Fence Cost Per Foot Calculator
Compare quotes on the one number that actually matters.
Quick answer: Cost per foot = (materials + labor + gates + permit + removal) ÷ linear feet. A 150 ft quote of $4,650 works out to $31.00 per foot. This tool checks a quote you already have; to estimate a fence before you ask for quotes, use the fence cost calculator, or the chain link fence cost per foot calculator for chain link.
Contractors quote lump sums; the fair way to compare them is dollars per linear foot. Enter your run length and the pieces of the quote to see the real per-foot price and how much of it is labor.
Posts, panels, rails, concrete, hardware
Enter 0 if you're doing it yourself
Calculation Results
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📌 Compare your per-foot number to contractor quotes — anything over 60% labor is worth a second bid.
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🛠️ How This Calculator Works
Adds materials, labor, gates, permits and tear-out into one total, then divides by your run length. It also splits out labor as a percentage so you can spot a bid that's mostly markup.
📐 Formula
Cost per foot = (materials + labor + gates + permit + removal) ÷ linear feet📝 Example Calculation
150 ft · $2,400 materials · $1,800 labor · $350 gate · $100 permit Total = $4,650 Per foot = $4,650 ÷ 150 = $31.00
💡 Pro Tips from Fence Builders
- Typical installed fencing runs $22–$35/ft for 6 ft pressure-treated wood, $30–$60/ft for vinyl and $12–$25/ft for 4 ft chain link. Anything far outside that band deserves a question.
- Labor is normally 40–55% of an installed fence. Over 60% usually means difficult access, rock, or padding.
- Ask every bidder for the same run length in writing — quotes often differ because the measurements do.
- Doing your own tear-out and hauling typically knocks $3–$5 per foot off a bid.
- Corners and gates cost more than straight run. A yard with six corners will price above a plain rectangle of the same length.
Fence cost per foot by type in 2026
Installed prices per linear foot, including posts, concrete, rails or fabric and labor, and what they come to on the three most common backyard runs. Gates, permits and tear-out are extra, which is why the calculator above adds them separately.
| Fence type | Per foot installed | 100 ft | 150 ft | 200 ft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 ft chain link | $12–$25 | $1,200–$2,500 | $1,800–$3,750 | $2,400–$5,000 |
| 3-rail split rail | $12–$24 | $1,200–$2,400 | $1,800–$3,600 | $2,400–$4,800 |
| 6 ft pressure-treated wood privacy | $22–$35 | $2,200–$3,500 | $3,300–$5,250 | $4,400–$7,000 |
| 6 ft cedar privacy | $30–$45 | $3,000–$4,500 | $4,500–$6,750 | $6,000–$9,000 |
| 6 ft vinyl privacy | $30–$60 | $3,000–$6,000 | $4,500–$9,000 | $6,000–$12,000 |
Prices sit at the top of each band in high-labor states such as California, New York and Massachusetts and near the bottom across much of the South — see fence cost by statefor your area. For acreage and farm fencing, wire and barbed wire run $1.50–$5 per foot; thefence cost per acre page works those out by lot size.
How to price a fence yourself before you get quotes
1. Measure the run in feet along the property line and subtract gate openings. 2. Multiply by the per-foot band for your fence type above to get a ballpark. 3. Price the materials exactly with thewood fence calculator,vinyl fence calculator orchain link calculator, which count posts, rails, panels or fabric and concrete. 4. Add gates (a walk gate $250–$450, a double drive gate $700–$1,800), the permit and any tear-out. 5. Put each quote into the calculator above and compare the per-foot numbers and the labor share side by side.
Worked example: comparing two quotes
Quote A is $4,650 for 150 ft of 6 ft pressure-treated privacy with one walk gate: $4,650 ÷ 150 = $31.00 per foot. Quote B is $5,400 for 180 ft of the same fence with one gate: $5,400 ÷ 180 = $30.00 per foot. B looks more expensive but is cheaper per foot — the difference is that B measured 30 ft more fence. Confirm the length before comparing totals, then compare per-foot prices; both sit inside the $22–$35 band for this fence type.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fair price per foot for a fence?
For a standard 6 ft pressure-treated privacy fence installed, $22–$35 per foot is normal in most of the US in 2026. Cedar runs $30–$45, vinyl $30–$60, chain link $12–$25.
Should the gate be included in cost per foot?
Include it in the total, but know that gates are priced separately by most contractors — a walk gate adds $250–$450 and a double drive gate $700–$1,800.
Why do two quotes for the same fence differ by 40%?
Post depth, post size, rail count, hardware grade and whether concrete is used on every post. Ask for those five specs and the cheap bid usually explains itself.
How much does a vinyl fence cost per foot?
About $30 to $60 per linear foot installed for a 6 ft vinyl privacy fence, so 150 ft runs roughly $4,500 to $9,000 before gates. Material is a larger share of the price than on wood, so DIY saves a smaller fraction.
How much does chain link fence cost per foot?
About $12 to $25 per linear foot installed for 4 ft galvanized chain link, or $1,200 to $2,500 per 100 ft. Taller fabric, vinyl coating and privacy slats push it toward the top of the band or beyond. Count every post, rail and fitting with the chain link calculator.
How do I calculate the cost of a fence?
Multiply the length in feet by the installed price per foot for your fence type, then add gates, the permit and any tear-out. A 150 ft pressure-treated privacy fence at $22 to $35 per foot is $3,300 to $5,250, plus about $250 to $450 for a walk gate.
Does DIY really save half?
It saves the labor line, roughly 40–55%, but you take on tool rental, hauling and the risk of redoing work. Budget a full weekend per 100 feet.
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