How much does fence installation cost?

$50 – $90 cost per linear foot installed (on average)
$6,000 – $14,000 average cost to build (200 linear feet)

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Fence installation costNew fence installation costs $6,000 to $14,000 on average or $50 to $90 per linear foot for wood or vinyl. Fence replacement costs $40 to $80 per linear foot. A privacy fence costs $45 to $75 per linear foot. A picket fence costs $40 to $60 per linear foot.

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​Cost of fencing by material
The following table shows the various costs of fencing by material:

Wood
A wood fence costs $50 to $70 per linear foot installed. Wood is one of the cheaper materials for a fence, especially when made with basic pine, spruce, or even cedar. Prices can increase for pressure-treated wood and hardwoods. The most popular wood fencing types are picket, privacy, and split rail designs.

For wood fencing on rural properties, ask us about discounted pricing for a wooden split rail fence.

Custom Stained Cedar Privacy Fence

Vinyl
A Vinyl Fence costs $70 to $90 per linear foot installed. Many local homeowners prefer prefabricated vinyl fencing panels because they don't need much maintenance, besides the occasional power washing. Vinyl is great for humid or rainy climates. White vinyl picket fences are common in front yard borders or as a more decorative option. Some vinyl privacy fences have a texture that simulates wood and its color, often at a premium cost (add 10-15%).

Many other websites tout vinyl as being the "cheapest fence to install" but vinyl is not recommended for commercial applications due to the tendency for breakage. Like anything plastic that sits outside, it gets brittle and will crack if it comes into contact with any machinery, rocks, etc. Vinyl is hollow so it does not have density like that of wood, or even some composite materials. 

When looking at the total cost of ownership for fencing, vinyl fence material could be the cheapest for a residential property if is installed correctly (correct post hole depth in concrete) and no storm damage occurs. Vinyl fencing is very light weight so it can be picked up by heavy winds, so that must be factored into the overall cost if you have to replace it.

Vinyl privacy fences can get damaged in high-wind areas.

A high-end vinyl fence installation.

Composite
A composite fence costs $130 to $150 per linear foot installed. Most composite fencing is more expensive than vinyl panels, with limited exceptions. A composite fence can outlast a plain vinyl fence due to its combination of plastic and wood fiber design and thicker mil spec.
This composite fence material does not require any sealing and is resistant to rotting and insects. Plus, composite fencing comes in a few different styles that can mimic stone or wood privacy borders. Composite fencing isn't for everyone with its very high cost and requirement for a professional installation. If you have the budget for composite fence material, it is the best option.

A Trex composite privacy fence installation in Saddle brown.

Aluminum
An aluminum fence costs $70 to $80 per linear foot installed. Aluminum fencing is a popular fence material choice to build the required security borders around outdoor pools and to keep small children and pets in the yard. Flat-top aluminum fences are the cheapest, while aluminum ornamental and privacy fences are the most expensive.
Most aluminum fences come with a black powder coating and are naturally resistant to rust.

An aluminum fence installation around a pool in Barrington Illinois.

Metal / steelA metal fence costs $50 to $120 per linear foot installed for steel, chain link, or wrought iron fences. A steel fence costs $70 to $90 per linear foot. Common steel fence options include corrugated steel, galvanized steel, stainless steel, and commercial steel. Metal fences are durable but can be expensive.
Chain-linkA chain-link fence costs $50 to $80 per linear foot installed. Prices are cheapest for 4' tall fences with plain galvanized-steel mesh, while 8' to 10' tall chain-link fences for commercial applications are the most expensive. This fence type is durable, long-lasting, and suits areas prone to high-winds.
Alternatively, a black chain-link fence costs $60 to $90 per linear foot installed and features a vinyl coating on the fabric that protects against rust.

A 4' black chain link fence installation in Lake in the Hills Illinois.

