Fence installation costs $1,743 to $12,000 per project in 2026
A new fence costs $1,743 to $12,000 in 2026, depending on length, material and where you live. Angi puts the average at $3,277. Fixr says $4,500 for 200 feet of cedar picket fence with a gate. HomeGuide lists $4,000 to $12,000 for a new fence, or $20 to $60 per linear foot for wood or vinyl. Angi says labor is about half of the bill.
What price guides say
We checked 4 price guides and read every number on their pages on October 7, 2026. They do not all measure the same thing, so read each line for what it counts.
| Source | What it found |
|---|---|
| HomeGuide | HomeGuide says new fence installation costs $4,000 to $12,000 on average, or $20 to $60 per linear foot for wood or vinyl, with chain-link at $9 to $30 and aluminum at $25 to $75. |
| Angi | Angi says fence installation averages $3,277, with most homeowners paying $1,860 to $4,843 and labor about 50 percent of the cost. |
| Fixr | Fixr says the average is $4,500 with a range of $3,000 to $7,000 for 200 linear feet of 4 foot cedar picket fence with a gate, and $12 to $35 a linear foot. |
| Bob Vila | Bob Vila says the national average is $3,059 with a range of $1,743 to $4,431, and permits cost $400 to $800. |
Fence cost by material
| Material | Installed cost per linear foot | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wood | $20 to $50 | HomeGuide |
| Vinyl | $30 to $60 | HomeGuide |
| Chain-link | $9 to $30 | HomeGuide |
| Aluminum | $25 to $75 | HomeGuide |
| Wrought iron | $25 to $55 | Angi |
| Privacy fence | $25 to $40 | Angi |
| Glass | $72 to $130 | Fixr |
Every number in this table was read on one of the source pages listed at the bottom of this page.
What pushes the price up
| What | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Material | Wood, vinyl, chain-link and metal sit in different price bands. HomeGuide lists chain-link at $9 to $30 a foot and aluminum at $25 to $75 a foot, both installed. |
| Length | More feet means a bigger bill. Bob Vila says a backyard fence of 100 to 300 feet runs $2,300 to $6,900, and a large lot costs far more. |
| Height and style | A tall fence uses more material than a short one. Angi lists privacy at $25 to $40 a foot. Fixr lists privacy jobs at $3,000 to $7,600. |
| Labor and land | Angi says labor is about half of the cost. Slopes, rocks and roots slow the crew. Bob Vila lists labor at $30 to $80 an hour. |
| Permits, gates and removal | Bob Vila lists permits at $400 to $800 and old fence removal at $3 to $5 a foot. A walk-through gate adds $150 to $250. |
What the price includes
A fence quote usually covers posts, panels or rails, hardware, and the crew's labor to set and build it. Angi says labor is about half of the total. Permits, old fence removal, gates, tree removal and a property survey are often extra. Bob Vila lists permits at $400 to $800 and old fence removal at $3 to $5 a foot. It does not include tax or extras the provider adds on the day.
Who charges this and how it is billed
Local fence companies and general contractors build most fences. Many bid by the linear foot, so you pay for the length, the height and the material. The quote often adds gates, posts set in concrete and old fence removal as separate lines. Angi says labor is about half of the cost, and Bob Vila lists labor at $30 to $80 an hour. Most firms ask for a deposit, then the rest when the work is done. Ask for the total in writing before work starts, and ask what happens if the crew finds rock or roots.
When you need this
You may need a new fence to mark your lot line, keep a dog or children in, add privacy, or meet a pool safety rule. An old fence that leans, rots or has gaps may be cheaper to replace than to patch. Fixr lists pool fences at $1,440 to $15,600 and privacy fences at $3,000 to $7,600, so the reason you build can change the price.
How to judge your quote
- Does the quote say the total feet, the height and the exact material?
- Are the permit, gate and old fence removal listed or left out?
- Is the price per foot close to the ranges on this page?
- Is labor listed, and does the crew carry insurance and give a written warranty?
- Compare the total with the range above: $1,743 to $12,000 per project for most people in 2026.
Ways to pay less
- Get at least three written quotes for the same length, height and material, so you can compare the totals and the line items side by side.
- Pick chain-link or wood over vinyl or metal. HomeGuide lists chain-link at $9 to $30 a foot, well below aluminum at $25 to $75.
- Take down the old fence yourself. Bob Vila lists removal at $3 to $5 per linear foot, and that can add up on a long run.
- Book in the off season, late fall or winter, when many fence crews are slower and may give a better price.
- Keep the fence short. Fence only the part of the yard you need, since cost grows with every linear foot.
How we got these numbers
The range on this page comes from HomeGuide, Angi, Fixr and Bob Vila. We opened each source page and read every number on it on October 7, 2026. Where the sources disagree, the table above shows each one so you can see the spread. These are planning ranges, not quotes. The written price you are given is the real price.
Common questions
How much does a fence cost on average?
Angi puts the average at $3,277, with most homeowners paying $1,860 to $4,843. Fixr says $4,500 for 200 feet of cedar picket fence with a gate. HomeGuide says $4,000 to $12,000.
How much is a fence per linear foot?
HomeGuide says $20 to $60 per linear foot for wood or vinyl. Angi says $6 to $50 per foot, with an average of $23. Fixr says $12 to $35.
What is the cheapest kind of fence?
Chain-link is one of the lowest priced. HomeGuide lists it at $9 to $30 per linear foot installed, and Angi lists it at $8 to $40.
How much of the price is labor?
Angi says labor is about 50 percent of the total, or about $1,600 on average. Bob Vila also splits the cost about half and half between materials and labor.
Do I need a permit for a fence?
Many towns want one. Bob Vila lists building permits at $400 to $800. Call your city or county office before you hire a crew, because rules on height and distance from the property line vary.