How Much Does a Fence Cost to Build? Materials & Per-Foot Pricing
A practical 2026 breakdown of fence cost per linear foot by material, what drives the price, how to count posts, rails, and pickets, and a full worked example for a 150-foot cedar privacy fence.
Fence pricing almost always comes down to one number: cost per linear foot. Multiply that by the length of your run and you have a working budget in seconds. The catch is that the per-foot rate swings widely depending on material, height, terrain, and how many gates and corners you build around.
In 2026, a fully installed fence runs roughly $15 to $70 per linear foot. Chain-link sits at the low end, ornamental aluminum at the top, with wood and vinyl in the middle. If you supply your own labor, material-only costs are often less than half the installed price—which is why fencing is one of the most popular DIY upgrades for homeowners.
This guide gives you real per-foot ranges by material, explains the cost drivers, and walks through estimating posts, rails, and pickets so you can price a project before a single contractor returns your call.
2026 Fence Cost per Linear Foot by Material
These installed ranges include posts, panels or pickets, concrete, hardware, and standard labor on flat ground. Material-only (DIY) is typically 40 to 60 percent of the installed figure.
- Chain-link: $15-$30 installed ($8-$15 material). Cheapest option; galvanized or vinyl-coated.
- Wood / cedar privacy: $25-$45 installed ($12-$22 material). Most popular for backyards.
- Vinyl (PVC): $30-$60 installed ($18-$35 material). Low maintenance, higher upfront.
- Aluminum / ornamental steel: $35-$70 installed ($22-$45 material). Decorative, rust-resistant.
- Composite: $40-$80 installed. Premium privacy with minimal upkeep.
Heights drive these numbers too. A 6-foot privacy fence costs noticeably more than a 4-foot version because it uses taller posts, an extra rail, and more pickets per foot.
What Drives the Price
Material is the biggest lever, but several other factors move your bottom line by 20 percent or more.
- Height: each extra foot of height adds pickets, taller posts, and sometimes a third rail.
- Terrain: slopes, rock, and tree roots slow digging and may require stepped or racked panels.
- Post setting: concrete-set posts cost more in labor and bags but last far longer than tamped gravel.
- Gates: a single walk gate adds $150-$400; a double drive gate $400-$1,200 with hardware.
- Corners and ends: each requires a heavier post and extra bracing.
- Demolition: removing an old fence runs $3-$8 per linear foot.
- Permits: many towns require one for fences over 6 feet or in front yards.
Materials Breakdown for a Wood Privacy Fence
A standard 6-foot wood privacy fence is built on a repeating bay. Posts sit every 8 feet on center, with two or three horizontal rails spanning between them and vertical pickets nailed to the rails.
Posts are usually 4x4 pressure-treated lumber set 24 to 30 inches deep in concrete—plan on one to two 50-pound bags of fast-set concrete per post. Rails are typically 2x4s, two for a 4-foot fence and three for a 6-foot fence to prevent warping. Pickets are commonly 5/8-inch by 5.5-inch cedar or treated boards.
For a tight privacy look, butt the pickets edge to edge. Adding a small gap or a board-on-board overlap changes your picket count, so decide the style before you buy.
How to Estimate Posts, Rails, and Pickets
Start with your total run in feet, then work each component separately.
- Posts: divide total length by 8 (the spacing), then add 1 for the final post. Add one extra post per corner and per gate.
- Rails: multiply the number of 8-foot bays by the rails per section (2 or 3). One bay equals one section between two posts.
- Pickets: divide total length in inches by the picket width plus any gap. For 5.5-inch pickets butted tight, that's roughly 2.2 pickets per linear foot.
- Concrete: 1-2 bags per post, depending on hole diameter and depth.
- Fasteners: budget about 1 pound of nails or screws per 8-foot section.
Always order 5 to 10 percent extra on pickets and fasteners to cover warped boards and cut waste.
Worked Example: 150 ft of 6-ft Cedar Privacy Fence
Say you're fencing a 150-foot run with one walk gate and two corners. Here's how the material count shakes out.
- Posts: 150 / 8 = 18.75, round to 19, +1 end +2 corners +1 gate = 23 posts (4x4x8).
- Rails: about 19 sections x 3 rails = 57 rails (2x4x8).
- Pickets: 150 ft x 12 / 5.5 = 327, add 8 percent waste, about 353 cedar pickets.
- Concrete: 23 posts x 1.5 bags, about 35 bags of fast-set.
- Gate kit and hardware: 1 walk gate.
At roughly $14 per foot in materials, that's about $2,100 in lumber, concrete, and hardware for DIY. Hiring it out at $32 per installed foot lands near $4,800—so doing it yourself saves close to $2,700 in labor on this job.
Permits, Property Lines, and Maintenance
Before you dig, confirm your exact property line with a survey or your plat map—building even a few inches over the line invites a costly tear-out. Call 811 to mark underground utilities, and check local rules on height, setback, and the 'good side out' requirement many neighborhoods enforce.
Maintenance varies sharply by material. Wood needs staining or sealing every 2 to 3 years and lasts 15 to 20 years. Vinyl and aluminum need only an occasional rinse and run 25 to 40 years. Chain-link is nearly maintenance-free but offers no privacy. Factor lifetime upkeep into any material comparison—a cheaper fence that needs constant care can cost more over 20 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is it cheaper to build a fence yourself?
- Yes, usually by a wide margin. Material-only costs run about 40 to 60 percent of an installed quote, so DIY can cut a project's price nearly in half. On a 150-foot cedar fence, doing your own labor saves roughly $2,500 to $2,800. You'll need a post-hole digger or auger, a level, and a free weekend or two.
- How far apart should fence posts be?
- The standard spacing is 8 feet on center, which matches common rail and panel lengths. For tall privacy fences in windy areas, some builders tighten that to 6 feet for extra rigidity. Always add an extra post at each corner, end, and gate, and set posts at least 24 to 30 inches deep in concrete.
- Do I need a permit to build a fence?
- It depends on your town. Many jurisdictions require a permit for fences taller than 6 feet, fences in a front yard, or anything near a property line or easement. Permits typically cost $20 to $150. Always check with your local building department and your HOA before buying materials—rework after the fact is expensive.
- Which fence material lasts the longest?
- Vinyl and aluminum lead, lasting 25 to 40 years with almost no maintenance. Quality wood lasts 15 to 20 years but needs staining every few years. Chain-link can run 20-plus years but offers no privacy. Composite is the premium choice, combining a wood look with 25-plus-year lifespan and minimal upkeep.