How much does a fence cost per linear foot?

Installed 2026 ranges per linear foot: chain link 6 ft = $20-$28, wood privacy 6 ft = $28-$50, vinyl 6 ft = $35-$60, aluminum 6 ft = $28-$55. These include materials and typical labor. Exclude gates, permits, and terrain surcharges.

How much does a 6 ft privacy fence cost?

A 6 ft wood privacy fence costs $28-$50 per linear foot installed in 2026. For 150 linear feet: approximately $4,200-$7,500. Vinyl 6 ft runs $35-$60/ft. Regional variation is significant: Texas and Southeast run 20-30% below the national average, Northeast and West Coast run 20-30% above.

Fence Cost Calculator – How Much Does a Fence Cost? (2026)

Fence length (linear feet)

Measure the total perimeter or run you plan to fence.

Fence height

Material type

Cost per linear foot ($)

Auto-filled from material and height. Edit to match your local quote.

Contingency (%)

Fence Cost Guide: Price Per Linear Foot (2026)

This calculator estimates fence project cost by multiplying total fence length by cost per linear foot, adjusted for a contingency allowance. The cost per foot auto-fills based on your material and height selection. Edit it to match your local contractor quote or supplier pricing.

Fence cost per linear foot by material and height (2026)

Material	4 ft height	6 ft height	8 ft height	Notes
Chain link	$15–$22/ft	$20–$28/ft	$28–$38/ft	Durable, low maintenance, no privacy
Wood privacy	$22–$35/ft	$28–$50/ft	$40–$65/ft	Most popular, natural look, needs maintenance
Vinyl	$28–$45/ft	$35–$60/ft	$50–$75/ft	Low maintenance, longer lifespan, higher upfront
Aluminum	$22–$38/ft	$28–$55/ft	$40–$68/ft	Decorative, rust-resistant, no privacy

Installed prices including typical labor. Excludes gates, permits, removal of existing fence, and terrain surcharges. Wood privacy fence highlighted as most commonly requested. Prices vary significantly by region.

Total fence cost by project length

Fence length	Chain link 6 ft	Wood privacy 6 ft	Vinyl 6 ft
100 linear ft	$2,000–$2,800	$2,800–$5,000	$3,500–$6,000
150 linear ft	$3,000–$4,200	$4,200–$7,500	$5,250–$9,000
200 linear ft	$4,000–$5,600	$5,600–$10,000	$7,000–$12,000
300 linear ft	$6,000–$8,400	$8,400–$15,000	$10,500–$18,000

Materials and typical installation labor only. Add $200–$600 per gate, $500–$2,000 for permits, and 15–25% for sloped terrain. 200 ft highlighted as a common full-yard perimeter size.

What affects fence cost

Labour is the largest variable. It typically accounts for 50–60% of the total installed price, which is why regional labour markets affect final quotes more than material prices do. Beyond that, terrain slope adds to post work, rocky soil requires augering ($50–$100 per post), removing an existing fence adds $3–$6 per linear foot, and gate count drives additional cost at $200–$600 each for standard gates. Always get a written quote that specifies exactly what is included.

Fence cost by region: 2026 US averages

Labour is the dominant cost in fence installation, which means regional labour markets drive significant variation in final quotes. The South and Midwest consistently come in below the national average, while the Northeast and West Coast run noticeably higher. Soil conditions also play a regional role: rocky ground in New England and parts of the Mountain West requires powered augering for post holes, adding $50–$100 per post compared to soft Southern soils where hand-digging is often sufficient.

Region	States	Wood 6 ft (per lin ft)	Vinyl 6 ft (per lin ft)	Chain link 6 ft (per lin ft)
Southeast	FL, GA, NC, SC, TN	$24–$44	$30–$54	$17–$25
South Central	TX, OK, AR, LA	$22–$42	$28–$52	$16–$24
Midwest	OH, MI, IL, IN, WI	$26–$47	$33–$57	$18–$26
Mid-Atlantic	PA, VA, MD, NJ	$30–$52	$38–$62	$20–$29
Mountain West	CO, AZ, NV, UT	$28–$50	$35–$60	$19–$28
Northeast	NY, MA, CT, RI	$34–$58	$42–$68	$22–$32
West Coast	CA, WA, OR	$36–$62	$45–$72	$24–$35

Installed per linear foot including labor, materials, and post setting. Excludes gates, permits, and terrain surcharges. South Central highlighted as lowest-cost region nationally.

