes and 40% for rock or roots because post holes are where the hours hide. Gates and old-fence removal are their own lines. Build the full bid fast with our fence calculator for the material takeoff, then price the posts with the concrete bag calculator.
Why is fence labor more expensive on a slope or in rocky ground?
Setting posts is the slow part of any fence. On flat, clear ground a crew moves fast. On a slope you have to step or rake the fence and keep the line true, and in rock or heavy roots every hole can take three times as long to dig. That is why I add a 20% labor factor for sloped ground and 40% for rocky or obstructed lots.
How much does a fence gate cost to install?
A standard walk gate (3 to 4 ft) runs about $250 installed with the hardware. A double or drive gate wide enough for a mower or vehicle runs about $650 because of the heavier posts, bracing, and drop rod. Gates are the one spot homeowners forget, so I always list them as their own line.
What does this fence cost estimate leave out?
This is a budget number for material, labor, gates, and optional removal. It does not include permits, utility locates (always call 811 before you dig), survey or property-line work, staining or sealing on a wood fence, or premium hardware. For a material-by-material quantity takeoff, use our fence calculator. Always walk the line and check for buried lines before you bid.
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