Chain Link Fence Cost Per Foot

Installed, most homeowners pay $12–$25 per foot for 4 ft galvanized and $18–$35 per foot for 6 ft vinyl-coated. DIY materials alone typically run $6–$14 per foot.

Per foot, yes — it's the lowest-cost durable fencing available and it lasts 20–25 years galvanized. It just offers essentially no privacy without slats.

Slats typically add $4–$9 per foot in materials and take about an hour per 20 feet to weave in. They also add wind load, so posts need to be well set.

11 gauge is fine for most dogs. For large breeds that jump or chew, use 9 gauge with a top rail and a bottom tension wire.

Multiply your run length by the per-foot material price for your height and gauge, add $8 to $16 per foot for labor if you are hiring out, then add gates and corner hardware separately. This calculator does all four steps from your own numbers.

Everbilt and the big-box estimators price their own catalog and assume standard 10 ft post spacing with galvanized fabric. They are accurate for their kit, but they do not let you change gauge, coating or labor rate — set those here first, then take the quantities to the store.

Big-box fabric is usually the cheapest per foot for 4 ft galvanized, but posts, top rail, tension bars, bands and caps are all sold separately and typically add 60 to 90% on top of the fabric price. Always price the complete parts list, not the roll.

Roughly $1,200 to $2,500 for 4 ft galvanized and $1,800 to $3,500 for 6 ft vinyl-coated, including posts, hardware and labor. One walk gate adds about $150 to $350.

Yes, dramatically. Labor is typically 50 to 60% of a chain link bill, and the hardest part — stretching the fabric — needs only a come-along and a fence puller bar you can rent for a day.

Vinyl-coated fabric runs about 25 to 40% more per foot. It lasts longer in coastal and pool environments and looks better in black, which is why most residential jobs now specify it despite the premium.