A professionally installed fence starts at about $17 per linear foot for chain link and runs to $45 and up for composite, with wood, vinyl, aluminum, and wrought iron falling in between. Since a typical residential project is around 150 linear feet, most homeowners are looking at $2,550 on the low end to $6,750 or more before gates and tear-out. A standard 6-foot cedar privacy fence - the most common job we see quoted - usually lands between $4,200 and $6,500 installed.
Those are real installed numbers: materials, labor, posts set in concrete, and cleanup. Below is the full breakdown by material, what actually drives your price up or down, and how to read a quote so you know exactly what you are paying for.
Fence Cost Per Linear Foot by Material
Every price in this table is per linear foot, installed, for a standard-height fence on reasonably flat ground. The starting price gets you base-grade material; the top of the range reflects taller heights, better grades, and upgraded styles.
| Material | Starting Price (per ft) | Typical Range (per ft) | 150 ft Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain link | $17 | $17 - $30 | $2,550 - $4,500 |
| Wood (cedar) | $28 | $28 - $55 | $4,200 - $8,250 |
| Vinyl / PVC | $30 | $30 - $50 | $4,500 - $7,500 |
| Aluminum | $34 | $34 - $55 | $5,100 - $8,250 |
| Wrought iron | $38 | $38 - $70 | $5,700 - $10,500 |
| Composite | $45 | $45 - $70 | $6,750 - $10,500 |
If a bid comes in meaningfully below these starts, something is missing. Usually it is thinner material, shallower posts, no concrete, or a crew that will not be around when the fence leans in year three.
What a Typical 150-Foot Project Actually Runs
Take the most common job in America: a 6-foot dog-ear cedar privacy fence around a suburban backyard, roughly 150 linear feet with one walk gate.
- Fence line, installed: 150 ft x $28-$40/ft = $4,200 - $6,000
- One walk gate: $250 - $600 depending on width and hardware
- Tear-out of the old fence: $3 - $5 per foot, so $450 - $750 with haul-off
- Realistic all-in total: $4,900 - $7,350
Swap cedar for chain link and that same yard runs $2,550 - $4,000 all-in. Go vinyl and you are at $5,200 - $8,000. The perimeter length matters more than almost anything else, so measure your property line before you call anyone - a 250-foot corner lot is a very different project than a 120-foot interior lot.
The Six Things That Move Your Price
1. Height
A 6-foot fence is the standard for privacy. Going to 8 feet does not just add two feet of material - it requires longer posts set deeper (36 inches minimum instead of 24-30), more concrete per hole, and heavier rails to handle wind load. Expect 8-foot fencing to cost 30-50% more per foot than 6-foot. Dropping to 4 feet saves you money on picket-style fences but very little on privacy styles, since labor barely changes.
2. Gates
Gates are the most failure-prone part of any fence, and good crews price them accordingly. A basic walk gate adds $250 - $600. A double drive gate for vehicle access runs $600 - $1,500 depending on material and whether it gets a steel frame. Cheap gates sag within a year; a steel-framed gate on adjustable hinges is worth every dollar.
3. Terrain
Slopes mean stepped or racked panels, which means more cuts and more labor. Rocky soil or caliche can double the time it takes to dig post holes - some crews charge $25 - $75 extra per hole when they hit rock and have to bring out an auger with a rock bit or a jackhammer. Tight access (no gate wide enough for equipment, everything carried by hand) adds labor too.
4. Tear-Out
Removing and hauling off an existing fence typically runs $3 - $5 per linear foot. On 150 feet that is $450 - $750. Some homeowners demo their own fence over a weekend and save that line item entirely - just confirm the crew will pull the old concrete footings, because new posts usually cannot go in the same holes otherwise.
5. Region
Labor rates swing hard by market. The same cedar fence that starts at $28/ft in Texas can quote 20-40% higher in California coastal metros, driven by labor cost, permit requirements, and local wind-load codes. Florida projects often carry engineering requirements in hurricane zones that add cost. Get local numbers, not national averages.
6. Layout
Corners, angles, and short runs eat time. A simple three-sided rectangle installs fast. A property line with twelve direction changes needs more posts per foot and more layout work, and the per-foot price creeps up.
Labor vs. Materials: Where the Money Goes
On most residential fence jobs the split is roughly 50/50, though it shifts by material. Labor alone typically runs $8 - $20 per linear foot depending on material, terrain, and market. Chain link is labor-light - the fabric stretches fast once posts are set. Board-on-board cedar is labor-heavy because every picket is individually nailed. Vinyl and aluminum sit in the middle: panelized systems go up quickly, but layout has to be precise because you cannot trim a panel the way you rip a cedar picket.
This split matters when you evaluate bids. Material prices are close to fixed - every contractor in your city buys pickets and posts from the same few suppliers. When one bid is 30% under the others, the contractor is not getting magic lumber prices. They are cutting labor: fewer posts, shallower holes, less concrete, a rushed crew.
How to Read a Fence Quote
A professional quote should itemize, at minimum:
- Exact linear footage - measured, not eyeballed from satellite view
- Material spec - species and grade for wood, gauge for chain link, brand and series for vinyl
- Post size, spacing, and depth - look for posts every 8 feet or less, set 24-36 inches deep in concrete
- Concrete per post - dry-pack vs. wet-set, and how many bags
- Gates listed separately with hardware specified
- Tear-out and haul-off as its own line
- Warranty terms - one year on workmanship is the floor; better shops offer more
If a quote is one number on a text message, keep shopping. Vague quotes turn into change orders. You also want confirmation the contractor pulls the permit where required and calls in utility locates before digging - a crew that skips the 811 call is a crew that cuts other corners too.
When Fence Prices Are Negotiable
Fence pricing has more give than most homeowners think, in specific situations:
- Off-season scheduling. Crews are hungriest in late fall and winter in most of the country. Flexible timing can shave 5-10%.
- Shared fence lines. If your neighbor splits the cost of a shared run, you both save. Contractors also discount larger combined footage.
- Multiple quotes. Get three. Not to grind the best crew down to the worst crew's price, but because the spread tells you what the fair market number is in your area.
- Do your own tear-out. An easy $450 - $750 in savings on a typical project if you have a truck and a weekend.
- Bundled work. Fencing the whole perimeter at once is cheaper per foot than doing two sides now and two sides next year - mobilization costs get spread over more footage.
What is not negotiable: post depth, concrete, and material grade. A contractor who offers to hit your budget by cutting those is building you a fence with an expiration date.
Get Real Quotes From Local Pros
National averages get you in the ballpark, but your actual price depends on your soil, your slope, your city, and who is holding the auger. The fastest way to a real number is two or three itemized quotes from established local companies. Browse vetted fence companies by state, or jump straight to your market - from Dallas to Florida - and compare bids side by side. And if you run a fence company that builds them right, get listed so homeowners in your area can find you.