How much does a wood fence cost?

Published July 21, 2026.

A wood fence typically costs about $10 to $35 per linear foot installed, which works out to roughly $1,900 to $6,500 for an average yard. HomeAdvisor puts the average project at $3,312, with a typical range of $1,919 to $4,948, while Fixr lands a bit higher at $4,500 on average and a $3,500 to $6,500 range. Your real number swings with the wood you pick, how tall the fence is, how much of it you need, the shape of your land, and local labor rates. These are national planning figures, not a quote, so the goal here is to help you set a realistic budget before you call for bids.

What a wood fence costs

Two numbers matter: the price per linear foot and the total for your yard.

Per linear foot installed, HomeAdvisor gives a range of $10 to $30, Fixr gives $15 to $35, and This Old House lists $10 to $45 depending on wood type and quality. Most standard residential jobs land somewhere in the middle of those spreads.

For a whole yard, the total depends mostly on how many linear feet you are fencing. A small yard might come in around $1,900 to $2,000 on the low end, an average yard around $3,300 to $4,500, and a large or premium job $6,500 or more, based on the HomeAdvisor and Fixr ranges above. To get to your own number, measure the perimeter you want to enclose in feet, then multiply by a per-foot figure for the wood and height you have in mind.

What drives the price

Two fences of the same length can cost very different amounts. Here is what moves the needle.

Wood type. This is the biggest material variable. Pine and spruce are cheapest, cedar sits in the middle, and redwood costs the most (see the table below).
Height. Taller fences use more material and take longer to set. HomeAdvisor notes that going from a 6-foot to an 8-foot fence adds about 25 to 35 percent to the overall cost.
Labor versus materials. Fixr splits a typical installed foot into roughly $5 to $15 in materials and $10 to $20 in labor, and describes labor as about half the project cost. HomeAdvisor puts labor alone at $5 to $20 per linear foot. Difficult access or complex layouts push labor up.
Terrain. Sloped, rocky, or root-filled ground slows the crew and can require stepped panels or extra digging, which raises the per-foot price.
Gates. Each gate is an add-on. Fixr estimates $52 to $300 per gate, while HomeAdvisor lists a standard 4-foot gate at $200 to $600, hardware included.
Old fence removal. Tearing out and hauling off an existing fence adds cost. Fixr figures $2 to $5 per linear foot, and HomeAdvisor estimates $300 to $750 for a typical removal.
Permits and surveys. Many towns require a permit. Fixr puts fence permits at $70 to $400 and HomeAdvisor at $100 to $500. If your property lines are unclear, a land survey runs about $575 per Fixr, or $200 to $1,200 per HomeAdvisor.

Cost by wood type

Wood choice is where you have the most control over the budget. These are typical installed costs per linear foot from Fixr. Prices vary by region, grade, and year, so use them to compare options, not as firm quotes.

Wood type	Typical installed cost per linear foot	Notes
Pine	$10 to $25	Budget choice, usually pressure treated; needs the most upkeep
Spruce	$10 to $25	Inexpensive and common; shorter lifespan than cedar
Cedar	$15 to $30	Naturally resists rot and insects; popular middle ground
Western red cedar	$15 to $30	Higher-grade cedar with fewer knots
Redwood	$25 to $40	Durable and attractive; priciest and hardest to source

Softwoods like pine cost less up front but ask for more staining and sealing over time. Cedar and redwood cost more but hold up better against rot and insects on their own, which can pay off over the life of the fence.

DIY versus hiring a pro

Doing it yourself saves labor, which is the larger half of most jobs. This Old House estimates you save about $1,700 by installing a fence yourself instead of hiring out. Since Fixr counts labor as roughly half the project cost, cutting it is real money.

That said, a wood fence is more work than it looks. You are locating property lines, digging post holes below the frost line, setting posts plumb and level in concrete, and keeping long runs straight over uneven ground. Mistakes show, and a leaning or crooked fence is hard to fix after the concrete cures. DIY makes the most sense on flat ground, a straightforward layout, and a manageable length, especially if you already own or can rent the tools.

Hiring a pro makes more sense on sloped or rocky terrain, long perimeters, or where permits, surveys, and utility line marking add up. A good installer also carries insurance and stands behind the work. If digging near buried utilities, call 811 first to have lines located, whoever does the work.

How to budget

Start by measuring the perimeter you want to fence, in linear feet, and deciding on a wood type and height. Multiply the feet by a per-foot range from above to get a rough total, then add for gates, old-fence removal, and permits if they apply. You can get a range for your yard with our wood fence cost calculator before you make any calls.

From there, get two to three written bids from local installers. Fencing prices vary a lot by region and by year, and a national average cannot capture your ground conditions, your town’s permit fees, or what crews charge locally. Ask each bid to itemize materials, labor, gates, removal, and permits so you are comparing the same scope. If one bid is far below the others, find out what it leaves out.

A wood fence touches property lines, setbacks, height limits, and sometimes shared-fence rules with neighbors. Confirm the details with your local building department and a licensed fence contractor, and check any HOA rules, before you commit. The figures here are a planning range to size up the project, not a quote for your yard.

Sources

HomeAdvisor · How Much Does Wood Fence Installation Cost? homeadvisor.com/cost/fencing/install-a-wood-fence
Fixr · Wood Fence Installation Cost. fixr.com/costs/wood-fence
This Old House · Choosing the Perfect Backyard Fence. thisoldhouse.com/lawns/reviews/backyard-fence

Wood fence cost calculator →

Frequently asked questions

How much does a wood fence cost per linear foot?

Installed, a wood fence usually runs about $10 to $35 per linear foot, and This Old House puts the full spread at $10 to $45 depending on wood type and quality. Materials make up roughly $5 to $15 of that, per Fixr, and labor the rest. Pine and spruce sit at the low end; cedar is mid-range; redwood costs the most. Your final number depends on height, terrain, and local labor rates, so treat any per-foot figure as a planning range.

Is a cedar or pine fence cheaper?

Pine is cheaper. Fixr puts an installed pine or spruce fence at about $10 to $25 per linear foot, cedar at $15 to $30, and redwood at $25 to $40. Pine, often pressure treated, is the budget choice but needs more upkeep. Cedar resists rot and insects naturally and is the popular middle ground. Redwood looks great and lasts but costs the most and is hardest to find outside the western states.

Do I need a permit to build a wood fence?

Often yes, and it depends on your city or county. Fixr estimates fence permits at about $70 to $400, and HomeAdvisor puts them at $100 to $500. Many areas also cap fence height, set how far it must sit from the property line, and treat corner lots differently. Confirm the rules with your local building department, and check any HOA covenants, before you buy materials or dig.