Fence Installation Cost (2026): Per Linear Foot Pricing by Material
By Fabio Freire, Founder & General Contractor at EZ-Estimates. Published 2026-07-17.
Fence Installation Cost (2026): Per Linear Foot Pricing by Material
Homeowner calls, wants a fence, asks for a ballpark over the phone. If you say the wrong number, you either lose the job or set yourself up to eat cost. Fence work sounds simple. It is not. Post depth, terrain, gate hardware, and material spikes have all moved in 2026, and if you are not tracking real numbers you are guessing.
Here is what fence installation actually costs in 2026, broken down by type, with the per-linear-foot ranges you can use tomorrow morning.
Fence Installation Cost Per Linear Foot (2026 Ranges)
Prices below are installed cost per linear foot including material, posts, concrete, and standard labor. Gates and complex terrain are add-ons.
| Fence Type |
Low End |
Mid Range |
High End |
| Chain Link (4-6 ft) |
$15/lft |
$22/lft |
$28/lft |
| Wood (Pressure Treated) |
$18/lft |
$28/lft |
$40/lft |
| Wood (Cedar) |
$28/lft |
$38/lft |
$55/lft |
| Vinyl (PVC) |
$25/lft |
$35/lft |
$45/lft |
| Aluminum (Ornamental) |
$30/lft |
$42/lft |
$60/lft |
| Wrought Iron |
$35/lft |
$50/lft |
$65/lft |
| Composite |
$40/lft |
$55/lft |
$75/lft |
| Split Rail |
$12/lft |
$18/lft |
$28/lft |
A typical 150 linear foot backyard privacy fence in mid-tier cedar runs $5,700 installed on the mid range. Same footprint in vinyl is $5,250 to $6,750. Chain link security perimeter is $3,300 to $4,200.
What Actually Drives Fence Cost
Post spacing and depth. Standard post spacing is 6 to 8 feet. Deeper posts cost more. In northern markets you are digging 42 to 48 inches minimum below frost line. In southern markets 24 to 30 inches. Every extra 12 inches of post depth adds 30 to 60 seconds of auger time per hole and roughly $8 to $15 in concrete.
Post material. PT 4x4 posts run $18 to $28 each. Cedar 4x4 posts are $32 to $50. Metal posts on vinyl fences are included in the panel system. Steel schedule 40 posts for chain link are $22 to $40 depending on gauge.
Gate hardware. A single walk gate with a self-closing hinge and latch runs $180 to $400 installed. A double drive gate for a driveway is $600 to $1,800 depending on width and material. Automated gate openers add $1,200 to $3,500.
Terrain. Flat lot with soft soil is baseline. Rocky ground, tree roots, or grade change over 12 inches per 8-foot section can add 20% to 40% labor. Sloped fences need stepped panels or racked panels. Both cost more.
Removal of existing fence. Tear-out is $3 to $8 per linear foot. Concrete post footings that need excavation are $8 to $15 per post to remove. Estimate this separately, never bundle.
Permit and locate. Utility locate is free (call 811). Permits vary $50 to $400 depending on jurisdiction. HOA approval is not something you pay for but can delay 2 to 4 weeks.
Per-Type Deep Dive
Wood Fence (PT and Cedar)
Wood is still the volume leader. Six-foot privacy panels are the standard residential ask.
PT breakdown per 8-foot section installed:
- Post (PT 4x4x8): $22
- Concrete (one 60lb bag): $8
- Rails (2x4 PT, 3 per section): $18
- Pickets (5/8 dog-ear, 16 per section): $32
- Fasteners and hardware: $6
- Labor (1.5 hrs at $60/hr burdened): $90
- Section subtotal: ~$176 (roughly $22/lft)
Cedar swap adds $15 to $25 per section for pickets and posts. Also add 10% to 15% waste for cedar (more knots, more culls).
Vinyl (PVC) Fence
Vinyl is coming up fast because homeowners want no maintenance. Installed cost is comparable to cedar but the panel system speeds install.
Per 8-foot section (6-foot privacy):
- Vinyl panel with rails: $180 to $260
- Steel-reinforced post: $45 to $75
- Concrete: $8
- Labor (1 hr at $60/hr burdened): $60
- Section subtotal: ~$293 to $403 (roughly $37 to $50/lft)
Vinyl is not repairable in sections. If a car hits it, you replace the whole panel. Warn the client.
Chain Link
Volume commercial and back-yard security. Uglier but bulletproof for pricing.
Per 10-foot section (5-foot):
- Terminal or line post + top rail: $28 to $45
- Chain link fabric: $18 to $32
- Tension bands, ties, hardware: $12
- Concrete: $8
- Labor (0.75 hrs at $55/hr burdened): $41
- Section subtotal: ~$107 to $138 (roughly $11 to $14/lft plus terminal posts)
Add $180 to $300 per terminal or corner post.
Wrought Iron and Aluminum Ornamental
Higher end. Pool code fences, front yards, decorative perimeters. Aluminum has largely replaced wrought iron for cost and rust reasons.
Per 6-foot section (4 to 5 ft height):
- Panel: $220 to $380
- Post: $60 to $110
- Concrete: $8
- Labor (1.25 hrs at $65/hr burdened): $81
- Section subtotal: ~$369 to $579 (roughly $61 to $96/lft)
Custom wrought iron with scrollwork runs $80 to $150 per lft installed.
Sample Fence Estimate: 180 lft Cedar Privacy Fence with One Walk Gate
Real line-item estimate for a suburban rear yard, mostly flat, moderate soil, one 4-foot walk gate.
| Line Item |
Quantity |
Unit Cost |
Total |
| Cedar 4x4x8 posts |
25 |
$42 |
$1,050 |
| Cedar 2x4x8 rails |
68 |
$12 |
$816 |
| Cedar 5/8 dog-ear pickets |
380 |
$3.20 |
$1,216 |
| Concrete (60 lb bags) |
50 |
$8.50 |
$425 |
| Post cap trim |
25 |
$6 |
$150 |
| Stainless steel fasteners |
Lot |
|
$180 |
| Walk gate hardware (self-close hinge, latch) |
1 |
$220 |
$220 |
| Gate frame lumber and pickets |
1 |
$110 |
$110 |
| Utility locate (free) |
|
|
$0 |
| Permit |
1 |
$180 |
$180 |
| Waste removal |
1 |
$200 |
$200 |
| Materials Subtotal |
|
|
$4,547 |
| Labor (2 guys x 3 days at $60/hr avg) |
48 hrs |
$60 |
$2,880 |
| Subtotal |
|
|
$7,427 |
| Overhead (12%) |
|
|
$891 |
| Profit (15%) |
|
|
$1,248 |
| Total Estimate |
|
|
$9,566 |
That works out to about $53/lft installed. Solidly mid-range for cedar.
Common Fence Estimating Mistakes
Underquoting post depth. In frost markets, a 30-inch hole will fail inspection and the fence will heave. Bid for 42 to 48 inches minimum and price the auger time honestly.
Missing the racking vs stepped decision. Sloped yards need one of the two. Racking panels cost 15% more. Stepped panels create gaps at the bottom that homeowners hate. Have the conversation before you quote.
Forgetting waste removal. Tear-out of old fence, concrete footings, and vegetation is often 5% to 10% of the job. Estimate it or eat it.
Not budgeting for utility line hits. Call 811 before every dig. It is free and mandatory. Hitting an unmarked line is a nightmare. Include a small contingency for private lines (irrigation, invisible dog fence, low-voltage lighting) that 811 does not mark.
Related Reading
Turn Fence Estimates Into a 60-Second Task
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