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Fence cost

Fence cost calculator

Estimate the cost to install or replace a fence by linear foot: material and height, gates, removal and permits, with a check on what insurance would pay if a storm or tree brought it down.

Reviewed 8 October 2026

See the illustrated guide

Written and maintained byMantu Kumar

Evidence review8 October 2026

Calculation rulesRead the methodology Quality standardEditorial policy

Key facts at a glance

A typical fence costs $2,000–$4,500; the national average is about $3,300.
6 ft wood privacy: $13–$45 per foot; vinyl $30–$55; chain link $5–$15.
Basic gates cost about $400–$2,000; driveway gates more.
Fence permits usually cost $30–$200.
Call 811 before digging post holes; locating is free.
Fences are insured as Other Structures, often 10% of the dwelling limit.

Sources: Inch Calculator, NerdWallet and the Insurance Information Institute, listed at the end of this page.

Fence installation cost estimate

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Along the fence line

Measure the run, the gate and where the fence meets the house

A fence is priced by the foot, plus each gate. The photograph shows a wood run, the posts, a walk gate and the house it starts beside.

Wood privacy fence along a house, with vertical boards, posts and a gate. — Linear feet of fence, posts and one gate. The calculator prices the run by the foot and adds each gate on its own line.AI-generated illustration for explanation. Not a site inspection, measurement or eligibility record.

The three detail views below enlarge parts of the same photograph. Use them with the checks underneath.

Close view of vertical wood fence boards and horizontal rails.

The fence run

Measure linear feet, not the yard

Run a tape along each side you plan to fence. The estimate uses that length, the height and the material. Check the survey before you build on the line.

Wood fence gate slightly open beside a concrete path.

The gate

Count every opening

A walk gate and a wider gate for a mower are separate lines. Each needs a post pair, hinges and a latch. Pool gates also need to be self-closing.

Fence post and boards starting beside house siding.

Where the fence meets the house

Mark the start and the end

The run usually starts at a corner of the house and ends at a post. Height is easiest to judge against the siding. Leave room for the hose bib, the meter and any gate swing.

Before you sign a fence quote, confirm these

Line and survey: Where the property line is and how far inside it the fence sits
Posts: Post spacing, depth, concrete and the post material
Extras: Gates and hardware, removal and haul-away, permit and HOA approval

Check whether a fence claim is worth filing

Measuring the fence line

Walk the line you want fenced and measure each side, including the short runs back to the house. Leave out the width of any gates; they are priced separately. Posts usually go every 6 to 8 feet, so a 150 ft line needs roughly 20 to 25 posts, each set in concrete below the frost line in cold climates.

Fence cost per linear foot by material

ReplaceCost planning rates at a 5–6 ft baseline, installed, before gates, removal and permits, checked against published ranges. Shorter fences cost about 20% less per foot; 8 ft fences about a third more.
Fence type	Per linear foot, 5 to 6 ft	For 200 feet	Typical life
Chain link	$9 – $22	$1,800 – $4,400	15 to 25 years
Wood split rail	$14 – $32	$2,800 – $6,400	12 to 20 years
Wood picket	$18 – $38	$3,600 – $7,600	12 to 20 years
Wood privacy	$22 – $45	$4,400 – $9,000	12 to 20 years
Vinyl (PVC)	$30 – $55	$6,000 – $11,000	20 to 30 years
Aluminum ornamental	$28 – $60	$5,600 – $12,000	25 to 40 years
Composite	$35 – $65	$7,000 – $13,000	20 to 30 years
Wrought iron	$32 – $65	$6,400 – $13,000	30 years or more

Factors that raise the price

Grade changes. A sloped yard needs stepped or racked panels and longer posts on the low side.
Rock, clay or roots. Hard digging slows every post hole; some jobs need an auger or a breaker.
Underground lines. Gas, water and cable lines can force the fence line or post spacing to change.
Access. Narrow side yards and long carries from the street add labor time.
Removal. Pulling old posts set in concrete is slower than removing panels alone.

