Backyard fences, privacy fences, chain-link

Fence cost calculator: installed ballparks

Pick a fence type and height, enter the run length, and get an installed price range plus a rough materials-only split — so you know whether a quote is in the right neighborhood before you sign.

Quick answer: Fence cost ≈ linear feet × installed price per foot. A 100 ft wood privacy fence at 6 ft runs 100 × $18–$45 = $1,800–$4,500 installed; materials alone run about half that — $900–$2,250. Every figure here is a ballpark, not a quote.

Fence details

Measure the run where the fence will go — gates are extra
Taller fences cost more per foot in both materials and labor
Ballpark estimate
Selected fenceWood privacy — 6 ft
Installed per linear foot$18–$45
Installed range$1,800–$4,500
Materials only — rough share (~50% of installed)$900–$2,250
Ballpark, not a quote. Slopes, gates, old-fence removal, and permits all move the number; labor is roughly the other half of installed cost. See how we estimate for what these ranges assume.

Ballpark, not gospel. These are typical US planning ranges. Your metro's labor rates, soil, slope, gates, and permit fees decide the real number — get 2–3 local quotes before you budget the job.

What moves the per-foot number

  • Height: 6 ft is the baseline — 4 ft runs less, 8 ft runs noticeably more in both materials and labor.
  • Material: chain-link is the budget pick; wood privacy is the middle; vinyl and aluminum/ornamental are the premium picks.
  • Ground: slopes need stepped or racked sections; rocky soil slows every post hole.
  • Extras: gates, old-fence tear-out and haul-away, and permits are quoted separately almost everywhere.
  • Run length: short runs cost more per foot — mobilization and gates spread over fewer feet.

Where these ranges come from

The per-foot ranges above are typical US installed ballparks for a straightforward job on level ground — the same assumptions behind every cost estimate on this site. Read our methodology for exactly what "typical" means and what it excludes.

Questions people actually ask

Straight answers, no fluff. Then run your own numbers above.

How much does a 100 ft wood privacy fence cost?

At 6 ft tall, wood privacy runs $18–$45 per linear foot installed (typical US range), so 100 ft lands at $1,800–$4,500. Materials alone are roughly half of that — about $900–$2,250 — with labor making up the rest. Slopes, gates, and old-fence removal push you toward the high end.

How much does a fence cost per linear foot?

Installed, at the standard 6 ft height: chain-link $10–$22 per linear foot, wood privacy $18–$45, vinyl $28–$62, and aluminum/ornamental $30–$58 (typical US ranges). Shorter 4 ft fences run less per foot; 8 ft fences run more. These are ballpark planning ranges, not quotes.

What is the materials vs labor split on a fence?

Roughly half and half on a straightforward job — that's why the calculator shows a materials-only line at about 50% of the installed range. Treat it as a budgeting split, not a quote: the labor share climbs on sloped lots, rocky digging, and jobs with lots of gates.

How tall should my fence be?

Six feet is the privacy standard for backyards; 4 ft is typical out front and around pools. Most cities cap residential fences at 6–8 ft, and HOAs often have their own rules — check both before you buy materials.

What makes a fence quote come in high?

The big adders: sloped ground (stepped or racked sections), rocky or root-filled digging, gates (often $150+ each installed), tearing out and hauling away the old fence, and permits. Long straight runs on flat, clear ground are the cheapest per foot you'll get.

Planning the whole project budget? Start with how we estimate costs.