COST CALCULATOR

How Much Does It Cost To Install A Rail Fence?

Typical range: $2,167-$3,599

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cost to install a rail fence Calculator

For your project in zip code 98102 with these options, the cost to install a rail fence starts at $17.34-$28.79 per linear foot. Your actual price will depend on job size, conditions, finish options you choose.

To estimate the cost of a post and rail fence, the first thing you need to know is the length and height of the fence you want to be installed. The national average cost of a post and rail fence is between $1782 and $3923. The price will depend on several factors, like whether the split rail fence is for front yard decoration or for the purpose of keeping livestock.

Cost Calculator
Calculations are dependent on where you live
Linear Feet

Standard ServicesQuantityLowHigh
What you can expect
Range per linear foot:$17.34$28.79
Range for this type of project:$2,167$3,599
Estimate: $2,883
Rail Fence Installation Cost
133
linear feet
$1,351$1,932
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Cost of split cedar rails, and posts with rail holes at 10' intervals. Rate is inclusive of local delivery, as well as standard excess for perfect installation and occasional repairs.
Basic Labor for Rail Fence Installation
17
hours
$552$1,343
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Labor costs for thorough installation under standard conditions. This will start with a full assessment of the space. Your team will plan the layout, acquire appropriate equipment, transport materials, and execute preparation, installation and cleanup. They will dig post holes (up to 3'), set wood posts in concrete at 8' intervals, and install and secure 3 horizontal rails between each post.
Job Supplies for Rail Fence Installation
133
linear feet
$192$218
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Standard supplies used in the installation process. Fasteners, post concrete, and connectors are among the materials covered by this fee.
Equipment Allowance for Rail Fence Installation
1
job
$72$105
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Equipment allowance for 8"-diameter post hole auger, 12" miter saw, pneumatic nailer, portable concrete mixer, and other specialty equipment. This is assessed as a daily rental fee, while single-use equipment will incur separate charges.
Standard services
Rail Fence Installation Cost
$1,351 -$1,932
arrow_drop_down
133
linear feet
Cost of split cedar rails, and posts with rail holes at 10' intervals. Rate is inclusive of local delivery, as well as standard excess for perfect installation and occasional repairs.
Basic Labor for Rail Fence Installation
$552 -$1,343
arrow_drop_down
17
hours
Labor costs for thorough installation under standard conditions. This will start with a full assessment of the space. Your team will plan the layout, acquire appropriate equipment, transport materials, and execute preparation, installation and cleanup. They will dig post holes (up to 3'), set wood posts in concrete at 8' intervals, and install and secure 3 horizontal rails between each post.
Job Supplies for Rail Fence Installation
$192 -$218
arrow_drop_down
133
linear feet
Standard supplies used in the installation process. Fasteners, post concrete, and connectors are among the materials covered by this fee.
Equipment Allowance for Rail Fence Installation
$72 -$105
arrow_drop_down
1
job
Equipment allowance for 8"-diameter post hole auger, 12" miter saw, pneumatic nailer, portable concrete mixer, and other specialty equipment. This is assessed as a daily rental fee, while single-use equipment will incur separate charges.
Optional Services
What you can expect
Range per linear foot:
$17 - $29
Range for this type of project:
$2,167 - $3,599
Estimate:
$2,883
Cost Comparison
YOUR ESTIMATE
$2,883

NATIONAL AVERAGE RANGE
$2,067 -$3,433
YOUR ESTIMATE

Install a rail fence: national average cost

The national average materials cost to install a rail fence is $11.82 per linear foot, with a range between $9.73 to $13.91. The total price for labor and materials per linear foot is $22.00, coming in between $16.54 to $27.47. A typical 125 linear foot project costs $2,750.27, with a range of $2,067.38 to $3,433.15. Your actual price will depend on your location, job size, conditions and finish options you choose.
cost to install a rail fence
National Avg. Materials Cost per linear foot$11.82
National Avg. Cost (labor and materials) for 125 linear foot$2,750.27
National Cost Range (labor and materials) for 125 linear foot$2,067.38 - $3,433.15

Cost to install a rail fence

The estimate usually includes the materials and labor when you hire a contractor to install your split rail fence. Other fees may affect the cost of the post and rail fence. For example, if debris, trees, or shrubbery needs to be removed from the property or the job requires a permit, this will cost extra. Some other factors are if you need a survey to mark out a property boundary, if you need gates, and if the fence needs to be stained. For example, a driveway gate costs between $240 and $280 and would be made of two 4X4 feet sections with closing latches.

