Backyard Fence Cost Calculator
Most backyards fence three sides: the back plus both sides, leaving the house as the fourth wall. This backyard fence cost calculator turns your yard's width and depth into total linear feet, then prices out materials, labor, gates, and regional adjustments for every common fence type. Use it to budget your yard enclosure or to check a contractor quote before you sign.
Backyard Fence Cost Per Foot (2025)
Installed cost at 6 ft height, average region, three-side backyard enclosure:
| Fence Type | Material/LF | Labor/LF | Installed/LF |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chain link (galvanized) | $12 | $5 | $15-$25 |
| Pressure-treated wood | $18 | $10 | $25-$38 |
| Cedar privacy | $26 | $14 | $32-$48 |
| Vinyl privacy | $35 | $19 | $45-$60 |
| Aluminum ornamental | $38 | $21 | $48-$60 |
| Composite (Trex, SimTek) | $48 | $29 | $65-$90 |
Typical Backyard Fence Cost
For a typical 50 ft wide x 40 ft deep suburban backyard fenced on three sides (back plus both sides = 2 x 40 + 50 = 130 linear feet) with one walk gate, 6 ft cedar privacy, average region:
- Materials (130 x $26): $3,380
- Labor (55 percent of materials): $1,859
- Walk gate: $325
- Total backyard fence cost: $5,564 ($42.80 per LF)
Swap cedar for pressure-treated pine and the total drops to about $4,100. Swap for chain link and it drops to about $2,700.
Backyard Fence Cost by Yard Size
Three-side enclosure at 6 ft cedar privacy, average region, one walk gate:
| Yard Size | Linear Feet | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 30 ft x 30 ft (small urban) | 90 LF | $3,900-$4,500 |
| 50 ft x 40 ft (typical suburban) | 130 LF | $5,000-$6,200 |
| 60 ft x 60 ft (large suburban) | 180 LF | $6,800-$8,500 |
| 80 ft x 80 ft (large lot) | 240 LF | $8,900-$11,300 |
| 100 ft x 100 ft (acre-ish) | 300 LF | $10,800-$13,800 |
Costs scale roughly linearly with linear feet, until you cross 300 LF. Above 300 LF, some contractors discount the per-foot rate by 5-10 percent for volume.
How the Backyard Fence Cost Calculator Figures Linear Feet
The three-side backyard linear foot formula is:
Linear feet = 2 x yard depth + yard width - gate openings
For a 50 ft wide x 40 ft deep yard with 1 walk gate:
- 2 x 40 + 50 = 130 LF raw perimeter
- Minus 4 ft for the walk gate = 126 LF of fencing
Drive gates take 12 ft; walk gates 4 ft. Sloped yards may need 5-10 percent more material for post length and grade adjustment. The backyard fence cost calculator accounts for every piece of this automatically.
Backyard Fence Cost Per Foot by Fence Type
- Chain link is cheapest: $15-$25/LF installed at 6 ft galvanized. Good for dog owners with no privacy concerns.
- Pressure-treated wood is next cheapest at $25-$38/LF. Lasts 15-20 years with stain every 3-5 years.
- Cedar privacy at $32-$48/LF is the most common backyard choice. Natural rot resistance, 20-30 year life.
- Vinyl privacy at $45-$60/LF is popular for zero-maintenance installs. 30+ year life, but looks plastic up close.
- Aluminum ornamental at $48-$60/LF is pool-code compliant. Ornamental look, 50+ year life.
- Composite (Trex, SimTek) at $65-$90/LF is premium. Wood look, zero rot, 50+ year life.
DIY vs Pro Backyard Fence
DIY saves 40-60 percent on the installed cost because labor is usually half the bill. For a 130 LF cedar privacy fence:
- Pro installed: $5,000-$6,200
- DIY materials only: $2,200-$3,400
- DIY time: 2-4 weekends for 2 people with post hole digger, level, and string line
DIY is realistic on flat ground with 1-2 people. Skip DIY if the fence has a steep slope, rocky soil, HOA design review, or 5+ gates.
What Drives Backyard Fence Cost Up
- Slope: add 15-30 percent to labor for terrain adjustment
- Rocky soil: post hole drilling often needs power tools or professional help (+$15-30 per post)
- Height over 6 ft: 8 ft adds 40 percent; 4 ft saves 25 percent
- Multiple gates: each walk gate adds $200-$625; drive gates $700-$2,200+
- Permits: $25-$300 depending on jurisdiction
- HOA design review: free but delays install 2-6 weeks
Cost per Linear Foot vs Cost per Square Foot
Backyard fence cost is always quoted per linear foot of fence length, not square feet of yard area. A 130 LF fence at $40/LF costs the same whether your yard is 50 x 40 (130 LF perimeter) or 65 x 15 (160 LF perimeter). Perimeter is what drives cost, not square footage.