Height, gates and ground

Height changes the amount of material in every section. Gates are the most expensive part of a fence per foot: a walk gate with hinges and a latch often costs $350 to $1,000, and a driveway gate several thousand. Slopes need stepped or racked panels, and rock or tree roots slow the digging of every post hole.

Permits, property lines and HOA rules

Property line. Confirm where it is from a survey or plat. Many owners set the fence a few inches inside the line.
Call 811 first. Utility locating is free and required before digging post holes.
Permit and height limits. Many towns require a permit and limit height, commonly 6 ft in back yards and 3 to 4 ft in front.
HOA approval. Associations often specify material, color and style. Get approval in writing before you order.

Fence repair costs

Source: NerdWallet fence cost guide. When several posts have rotted at the base, replacing the run usually costs less over time than repeated repairs.
Repair	Typical cost
Fix a hole or crack	$125 – $500
Straighten a leaning section	about $500
Restain or reseal a wood fence	$750 – $4,250

What insurance covers

Fences fall under Other Structures, usually 10% of the dwelling limit. Storm and falling-tree damage is usually covered; rot and age are not. Many fence repairs cost little more than the deductible, so run should I file a claim before you report a small one.

Questions

How much does a fence cost per linear foot?

Installed prices commonly run from about $9 to $22 per foot for chain link, $22 to $45 for a 6 ft wood privacy fence and $30 to $55 for vinyl, before gates and removal. Height, ground and region move the figure.

How much does a 150 ft privacy fence cost?

For a 6 ft wood privacy fence with one walk gate on flat ground, this calculator returns about $3,800 to $8,000 at the national average, including a permit allowance.

What is the cheapest fence to install?

Chain link and wood split rail are usually the least expensive per foot. Wood picket and privacy fences cost more, and vinyl, aluminum, composite and iron more again, but last longer.

Do I need a permit to build a fence?

Often, especially for fences over 6 ft or in front yards. Rules vary by town, and HOAs may add their own. Call 811 before digging, whatever the permit rules.

Does homeowners insurance cover a fence?

Usually under Other Structures, Coverage B, for covered causes such as wind, a falling tree, fire or a vehicle. Rot, insects and wear are not covered.

How long does a wood fence last?

Typically 12 to 20 years, depending on the wood, the climate and whether it is stained or sealed. Posts in wet soil often fail first.

How much does fence repair cost?

Small repairs such as a hole or crack commonly cost $125 to $500, straightening a leaning section about $500, and restaining a whole wood fence $750 to $4,250. Rotten posts across a run usually point to replacement.

Who pays for a fence between neighbors?

It depends on state and local law and on agreement between neighbors. Some states have fence statutes that share the cost of a boundary fence; get any agreement in writing.

Deck cost calculator — price a new deck
Should I file a claim? — is a fence claim worth it
Siding cost calculator — another exterior project
What insurance actually pays — Other Structures coverage explained

How to use this result This is a planning range from published per-foot prices and ReplaceCost’s assumptions, not a quote. Ground conditions, local codes, HOA rules and the exact layout change the real price. Get two or three itemized quotes.

Evidence trail

Sources used to check this tool

Per-foot prices come from published fence cost guides; insurance terms from consumer guidance.

Reviewed 8 October 2026

Fence pricingInch Calculator: cost to install a fence Fence pricingNerdWallet: cost to install a fence Other StructuresInsurance Information Institute: what a homeowners policy covers Before you dig811: call before you dig

These organizations do not endorse ReplaceCost. The written policy, program rules, contractor scope and applicable law control the real result. See the full methodology for the source hierarchy and update process.

Fence planning

Price the fence line, the gates and the ground

Material and height set the per-foot rate; gates and site conditions add the rest.

Per linear foot Material and height set the base rate.

Gates Walk and driveway gates are priced separately.

Permits and lines Survey, 811 and height limits come first.

Coverage B Storm and tree damage to a fence is usually covered.