US Home Cost
Wooden privacy fence along a residential yard

Home / Costs / Fence cost per foot

U.S. fence installation cost per linear foot

Use the calculator: pick material, height, terrain, tear-out, and market — then enter fence length for a tighter total.

Last updated: August 2026

Cost calculator

Tap each row. Use the ? if a term is unclear — some words are contractor jargon.

1. Material
2. Height
3. Yard / terrain
4. Old fence
5. What’s included
6. U.S. market

Chain link · 4 ft · Flat, easy dig · No removal · Materials only · Lower-cost area

$1–$8 per linear foot installed

$100 – $800U.S. ballpark for the filters above — get local bids to confirm

Homeowners searching fence cost per foot usually want one number. In practice, U.S. installed pricing splits by material first, then height, terrain, tear-out, and market. The calculator above narrows those pieces so you are not staring at every fence type at once.

What “per foot” actually means

Most contractor quotes are priced per linear foot of fence line, measured along the run — not the square footage of the yard. A 100-foot backyard perimeter is not the same job as 100 feet of front-yard picket with three gates. Corner posts, end posts, and gate openings change labor even when the panel count looks similar.

Residential property exterior with yard boundary
Chain link is usually the lowest installed per-foot option in most U.S. markets.

Typical U.S. ranges by material

  • Chain link: commonly about $16–$26 per foot installed for standard residential heights.
  • Wood privacy (pine/cedar mix): often about $28–$42 per foot installed for typical 6-ft runs.
  • Vinyl: frequently about $34–$48 per foot installed for low-maintenance privacy panels.
  • Ornamental aluminum/steel: often $42–$62+ per foot depending on style and height.

Those bands still move with lumber prices, crew availability, and local code. Rocky soil, slope, HOA design rules, and buried utility locates add cost that a national average cannot see. Budget toward the middle-to-upper half of the filtered range if you want fewer change-order surprises — the cheapest online number is rarely what a licensed crew bills on a finished job.

Suburban home backyard with fencing context
Site access and slope often matter as much as the panel material you choose.

How to use this estimate

Select the material you actually want, set height, choose materials-only vs installed, then enter length. The calculator adds height and scope adjustments on top of the material band so you are not staring at a $15–$65 catch-all. Gates, demolition of an old fence, and permit fees are still separate line items in many markets.