How Much Does It Cost To Install A Fence? (2024)

One of the largest factors that influences the cost is the size of your yard, which determines how much material and labor are required. Another important factor is the material itself. Materials, like wood, tend to be much cheaper than aluminum, vinyl or metal.

Of course, the larger your yard is, the more it’ll cost to fence, with costs ranging from $2,000 to $5,300. Linear feet measure your yard’s perimeter. Note that if your yard is an irregular shape, you may have difficulty measuring. Clemson University’s Home & Garden Information Center recommends splitting it into smaller geometric shapes in order to find the perimeter.

You could also measure the size of your yard by its acreage, with a ⅕ acre yard having a 150-foot fence, ¼ acre having a 200-foot fence, and one acre yard having an 800-foot fence. Although one acre may not seem like a lot, costs can reach tens of thousands of dollars for fencing.

Although you may dislike having a small backyard, it will save you money in terms of materials and labor when it comes to your fencing installation.

Aluminum and Metal

Aluminum and metal fences are the most expensive, wrought iron fences, in particular. While a wrought iron fence is durable, it’ll be difficult to install it yourself, unlike steel, cast iron or aluminum options. Aluminum and metal fences cost an average of $30 to $50 per linear foot to install.

Bamboo

With an average installation cost of only $20 per linear foot, bamboo is one of the least expensive fencing materials. However, something to keep in mind is that bamboo costs will differ wildly based on where you live. If you live in an area where bamboo isn’t available, you’ll have to pay for transport, driving up the cost of the material overall, as anyone who has ever installed bamboo flooring knows.

Another factor to keep in mind is that while bamboo is environmentally friendly, durable and easy to maintain, it is prone to scratches, particularly carbonized bamboo, so it may require periodic refinishing to improve its appearance.

Wood

Wood fences can look many ways. There’s cedar, which has a reddish hue, composite, which is made from wood fibers combined with plastic polymers, teak and redwood, ideal for smaller fences around pools or hot tubs and treated wood, best for fence posts. If you’re on a budget, choose cedar. The average fence installation cost across all wood types, however, is $5 to $20 per linear foot, similar to bamboo. If you choose a cheaper wood, you’ll see the lower price while custom wood is higher.

Vinyl

Vinyl may be the second-most expensive, but it requires little maintenance and is super durable. Choose a thicker vinyl for the more durable option, and your fence will require very minimal maintenance. Vinyl costs, on average, $20 to $40 per linear foot to install.

Planning to install a fence? Here are the factors that will affect the cost:

• Removing an existing fence: Sometimes, you’re not just installing a new face, but you’re replacing an existing one,meaning you’ll have to first remove the old fence, which will drive up costs.
• Type of gate: A manual gate will cost more than an electric gate, but keep in mind that an electric gate can increase your property value, as it adds to your home security. No one will be able to access your property without you letting them in remotely. And while you’re at it, add some outdoor security cameras so you can see exactly who’s in the car.
• Fence height: The standard fence height is six feet tall, but moving it to eight or 10 feet will require more materials and more labor, driving up costs.
• Labor: Where you live affects the cost of your labor, as the cost of living depends on your area. Typically, fence installers charge hourly, although some may charge on a per-project basis.
• Landscaping: Already thinking up gorgeous landscaping ideas to surround your fence? Or maybe you just need to pay to remove a tree. Either way, landscaping will cost more.
• Lighting fixtures: You may want to include outdoor security lights on your fence to increase your home’s safety. Options like exterior LED lighting will add to your bottom line.
• Material: Again, you can expect to pay more for an aluminum, metal or vinyl fence compared to wood or bamboo. When you’re choosing the right fence, the price of materials should be top of mind, as they’re one of the largest factors that influences the overall cost of installation.
• Permits: Check to see if permits are required to install a fence where you live. Whenever you’re building anything, permitting is part of the development process, but depending on where you live, you may not have to pay anything to build your fence.
• Size of yard: Obviously, the larger the yard, the higher your costs will be.
• Slope of yard: A yard with a slope will be harder to bill a fence on, driving up labor costs.

Whether you’re going with professional or DIY home improvement, here are ways to save on fence installation.

Install a Wood or Bamboo Fence

The cheapest option would be to use composite wood for your fence, and not the more expensive types of wood like teak or redwood. Composite wood isn’t only cheap; it’s also super durable, which is why many people use engineered wood for flooring and synthetic decks. If you really want teak or redwood, consider using it for smaller fences, like around a pool or hot tub.

Do It Yourself

If you feel you’re capable, installing the fence yourself will save you hundreds on labor.

Lower the Height

While a fence under six feet tall wouldn’t do much in terms of privacy, keeping it at six foot minimum will lower your material costs.

Use a Manual Gate

Sure, an automated gate is convenient, but a manual gate is much cheaper.

Compare Quotes

Never accept the first offer. Instead, to find the best general contractor near you, get quotes from multiple vendors.

Take Advantage of the Slow Season

Although it may seem strange to install a fence in the winter when people are indoors, generally, installing a fence in December, January or February will get you lower labor rates, making it an ideal winter home improvement project.

Buy Your Own Materials

By making the simple trip to your local home improvement store yourself, rather than having your contractor buy your materials, could save you a ton of money. Buying in bulk is not always wise, but if you can combine multiple high-ROI home improvement projects, it’s the most financially sound option.

To arrive at the average costs, our editorial team members surveyed a range of five national websites and one local website. All of the averages were correct at the time of the publication, although they are subject to change.