Fence Guides
Fence Cost Guide: what actually changes your price per foot
Most fence “cost per foot” numbers online are national averages that ignore your yard. This guide explains the six things that move a real quote in North Mississippi and the Memphis area — then lets you price your own fence line in a few minutes instead of guessing.
The six things that set your cost per foot
Linear feet
The total length of the fence line is the base of every estimate. Long straight runs price more efficiently per foot than short, broken-up runs with many corners.
Material
Cedar, aluminum, vinyl, composite and chain-link all carry different material costs per foot, and each has grades within it. Material is usually the single biggest lever on the total.
Height
Every extra foot of height adds material to every foot of run. Privacy heights cost more per foot than shorter ornamental or ranch-style heights.
Gates
Walk gates and drive gates add hardware and labor. Metal-framed gates are an available upgrade designed to add strength and help reduce sagging over time.
Posts and post setting
Post type and post depth are where a lot of hidden cost differences live. Our driven galvanized steel-post system sets posts approximately 40 inches into the ground on applicable installations.
Site conditions
Slope, rock, tree roots, tight access for equipment and removal or haul-off of an existing fence all affect labor, and therefore the installed cost per foot.
Cost by fence material
Material is the biggest single lever on a fence budget. The ranges below are our own installed pricing — the same numbers behind our online estimator — not national averages. Where you land inside a range depends mostly on height and style.
| Material | Installed cost | Best for | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar wood | $25–$55 / ft | Privacy, backyards, board-on-board and cap & trim looks | Most requested privacy material in our area. Style choice (privacy, board-on-board, cap & trim, horizontal, shadowbox, picture frame) changes both material use and labor. |
| Aluminum | $27–$45 / ft | Front yards, pool enclosures, open views | Priced by panel style, height and picket weight. Pool-code configurations and heavier commercial grades price above standard residential panels. |
| Vinyl | $35–$66 / ft | Low-maintenance privacy | Panel thickness and height drive cost. Gates and end/corner posts add more than a comparable run of straight fence. |
| Composite | Quoted per project | Premium low-maintenance privacy | A premium material relative to cedar and vinyl. Board layout and cap detail affect the installed cost. |
| Chain-link | $20–$26 / ft | Pets, large perimeters, commercial sites | Generally the most economical way to enclose a large area. Gauge, coating (galvanized or black vinyl-coated) and height set the price. |
Ranges cover 4–8 ft heights and standard styles for straight fence runs, installed. Gates are added separately — a single walk gate is $300 and a double drive gate is $600 — and post-and-rail fencing (2-rail through crossbuck) runs about $18–$26 per foot. There is a $750 minimum job charge. Final pricing can change after property verification, measurements, site conditions, permits and an onsite review.
Price your own yard in a few minutes
Fencerly Draw puts your property on a satellite map. Trace the fence line, choose your material, height and gates, and see pricing for that exact layout — no sales visit required, and no guessing from a national average.
- 1. Draw your fence line on your property.
- 2. Choose material, height and gates.
- 3. See your price and send it to us when you are ready.
Fence cost questions
How is fence cost per foot calculated?
Fence pricing is built from linear feet of fence, the material and height you choose, the number of gates, and the site conditions along the fence line. Because those four things change on every property, the same material can price differently on two houses on the same street. The fastest way to get a real number for your yard is to draw the fence line in our estimator.
What does a fence cost per foot in North Mississippi and the Memphis area?
Using our own estimator pricing, installed fence generally runs about $18–$26 per foot for chain-link and post-and-rail, $27–$45 per foot for ornamental aluminum, $25–$55 per foot for cedar and other wood privacy styles, and $35–$66 per foot for vinyl privacy. Height and style set where you land inside each range. Gates and site conditions are added on top, and there is a $750 minimum job charge.
How much does a fence gate cost?
In our estimator, a single walk gate is priced at $300 and a double drive gate at $600, on top of the fence run itself. A welded metal gate frame is available as an upgrade.
Why do fence quotes vary so much between companies?
Quotes differ because of what is inside them: post type and post depth, gate framing, hardware, rail and picket grade, and whether haul-off of an old fence is included. Ask every company to write those items down. Our driven galvanized steel-post option sets posts approximately 40 inches into the ground, and metal-framed gates are available as an upgrade rather than a standard inclusion.
Does a taller fence cost more per foot?
Yes. Height increases material on every single foot of the run — more picket, more rail and often a heavier post — so a 6-foot privacy fence prices higher per foot than a 4-foot fence of the same material.
Do gates change the price a lot?
Gates are the most expensive linear feet on any fence. Each gate adds framing, hinges, latch hardware and labor, and wider drive gates cost more than a single walk gate. Adding or removing a gate is one of the easiest ways to move a quote.
Are permits and HOA approval included in the price?
We provide permit assistance and HOA guidance, but the property owner is responsible for securing approval and for any fees their city or HOA charges. Those fees are not part of our fence pricing.
Can I get a price without a sales visit?
Yes. Fencerly Draw lets you draw your fence line on a satellite map, pick your material and height, and see pricing for your own yard. If you would rather talk it through, call us at 662-806-7800.