Fence cost calculator
Enter your fence length, height, and material to get the installed cost and a full bill of materials — posts, rails, pickets, and bags of concrete. Free, instant, no signup.
Short answer
Installed fence cost runs about $10–$25/ft for chain link, $12–$40 for wood, $20–$45 for vinyl, and $25–$55 for aluminum. A 150-ft 6-ft wood privacy fence is roughly $2,250–$6,000 and needs about 20 posts. Posts go every 8 ft (divide length by 8, add one), with about 2 bags of concrete each.
Chain link
$10–25/ft
installed
Wood
$12–40/ft
installed
Posts
every 8 ft
+1 + gates
Concrete
2 bags
per post
Fence cost by material (installed, 2026)
| Material | Cost per linear ft | 150 ft yard | 300 ft yard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood privacy | $15–$40 | $2,250–$6,000 | $4,500–$12,000 |
| Wood picket | $12–$30 | $1,800–$4,500 | $3,600–$9,000 |
| Vinyl | $20–$45 | $3,000–$6,750 | $6,000–$13,500 |
| Chain link | $10–$25 | $1,500–$3,750 | $3,000–$7,500 |
| Aluminum / steel | $25–$55 | $3,750–$8,250 | $7,500–$16,500 |
Installed cost (materials + labor) for a 6-ft fence, 2026 national ranges. Gates, slopes, rock digging, and old-fence removal can add to these figures.
Fence cost by material
How we calculate this
Every number on this page comes from the same formulas the calculator runs — a standard fence bill of materials, not a lead-capture estimate. Here is the exact math:
- Sections. fence length ÷ post spacing, rounded up. The default spacing is 8 ft (6 ft is common for heavy privacy fences).
- Posts. sections + 1, plus one extra post per gate.
- Rails. 2 rails per section under 6 ft tall, 3 rails per section at 6 ft and taller.
- Pickets. fence length in inches ÷ picket face width (5½″ privacy boards, 3½″ pickets). Panel and mesh materials — vinyl, chain link, aluminum — skip this line.
- Concrete. 2 bags per post — typical for setting a 4×4 post in an 8–10″ hole.
- Installed cost. fence length × the material’s installed cost range per linear foot (materials + labor).
Assumptions
- Level run on diggable soil; rock or heavy slope adds labor.
- Posts 8 ft on center, set in concrete (2 bags per post).
- 6-ft height used for the cost table; shorter fences use 2 rails per section.
- Cost ranges are national mid-range figures — high-cost metros can exceed the top of the range.
Sources
Last reviewed: July 12, 2026
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Frequently asked questions
How much does a fence cost?
Installed fence costs run about $10–$25 per linear foot for chain link, $12–$40 for wood, $20–$45 for vinyl, and $25–$55 for aluminum. A typical 150-ft wood privacy fence lands around $2,250–$6,000. Enter your length and material above for a tailored estimate.
How many fence posts do I need?
Divide the fence length by the post spacing (usually 8 feet) and add one for the end post, plus a post for each gate. A 100-ft fence at 8-ft spacing needs about 14 posts. The calculator counts posts, rails, pickets, and concrete for you.
How many bags of concrete per fence post?
About two 50-lb bags per post for a standard 4×4 in an 8–10 inch wide, 24–30 inch deep hole. Taller or windier fences use deeper holes and more concrete. The calculator estimates total bags from your post count.
How much does it cost to fence an acre?
A square acre is about 835 feet around, so fencing it costs roughly $8,000–$33,000 installed depending on material — chain link at the low end, vinyl or aluminum at the high end. Use the rectangular-yard mode to enter your exact dimensions.