One of the most common ways to gain your privacy as a homeowner is to build a fence around your yard. Depending on the type of fence you invest in, you can get both physical and visible privacy from others.
There are so many kinds of privacy fences available right now that you are sure to be able to find one that fits all your privacy and yard needs. But the biggest question that homeowners have before investing in a privacy fence, is how much does a privacy fence cost?
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common costs that calculate how much a privacy fence costs. Keep on reading to go over general costs of a privacy fence and then privacy fences broken down by material.
The Cost of a Privacy Fence
Most fence installation professionals will quote your final cost for footage of the fence. The current average privacy fence installation cost on the market is about $25 per linear foot of fence. The cheaper fences are running around $14 per linear foot and more expensive ones at $36, but note that these prices change regularly, especially with inflation.
However these are just the averages. There are many other things that can add on top of the baseline cost. These include height, fencing material, gates, permits, and the slope of the land. Typically the more things the more expensive a fence is to install.
If you want to try and calculate the total cost of the specifics of your private fence, there are a few things you need to do. Measure the area of your yard that you are hoping to enclose with a fence. Look at the material, height, and style of the fence you are looking at. Then look at the permit requirements for your town and the potential cost of professional labor. Add that all together!
Cost of Installing a Vinyl Fence
On average, a vinyl fence costs between $2,000 and $6,000 to be professionally installed. The national average cost per linear foot of fence is around $28. So to find your total cost of a vinyl fence installation, multiply the length of your fence by 28.
In terms of height, the most important part of a privacy fence, most vinyl fences come at 6-feet tall. This is definitely enough for almost any yard that is looking for privacy. However, they can also come in 8- and 4-foot options that can increase and reduce costs respectively.
The other unique options that a vinyl fence can give you are different designs and colors. This is something that most other fencing materials do not have various options of. The most common design and color is split rails in white, black, or wood-grain. As you continue to get more intricate designs and rarer colors, costs of installation increase.
Cost of Installing a Wrought Iron Fence
A wrought iron fence, on average, costs around $2,000 to $4,000 for professional installation. This boils down to an average of about $30 per linear foot of fencing. This average is calculated for the most popular and in-demand version of wrought iron fencing, but does not mean that is the only version of fencing available.
Wrought iron fencing is known for its aesthetic appeal, and that’s because of the decoration and ornamentation that can come with it. Many homeowners choose to have spades, curved bars, or custom post caps on their wrought iron fences. However, like any additive, these will inherently be a bit pricier than black wrought iron fencing.
Many consumers looking at wrought iron fencing are also considering a cast iron fence because of the cheaper price point. However, this price point reflects the mass production of cast iron fencing and its weaker attributes. For the customizability to ensure aesthetic appeal and that all your needs and desires for a privacy fence are met, you must choose wrought iron fencing.
Cost of Installing A Chain Link Fence
Chain link fencing is the cheapest of the fencing materials and Northland Fence offers to install it. It is a great option for those looking for simple and functional privacy fencing. It is not the most aesthetically pleasing of the materials and is not recommended for pets or children as their fingers could be cut or pinched by the linked wires.
That being said, the total cost of installing a chain link fence averages out to about $23 per linear foot. However, this is also one of the most variable materials and costs out of all the fencing materials.
The coating of a chain link fence, which is almost required to have it withstand the Minnesota weather, is another factor that can vary with different chain link productions. Galvanized steel helps to prevent rust and corrosion and is the cheaper coating. High end chain-link fencing usually comes with a thick layer of aluminum or vinyl coating and has a longer lifespan than other chain-link options, but costs more.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Installing a Fence
As you can see, there are lots of factors that can increase or decrease the cost of installing a privacy fence. However, each of these factors have their own pros and cons to consider when deciding whether or not to buy them. You want a privacy fence to meet all your needs for peace of mind, so here’s a breakdown of the factors that can affect the cost of installing one.
Material Cost
As you can tell, different fencing materials have vastly different price points on the market. However, do not let the fact that one option is cheaper than the other make your decision for you. Usually a fencing option is cheaper because it is easy to mass produce and not a professional grade product.
The same advice can go the other way. Do not let a more expensive price point turn you away from a certain product. The more expensive options could be the ones that give you everything on your fencing wish list. Additionally, many of the more expensive options have a long lifespan, so while it is a big down payment, in the end it is more economical.
Make sure that you consider all of your options and pick the one that is the best for you and what you are looking for. All of the fencing material purchased from Northland Fence are professional-grade products.
Our staff is knowledgeable about all of the materials and fencing options. If you need more guidance or information about a particular material or which one is best for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
Height
The higher the fence, generally, the higher the cost. Higher fencing means using more material and therefore it will cost more to purchase. This is one of the hardest parts of privacy fencing because for a fence to be visually private it needs to be relatively high.
Privacy fences are also typically high to stop physical intruders as well. The higher the fence, the more deterrence it has against trespassers trying to climb it. However, as long as you have a fence, no matter the height, thieves are less likely to intrude. It is a sign of extra security and a tougher house to invade.
Additives
Additives are the one of the hardest costs to resist incurring during the installation of a privacy fence. Since privacy fences are generally tall and solid throughout, things like a gate are almost a necessity to be able to reach your yard and leave as needed.
However, these additives continue to pile onto the cost of installing a privacy fence. While in reality a gate will not add much to installation costs, depending on the material, it is simply an extra panel that you will need to purchase. Plus a few more pieces of hardware to make sure it works properly.
A gate is the most beneficial extra investment you can have in a privacy fence. It will allow you to let guests in and out without needing to walk through the house. It remains easy to install and will make your life ten times easier than just having a privacy fence with no entry point.
Permits
The last big factor that can affect the installation of a privacy fence is obtaining the permit to be able to build the fence. This all depends on specific housing associations and city ordinances. Sometimes these can be a big part of the budget, but other times they are completely free. Make sure to check with your local governing body about the requirements needed before constructing a fence.
The Cost of Installing a Fence by a Professional Vs Yourself
One of the biggest ways to save money when installing a fence is to do it yourself rather than hiring a professional. However, while this may be a big benefit at the time, often it leads to the need to hire a professional later in the fence life anyways to correct mistakes.
Northland Fence has a team of professionals ready to install your fence and give you the peace of mind that it will last a lifetime. As Minnesota’s best reviewed fencing company, customer satisfaction is at the top of our values and we don’t leave until you are happy with the final product. If you are ready to receive a free quote and start the journey to your perfect privacy fence, call us today at (763) 316-4881
FAQs About How Much Does A Privacy Fence Cost
What is the cheapest fencing material?
The cheapest fencing material is wood. It is easy to mass produce, and sometimes for DIY fencing projects, it can be picked up for free at construction sites. However, wooden fencing is also the cheapest material because it is the least reliable and has the shortest lifespan of all the other materials.
What is the average cost of maintaining a fence?
The national average price for maintaining a fence is around $500. This includes replacing rotten or rusted parts and overall maintenance of the material and fence as a whole.