How Much Does a Fence Cost?
A fence quote lives or dies on the details a tape measure doesn't show: gate hardware, concrete, tear-out, and the extra hours when the ground fights back. Here is what a fence actually costs to build, and how to turn a measurement into a number you can hand a client the same day.
Cost by material (installed, per linear foot)
Material is the biggest swing in a fence price. Chain link is cheapest at roughly $10–$20/ft and fastest to install. Wood (pressure-treated pine, cedar, spruce) is the volume favorite at $15–$30/ft, but cedar and taller privacy heights push the top of that range. Vinyl runs $25–$40/ft with almost no maintenance, and aluminum or ornamental steel sits at $30–$50/ft. Height matters too: going from a 4 ft to a 6 ft privacy fence adds material on every panel and often a labor bump.
What actually drives the number
Beyond material and length, four things decide whether your bid is profitable. Posts and concrete: more posts means more digging, concrete and labor. Gates: each gate adds a frame, hinges, a latch and often two posts. Terrain: a slope or rocky soil can turn a one-day dig into a jackhammer job. Tear-out: removing and hauling the old fence is real time and dump fees. Miss any of these and you've quoted a loss.
How to estimate a fence job, step by step
Measure the total linear feet. Choose a post spacing (6–8 ft is standard) and count posts — length ÷ spacing, rounded up, plus one, plus extras for corners and gates. From there the fence calculator works out rails, pickets or panels, and concrete per post. Add gates and hardware, apply your labor rate for the crew and terrain, and you have a real job total — not a per-foot guess.
From a number to a client quote
A homeowner comparing three fencers usually picks the one who answers first with a clear, itemized price. The Trowla fence calculator gives you the materials, then lets you add your own prices, labor rate and gates to produce a full job total, save it to the customer, and send a branded quote on the spot. No sign-up, and your prices stay on your device.
FAQ
How much does a fence cost per linear foot?
Installed, most residential fences run roughly $15–$30 per linear foot for wood, $10–$20 for chain link, $25–$40 for vinyl, and $30–$50 for aluminum. Material, height, terrain and gates move the number a lot — price your own materials and labor rather than trusting a national average.
How do I estimate a fence job?
Measure the total linear feet, pick a post spacing (6–8 ft), and count posts, rails, pickets or panels, plus concrete per post. Add gates and hardware, then apply your labor rate. The biggest misses are gate hardware, concrete, disposal of the old fence, and extra labor for slopes or rocky soil.
How many fence posts do I need?
Divide the total length by your post spacing and add one for the end. A 150 ft fence at 8 ft spacing needs about 20 posts. Corners and gates need extra posts.
How much concrete do I need per fence post?
A common rule is one to two 50–60 lb bags per post, depending on post size and hole depth (typically 1/3 of the post height below grade). Deeper holes in loose or frost-prone soil use more.
What gets left out of most fence quotes?
Gate hardware, post caps, concrete, tear-out and disposal of the existing fence, permits, and the extra labor when the ground is sloped or rocky. Leaving these out is the fastest way to underbid a fence job.