Fence installation cost per linear foot
| Fence type | Installed price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Chain link | $5–$30 | The lowest-priced option in these guides |
| Wood picket (about 4 ft) | $10–$45 | |
| Wood privacy (6 ft) | $13–$55 | One guide averages about $25 per foot |
| Vinyl | $15–$60 | Close to wood privacy in price |
| Aluminum | $20–$80 | Sources disagree widely on price |
| Wrought iron | $30–$100 | Highest top-end price in these guides |
These prices are installed totals per linear foot for a standard residential fence, with the labor share adjusted for your state. Gates, removing an old fence and permits are priced separately. Set your fence length in the calculator to see the full project total, which is simply the per-foot price times the length plus any extras you choose.
Which material fits your budget?
In these guides chain link is the lowest-priced material, wood privacy and vinyl are close to each other in the middle, and aluminum and wrought iron are the most expensive. The guides disagree most on aluminum and wrought iron, so our ranges for those are the widest. A quote that falls inside the range for your material is normal; one far outside it is worth questioning.
Extra costs to expect
| Item | Typical cost | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Walk-through gate | $150–$1,000 | Each gate; automated and driveway gates cost more |
| Old fence removal | $3–$5 per ft | Replacing an existing fence |
| Permit | $20–$200 | Many towns require one; amount varies |
Slopes, rocky soil, tree roots and extra height all add labor, and none of the guides we read puts a single dollar figure on them, so ask for these as separate lines. Check the property line, and your HOA's or town's rules on height and style, before you sign.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Is the price per foot installed, and what height and style does it assume?
- Are posts set in concrete, and how deep?
- Does the price include gates, hardware and old-fence removal?
- Who pulls the permit and confirms the property line?
- What does the warranty cover, and for how long?
Methodology and sources
We price each fence type as an installed price per linear foot, adjust the labor share for your state's building-trades wages, and price gates, removal and permits separately. Read how we estimate costs.
- Inch Calculator: how much does a fence cost — prices by material, removal, permits
- 247PRO: cost to build a fence — wood, vinyl and metal, gates, labor share
- Bob Vila: fence installation cost — per-foot prices, removal, labor
- HomeAdvisor: install a fence — gates, removal, permits
- BLS OEWS May 2025, State (SOC 47-2031, Carpenters) — state labor index, a building-trades proxy
What each source reports
Our estimate does not rely on any single page. This table lists each page we used and the figures it reports, so you can see where the ranges come from.
| Source | What it reports |
|---|---|
| Inch Calculator |
|
| Bob Vila |
|
| 247PRO |
|
| HomeAdvisor |
|
Common questions about fence installation costs
How much does fence installation cost?
A typical job (150 ft of wood privacy) comes to about $4,500 nationally, within a range of $1,950 to $8,250. Use the calculator above to adjust for your state, the options you choose and any extras.
How much does a wood privacy fence cost?
A 6 ft wood privacy fence runs about $13–$55 per linear foot installed. For 150 ft that comes to about $1,950–$8,250.
How much does a vinyl fence cost?
Vinyl runs about $15–$60 per linear foot installed, or about $2,250–$9,000 for 150 ft.
How much does a chain link fence cost?
Chain link runs about $5–$30 per linear foot installed, or about $750–$4,500 for 150 ft.
What does Home Depot charge for fence installation?
We do not track retailer-specific prices. A retailer’s quote is for the same kinds of fence as above, so compare it with the per-foot ranges and ask what is included, such as gates, old-fence removal and permits.
Where do these prices come from?
They come from 4 published cost pages from 4 publishers, last checked Oct 7, 2026. We report what those pages say and do not invent figures; the table above shows each source.
How does my state change the estimate?
The labor part of the price is scaled by the average wage for the relevant trade in your state, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Materials and equipment are not adjusted.
Why might a contractor's quote differ from this estimate?
A quote reflects your specific scope, access, local demand and what the contractor includes. Ask for line items rather than a single total so you can compare bids on the same basis.
All 4 sources behind these prices
Every figure in the calculator comes from one or more of these pages, with the number each one supports in the link text.