Wrought Iron
A wrought iron fence costs $90 to $120 per linear foot installed. This kind of fencing can be the most expensive, especially when built with high-quality 99% iron. Not only is the material expensive, but the cost of welding adds to the overall project cost. Wrought iron alloys outlast most other fences and serve as the best security borders since they're hard to climb, cut, or knock over. Wrought iron is typically only used for decorative or high-security applications.

Chain Link
A chain link fence costs $50 to $80 per linear foot installed. There are many variables such as height, number of gates, vinyl coating, if privacy screening is being added, and other styles that usually come into play when talking about commercial applications of chain link fencing. But for residential chain link fencing, it can be the lowest cost fence to install.

Chain link fencing can often be the cheapest fence to install, but it just depends on what is important to you. I'd venture to say that chain link lasts the longest over all other fence materials but doesn't look the nicest. So if cost and longevity are most important to you, a good ol' galvanized chain link fence is in your cards. Galvanized chain link fences are known to last 50 years+ with zero maintenance. But they don't offer any privacy and don't look very pretty.

Cost to install a fence by type
The following table shows the cost to install a fence by design type:

Cost to install a fence per linear foot chart.

Cost of Installing a New Fence

As you can see from the chart above, picket and rail style fences are the cheapest fence to install based on initial investment. Obviously thats not the only cost to consider when looking at the cost of a new fence. The overall cost of ownership should also be considered.

Privacy Fence Cost
Privacy fence often has a low upfront cost because it is mass produced, however it is still more expensive than a traditional picket style fence. Other fence styles such as pool fence or decorative picket fences do not meet this mold because they are not mass produced and depending on the type of material, could be a custom build or special order from the manufacturer.

Privacy fencing has physically more fence materials and is typically a higher height overall, such as 6' which is most common. While picket is traditionally less than 6' unless you are looking at more of a decorative picket or semi-privacy style fence.

Picket Fence Cost
Picket fencing is usually much lower in cost because it is less materials and less labor to install. Vinyl is an exception to this because it can be a premium material or premium style for picket. But for pressure treated pine or cedar picket fences, they will always be less cost than a privacy fence. A wood picket fence takes substantially less materials overall than a privacy fence, and is also shorter in height, resulting in at least 1/3 cost versus privacy fence.

Rail Fence Cost
Split rail fence, or rail fence, is a very basic design consisting of 2-4 rails per panel. So in between each post will be 2-4 rails running horizontally to the vertical posts. Your typical split rail fence consists of just 2 rails and is often in pressure treated pine or cedar fence material. These are common for farms, commercial properties, or decorative for a front yard to mark a boundary. Split rail fences are not recommended for securing animals or children as they do not suit that purpose well. 

We recommend split rail fences for large acreage properties because it is very inexpensive compared to a traditional style fence - picket or otherwise. The labor to install as well as the materials are at least 1/2 the cost compared to standard style fences.

Cost of Ownership
The cost of ownership must always be considered when purchasing a new fence. While the initial capital investment is important, you don't want to have to replace that fence again in a few years. Also when it comes to wood fences, if you choose to stain it, it has to be maintained and that isn't cheap whether doing it yourself or hiring a fence company to do for you.

Shadowbox style fences, semi-privacy fences, picket fences, split rail fences, and the like all have a lower cost of ownership because they allow air to freely pass between the fence pickets. Privacy fencing blocks wind, so repairs are often needed due to the wind pushing on them constantly. The style of fence is definitely something to consider when budgeting for a new fence.

A split rail fence installation in Lake in the Hills Illinois

Quality of Install

When shopping for a new fence and researching costs, you should consider the quality of the install. Sure, you may get a cheaper price from a fence contractor, but will they install it correctly? Each post needs to be set in concrete at least 3' deep in the ground with the proper nails and gate framing. When considering costs, think about that cheap fence guy and how many repairs and replacements you may have to do down the road. You may pay less upfront, but it'll cost you three times as much in 10 years.

If you have questions about fence installation, styles of fence, or overall costs please contact us directly. We respond to all requests within 24 hours and will be happy to come out to your property for an in-person consultation to answer all of your questions.

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