In some cases, you may have to take into account the slope of your property and the area you want the fence located. If there’s a steep slope, it could increase the costs anywhere from $100 to $1,000. Building on an incline requires special tools and specially trained skills. Though this drives up the cost, it’s a good reason to hire a professional in this instance. 

Difficult-to-reach areas along the line of the fence being built will increase the cost of installing your split rail fence. This increased cost is due to the extra time and effort to reach the desired land and bring in all the necessary tools and equipment for the job. Pastures, gardens, or fields may be more expensive because the contractor will need to access the land. 

The height of the fence and the number of horizontal rails also increase the cost of installing a split rail fence. A fence can have two to five rails, with the cost increasing as per the number of rails. Another factor included in the cost is tree or debris removal. If any greenery or stationery items are in the way of the fence — or the workers and their equipment — it will all need to be removed, which costs more money. You could do this yourself, especially if you have the right tools for tree removal or a truck to clear our debris. 

The fence will also need to be weatherproofed. Some materials are more durable than others in winter, such as a wood fence versus a vinyl one, but most fences need weatherproofing. This step is usually included in the cost of hiring a professional, but check the estimate to make sure it’s covered. Fence staining will also cost extra, although that’s a step you could do yourself. 

Though a handy person could attempt to build a split rail fence themself, there are many reasons why hiring a professional would be a good choice. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t some things you could do yourself.

Installation of a split rail fence cost by linear foot

Split rail fence pricing ranges from $4 to $12 per linear foot and $11 to $29 per linear foot with labor. The national average cost is $20 per linear foot. This price varies depending on the material type and the number of rails (these estimates are for split rail fences that have two to four rails), as well as the terrain of your property and the height of the fence. If your property has a big slope or the terrain is rough, rocky, sandy, unstable, or made of clay, your split rail fence installation costs will increase. 

Contractors generally include the price of materials and labor, with the labor being about three times the cost of materials. The materials will vary based on the type of fence you choose and the soil you have on your property, which will affect the kind of tools and equipment needed. 

The installed split rail fence cost for a small yard would be about $1380, a mid-size fence would come to about $2700, and a large farm-size fence would be closer to $3600.

The more rails on the fence, the higher the cost. On average, an acre of land will be about $9,960 to $24,900 per acre. The cost will increase if the land is sloped or hard to access or if the terrain has difficult soil. Rocky soil is the hardest to work with, sandy soil requires extra labor, and loamy soil is unstable. Clay could also cost more as it is very dense and sticky.

Post and Rail Fence Pricing

Split rail fences can be made of wood, metal, vinyl, or composite material. 

Wood fences:

  • A cedar or pine fence costs $8 to $12 per linear foot
  • The price to install pine is cheaper than cedar, as cedar is more labor intensive. 
  • Ask your contractor about any local wood they would recommend.

Wood lookalikes:

  • The price of vinyl PVC or composite split rail fence pricing ranges from $10 to $25 per linear foot but is less expensive to install. 
  • Though these are cheaper options, the materials may get brittle if you live in a cold climate. 
  • They both have the appearance of wood, but vinyl PVC is smooth while composite has a woodgrain texture. 

Metal split rail fences:

  • You have choices of aluminum, steel, and wire mesh. 
  • An aluminum fence will cost between $22 and $32 per linear foot for materials.
  • Steel will cost $15 to $20.
  • Wire mesh is available by the roll of $0.60 per linear foot

If you’re deciding whether you should do a DIY or hire a professional, consider the following: 

  • A considerable portion of the cost of installing a new split wood fence is the materials. 
  • It’s a tedious and time-consuming task. Some people bite off more than they can chew, leaving the project incomplete. 
  • With a pro, you’ll know the job will be done correctly the first time. 
  • An experienced contractor will help you assess exactly what is needed so you aren't cutting any corners or making excess purchases.
  • Hiring a professional may save time and money, and it’ll give you the peace of mind that the job will be finished correctly.

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