How Much Does Fence Installation Cost? [2024 Data] | Angi (2024)

Fence Installation Cost Factors

There are a few factors that will affect the total cost, including the length of the fence, the fence height, the type of fence you want, and more. You could spend as little as $400 on a small DIY job or as much as $13,700 on a large, high-end fence. Here’s how that breaks down.

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Fence Size

The cost to install a fence can vary based on the amount of material used, which is, in large part, determined by the size of your fence. Longer fences will naturally cost more due to higher material costs and labor costs to install them.

Common prices for a residential backyard fence by linear foot include:

• 100 linear feet: $2,300

• 150 linear feet: $3,600

• 300 linear feet: $6,900

This all comes out to an average cost per linear foot for fence installation of between $6 and $50, depending on the material, with an average per-linear-foot cost of $23.

The table below includes some average pricing for a fence based on your land’s square footage. Keep in mind that these numbers can vary based on the layout and topography of your property.

Type of Fence

The type of fence you choose is another important factor affecting cost. For instance, if you want to block the view of your yard entirely, a privacy fence costs around $35 per linear foot. No matter the type of fence you choose, a privacy fence will always require more material to provide a barrier, so the cost will be higher. Shorter decorative fences will likely be more affordable.

Materials

There are many fencing materials you can choose from, including the following popular options:

• Wood

• Iron

• Aluminum

• PVC

• Chain-link

The costs vary wildly among the different materials, with chain-link fences tending to be the most affordable, followed by wood, iron, PVC, and then aluminum. The pricing of each material varies based on the design of the fence, though, so your total will depend on your front yard fence idea.

Beyond the fencing material itself, you’ll need to pay for additional components required for the build. These items include:

• Concrete for post bases: $0.30 per pound

• Post caps: $30–$150 per cap

• Gates: $275–$2,000

If you’re having a professional install your fence for you, these costs should all be included in your total.

Labor

As with any project, you’ll need to pay for the labor to get the job done, which will usually account for about 50% of your total project costs. On average, labor costs for fence installation will total around $1,600.

Who you hire to build a fence might charge more for heavy fencing, like wrought iron, while charging less for lighter fencing that’s easier to cut and work with, like PVC. Additionally, labor will vary quite a lot if you need things like stump or tree removal or land leveling before your experts get started on the actual installation process.

Labor costs can go up if you have particularly problematic soil or you need additional services, like removal of your old fence.

Permits

Permit requirements vary by city and local laws, but you’ll almost always need a permit to put up a fence, especially if it’s going to be located near your property lines. Fencing permits won’t add much to your total, as they cost between $20 and $60, on average.

Again, your fence installation company will usually include the cost of the permit and filing fees in your estimate, but you’ll have to budget for this separately if you’re installing your fence yourself.

Gates and Other Features

Gates are considered a specialty feature because they require additional work and materials. While some gates won't cost more than $150, you could pay $400 to $1,200 per side gate, depending on the material, or a few thousand dollars for automatic driveway gates.

Residential Land vs. Commercial

Because most residential fences are often a form of privacy fence, these fences use more solid materials that tend to cost more, like full PVC panels as opposed to a split rail fence or a chain-link fence for security purposes.

Commercial properties tend to prioritize security with a chain-link fence with upgraded security wire at the top, which can help keep costs down. This price difference is particularly apparent when you consider the more expensive and ornate fences for residential properties, like PVC or aluminum. While aluminum fencing costs more, it looks much more inviting than chain-link.

Location

Fence installation companies base their rates on the local market—and their competitors. Regions with a higher cost of living, such as populated cities and suburbs, will likely mean your local fence contractor will charge more for their labor and fence materials.

Similarly, some homeowners associations (HOAs) require that you only install fences made of certain materials, such as aluminum or vinyl. If you live in an area with multiple HOAs, you may pay more for those fencing materials due to high demand.

Removing an Existing Fence

If you’re replacing a fence rather than installing a new one, you’ll need to remove the old one before you can begin your installation. Fence removal costs $3 to $5 per linear, with most spending $450 to $750 to remove 150 feet of fencing. You might also need to pay for dumping fees unless you can recycle or scrap the material.

Land Leveling

Installing a fence on a slope is more costly and time-consuming, either because the land needs leveling or because your fence installer needs to manipulate the fence materials to align with the slope and still secure your yard. In some cases, you may only be able to install your fence if you pay for leveling.

Most homeowners spend $1,000 to $3,200 to regrade their lawn prior to fence installation.

Tree and Stump Removal

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You’ll need to remove trees and roots that interfere with your fence installation. The average cost to remove a tree is $750, though it will cost as little as $200 to remove a short tree and as much as $2,000 to remove a tree taller than 80 feet.

If you’re dealing with a stump instead of a full-on tree, expect to spend $100 to $150 on your first stump removal, plus $50 per additional stump.

Fences require posts every 6 to 10 feet, so your installer may need to cut out roots that fall where the posts should go. This can cost around $50 per instance.

Landscaping

Some people choose to include fence installation in a larger landscaping remodel. Though most spend somewhere between $1,300 and $5,900 per landscaping project, it depends on the exact job. Some common tasks include the following:

• Sod installation: $1–$3 per square foot

• Border plants: $2–$50 per plant

• Mulching: $30–$120 per cubic yard

• Topsoil installation: $12–$30 per cubic yard

• Paver installation: $10–$30 per square foot

• Matching deck rails to fencing: $10–$50 per linear foot

Working Around Underground Utilities

If you need to work around underground utilities, expect your costs to increase.

