Estimate fence installation cost by material, height, length, gates, and terrain. See a low to high price range, cost per linear foot, and posts needed.
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Enter your fence length in linear feet, pick the fence material and height, then add gates, terrain, and whether an old fence needs removal. This fence cost estimator applies 2026 national installed rates per linear foot, adjusted for height and terrain, then adds gates and removal. You get a low, typical, and high installed estimate plus cost per linear foot and the number of posts your fence needs. These are planning estimates, not professional quotes: local labor rates, permits, HOA rules, and rocky soil can move the final price. Get at least two local fence contractor quotes before you commit, and check local permit rules for fence height and property line setbacks.
The calculator works in three steps. First it takes the base installed rate per linear foot for the fence material you pick (2026 national guide ranges). Then it adjusts that rate for fence height and terrain: a 4 ft fence costs about 0.80x the 6 ft rate, an 8 ft fence about 1.25x, and a steep or rocky yard multiplies the rate by up to 1.50x. Finally it adds your gates and any old fence removal, and reports a low, typical, and high total so you see the range, not false precision.
Because every line item is shown, you can trace exactly where the number comes from: fence length times the adjusted rate per foot, plus the gate count times a gate price, plus removal at a few dollars per foot. That transparency is what separates a useful fence cost estimator from a black box.
Chain link is the cheapest option at roughly $8 to $28 per linear foot installed, and it suits large lots where looks matter less. Pressure-treated pine privacy fence runs about $15 to $45 per foot installed, making it the most common pick for a backyard privacy fence. Cedar costs more, around $22 to $60 per foot, but it looks better and lasts 15 to 20 years with sealing.
Vinyl fence cost per foot lands between $25 and $60 installed, with almost no maintenance and a 20 to 30 year life. Aluminum ornamental ($25 to $75) and composite ($35 to $95) sit at the top of the range but need no staining. When you compare wood vs vinyl fence cost, vinyl wins on maintenance while wood wins on upfront price; in a wood vs chain link fence cost comparison, chain link is cheapest but offers no privacy.
Height is a multiplier, not an add-on: dropping from 6 ft to 4 ft cuts the fence cost per foot to about 80 percent, while going to 8 ft pushes it to about 125 percent. Gates add real money: a simple walk gate runs $150 to $600 installed, a double driveway gate $400 to $1,200, and an automatic opener $1,900 to $6,000, so keep the gate count low if budget is tight.
Terrain quietly changes everything. A slight slope adds about 10 percent, a moderate slope 25 percent, and steep or rocky ground up to 50 percent or more because posts must be hand-dug or stepped. Removing an old fence costs roughly $2 to $4 per linear foot. As a sanity check, a 150 ft backyard fence fits the cost to fence a yard question most homeowners ask, while a full fence cost per acre on a one-acre lot (about 835 linear feet) can reach $17,000 to $45,000 in wood.
Labor is roughly half of a professionally installed fence price, which is why the DIY fence cost looks so much lower: materials-only for pressure-treated wood run about $8 to $18 per foot. DIY makes sense for a simple straight run of wood or chain link on flat ground if you own or can rent an auger and can set aside a full weekend.
A professional is worth it when the yard is sloped or rocky, the run is longer than about 150 feet, gates need to hang straight, or a permit and property survey are required. Pros also set posts deeper and straighter, offer a workmanship warranty, and finish in one to three days. Many homeowners split the difference: pay a pro to set the posts, then hang pickets themselves.
Get at least three local quotes and compare the fence cost per linear foot line, not just the total, because quote length assumptions vary. Choose the cheapest material that meets your goal: chain link for a dog run, pressure-treated wood for privacy, vinyl if you never want to stain. Shorter is cheaper, so consider 4 ft for a front yard and reserve 6 ft for the backyard privacy fence.
Keep runs straight and gates to one walk gate if possible. Do your own old fence removal and staining to save on labor, and share the cost with a neighbor for a boundary fence. Finally, schedule work in the off-season when installers have open slots and are more willing to discount.
Hire a licensed fence contractor when any of these apply: your city requires a permit for fences over a certain height, your HOA has material and color rules, the property line is unclear and a survey is needed, the ground is rocky or steeply sloped, or you want a driveway gate with an automatic opener. These are the jobs where mistakes get expensive fast.
A pro also protects you legally: most fence cost disputes come from posts set on a neighbor's land or from missing permits. Before signing, confirm the quote states the fence material, height, post depth, gate sizes, and who pulls the permit, and ask for proof of insurance plus references from recent local jobs.
Installed fence cost per foot in 2026 runs from about $8 for galvanized chain link to $25 to $60 for vinyl and $35 to $95 for composite, with pressure-treated wood privacy fence around $15 to $45. The material, height, gates, terrain, and local labor rates all move the number.
For a typical 150 ft backyard wood privacy fence at 6 ft, expect roughly $2,400 to $7,350 installed, plus $150 to $600 per walk gate and $2 to $4 per foot if an old fence must be removed. Vinyl or composite on the same lot can reach $7,000 to $12,000 or more.
Chain link is cheapest overall, then pressure-treated wood, then cedar, then vinyl, then aluminum ornamental and composite at the top. If you want privacy on a budget, pressure-treated wood wins. If you never want to stain or repair again, vinyl costs more up front but pays back on maintenance.
Use posts = ceil(length in feet / 8) + 1, since fence posts are typically spaced 8 feet apart with one extra post to close the run. A 150 ft fence needs 20 posts, a 200 ft fence needs 26. Add one extra for each gate post pair on wide gates.
Set posts at least one third of the post length below ground, and below your local frost line in cold climates. For a 6 ft fence that usually means a 30 inch deep hole with a 4x4 or 6x6 post set in concrete. Competitor sizing tables range from 18 inches for short fences to 42 inches for tall fences in frost zones.
A basic walk gate adds $150 to $600 installed. A double driveway gate runs $400 to $1,200, and adding an automatic opener can bring the total to $1,900 to $6,000. Each gate also needs sturdier posts and hardware, so gate count is a real lever on the total price.
Often yes, especially for fences 6 ft or taller, front yard fences, corner lots, and pools. Permit fees range from $0 to $250, and many cities and HOAs also limit material, color, and setback from the property line. Check your local building office before buying materials.
Yes. A slight slope adds about 10 percent, a moderate slope about 25 percent, and steep or rocky ground 50 percent or more, because installers must step or rack the panels and often hand-dig post holes. If the yard is severe, get an on-site quote instead of relying on any online estimate.
DIY is cheaper because labor is roughly half of a pro install: materials-only for pressure-treated wood run $8 to $18 per foot. It pays off for straight runs of wood or chain link on flat ground. Hiring a pro is safer for slopes, rocky soil, long runs, permits, and gates, and most pros finish in one to three days with a warranty.
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