Cedar Fence Cost: 2026 Installed Price Calculator
Mike Martin, MA CSL, is the founder and construction cost editor of RemodelingExpense. His residential construction experience informs the site’s cost research, calculators, and homeowner project guidance.
Cedar fence cost ranges from $35 – $80 per linear foot installed, with a typical 150-linear-foot cedar fence project costing $5,250 – $12,000.
Cedar fence installation is driven by linear feet, cedar grade, fence height, board style, post type, gates, staining or sealing, terrain, demolition, access, cleanup, and local labor rates.
Use this calculator for cedar privacy fences, cedar picket fences, backyard fencing, and natural wood fence replacements.
Cost Calculator
Cedar Fence Cost Calculator
Cedar fence cost depends on linear feet, cedar grade, fence height, board style, post type, gates, staining or sealing, terrain, demolition, access, cleanup, and local labor rates.
Your estimated cost
For 150 linear foot
$5,250 – $12,000
About $35 – $80 per linear foot
Use your estimate as a starting point, then compare real prices from local contractors.
| Cost item | Low estimate | High estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,363 | $7,800 |
| Labor | $2,888 | $4,200 |
| Estimated cedar fence cost | $5,250 | $12,000 |
| Installed cost per linear foot | $35 | $80 |
Why your price may change
- Local labor rates vary.
- Material quality affects the price.
- Old material removal, repairs, permits, or code updates can add cost.
- Hard-to-reach areas, complex layouts, rush jobs, or premium contractors may cost more.
Estimate includes local labor adjustments and may differ slightly from rounded national cost examples.
Cedar Fence Cost vs Value
Cedar Fence may recover about 35%–60% of its cost.
Bottom line: Cedar fence cost depends on linear feet, cedar grade, fence height, board style, post type, gates, staining or sealing, terrain, demolition, access, cleanup, and local labor rates.
Worth it: Homeowners who want a natural wood fence with better appearance, better rot resistance than basic pressure-treated pine, and a traditional wood look for privacy, picket, or backyard fencing.
Skip it: Choose pressure-treated wood if lowest upfront cost matters most, vinyl fencing if you want lower maintenance, composite fencing if you want a premium wood-look fence with less upkeep, or redwood fencing if you want another premium natural wood option.
ROI ranges are planning estimates and should not be treated as an appraisal. This is only an estimate. Real resale value depends on your home, neighborhood, market, project quality, and buyer demand.
Contractor Reality Check
Cedar costs more than basic pressure-treated wood, but the price jump is not only the boards. Cedar grade, board thickness, post material, gates, finish work, and old fence removal can change the quote quickly.
My rule of thumb: ask what cedar grade is included, whether the posts are cedar or pressure-treated, and whether stain or sealer is part of the quote.
What to Confirm Before You Sign
- Linear feet: confirm the measured fence run, corners, returns, and gate sections.
- Cedar grade: ask whether the quote uses standard cedar, clear cedar, knotty cedar, or premium boards.
- Fence height: verify whether the price is for 4-foot, 5-foot, 6-foot, or taller cedar fencing.
- Board style: confirm privacy, picket, stockade, shadowbox, board-on-board, or custom layout.
- Posts: check post material, spacing, hole depth, and concrete setting.
- Finish: ask whether stain, sealer, or paint is included.
- Buffer: budget 10% to 20% for gates, demolition, slopes, rocky soil, staining, or tight access.
Surprise Costs That Move the Price
| Item | Why It Adds Cost | Typical Add |
|---|---|---|
| Clear cedar upgrade | Clear or premium cedar boards cost more than knotty or standard cedar. | $10 – $35+ per linear ft. |
| Old fence removal | Removing panels, posts, concrete, and debris adds labor and disposal. | $3 – $10 per linear ft. |
| Gates | Gates need stronger posts, framing, hinges, latches, and alignment time. | $300 – $1,800+ each |
| Staining or sealing | Cedar should usually be sealed or stained to slow weathering and color fade. | $3 – $12 per linear ft. |
| Sloped or rocky yard | Stepped panels, uneven grade, roots, rocks, and clay slow the install. | $5 – $20+ per linear ft. |
Cedar Fence Cost by Type
| Cedar Fence Type | Typical Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar privacy fence | $40 – $85+ per linear ft. | Backyard screening, property separation, and natural wood privacy. |
| Cedar picket fence | $30 – $65 per linear ft. | Front yards, gardens, decorative boundaries, and curb appeal. |
| Cedar stockade fence | $35 – $75 per linear ft. | Simple privacy, tighter board spacing, and traditional wood fencing. |
| Cedar board-on-board fence | $50 – $95+ per linear ft. | Better privacy, fewer gaps, and a more finished fence face. |
| Premium cedar fence | $65 – $120+ per linear ft. | Visible yards, upgraded boards, decorative caps, trim, and custom layouts. |
Is a Cedar Fence Worth It?
A cedar fence is worth it when you want a natural wood fence with better appearance, better rot resistance than basic pressure-treated pine, and a traditional wood look for privacy, picket, or backyard fencing.
Choose pressure-treated wood fencing if lowest upfront cost matters most, vinyl fencing if you want lower maintenance, composite fencing if you want a premium wood-look fence with less upkeep, or redwood fencing if you want another premium natural wood option.
References – Cedar Fence Cost
- Product Reference: The Home Depot Fencing
- Product Reference: Lowe’s Fencing and Gates
- Labor Wage Data: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Labor Burden Data: Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Last Updated: 6/20/26
670 people found this helpful. Was this guide helpful to you?