Cost estimate · Wood fencing
Wood Fence Cost Calculator
Plan a wood privacy fence in dollars per foot — dog-ear, board-on-board, or shadowbox — with posts, rails, picket waste, gates, and optional tear-out. No signup.
Wood fence details
5.5" board + ~0.5" gap. Most common DIY privacy look.
Estimated wood fence cost
$3,200–$7,550
Typical ~$5,375 · $21–$50/lf
- Posts
- 22
- Rails
- 57
- Pickets + waste
- 330
- Concrete bags
- 22–44
Cost breakdown
- Wood privacy, 6 ft (installed)150 lf × $20–$45/lf · 6 ft tall · Dog-ear / butt-joint privacy ×1.00–1.00$3,000–$6,750
- Gates (1)1 × $200–$800 each$200–$800
Not included
- Survey, permits, and HOA approvals
- Utility locating beyond a basic call
- Major grading, retaining walls, and drainage
- Staining / sealing after wood install
- Electric gates, operators, and keypad hardware
- Stain / sealant after install (budget separately for wood)
Price data updated . National US ranges from published supplier and contractor averages. Not a bid. Local quotes vary.
How wood fence cost is calculated
Installed wood privacy is usually bid by the linear foot. Board style changes lumber and labor: board-on-board needs more pickets; shadowbox finishes both sides. Post counts still follow spacing so you can sanity-check material.
sections = ceil(length_ft ÷ post_spacing_ft) posts = sections + 1 + extra_corners rails = sections × rails_per_section pickets = ceil(length_ft × 12 ÷ (board_width_in + gap_in)) × (1 + waste %) fence $ = length_ft × wood_rate_per_lf × board_style_factor total = (fence + gates + tear-out) × (1 + terrain_uplift)
Worked example. A 150 ft run of 6 ft dog-ear privacy at $20–$45/lf with one gate is about $3,200–$7,550 before slope uplift. Switch to board-on-board and the fence line alone rises ~10–20%. At 8 ft spacing with 2 corners you need roughly 22 posts, ~57 rails, and ~300 pickets before waste (~330 with 10%).
Wood fence height & use (US residential)
Height drives post size, wind load, and HOA rules. Installed $/lf below is the wood privacy band before board-style factors.
| Height | Typical use | Cost / build note |
|---|---|---|
| 4 ft | Pet / partial front-yard screen | Often lower; still needs solid posts |
| 5 ft | Light privacy | Less common stock height |
| 6 ft | Standard backyard privacy | $20–$45/lf installed baseline |
| 8 ft | Tall screen | Check code/HOA; heavier posts |
- Pressure-treated pine is the budget default; cedar costs more up front and weathers differently.
- Stain/seal is not in the installed range — budget it separately.
Wood board styles vs pickets
Same run length, different lumber. Gaps and overlap change picket count and the style factor on $/lf.
| Style | Gap / overlap | Cost factor | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog-ear / butt-joint | ~0.5" gap | ×1.0 | Most common DIY privacy look |
| Board-on-board | Overlap | ×1.10–1.20 | More boards; stays private when dry |
| Shadowbox | Alternating faces | ×1.05–1.15 | Finished both sides; more labor |
Wood Fence Cost calculator FAQ
- How much does a wood fence cost per foot?
- National installed wood privacy often runs about $20–$45 per linear foot for a typical 6 ft dog-ear fence. Board-on-board, cedar, steep ground, and gates push toward the high end or above.
- Is this only for privacy fences?
- This page is locked to wood privacy-style fencing. For chain link height, mesh, and privacy slats, use the chain link fence cost calculator. Vinyl and aluminum stay on the general fence cost calculator.
- How many pickets do I need for a wood fence?
- Divide run length in inches by (board width + gap). A 5.5 in board with a 0.5 in gap needs about two pickets per foot, then add ~10% waste. Board-on-board uses more boards because of overlap.
- Does wood fence cost include staining?
- No. Installed ranges cover the fence build. Stain or sealant is a separate material and labor line — especially if you want it done the same season.
- How deep should wood fence posts be set?
- A common rule is about one-third of the post height in the ground (for a 6 ft fence, roughly 2 ft), deeper in freeze lines or high wind. Use 1–2 bags of concrete mix per post as a planning range.
- Is this a free wood fence cost calculator?
- Yes. No signup. Enter length, height, board style, and gates for a low / typical / high installed range you can paste to a contractor.
Other fence or project costs
All fence styles cost calculator · Concrete cost calculator · All fence calculators