A wood fence costs $20 to $50 per linear foot installed, or $4,000 to $10,000 for a typical 200-linear-foot project, per HomeGuide2. Angi puts the average wood fence installation at $3,312, with most homeowners paying $1,919 to $4,948 and a published average of $10 to $30 per linear foot across styles1. A figure from Homewyse’s estimating model prices a basic 6-foot privacy fence at $33.07 to $53.00 per linear foot3. These scopes differ — whole-project averages, style-by-style installed rates, and one privacy-fence spec — so each figure below carries its source. All figures are the latest published data from each publisher.
Cost by fence length
HomeGuide’s installed totals by length, for picket and privacy fences up to 6 feet tall2:
| Length (linear ft) | Average cost installed |
|---|---|
| 50 | $1,000–$2,500 |
| 100 | $2,000–$5,000 |
| 150 | $3,000–$7,500 |
| 200 | $4,000–$10,000 |
| 300 | $6,000–$15,000 |
| 500 | $10,000–$25,000 |
Angi prices whole projects without a fixed length: $1,919 to $4,948 for most homeowners, with extremes of $800 on the small end and $8,000 or more on the large end1. For rural properties, its per-acre figures run $8,350 to $25,050 for one acre, with the per-acre rate falling as more acres are fenced (its table shows $2,950 to $8,855 per acre at eight acres)1. Angi notes shorter fences can cost more per linear foot because prep work is similar regardless of length1.
Cost by fence style
Both publishers price installed fencing by style; their bands overlap, so treat them as two published estimates rather than a disagreement12:
| Style | Angi (per linear ft) | HomeGuide (per linear ft, installed) |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | $27–$60 | $25–$50 (6 ft); $50–$75 (8 ft) |
| Picket | $10–$75 | $20–$40 (3–5 ft) |
| Split rail | $10–$30 | $15–$35 |
| Lattice topper (add-on) | $2–$12 | — |
Within wood styles, HomeGuide ranks privacy fences as using the most material and carrying the highest cost, and split rail as using the least and coming in cheapest2. Height matters separately: Angi budgets 20% to 30% more for fences taller than the standard 4-, 5- or 6-foot sizes1.
Cost by wood type
Two different scopes are published here. Angi’s per-type figures all sit within the $1 to $15 per linear foot range it publishes elsewhere on the same page for lumber alone; the table itself does not state whether installation is included, so its column is labeled as published1:
| Wood | Angi, per linear ft (as published) | HomeGuide, installed per linear ft (privacy / picket & split rail) |
|---|---|---|
| Pine | $1–$5 | $20–$45 untreated / $45–$90 pressure-treated (privacy) |
| Cedar | $2–$3 | $35–$40 / $25–$35 |
| Western red cedar | $6–$8 | $45–$90 / $22–$45 |
| Spruce | $5 | $22–$35 / $11–$17 |
| Cypress | $2 | $27–$43 / $13–$22 |
| Redwood | $8 | $35–$50 low grade; $70–$120 high grade (privacy) |
| Black locust | $5–$10 | $40–$80 / $20–$40 |
| Oak | $5–$10 | $30–$75 / $15–$37 |
| Tropical hardwoods | $8–$15 | $35–$55 / $17–$27 |
| Composite wood | $6–$10 | $55–$85 / $20–$35 |
The two columns are not directly comparable: Angi’s table does not state whether installation is included, while HomeGuide’s explicitly includes it (privacy fences 6–8 ft tall versus picket and split rail up to 5 ft)12. On lifespan, HomeGuide publishes 15 to 50-plus years across wood types depending on installation and maintenance — basic pine 5 to 10 years, plain cedar 15 to 20 and western red cedar up to 25-plus, redwood 25 to 35, tropical hardwoods 30 to 50 with sealing2.
Labor costs and timelines
HomeGuide splits installed pricing into materials at $10 to $30 per linear foot and labor at $5 to $20 per linear foot, with privacy-fence labor at the top of that range ($15 to $20) and picket or split-rail labor at $5 to $152. Angi prices hiring a contractor at $10 to $30 per linear foot overall, or $25 to $60 per hour depending on region and complexity, and puts a 100- to 200-foot fence at one to three days for a professional crew1. HomeGuide’s per-100-feet labor estimates: 13 to 16 hours for picket or privacy styles, 10 to 12 for split rail, 20 to 30 for hand-nailed work, and 19 to 22 for replacements2.
Homewyse’s privacy-fence spec
Homewyse’s $33.07 to $53.00 per linear foot (May 2026) assumes one specific build: a 6-foot-tall privacy fence of 1×6 contractor-grade boards on 2×4 rails, with 4×4 pressure-treated posts set in concrete at 8-foot spacing, installed by a pro under favorable site conditions3. Its estimate excludes sales tax and permit fees, and Homewyse says to add 13% to 22% if a general contractor supervises the job3.
Site prep and extras
Removing an old fence: Angi prices $300 to $750 total, or $3 to $7 per linear foot; HomeGuide publishes a higher $10 to $20 per linear foot including disposal — two published figures presented side by side12. Grading an uneven yard runs $1,000 to $3,225 (Angi, with small areas around $400) or $500 to $3,000 (HomeGuide)12. Tree removal on the fence line: $200 to $2,000 per tree, averaging $750 (Angi); HomeGuide’s smaller-tree figure is $400 to $1,200 plus $100 to $400 for stump removal12. A standard 4-foot gate adds $200 to $600 (Angi)1. Staining or painting the finished fence: $2 to $14 per linear foot (HomeGuide) or $750 to $4,250 per project (Angi) — different units, so no direct comparison12. If the property line is uncertain, a land survey costs $200 to $1,200 (HomeGuide)2.
Do you need a permit?
Whether a fence needs a permit — and any height limits that apply — depends on your local building authority and the project scope, so confirm requirements with your municipality before work starts. For budgeting, published permit-fee estimates run $40 to $150 (HomeGuide) and $100 to $500 (Angi)12.
DIY materials and savings
Angi’s materials list for a DIY build: lumber at $1 to $15 per linear foot depending on species, concrete at $6 to $10 per 80-pound bag, posts at $10 to $50 each, $400 to $900 for the tool set (screws, drill, air compressor, finish nailer), and an auger at $15 to $110 manual or $60 to $600 powered1. For current materials pricing, Home Depot’s wood fencing category lists pickets, panels and posts by species. On resale, Angi estimates homeowners recoup a little more than half of a fence’s cost, using a $10,000 fence adding about $6,000 in value as its example1.
Related cost guides
See the all-materials fence cost guide, plus fence repair and fence staining costs.
The bottom line
Budget $20 to $50 per linear foot installed for a wood fence — $4,000 to $10,000 for a typical 200-foot project, with style and wood species driving the total. Measure the fence line first, pick a style and species, then get at least three itemized quotes that separate materials, labor, old-fence removal and any grading or tree work.
Sources (each fetched and read October 26, 2026; figures are each publisher’s latest published data):
1. Angi, “How Much Does Wood Fence Installation Cost? [2026 Data]” (updated August 3, 2026) — angi.com/articles/how-much-does-it-cost-install-wood-fence.htm
2. HomeGuide, “How Much Does a Wood Fence Cost? (2026)” (December 22, 2025) — homeguide.com/costs/wood-fence-cost
3. Homewyse, “Cost to Install a Wood Privacy Fence” (May 2026 estimate) — homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_wood_privacy_fence.html
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