How Much Does a Wood Fence Cost in 2026?
Wood is still the most popular fence material in the US. Here's what it actually costs in 2026 — not the vague "$15-45 per foot" range you see everywhere, but real numbers broken down by material, height, and style.
Quick Answer
For a standard 6ft wood privacy fence, expect to pay $25-45 per linear foot installed depending on your location and wood type. A typical 150 linear foot backyard fence costs $3,750-6,750 total.
Cost Breakdown by Wood Type
Cedar Privacy Fence (Most Popular)
- Materials: $15-25 per linear foot
- Labor: $15-25 per linear foot
- Total installed: $30-45 per linear foot
Cedar is the premium choice. It's naturally rot-resistant, looks great, and lasts 15-20 years with minimal maintenance. Most contractors default to cedar for privacy fences.
Pressure-Treated Pine
- Materials: $10-18 per linear foot
- Labor: $12-20 per linear foot
- Total installed: $22-35 per linear foot
Treated pine is the budget option. It resists rot (chemicals, not natural) and costs 30-40% less than cedar. Lasts 10-15 years. Needs staining or painting within the first year.
Redwood
- Materials: $20-35 per linear foot
- Labor: $15-25 per linear foot
- Total installed: $35-55 per linear foot
Premium look but expensive. Mostly available on the West Coast. Natural insect and rot resistance.
Cost by Fence Height
| Height | Materials/ft | Installed/ft |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft (decorative) | $8-15 | $18-30 |
| 6 ft (standard privacy) | $12-22 | $25-42 |
| 8 ft (max privacy) | $18-30 | $35-55 |
Every extra foot of height adds roughly 25-30% to the cost — more material per section plus deeper post holes.
Cost by Fence Style
- Stockade (flat top): Cheapest. $22-35/ft installed.
- Board-on-board: Overlapping pickets for full privacy from both sides. $28-42/ft.
- Shadow box: Alternating pickets, semi-private. $25-38/ft.
- Horizontal slat: Modern look, popular in new construction. $30-48/ft.
- Split rail: Open style, cheapest wood fence. $12-20/ft.
Hidden Costs Most Quotes Miss
- Old fence removal: $3-5 per linear foot if the old fence needs to come down
- Grading and slope: Hilly yards add 10-20% to labor
- Permit fees: $50-200 in most cities
- Staining/sealing: $2-4 per linear foot if done at install
- Gate hardware: $50-150 per gate for quality hinges and latches
- Corner posts and end posts: Extra concrete, extra labor
- Rock or root removal: $500+ if the soil is brutal
Real Project Examples (2026)
150 ft cedar privacy fence, flat yard, no removal:
- Materials: $2,700 (cedar pickets, 4x4 posts, 2x4 rails, concrete, screws)
- Labor: $3,000
- Permit: $100
- Total: $5,800
200 ft treated pine, hilly yard, remove old chain link:
- Materials: $2,800
- Labor: $4,500 (slope premium)
- Old fence removal: $800
- Permit: $150
- Total: $8,250
How to Quote Wood Fences Faster
If you're a fence contractor, calculating material quantities manually for every quote takes 30-60 minutes. FenceCalc auto-calculates posts, rails, pickets, concrete, and hardware in seconds — for any fence type, height, and style.
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