Aluminum fence cost in Boulder, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,700 – $11,000
- Per linear ft
- $24 – $72.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $7,600
- Rank of 300 metros
- #139
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for an aluminum fence in the Boulder area: $3,700 to $11,000 for 150 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 3% lower than the US figure. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Boulder, CO, standard level
$5,900 to $8,850
About $38.50 to $58 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 35% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,650 | $5,700 |
| Labor | $2,150 | $3,000 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $5,900 | $8,850 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Boulder, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,150 | $4,700 | $7,200 | 64% |
| Labor | $1,450 | $2,600 | $3,700 | 35% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $100 | $160 | 1% |
| Total | $3,700 | $7,350 | $11,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Boulder number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 3 trades: carpenters at 40%, construction laborers at 40%, sheet metal workers at 20%. Weighted together, Boulder wages are 0.98 times the national level. Labor makes up about 35% of the midpoint estimate (35% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Boulder is at 96.1 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $4,900 nationally becomes $4,700 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.2: $40 to $160.
Boulder: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Boulder. 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
$3,700 to $6,600
Standard picket or ornamental, 4 ft
Standard
$5,900 to $8,850
Ornamental pool-code fence, 4-5 ft
Premium
$8,100 to $11,000
Tall privacy slat or custom ornamental
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| pool fence (100 linear ft) | $2,450 – $4,450 | $3,950 – $5,950 | $5,450 – $7,400 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,700 – $6,600 | $5,900 – $8,850 | $8,100 – $11,000 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,900 – $8,800 | $7,800 – $11,700 | $10,800 – $14,700 |
How Boulder compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Denver is the priciest of the group at $7,750. Cheyenne is the cheapest at $7,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, COthis page | $3,700 – $11,000 | $7,350 | |
| Fort Collins, CO40 miles | $3,650 – $11,000 | $7,300 | −1% |
| Denver, CO55 miles | $3,900 – $11,600 | $7,750 | +5% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $3,600 – $10,900 | $7,250 | −2% |
| Cheyenne, WY90 miles | $3,600 – $10,800 | $7,200 | −2% |
| Colorado Springs, CO95 miles | $3,600 – $10,800 | $7,200 | −2% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $3,800 – $11,300 | $7,550 | +3% |
| United States | $3,800 – $11,400 | $7,600 | +3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Boulder ranks #139 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Boulder is 3% below the Colorado figure.
Elsewhere in Colorado
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $3,900 – $11,600 | $7,750 | +5% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $3,600 – $10,800 | $7,200 | −2% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $3,650 – $11,000 | $7,300 | −1% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $3,600 – $10,900 | $7,250 | −2% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $3,600 – $10,900 | $7,250 | −2% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $3,550 – $10,800 | $7,150 | −3% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boulder against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $3,450 – $10,400 | $6,900 | −6% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $3,550 – $10,700 | $7,100 | −3% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $4,250 – $12,700 | $8,450 | +15% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $3,450 – $10,500 | $7,000 | −5% |
Who does the work: Boulder trade wages
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 Boulder the blend is 0.98.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $28.73 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.92 and $35.50 an hour. About 540 work in the metro. That is 28.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $23.07 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.64 and $28.23 an hour. BLS counts 540 of them working in the area, 28.1 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 $26.75 an hour, 10% below the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $21.54 and $32.26 an hour. About 60 work in the metro. That is 3.1 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 $240 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $170. That is a swing of roughly 2.4% to 3.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Boulder has 192,390 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 119th 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% | $23.92 | $28.73 | $35.50 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $19.64 | $23.07 | $28.23 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $21.54 | $26.75 | $32.26 | $29.71 | 0.90 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.98 | |||||
The best months for aluminum fence in Boulder
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Boulder (5 miles from the city center). 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 Boulder: 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.
Boulder gets about 21 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 93 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and September (3.2 inches in May). The station averages about 33 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 | 47 | 22 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 48 | 22 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 29 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 35 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 51 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 57 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 56 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 48 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 37 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 28 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 21 | 0.8 | Workable |
Aluminum fence: what moves the price in Boulder
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.
Planning more than one job in Boulder?
Jobs that often go together with aluminum fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Boulder wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, inground pool comes out highest (+2%) and vinyl fence lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,400 – $8,900 | −3% |
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,000 – $7,500 | −2% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,500 – $6,100 | −1% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $36,800 – $115,000 | +2% |
Extras that change the Boulder total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.97 for Boulder, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.98) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $190 – $870 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Aluminum fence in Boulder: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an aluminum fence in Boulder?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,700 to $11,000 in the Boulder area. A standard-spec job lands at $5,900 to $8,850. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for aluminum fence in Boulder?
About $24 to $72.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $75.
+Is aluminum fence cheaper in Boulder or Fort Collins?
Fort Collins is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $7,300, which is 1% less than Boulder ($7,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boulder?
About 35% at the midpoint, or $2,600 out of $7,350. Materials are 64% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 35%.
+What would 150 ft (150 linear ft) cost in Boulder?
$3,700 to $11,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does aluminum fence need a permit in Boulder?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $160 for fees in the Boulder area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boulder expensive for aluminum fence compared with the rest of Colorado?
Boulder is 3% below the Colorado statewide estimate ($7,550 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Boulder?
The BLS median is $28.73 an hour in the Boulder area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.92 to $35.50.
+What do basic and premium aluminum fence work cost in Boulder?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,700 to $6,600 and premium work $8,100 to $11,000. 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 Boulder?
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 Boulder?
$190 to $870, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Aluminum fence near Boulder
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.