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MaterialCalc — Fence Cost Calculator

Estimate prepared 09/01/2026. Estimates only; verify against your plans before ordering.

Fence Cost Calculator

Add up every run. Corners do not need extra length.

Each gate needs its own post and hardware.

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Result

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Fence quotes come per linear foot, which hides where the money actually goes. Posts and the concrete to set them are a fixed cost per section regardless of what you hang between them, so a cheap infill on an expensive post layout saves less than you would think. This prices four styles against the same run.

Assumptions used

These are the numbers behind the result. Where one of them is soft, the cost range widens rather than pretending to a precision the data does not have.

Fence post spacing
96 in

Eight feet on center, matching a stock panel. Six feet holds up better in wind.

Fence panel stock sizes — Published product data, checked 09/01/2026

Post depth as a fraction of height
0.33

A third of the post in the ground, and always below the frost line.

Standard fencing practice — Industry standard, varies by supplier, checked 09/01/2026

50 lb fast-set bags per post
2 bags

For a 4x4 in a 10 in hole about 2 ft deep. Bigger posts and deeper holes take more.

Quikrete product data sheet — Industry standard, varies by supplier, checked 09/01/2026

Fence picket width
5.5 in

Home Depot / Lowe's published product data — Published product data, checked 09/01/2026

Rails per fence section
3 rails

Three rails for a 6 ft privacy fence; two is enough at 4 ft.

Standard fencing practice — Industry standard, varies by supplier, checked 09/01/2026

Prices verified 09/01/2026 (US national average, big-box retail shelf price and regional ready-mix quotes). Regional adjustment: Blended from RSMeans city cost index bands and BLS construction wage differentials.

The formula

Sections = run length ÷ 8 ft. Posts = sections + 1 + one per gate. The infill varies by style: pickets and rails for board on rail, panels for preassembled and vinyl, linear feet of fabric for chain link. Post concrete is two bags each. Labor is priced per linear foot of run.

Worked examples

150 ft of 6 ft wood panel fence, one gate

Total fence length: 150 Fence height: 6 Fence style: panel Gates: 1 Waste: 10

The standard suburban back yard. 19 panels, 22 posts and a pallet of concrete — and the comparison table shows what the same run costs in vinyl.

150 ft in vinyl

Total fence length: 150 Fence height: 6 Fence style: vinyl Gates: 1 Waste: 10

Same posts, same concrete, roughly double the infill cost. The premium is smaller than the per-panel price difference implies.

400 ft of 4 ft chain link around a yard

Total fence length: 400 Fence height: 4 Fence style: chainlink Gates: 2 Waste: 10

Long runs are where chain link wins decisively. At this length the difference against wood is several thousand dollars.

Choosing materials

  • Posts and concrete are roughly the same cost whatever style you build, so the price difference between wood and vinyl is smaller per foot than the material price suggests.
  • Vinyl costs about twice wood up front and needs no sealing, staining or board replacement. Over 15 years it is usually the cheaper fence, and it looks the same at year 15 as at year one.
  • Chain link is a third the price of anything else here and offers no privacy at all. Slats help a little and cost enough that a wood fence starts to compete.
  • Sloped ground changes everything. Panels have to be stepped, which leaves triangular gaps at the bottom; board on rail can be racked to follow the grade. If your run has slope, that decides the style.
  • Confirm the property line before setting a post. A fence on the wrong side of a line is a survey, a legal letter and a rebuild, and it happens often enough that surveyors have a standard fee for it.

Common questions

How much does a fence cost per linear foot?

Materials typically run $12 to $22 per foot for wood, $22 to $40 for vinyl and $6 to $12 for chain link at 6 ft height. Installed, roughly double those figures. Gates, slope and rocky ground all add.

Is vinyl fencing worth the extra cost?

It costs about twice as much up front and needs no maintenance beyond washing. Wood needs sealing every two or three years and boards replaced over time. Past about 12 to 15 years, vinyl is usually cheaper to have owned.

What is the cheapest fence to build?

Chain link, by a wide margin — roughly a third the material cost of wood at the same height. It provides no privacy. Among privacy options, board on rail in pressure-treated pine is the cheapest.

How much does a fence gate add?

A gate needs its own post, heavier hardware and more concrete — typically $150 to $400 for a walk gate and $400 to $900 for a drive gate. Wide gates need 6x6 posts, which pushes the cost up further.

Does sloped ground cost more to fence?

Yes. Panels have to be stepped down the slope, leaving gaps at the bottom of each section that often need filling. Board on rail can be racked to follow the ground and is the better choice on any real grade.

Do I need a permit to build a fence?

Many jurisdictions require one above 6 ft, and most have rules about height in front yards and about which side of the property line the fence sits on. HOAs frequently have their own rules on style and color.

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