How Much Does It Cost to Install Wood Fence? (Price Guide)

Wood remains a popular fence material because it is easy to find, easy to cut, and simple to repair. It also takes paint and stain, so you can match it to your house.

The price you pay depends on the species, the height, the style, and how much of the cost is labor. Two quotes for the same fence can look very different if one includes staining and old fence removal and the other does not.

Labor often makes up a big part of a wood fence quote. It covers digging post holes, setting posts, hanging rails and boards, and cleaning up.

Labor goes up in cities, on slopes, and in rocky ground. If a crew has to cut through roots or break up hard soil, expect that time to appear in the quote.

Per-foot prices matter less than the final total. Published project totals cover many fence lengths and styles, so treat them as a starting point.

A picket fence around a small yard will fall at the lower end. A tall privacy fence around a large lot will push past the upper numbers. Ask for a written bid that lists length, height, style, and gates.

Gates take extra framing, hinges, and a latch. A driveway gate is wider and heavier than a walk gate, which is why it costs more.

Wood gates can sag over time if they are wide or poorly braced. Ask the installer how the gate frame is reinforced and what hardware is included.

• Pressure-treated pine. Lower cost, treated to resist rot and insects. It needs sealing and can warp as it dries.
• Cedar. Naturally resistant to decay and insects, with a pleasant grain. It costs more than pine.
• Other woods. Species such as redwood or cypress may be an option in some regions, but they can be harder to source.

Whatever wood you choose, ask about the post material. Posts sit in the ground and are where wood fences usually fail first. Treated posts rated for ground contact, or metal posts, last longer.

• Height and style. Taller privacy fences use more boards, while a picket fence uses fewer.
• Wood species and grade. Cedar and higher grades cost more.
• Length and layout. Corners, gates, and angles add posts and labor.
• Terrain. Slopes, rocks, and tree roots add time.
• Old fence removal. Tear-out and disposal are often extra.
• Finish. Stain or sealer protects the wood, and applying it adds cost.
• Permits. Many cities require them, and some set rules on height.

Three guides cover this topic, and they disagree on both the range and the way they present it.

Some of these sources are fence companies and reflect the markets they serve. Others offer a national range across several fence types. Regional labor rates, wood grade, fence height, and whether the figure includes a gate or removal may account for the differences. A quote from a local installer is more useful than any national average.

A wood fence needs periodic care. Staining or sealing helps slow weathering, and loose boards, leaning posts, and rot should be repaired early. Keeping soil and plants away from the boards also helps, because trapped moisture shortens the life of wood.

How long a wood fence lasts depends on the species, the climate, and the care it gets. Ask your installer about warranties on workmanship, since the wood itself usually carries only limited coverage.

A basic wood fence is among the more DIY-friendly fence types. You can save the labor cost, but you need the right tools, a helper or two, and patience. Set the posts first, and set them straight, because the rest of the fence depends on them. Call 811 before digging.

Hire a pro for long runs, steep lots, and jobs near a property line. A pro can also pull the permit and handle surprises, such as buried debris.