Installed price per linear foot and for the whole run
| Material | Low | Typical | High | 150 ft Project (Typical) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chain-link (galvanized) | $12 | $17 | $26 | $2,550 |
| Split rail | $10 | $15 | $22 | $2,250 |
| Wood picket (treated pine) | $14 | $21 | $30 | $3,150 |
| Wood privacy (treated pine) | $17 | $25 | $36 | $3,750 |
| Cedar privacy | $22 | $32 | $45 | $4,800 |
| Vinyl privacy | $22 | $32 | $48 | $4,800 |
| Composite | $25 | $38 | $55 | $5,700 |
| Aluminum ornamental | $30 | $42 | $60 | $6,300 |
| Wrought iron | $32 | $50 | $80 | $7,500 |
National 2025-26 installed ranges for a 6 ft fence on flat terrain: materials, posts set in concrete, labor, and cleanup. Gate lines, slopes, and old-fence removal add from the tables below.
| Item | Typical Cost Impact |
|---|---|
| Walk gate (single, ~4 ft) | $150 – $450 each |
| Double drive gate (10–12 ft) | $450 – $1,600 each |
| Automatic gate opener | +$1,800 – $3,500 |
| Old fence removal | +$2.50 – $5.00 per LF |
| 3 ft height (vs 6 ft) | −20% |
| 4 ft height | −10% |
| 5 ft height | −4% |
| 8 ft height | +35% |
| Gentle slope | +8% |
| Steep slope (stepped or racked) | +20% |
Slopes cost more because fence panels must rack (angle) or step down, and posts get taller on the downhill side. Some installers bill slope jobs by the panel rather than the foot.
Fences are priced by the linear foot, installed, with gates billed per unit. That makes them one of the easiest projects to estimate well: measure the line, pick the material, and add the extras.
Total = length × per-foot rate for your material × height factor × terrain factor + walk gates + drive gates + optional opener + optional removal ($2.50–$5.00 per linear foot). Per-foot rates are national installed ranges at a 6 ft height on flat ground; the height and terrain factors scale them from published pricing.
Walk your fence line with a measuring wheel or a long tape and add 5% for corners and gate gaps. If you don't know the length yet, use lot geometry: a square quarter-acre has about 417 LF of perimeter, a half-acre 590, a full acre 835, and the house usually closes one side (typical fenced backyards run 150 to 250 LF). Count gates honestly; each one needs two stout posts and more concrete than a run of panel.
150 ft of 6 ft pressure-treated privacy fence, flat lot, one walk gate: 150 × $17–$36 per LF gives $2,550 to $5,400 of fence plus a $150–$450 gate, or about $4,025 typical with $2,700 and $5,850 as the realistic bounds.
Now a bigger job: 300 ft of 6 ft vinyl on a gently sloping lot, two walk gates, one double drive gate, and hauling off the old chain-link: 300 × $22–$48 × 1.08 for the slope, plus $300–$900 for walk gates, $450–$1,600 for the drive gate, and $750–$1,500 for removal. That lands near $12,868 typical, ranging $8,628 to $19,552. Slope and gates moved this bid by a third.
Numbers are national planning ranges. Lumber and steel prices swing, and quotes vary 20% or more between installers, so get three.
Pressure-treated wood runs $17 to $36 per linear foot installed, with $25 typical. Cedar runs $22 to $45, vinyl $22 to $48, and composite $25 to $55. A typical 150 ft wood privacy fence with one walk gate lands near $4,000.
A square quarter-acre lot has about 417 linear feet of perimeter, a half-acre about 590, and a full acre about 835. Real fences run shorter because the house usually closes one side: typical fenced backyards measure 150 to 250 linear feet. Walk the line with a tape or measuring wheel, adding a few feet for slopes and corners.
Chain-link at $12 to $26 per linear foot installed for a 6 ft height, or split rail at $10 to $22. Chain-link is also the fastest to install: a crew can hang 100 to 200 ft a day. For privacy on a budget, pressure-treated pine pickets are the least expensive screen.
A single walk-through gate runs $150 to $450 installed. A double drive gate for vehicles runs $450 to $1,600, and an automatic opener adds $1,800 to $3,500. Gates are priced per unit, not per linear foot, and they need heftier posts set in more concrete.
A well-built fence typically returns about half its cost at resale, and often more in family neighborhoods and dog-owning buyer pools. Real estate appraisers value a fence by its condition and how standard it is for the block; an unusual fence material can subtract value.
Pressure-treated pine lasts 15 to 20 years with cleaning and sealing every 2 to 3 years; neglected, it shows rot in 10. Cedar naturally resists rot and lasts 20 to 30 years, vinyl 20 to 35, and composite 25 or more. Steel and aluminum outlast all of them.