How We Price

Where every number comes from, how we turn published ranges into an estimate, and what we assume.

1. Published source prices

These are the numbers as the sources publish them. On October 8, 2026 we re-fetched every page and confirmed the quoted text appears on it. If a page changes, we update or drop the number.

Sources

1. Angi: How Much Does Fence Installation Cost? [2026 Data]
   Page date August 3, 2026. Fetched and checked October 8, 2026 (HTTP 200).
2. Angi: How Much Does Wood Fence Installation Cost? [2026 Data]
   Page date August 3, 2026. Fetched and checked October 8, 2026 (HTTP 200).
3. Angi: How Much Does a Vinyl Fence Cost to Install? [2026 Data]
   Page date August 3, 2026. Fetched and checked October 8, 2026 (HTTP 200).
4. Angi: How Much Does a Chain-Link Fence Cost? [2026 Data]
   Page date September 30, 2026. Fetched and checked October 8, 2026 (HTTP 200).
5. Angi: How Much Does an Aluminum Fence Cost? [2026 Data]
   Page date September 23, 2026. Fetched and checked October 8, 2026 (HTTP 200).
6. Angi: How Much Does Gate Installation Cost? [2026 Data]
   Page date October 1, 2026. Fetched and checked October 8, 2026 (HTTP 200).
7. HomeGuide: How Much Does Fence Installation Cost? (2026)
   Page date February 3, 2026. Fetched and checked October 8, 2026 (HTTP 200).

Angi says its figures come from surveys of its customers' project costs plus outside research. HomeGuide publishes national averages. Both are national figures. We can't see their underlying samples.

2. Our calculated estimates

The calculator, the Fence Quote Checker and the worked examples in our guides all use one shared calculation:

We run it with the low, typical and high figures and round each total to the nearest $10 (to the cent first, then to $10; an exact $5 rounds up). In the quote checker, items a quote marks as not included (removal, gates) are left out of that quote's reference range.

• Combining sources: When two sources give a comparable range, our low is the average of their low ends and our high is the average of their high ends. When one source is used, its range is used as published.
• Typical: Typical is the midpoint of our low and high. It is our assumption, not a published average.

Sourced, calculated or assumed

Every number on this site has one of three labels, so you can tell published figures from our math and our judgment calls. Quote amounts you type into the checker are yours; we never mix them into these ranges.

How each reference range is built

For each range: the published figures it uses, the exact math, and its label. A range copied from one source is Sourced; an average of two sources is Our calculation; a range we set ourselves is an Assumption.

Price per linear foot (fence only)

National reference ranges, not local prices. How we price

Gates, removal and terrain

Extras we list but don't add

• Permit (if your town requires one): $20–$60 (Angi fence guide); $40–$150 (HomeGuide); $100–$500 (Angi wood fence guide)
• Land survey / property line marking: $200–$1,200 (HomeGuide)
• Land leveling or grading: $1,000–$3,200 (Angi)
• Professional painting or staining: $3.50–$13 per linear ft (Angi)
• Automatic gate opener / automatic driveway gate: $1,900–$6,000 installed for an automatic driveway gate (Angi)
• Utility locate (811): 811 is the national call-before-you-dig number. The contractor should request a locate before digging post holes (HomeGuide).

3. Assumptions

Each of these is our choice, not a sourced fact. They're labeled Assumption wherever they affect a number.

1. Typical is the midpoint of low and high.
   Why: Sources publish ranges, not a typical price we can use for every case. How it could be wrong: Real prices are often bunched toward one end of a range, so “typical” may be too high or too low.
2. Where two sources cover the same item, we average their low ends and their high ends.
   Why: Using one source alone would ignore the other's data. How it could be wrong: The sources survey different projects; an average of two ranges isn't a measured statistic.
3. 4-ft wood, vinyl and aluminum use general or picket-style ranges.
   Why: Our sources don't publish 4-ft-specific prices for these materials. How it could be wrong: A 4-ft privacy-style fence or a premium picket design may fall outside these ranges.
4. 6-ft aluminum = 4-ft aluminum range × 1.25.
   Why: No source we checked publishes a 6-ft aluminum range. How it could be wrong: Taller ornamental aluminum may cost more or less than 25% extra.
5. Aluminum walk gate: $300–$900.
   Why: Angi gives only a $100 to $6,000 span for aluminum gates (simple 3-ft gate to automatic driveway gate). How it could be wrong: A simple gate can cost less; a wide or custom gate more.
6. Double/drive gates use Angi's manual driveway gate range ($300–$1,200) for every material.
   Why: It's the only sourced figure for manual drive gates. How it could be wrong: Angi doesn't say whether this includes installation or new posts; a vinyl or aluminum double gate may cost more.
7. Removal blends Angi ($3–$5/ft) and HomeGuide ($10–$20/ft).
   Why: The sources disagree a lot and we can't tell which is closer to your job. How it could be wrong: Removal with concrete footings or long hauling may cost more; a simple chain-link tear-out may cost less.
8. Terrain adds 15% (moderate) or 30% (difficult) to the fence line.
   Why: Sources say slopes and rock add labor, but none we trust gives a percentage. How it could be wrong: Steep or rocky sites can cost much more, and some need grading first.
9. Gate prices don't change with fence height.
   Why: Sources price gates per gate, not by height. How it could be wrong: A 6-ft privacy gate usually needs more material than a 4-ft gate.
10. No regional adjustment. ZIP codes are not used.
    Why: We found no reliable, citable regional factor for fence work. How it could be wrong: Prices in high-cost areas may be well above our ranges; low-cost areas below.
11. Totals are rounded to the nearest $10 (to the cent first, then to $10; an exact $5 rounds up).
    Why: Avoids false precision. How it could be wrong: Changes totals by at most $5.

4. Actual contractor quotes

We don't collect, store or publish contractor quotes, and we have no local contractor prices. The Fence Quote Checker runs entirely in your browser. What you type is saved only in your browser's local storage so it's there when you return, and Clear all deletes it. Nothing is sent to us or to contractors.

What changes the cost

• Labor and region: Angi puts labor at about half of a fence project's cost (Angi, updated August 3, 2026), and labor rates vary a lot by area.
• Material grade: wood species and grade, vinyl wall thickness, chain-link gauge and coating, aluminum style.
• Terrain and slope: slopes, rock, roots and poor soil slow digging and may need stepped or racked panels.
• Posts: post size, depth, concrete, and spacing (more posts means more labor).
• Access: narrow side yards, obstacles and long carries add labor.
• Permits and rules: some towns and HOAs require permits, setbacks or height limits.
• Gates and extras: gate count, width and hardware; post caps; staining.
• Season: Angi says booking in the off-season may get a 10% to 25% discount (Angi, updated August 3, 2026).

What this site doesn't do

• It doesn't give quotes. Only a contractor who sees your yard can quote your job.
• It has no live prices and doesn't track lumber or material markets.
• It doesn't adjust for your region, even if you enter a ZIP code.
• It doesn't judge whether a quote is fair or a contractor is good, and it doesn't check licenses, insurance or reviews.

Change log

• October 8, 2026: added double/drive gates (Angi gate guide), terrain assumptions, figure-level verification records, and guides.
• October 8, 2026: first version of the pricing data (preview).