How much does a fence cost?

Fencing runs about $6 to $50 per linear foot installed, averaging near $23. A 200-foot yard is therefore roughly $2,000 to $9,000 depending on material, with chain link cheapest and wrought iron most expensive.

How do I measure my yard for fencing?

Walk the perimeter you want enclosed and measure it in linear feet, or pace it out and multiply. You only need the run you're fencing, not the whole lot line — many people fence a back yard only. Add the width of each gate opening separately.

Why are gates priced separately from the fence?

Because a gate is a fabricated assembly with hardware, not a length of fence. A walk gate runs $200 to $700 and a double drive gate $500 to $1,800, and an automatic driveway gate is a project of its own. Gates are the most commonly under-quoted line in a fence bid.

Does this include the cost of a permit?

No. Permit fees vary widely by jurisdiction and many areas require one for fences above a certain height. Ask your contractor whether they pull the permit and whether the fee is in their quote.

Is this calculator a quote?

No. It's a planning estimate from typical 2026 installed ranges and your inputs. Your real price depends on ground conditions, access, hidden obstacles, and local labour rates, so always get written quotes.

Fence Cost Calculator

Estimate your installed price by material, length, height, ground conditions, and region — with gates priced separately, because that's where fence quotes most often surprise people. No email required.

MaterialFence length (linear feet)Not sure? A typical suburban back yard is 150–250 ft; a full quarter-acre lot perimeter is ~420 ft.

Height

Ground conditionsRegion

GatesPriced per gate, not per foot — the line item most quotes understate.

Walk gate (3–4 ft)1

Double / drive gate (10–12 ft)0

Automatic driveway gate + opener0

Remove an existing fence

Estimated chain link fence

$1,800–$5,700

≈ $9.00–$28.50 per linear foot, all in

Fence, installed: $1,600–$5,000
Gates: $200–$700
Estimated total: $1,800–$5,700

Compare this to a quote you have →

A 2026 planning estimate, not a quote. Actual price depends on your ground, access, gates, permits, and local labour. Always get written quotes.

How to read the estimate

The range is deliberately wide, because two honest quotes for the same run can differ a lot. The low end is a basic grade on flat, easy ground; the high end is a premium product, difficult digging, or a high-cost metro. Where your real quotes land inside — or outside — that band is the useful signal.

The per-linear-foot figure underneath the total is the number to quote back to contractors. It's how the trade prices work, and it makes bids for different fence lengths directly comparable.

Why gates get their own line

A fence is priced by the foot; a gate is a built assembly with posts, bracing, hinges, and a latch. That's why a quote that quietly bundles “fence and gates” into a per-foot number is hard to compare, and why gates are the single most common source of a bid coming in above expectation. A walk gate typically adds $200 to $700, a double drive gate $500 to $1,800, and an automatic driveway gate is a project in its own right.

What this calculator doesn't include

It doesn't know about permits (local and variable), surveys if your property line is uncertain, tree or root removal, rock encountered mid-dig, or hauling material to an inaccessible back yard. Treat the output as a planning range, get two or three written quotes, and check them against typical ranges.

Local rules vary. Before you build, confirm your local height limit, setback, and permit requirement — and be certain where your property line actually runs. Those rules are local and a fence in the wrong place is expensive to move.

Keep going

Is My Fence Quote Fair?Compare a real quote to typical ranges.Compare Fence MaterialsSee cost next to lifespan and upkeep.Fence SelectorNot sure which material yet? Start here.Types of FencesEvery option in one overview.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a fence cost?: About $6–$50 per linear foot installed (averaging ~$23), so a 200-foot yard runs roughly $2,000–$9,000 depending on material.
How do I measure my yard for fencing?: Measure the perimeter you're enclosing in linear feet — not the whole lot unless you're fencing all of it. Count gate openings separately.
Why are gates priced separately from the fence?: A gate is an assembly with hardware, not a length of fence — $200–$700 for a walk gate, $500–$1,800 for a double. It's the most under-quoted line in fence bids.
Does this include the cost of a permit?: No — permit fees are local and vary widely. See when you need a fence permit.
Is this calculator a quote?: No — a planning estimate. Get written quotes, then check whether they're fair.