How Much Does It Cost To Install A Rail Fence?

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.