Underground utilities can pose a problem for any project that requires digging, although standard lines should be deep enough that they aren’t an issue for regular installation. Still, hitting a power line or gas line can be a serious hazard. Have your contractor check for utilities or call Dig Safe before you begin.

Painting and Staining

Painting or staining a fence costs $3.50 to $13 per linear foot for a professional job, with most homeowners spending $750 to $4,250 per project. However, this is also a popular DIY project—particularly if you’re dealing with a wooden fence, which usually is the most affordable and straightforward to paint. In that case, you’ll just have to spend on materials.

Fence Installation Cost by Material

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There is an entire catalog of different fencing materials you can choose for your property, from wood to vinyl to metal. It gets more specific from there—you can choose wood with metal reinforcing, for example, or even pick a specific type of metal or wood.

The table below includes some average price ranges for different fencing materials, plus some options you can consider for each material.

Installing a Fence Yourself vs. Hiring a Pro

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Labor is one of the most expensive parts of fence installation, so you can often save thousands by doing the job yourself, especially if you plan to DIY a temporary fence. On average, you can save around $1,700 on the labor if you choose to install your fence yourself. This will vary based on the fence material and add-ons you might want, but even the baseline savings make a DIY fence installation enticing.

When you install a fence yourself, you’ll need to rent equipment, obtain the correct permits, and buy the material. You'll also need the appropriate tools, including a post-hole digger, drill, circular saw, and shovel.

While you might save a substantial amount of money by doing the work yourself, your best bet is to hire a fencing professional. That way, you can rest assured that your fence construction is legal, up to code, looks neat and clean, and won’t need to be redone. Hire a fence company near you to make sure the job is done correctly the first time around.

Your local pro can likely complete your fence project in about 20 to 30 hours, saving you the hassle of sourcing permits, materials, and equipment.

8 Ways to Save Money on Installing a Fence

Fence installation can feel like a splurge, but there are ways you can tighten your budget. You just need to plan your project with your contractor carefully. Here are some tips to help you save.

1. Choose a Budget-Friendly Material

Some fence materials cost more than others—and picking the right one is a delicate balance of budget, aesthetics, and durability.

You’ll want to choose affordable materials, but you’ll need to keep maintenance in mind. For example, untreated pine is the least expensive wood, but it’s also the most prone to rot. Odds are, you’ll have to replace it much more quickly than pressure-treated wood, which is still cost-effective but also highly durable.

Don’t forget to factor in installation time. Some materials are easier to install than others, which can bring down labor costs, even if material costs are higher.

2. Keep It Simple

The more complex the layout and style of your fence, the more it will cost. If you need to keep a strict budget, consider skipping out on additional gates, upgraded finishes, ornate styles, special features, and added landscaping services. In other words, keep it as simple as possible.

Sometimes, you can save money by working with obstructions rather than removing them. For example, rather than weaving around trees, have it wrap around the whole line of trees—even if that means your fence line isn’t exactly where you prefer it.

3. Mind the Pickets

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The more pickets, the more material you use and the higher the cost. To tighten your budget, choose a fence style that requires fewer pickets. This is easier said than done for a privacy fence that requires full opacity, but you can increase the space between pickets if you’re building a decorative fence.

The style of the picket also affects costs. Pickets with decorative tips cost more, so choose a simple, rectangular picket for the most cost-effective option.

4. Minimize Posts Where Possible

Posts are one of the most expensive parts of a fence because it takes time to set them correctly in the ground. You can reduce costs by choosing a design with fewer posts. For example, a rectangular corner will cost less than creating a bump out with more angles.

That said, building code generally dictates post requirements. You never want to put your fence at risk of collapse, but you can stick to the minimum for safety, stability, and affordability.

5. Pick a Durable Finish

If you’re installing a wood fence, you’ll need to finish the wood to prevent rot and UV damage. Paint might look pretty, but it can be one of the least cost-effective finishes because of long-term maintenance costs. It shows wear—like chips and cracks—much more readily than a stain or weather-proof sealer, which allows the natural wood grain to shine through.

However, a fresh coat of paint can help you push off a fence replacement. It can hide minor imperfections and signs of age as long as the wood is still structurally sound.

6. Hunt for the Best Deal

Before you hire a fence contractor, take a look at the market. Most contractors charge around $50 per hour for labor, but prices vary. If a price seems too good to be true, it often is—and you won’t save money if you need to hire someone else to fix mistakes.

To get the biggest bang for your buck, interview at least three contractors and always check their references. States typically require a fence contractor to carry a general contractor’s license and general liability insurance, but they might also belong to a trade group like the American Fence Association.

7. Book During a Slow Season

Though you can’t dig into frozen ground, you can sometimes save money by booking your job during winter or late fall as long as the climate allows. Winter is a slower season for fencing contractors—so they’re much more likely to cut you a deal.

It may sound counterintuitive, but building a fence in the winter comes with a few benefits. If you’re building a wooden fence, a fall or winter installation gives your fence time to slowly and evenly dry rather than quickly drying under extreme heat and high UV rays. This can cause less warping or cracking. It’s also a time when most plants are dormant, so you won’t have to deal with foliage getting in your way.

8. Roll Up Your Sleeves

You can save on fence installation costs by doing some of the labor yourself—like painting or removing an old fence. For example, you’ll save up to $750 in labor costs by removing your old fence before your fence installation.

Remember, some tasks are difficult, especially if you’re dealing with a tall fence or heavier metal fence like wrought iron (which is why wrought iron fencing costs more). That said, most people have no problem demolishing lighter-weight fences like wood, wire, or chain link. Digging up the fence posts is often the most challenging part, but it will save you on those labor costs.

Dan Simms contributed to this piece.