Contractor & trades · free calculator
Fence installation cost calculator
Estimate total cost of a residential fence install: posts, panels/pickets, gates, hardware, concrete, and labor.
Total fence cost
Show the work
- Posts needed26
- Material cost (panels + posts)$4,510
- Labor cost$2,500
- Gates cost$350
- All-in $ per linear foot$37
Fence cost — three line items, no surprises
Fence pricing is honest math: linear feet × material rate + posts + labor + gates. The places contractors hide markup are usually post quantity, gate hardware, and "site prep" line items — knowing the components keeps the bid clean.
Material price by type (installed, 2025)
- Pressure-treated wood: $20-35/ft installed, lasts 12-20 years
- Cedar: $30-45/ft installed, lasts 15-25 years (and looks better doing it)
- Vinyl: $35-55/ft installed, 25+ year warranty, no painting
- Aluminum / steel ornamental: $40-65/ft installed
- Chain-link: $15-25/ft installed (residential galvanized)
Posts drive 30-40% of fence quality
Skimping on posts is where bad fences are born. Look for:
- 4×4 PT posts minimum (6×6 for taller fences or wind exposure)
- 30-36 inches in the ground
- Concrete-set with crown for water shed
- Galvanized post anchors only on concrete patios — never structural
What's NOT in this calc
Demolition of mature plantings, root hauling, hand-digging in rocky soil, line-locating ($100-300 for 811), HOA approval timelines, surveying. Get those itemized separately on the bid.
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