What a fence costs per foot in 2026
Fence contractors quote by the linear foot, with gates and tear-out priced separately. These are national installed ranges from the most recent cost guides we could verify — the date is next to each, and older guides (Fixr's January 2025 pages) predate the 2026 jump in lumber and steel prices.
| Material | Installed per foot | 150 ft installed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood privacy | $15–$45 | $2,250–$6,750 | Modernize, Aug 2026 |
| Wood picket | $10–$40 | $1,500–$6,000 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Split rail / ranch | $8–$16 | $1,200–$2,400 | Fixr, Jan 2025 |
| Vinyl privacy | $25–$60 | $3,750–$9,000 | Modernize, Aug 2026 |
| Chain link | $10–$25 | $1,500–$3,750 | Modernize, Aug 2026 |
| Aluminum | $25–$50 | $3,750–$7,500 | Modernize, Aug 2026 |
| Wrought iron | $35–$70 | $5,250–$10,500 | Modernize, Aug 2026 |
| Composite | $30–$60 | $4,500–$9,000 | Modernize, Aug 2026 |
Homewyse's May 2026 national average to install a fence — modeled on a contractor-grade wood fence with 4×4 posts in concrete — is $33.48–$53.87 per foot, and its 6-ft vinyl and chain-link figures sit above Modernize's ranges. Use the low end for short, simple, flat runs and the high end for tall fences, hard digging and premium materials.
What moves the price within a material
Fixr's January 2025 guides break the ranges down further — older numbers, but they show how much each choice matters:
| Choice | Installed per foot |
|---|---|
| Wood: pressure-treated pine or spruce | $10–$25 |
| Wood: cedar | $15–$30 |
| Wood: shadowbox style | $17–$35 |
| Chain link, 4 ft, 9-gauge galvanized | $13.15–$23.50 |
| Chain link, 6 ft, 9-gauge galvanized | $15.25–$25.40 |
| Chain link, 4 ft, vinyl-coated | $18.75–$40.50 |
| Vinyl privacy | $35–$60 |
Species and coating move the price more than height does: going from 4 ft to 6 ft of galvanized chain link adds only about $2 per foot, while vinyl coating adds up to $17 per foot at the high end.
DIY or hire a pro?
Labor is a big share of the bill: Modernize puts installation labor alone at $5–$15 per foot. Our own takeoff for 100 ft of 6-ft pressure-treated privacy fence — about $1,585 of posts, pickets, rails, concrete and gravel — compares with $1,500–$4,500 installed. The savings are real, but so is the work: 14 holes dug 40 in deep, 4 bags of concrete per post and 241 pickets to hang. The fence calculator and chain link calculator list every part with prices you can edit.
Add-ons that change the total
- Gates: a wood walk-through gate runs about $150–$250 installed (Bob Vila, 2024); chain-link single gates $90–$250 and double drive gates $180–$500; vinyl gates anywhere from $200 to $2,200 depending on size and style (Fixr, 2025).
- Removing the old fence: $2–$5 per foot (Fixr).
- Staining: professionals charge $1.33–$2.71 per square foot of fence face (Homewyse, May 2026). A 100-ft, 6-ft fence stained on both sides is 1,200 sq ft. New pressure-treated wood needs to dry first — 30 days per Thompson's, 2–3 months per Ready Seal.
- Height: taller fences need longer posts, deeper holes and longer boards, and under IRC-based codes fences over 7 ft need a building permit.
Why prices went up in 2026
Producer prices rose sharply between September 2025 and September 2026 (BLS, via FRED): softwood lumber +14.2%, fabricated wire products (chain-link fabric and ties) +11.2%, aluminum extrusions +26.3%, plastic construction products (vinyl) +4.6% and treated wood +4.1%. Guides written before 2026 understate materials, especially for cedar, aluminum and chain link.
How to compare quotes
- Divide each quote by the total length to get a price per foot, then compare it with the range above — the calculator does this for you.
- Ask for materials, labor, gates, removal and haul-away as separate lines, and confirm post size, post depth and whether every post is set in concrete.
- Check who calls 811 and who confirms the property line; a survey may be needed if the line isn't clearly marked.
- Ask about permits and HOA approval before anything is ordered.
Popular comparisons: 150 ft privacy fence, vinyl vs wood for 150 ft, 200 ft chain link.