Texas is one of the most competitive fencing markets in the country. A combination of high contractor density, long building seasons, and soft soil across much of the state keeps installation costs well below the national average. A 150 ft wood privacy fence that might cost $6,500–$8,700 installed in New York or Boston typically runs $3,300–$6,300 in Houston or Dallas. Florida and the Southeast broadly follow the same pattern, with competitive labour markets and easy digging conditions across most of the region.

The Northeast runs higher for several compounding reasons: shorter outdoor build seasons compress contractor availability into spring and summer, rocky glacial soil requires augering on many sites, and union labour applies in some areas. Getting quotes in March or October rather than May through July often produces better pricing in Northern markets as contractors have more schedule flexibility.

Fence installation cost by city (150 linear ft, wood privacy 6 ft)

City	Wood privacy 6 ft	Vinyl 6 ft	Chain link 6 ft
Houston, TX	$3,300–$6,300	$4,200–$7,800	$2,400–$3,600
Dallas, TX	$3,300–$6,600	$4,200–$8,100	$2,400–$3,700
Atlanta, GA	$3,600–$6,600	$4,500–$8,100	$2,550–$3,750
Charlotte, NC	$3,600–$6,300	$4,500–$7,800	$2,550–$3,600
Columbus, OH	$3,900–$7,050	$4,950–$8,550	$2,700–$3,900
Phoenix, AZ	$4,200–$7,500	$5,250–$9,000	$2,850–$4,200
Chicago, IL	$4,500–$7,800	$5,700–$9,600	$3,000–$4,500
Philadelphia, PA	$4,500–$7,500	$5,700–$9,300	$3,000–$4,350
New York, NY	$5,100–$8,700	$6,300–$10,200	$3,300–$4,800
Los Angeles, CA	$5,400–$9,300	$6,750–$10,800	$3,600–$5,250

Based on 150 linear feet at typical regional contractor rates. Columbus, OH shown as national mid-market reference. Excludes gates, permits, and terrain surcharges. Get local quotes to confirm pricing in your area.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fence cost depends on material, height, and length. Typical 2026 installed costs: chain link $15–$30/ft, wood privacy $25–$55/ft, vinyl $35–$65/ft, aluminum $25–$55/ft. A 150 ft wood privacy fence at 6 ft tall runs $4,200–$7,500 installed nationally. Texas and Southeast markets run lower; Northeast and West Coast run higher. See the regional pricing tables above.

Installed 2026 ranges: chain link 6 ft = $20–$28/ft, wood privacy 6 ft = $28–$50/ft, vinyl 6 ft = $35–$60/ft, aluminum 6 ft = $28–$55/ft. These include materials and typical labor. Exclude gates, permits, and terrain surcharges. See the full cost table above for all heights and materials.

A 6 ft wood privacy fence costs $28–$50 per linear foot installed nationally in 2026. For 150 linear feet: approximately $4,200–$7,500. Vinyl 6 ft runs $35–$60/ft, or $5,250–$9,000 for 150 ft. Regional variation is significant. Texas and the Southeast run 20–30% below the national average. See the city pricing table above.

Chain link is typically the least expensive at $15–$30/ft installed, durable and low-maintenance but no privacy. For a budget privacy fence, pressure-treated pine runs $25–$45/ft. Vinyl and aluminum cost more upfront but have lower long-term maintenance costs, so total cost of ownership over 20 years is often comparable.

Yes. A 6 ft wood fence typically costs 25–35% more per linear foot than a 4 ft fence of the same material. An 8 ft fence can cost 40–60% more than a 4 ft fence due to more material, deeper post holes, and heavier structural requirements. Use the height selector in the calculator above to compare.

Most per-linear-foot estimates exclude: gates ($200–$600 each), permits (varies by municipality), existing fence removal ($3–$6/ft), sloped terrain surcharges, tree root removal, and survey work to establish property lines. Always get a written quote specifying exactly what is and isn't included.

Fence Planning Checklist

Covers property line confirmation, permit requirements, post depth, material selection, gate placement, and contractor questions before installation starts.

Download Checklist (PDF)

Planning use only. See Methodology and Data Sources. View all project checklists →

Accuracy & Review

Reviewed by: Liam Santos

Liam reviews our fencing and outdoor structure calculators to confirm practical cost assumptions, material pricing, and estimating conventions used for common residential fence projects.

Last updated: Feb 22, 2026

See: Methodology · Data Sources · Review Board

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Disclaimer: This calculator provides rough planning estimates only. Actual fence costs vary based on material type, site conditions, gates, slope, post depth, local labor rates, and permit requirements. Regional and city figures are indicative only. Always get written quotes from licensed contractors before committing to a project.

See Methodology and Data Sources for details.