Updated quarterly · Q3 2026
Fence Cost Index
The national benchmark for installed fence pricing — median cost per linear foot across 440 U.S. cities in 22 states, tracked by material and updated every quarter. Free to cite with attribution.
National cost per linear foot by material
Median of city-level installed ranges across 440 cities.
| Material | Typical range | Median midpoint | Index weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood (cedar privacy) | $28–$50 / ft | $39 / ft | 40% |
| Chain link | $17–$28 / ft | $22.5 / ft | 25% |
| Vinyl | $30–$52 / ft | $41 / ft | 20% |
| Wrought iron / ornamental | $38–$65 / ft | $51.5 / ft | 10% |
| Composite | $45–$75 / ft | $60 / ft | 5% |
Fence cost index by state
States we track, most expensive first. State values are medians of the cities we cover there — see each state hub for city-level pricing.
| State | Index ($/ft) | Wood | Chain link | Vinyl | Iron | Composite | Cities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 72 |
| Oklahoma | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 15 |
| California | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 53 |
| Florida | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 40 |
| Georgia | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 25 |
| Arizona | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 20 |
| North Carolina | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 20 |
| Colorado | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 16 |
| Tennessee | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 14 |
| Ohio | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 18 |
| Virginia | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 16 |
| Washington | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 15 |
| Pennsylvania | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 14 |
| Illinois | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 17 |
| New Jersey | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 15 |
| South Carolina | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 12 |
| Indiana | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 12 |
| Missouri | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 10 |
| Minnesota | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 10 |
| Nevada | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 6 |
| Wisconsin | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 10 |
| Oregon | $37.6 | $39 | $22.5 | $41 | $51.5 | $60 | 10 |
Most expensive metros
- 1.Southlake, TX$47.4/ft
- 2.Colleyville, TX$47.4/ft
- 3.Plano, TX$42.9/ft
- 4.Richardson, TX$42.9/ft
- 5.Allen, TX$42.9/ft
- 6.Flower Mound, TX$42.9/ft
- 7.Rockwall, TX$42.9/ft
- 8.Grapevine, TX$42.9/ft
- 9.McKinney, TX$42.9/ft
- 10.Frisco, TX$42.9/ft
Most affordable metros
- 1.Greenville, SC$34.1/ft
- 2.Lancaster, PA$34.1/ft
- 3.Arvada, CO$34.1/ft
- 4.Lancaster, CA$34.1/ft
- 5.Shawnee, OK$34.1/ft
- 6.Bartlesville, OK$34.1/ft
- 7.Muskogee, OK$34.1/ft
- 8.Stillwater, OK$34.1/ft
- 9.Mesquite, TX$34.1/ft
- 10.Garland, TX$34.1/ft
Methodology
We maintain installed-cost ranges (labor + materials, standard residential install) for five fence materials in 440 U.S. cities across 22 states, compiled from contractor pricing research and checked against our editorial standards. For each material, the index takes the median of city-range midpoints. The headline index value combines materials using fixed install-share weights: wood 40%, chain link 25%, vinyl 20%, wrought iron 10%, composite 5%.
Medians (not means) keep single expensive metros from skewing the benchmark. State values use the same method within each state. The index is recalculated when the underlying dataset is updated — next scheduled update: October 2026. Ranges exclude demolition, difficult terrain, and permit fees; see our cost per foot guide for what moves a quote inside the range, and our methodology page for how the underlying dataset is built.
Cite or embed this index
The Fence Cost Index is free to cite in articles, research, newsletters, and media with attribution. Suggested citation:
Fence Advisors Fence Cost Index, Q3 2026. fenceadvisors.com/fence-cost-index
Embed the live national table on your site (the widget updates automatically each quarter):
<iframe src="https://fenceadvisors.com/fence-cost-index/embed" title="Fence Cost Index by Fence Advisors" width="100%" height="460" loading="lazy" style="border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:12px;"></iframe>
<p>Source: <a href="https://fenceadvisors.com/fence-cost-index">Fence Advisors Fence Cost Index</a></p>Machine-readable version: fence-cost-index.json. Journalists and researchers: for custom cuts (metro, material, or historical), email hello@fenceadvisors.com.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a fence cost per foot in the United States?
As of Q3 2026, the national index value is $37.6 per linear foot installed, weighted across materials. Wood runs $28–$50, chain link $17–$28, vinyl $30–$52, wrought iron $38–$65, and composite $45–$75 per linear foot.
Why is this different from other national cost figures?
Most published numbers are single national averages. The index is built bottom-up from city-level ranges we maintain for 440 cities, so state and metro differences — often 30% or more — are visible instead of averaged away.
How often is the index updated?
Quarterly. Next scheduled update: October 2026. The embed widget and JSON endpoint always serve the current quarter.