Usual Cost to Install a Wood Fence

Wood Variety

Among all the great reasons for installing a wood fence on your property is its aesthetics. Wood fences have a classic beauty that you’re not going to find anywhere else. Of course, the type of wood you use in your new fence will greatly influence its look as well as its price.

There are several different wood species to choose from, with each meeting different needs ofdifferent people. If you’re willing to pay a premium, you might prefer redwood or tropical woods, which can go for as much as $15 per foot. Pine, however, can be stained and painted in any color you want, is resistant to decay, and is available for a price as low as $3 per foot.

Prices will vary with supply and inflation, and the type of wood used as well as installation fees will vary depending on your location, but HomeGuide has a helpful guideline that will give you a good place to start.

Additional Materials

There’s more to constructing a wood fence than just lumber. There are several other materials that will be required to both install and construct the fence. If you're planning on building your own fence, here's some of what you'll need:

Tools - If you’re going to install the fence on your own, you’ll need screws, a drill, drill bits, an air compressor, and a finish nailer. These will cost somewhere in the area of $400 to $900.

Auger - Required for making holes in the earth for posts. While manual versions can be purchased for as little as $20, you may prefer to rent a power auger for $50 to $100 per day.

Posts - A support system will run approximately $10 to $50 per post.

Concrete - To secure the posts, concrete will be required costing between $10 and $15 for each 80-lb bag, with a typical post usually requiring between one to four bags.

As you can see, these expenses can really add up. One of the many benefits of hiring a professional installer is they’ll either already have the materials (tools, for instance), or they can purchase them in bulk at a cheaper price than is available to the customer. 

Labor

While you will save a lot of money on materials by hiring professionals, you will have to pay for the labor. Contractors will have to dig holes, install horizontal rails between the posts, and then fasten boards to the rails.

When weighing the pros and cons of the different materials and installation options, it’s worth considering the (positive) impact a new fence will have on your home’s resale value. There are choices you can make that may seem costly in the short term but will have economic benefits when it’s time to sell. 

Fence Style

Different styles of fences require different types and lengths of wood. Because there are no gaps in privacy fences, they tend to cost more than either split rail or picket, but the range of prices for each style is too broad to quote here.

Before deciding on a style of fence, consider its main purpose. Do you want a fence for privacy? Is providing a secure place for dogs and kids to play your primary motivation? Perhaps you want a fence to compliment a garden. You might be able to save some money if a cheaper option checks all the boxes you require.

Read More: Different Wood Fence Styles

Extras

Other factors that will impact the price of a new wood fence include its height, waterproofing, and caps or fence toppers. Whereas most posts are in the $10 to $12 range, fence caps and toppers can be exorbitantly expensive (up to $50 each) depending on the style.

If your fence requires a gate, that’s another thing to consider. A simple gate allowing people to enter and exit will probably be fairly inexpensive, but one that’s used to restrict entrance to a driveway will cost more.

Finally, if your municipality requires a permit and inspection, you'll need to pay for that.

Conclusion

There’s no easy answer to the question, “How much will my wood fence cost?” There are simply too many variables to give anyone a definitive answer.

The best way to find out how much a wood fence will cost in your area is to call a professional fence installer and schedule a consultation appointment. They'll be able to measure your property, talk to you about the different options available, and provide you with an accurate quote.