Fence Installation Cost Guide — Materials, Height & Permits
Fence quotes per linear foot hide the real decisions: which material matches your goal, how height changes the bill, and which permit questions to answer before the crew arrives.
Quick answer: 2026 fence cost per linear foot installed: chain link $10–18 · wood $15–25 · vinyl $25–37 · composite $30–45 · wrought iron $35–53. Height factor vs 6 ft baseline: 4 ft ×0.67, 8 ft ×1.33. Gates +$300 each. Permits: most cities allow 6 ft back/side, 3–4 ft front — above that, permit + possible survey.
Material by goal
- Privacy: wood ($15–25/ft) or vinyl ($25–37/ft, zero maintenance)
- Pets/kids containment: chain link ($10–18/ft) — cheapest per foot
- Curb appeal: wrought iron ($35–53/ft) or composite ($30–45/ft)
- Pool code: mesh or wrought iron (climb-resistant, see-through)
- Lowest lifetime cost: vinyl — wood's repaint/stain cycle erases the price gap by year 8
The height factor
Costs scale near-linearly with height against the 6 ft baseline: 4 ft ≈ ×0.67, 8 ft ≈ ×1.33. But height also changes post depth and wind load — an 8-ft vinyl fence needs deeper posts and closer spacing, which is why some contractors quote 8-ft jobs ×1.5 instead of ×1.33.
The permit and survey checklist
- City fence code: max heights by yard position (typically 6 ft back/side, 3–4 ft front)
- Permit: $50–200, required above height limits in most cities
- Property line survey: $300–800 — worth it if the line is disputed; a fence 1 ft onto a neighbor's lot can be legally forced to move
- HOA approval: material and color restrictions, written approval before the crew arrives
- Utility locate: free 811 call — mandatory before post digging
Where quotes go wrong
Per-foot quotes assume open access and clean lines. Gates, corners (extra posts), rocky soil (post holes), old fence removal ($3–8/ft) and terrain slope (stepped or racked panels) all add. Get the itemized quote: materials, labor, gates, removal, corners, and what happens when they hit rock.