Aluminum fence cost in San Francisco, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $4,800 – $14,100
- Per linear ft
- $31.50 – $92.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +24%
- US $7,600
- Rank of 300 metros
- #3
- 1 = most expensive
An aluminum fence in San Francisco, CA usually costs $4,800 to $14,100 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $31.50 to $92.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $1,850 more. Carpenters earn a median of $42.89 an hour in the San Francisco area, 47% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in San Francisco, CA, standard level
$7,600 to $11,300
About $50 to $74.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 43% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,150 | $6,450 |
| Labor | $3,350 | $4,750 |
| Permits and fees | $85 | $140 |
| Total | $7,600 | $11,300 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in San Francisco, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,450 | $5,300 | $8,150 | 56% |
| Labor | $2,300 | $4,050 | $5,750 | 43% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $110 | $170 | 1% |
| Total | $4,800 | $9,450 | $14,100 | 100% |
Why San Francisco prices look the way they do
Labor is 43% of the midpoint bill here, against 35% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is carpenters (40%), construction laborers (40%), sheet metal workers (20%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In San Francisco the blended ratio comes out at 1.54.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. San Francisco is at 108.5 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $4,900 nationally becomes $5,300 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 115.6: $45 to $170.
What nearby projects cost in San Francisco
Jobs that often go together with aluminum fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same San Francisco wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, inground pool comes out highest (+36%) and vinyl fence lowest (+18%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $5,250 – $10,900 | +18% |
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,900 – $9,550 | +26% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,950 – $8,400 | +35% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $49,100 – $153,000 | +36% |
San Francisco against nearby metros and the rest of California
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 150 linear ft range from $8,300 to $9,450 across San Francisco and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CAthis page | $4,800 – $14,100 | $9,450 | |
| Vallejo, CA40 miles | $4,300 – $12,700 | $8,500 | −10% |
| Napa, CA50 miles | $4,350 – $12,900 | $8,600 | −9% |
| Santa Cruz, CA55 miles | $4,300 – $12,800 | $8,550 | −10% |
| Stockton, CA55 miles | $4,150 – $12,400 | $8,300 | −12% |
| Santa Rosa, CA65 miles | $4,350 – $12,900 | $8,600 | −9% |
| California (statewide) | $4,300 – $12,900 | $8,600 | −9% |
| United States | $3,800 – $11,400 | $7,600 | −19% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, San Francisco ranks #3 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, San Francisco is 10% above the California figure.
Elsewhere in California
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $4,300 – $12,800 | $8,550 | −9% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $4,100 – $12,300 | $8,200 | −13% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $4,300 – $12,900 | $8,600 | −9% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $4,600 – $13,500 | $9,100 | −4% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $4,300 – $12,700 | $8,500 | −10% |
| Fresno, CA | 476,890 jobs | $4,100 – $12,300 | $8,200 | −13% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is San Francisco against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | 2,375,760 jobs | $3,600 – $10,900 | $7,250 | −23% |
| Seattle, WA | 2,086,210 jobs | $4,450 – $13,100 | $8,750 | −7% |
| Boston, MA | 2,703,890 jobs | $4,250 – $12,500 | $8,400 | −11% |
| Minneapolis, MN | 1,951,650 jobs | $4,250 – $12,600 | $8,400 | −11% |
Optional extras in San Francisco
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.31 for San Francisco, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.54) and goods price index (1.08). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $260 – $1,200 |
What local crews earn in San Francisco
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 3 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For San Francisco the blend is 1.54.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $42.89 an hour, 47% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $30.45 and $48.26 an hour. About 14,010 work in the metro. That is 59.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $34.91 an hour, which is 54% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $28.03 and $40.50 an hour. BLS counts 11,620 of them working in the area, 48.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211), 20% of the weighting: a median of $49.35 an hour, 66% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $34.66 and $70.04 an hour. About 880 work in the metro. That is 3.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $190 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $450. That is a swing of roughly 4.8% to 2.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont has 2,373,920 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 12th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $30.45 | $42.89 | $48.26 | $29.12 | 1.47 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $28.03 | $34.91 | $40.50 | $22.66 | 1.54 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $34.66 | $49.35 | $70.04 | $29.71 | 1.66 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.54 | |||||
Cost by quality level and size in San Francisco
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to San Francisco. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from pool fence (100 linear ft) to 200 ft (200 linear ft).
Basic
$4,800 to $8,500
Standard picket or ornamental, 4 ft
Standard
$7,600 to $11,300
Ornamental pool-code fence, 4-5 ft
Premium
$10,400 to $14,100
Tall privacy slat or custom ornamental
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| pool fence (100 linear ft) | $3,200 – $5,700 | $5,100 – $7,550 | $6,950 – $9,450 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $4,800 – $8,500 | $7,600 – $11,300 | $10,400 – $14,100 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $6,400 – $11,300 | $10,100 – $15,000 | $13,800 – $18,700 |
Aluminum fence: what moves the price in San Francisco
Soil and slope
Steep slopes and rocky clay can add $15-$20+ per linear foot in labor.
Pool codes
Many codes require a pool barrier with gaps under 4 inches, which influences the style you can buy.
Permit
A fence permit runs $40-$150.
San Francisco weather and the aluminum fence calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, San Francisco Dwtn (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in San Francisco: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
San Francisco gets about 23 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (4.8 inches in December). The station averages about 3 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | 47 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 60 | 48 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Mar | 62 | 49 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 50 | 1.6 | Workable |
| May | 64 | 51 | 0.7 | Workable |
| Jun | 67 | 53 | 0.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 66 | 54 | 0.0 | Workable |
| Aug | 68 | 56 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Sep | 70 | 56 | 0.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 70 | 54 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Nov | 64 | 51 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 58 | 47 | 4.8 | Workable |
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Aluminum fence in San Francisco: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an aluminum fence in San Francisco?
For 150 linear ft, expect $4,800 to $14,100 in the San Francisco area. A standard-spec job lands at $7,600 to $11,300. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for aluminum fence in San Francisco?
About $31.50 to $92.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $170 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $75.
+Is aluminum fence cheaper in San Francisco or Vallejo?
Vallejo is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $8,500, which is 10% less than San Francisco ($9,450). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in San Francisco?
About 43% at the midpoint, or $4,050 out of $9,450. Materials are 56% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 35%.
+What would 150 ft (150 linear ft) cost in San Francisco?
$4,800 to $14,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does aluminum fence need a permit in San Francisco?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $170 for fees in the San Francisco area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is San Francisco expensive for aluminum fence compared with the rest of California?
San Francisco is 10% above the California statewide estimate ($8,600 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in San Francisco?
The BLS median is $42.89 an hour in the San Francisco area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $30.45 to $48.26.
+What do basic and premium aluminum fence work cost in San Francisco?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $4,800 to $8,500 and premium work $10,400 to $14,100. Basic means: standard picket or ornamental, 4 ft. Premium means: tall privacy slat or custom ornamental.
+Is there a bad season to install an aluminum fence in San Francisco?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add one gate" add in San Francisco?
$260 to $1,200, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Aluminum fence near San Francisco
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does an Aluminum Fence Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = installed range minus HomeGuide's $10-$25/ft labor range.