Wood Fence Cost Calculator

The headline figure for a residential wood fence is $25-$45 per linear foot installed for a standard 6-foot privacy build, with the national mid-point near $30 per foot. On a typical 150-foot perimeter that works out to $2,700 at the pressure-treated pine low end and $7,200 at the cedar high end. Materials account for 40-55% of the total, labor fills $8-$18 per foot in 2026 (up to $20 per foot in high-cost metros), and permits plus disposal add another 3-5% on top of the base spread.

Species sets the floor and ceiling. Pressure-treated pine at $18-$28 per foot installed is the budget tier and the volume choice for utility fencing where appearance is secondary. Cedar at $22-$35 per foot is the sweet spot for most residential buyers — natural rot resistance, 20-25 year lifespan, weathers attractively to silver-grey without staining. Redwood at $30-$45 per foot is the premium tier with 25-30 year lifespan and the best dimensional stability, though limited West Coast supply makes it expensive east of the Rockies. Tropical hardwoods (ipe, cumaru) push past $40-$60 per foot installed and last 30+ years.

Height changes the per-foot rate too. A 4-foot picket runs $15-$25 per foot, a 6-foot privacy is the standard $25-$45, and an 8-foot premium privacy or sound-attenuation fence stretches to $40-$55 per foot. Each foot above the 4-foot baseline adds roughly 15% material cost because of additional pickets, longer rails, and — on 8-foot builds — deeper post sets and beefier framing to handle wind load.

Wood fence ownership cost is dominated by stain cycles, not the install bid. Pressure-treated pine needs stain or sealer every 2-3 years to hit its 10-15 year lifespan; semi-transparent stain runs $30-$50 per gallon and a typical 150-foot 6-foot privacy fence consumes 6-10 gallons plus brushes, drop cloths, and a weekend of labor each cycle. Over 20 years that’s $1,800-$3,000 in stain materials alone, on top of the $4,200 install cost — which is why total ownership cost on pine often exceeds cedar by year 12.

Cedar weathers to a uniform silver-grey naturally with no stain required, and the silver patina is the look most homeowners want. Optional sealer at $30-$45 per gallon every 4-5 years preserves the original golden-brown tone but isn’t structurally necessary. Redwood follows the same pattern as cedar and develops a deeper grey-brown patina. Tropical hardwoods need annual oil treatment to maintain color but can also be left to weather naturally to silver.