Wood 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.
Wood fence cost ranges from $25 – $65 per linear foot installed, with a typical 150-linear-foot wood fence project costing $3,750 – $9,750.
Wood fence installation is driven by linear feet, wood species, fence height, board style, post type, gates, staining or sealing, terrain, demolition, access, cleanup, and local labor rates.
Use this calculator for wood privacy fences, picket fences, cedar fences, redwood fences, and traditional backyard fencing.
Cost Calculator
Wood Fence Cost Calculator
Wood fence cost depends on linear feet, wood species, 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
$3,750 – $9,750
About $25 – $65 per linear foot
Use your estimate as a starting point, then compare real prices from local contractors.
| Cost item | Low estimate | High estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,500 | $5,850 |
| Labor | $2,250 | $3,900 |
| Estimated wood fence cost | $3,750 | $9,750 |
| Installed cost per linear foot | $25 | $65 |
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.
Wood Fence Cost vs Value
Wood Fence may recover about 30%–55% of its cost.
Bottom line: Wood fence cost depends on linear feet, wood species, fence height, board style, post type, gates, staining or sealing, terrain, demolition, access, cleanup, and local labor rates.
Worth it: Homeowners who want a flexible fence material for privacy, picket fencing, backyard screening, property separation, pet containment, or a traditional wood look.
Skip it: Skip this project if the area needs vinyl fencing, composite fencing, chain link fencing, metal fencing, pool fencing, or a non-wood fence system instead of a wood fence.
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
Wood fence pricing depends on more than boards. Post setting, gates, old fence removal, slope, soil conditions, and whether the fence will be stained or sealed can move the final quote.
My rule of thumb: ask whether the quote includes posts, concrete, gates, old fence removal, haul-off, cleanup, and whether staining or sealing is included.
What to Confirm Before You Sign
- Linear feet: confirm the measured fence run, corners, returns, and gate sections.
- Wood species: ask whether the quote uses pressure-treated pine, cedar, redwood, or another wood.
- Fence height: verify whether the price is for 4-foot, 5-foot, 6-foot, or taller fencing.
- Board style: confirm picket, privacy, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | $250 – $1,500+ each |
| Cedar or redwood upgrade | Premium wood costs more than pressure-treated pine. | $8 – $35+ per linear ft. |
| Staining or sealing | Wood fence protection adds material and labor after installation. | $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. |
Wood Fence Cost by Type
| Fence Type | Typical Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure-treated wood fence | $25 – $50 per linear ft. | Budget wood fencing, backyard separation, and basic privacy. |
| Cedar fence | $35 – $75+ per linear ft. | Better appearance, natural rot resistance, and upgraded curb appeal. |
| Redwood fence | $45 – $90+ per linear ft. | Premium wood fencing, visible yards, and higher-end finish quality. |
| Wood picket fence | $25 – $55 per linear ft. | Front yards, decorative fencing, gardens, and lower-height boundaries. |
| Wood privacy fence | $30 – $70+ per linear ft. | Backyard screening, pet containment, and property separation. |
Is a Wood Fence Worth It?
A wood fence is worth it when you want a flexible fence material for privacy, picket fencing, backyard screening, property separation, pet containment, or a traditional wood look.
Skip this project if the area needs vinyl fencing, composite fencing, chain link fencing, metal fencing, pool fencing, or a non-wood fence system instead of a wood fence.
References – Wood 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
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