Aluminum fence cost in Washington, DC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,900 – $11,800
- Per linear ft
- $26 – $77.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +3%
- US $7,600
- Rank of 300 metros
- #62
- 1 = most expensive
An aluminum fence in Washington, DC usually costs $3,900 to $11,800 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $26 to $77.50 per linear ft before permits. Compared with the national midpoint that is $250 more. Building materials run about 5% above the US average here (BEA goods price index 104.8).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Washington, DC, standard level
$6,250 to $9,400
About $41.50 to $62 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 34% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $4,000 | $6,200 |
| Labor | $2,200 | $3,100 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $130 |
| Total | $6,250 | $9,400 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Washington, DC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,350 | $5,100 | $7,850 | 65% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,650 | $3,750 | 34% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $100 | $160 | 1% |
| Total | $3,900 | $7,850 | $11,800 | 100% |
What is behind the Washington number
The wage side of the estimate leans on carpenters, who do 40% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $29.23 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Washington is 1.00 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 34% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Washington is at 104.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $4,900 nationally becomes $5,100 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 108.9: $45 to $160.
Washington 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, Washington Reagan Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Washington are August through June: 11 of 12. Outside them, July has an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Washington gets about 42 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 14 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (4.3 inches in July). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.6 inches. The station averages about 40 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 | 45 | 30 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 48 | 32 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 39 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 68 | 48 | 3.2 | Workable |
| May | 77 | 58 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 85 | 68 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 72 | 4.3 | Hot |
| Aug | 88 | 71 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 81 | 64 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Oct | 69 | 52 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Nov | 58 | 42 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 49 | 35 | 3.4 | Workable |
Washington against nearby metros and the rest of the District of Columbia
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Washington is the priciest of the group. Winchester is the cheapest at $7,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DCthis page | $3,900 – $11,800 | $7,850 | |
| Hagerstown, MD55 miles | $3,600 – $10,900 | $7,250 | −8% |
| Baltimore, MD60 miles | $3,850 – $11,600 | $7,700 | −2% |
| Winchester, VA60 miles | $3,450 – $10,500 | $7,000 | −11% |
| Lexington Park, MD65 miles | $3,800 – $11,400 | $7,600 | −3% |
| Chambersburg, PA75 miles | $3,700 – $11,100 | $7,400 | −6% |
| District of Columbia (statewide) | $4,000 – $12,000 | $8,000 | +2% |
| United States | $3,800 – $11,400 | $7,600 | −3% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Washington ranks #62 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Washington is 2% below the District of Columbia figure.
Washington is the only District of Columbia metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Washington against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $3,550 – $10,900 | $7,200 | −8% |
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $3,900 – $11,600 | $7,750 | −1% |
| Dallas, TX | 4,049,800 jobs | $3,650 – $11,200 | $7,400 | −6% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $3,600 – $11,000 | $7,300 | −7% |
Why two Washington quotes can differ
Style
Aluminum picket runs $25-$50 per linear foot installed, ornamental fence $40-$75, and privacy designs $75-$130 (HomeGuide).
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.
Extras that change the Washington total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.03 for Washington, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.00) and goods price index (1.05). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $210 – $920 |
What nearby projects cost in Washington
Jobs that often go together with aluminum fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Washington wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (+4%) and chain-link fence lowest (+2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,750 – $9,500 | +4% |
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,100 – $7,900 | +3% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,600 – $6,300 | +2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,300 – $116,500 | +3% |
Cost by quality level and size in Washington
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Washington. 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
$3,900 to $7,050
Standard picket or ornamental, 4 ft
Standard
$6,250 to $9,400
Ornamental pool-code fence, 4-5 ft
Premium
$8,650 to $11,800
Tall privacy slat or custom ornamental
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| pool fence (100 linear ft) | $2,600 – $4,750 | $4,200 – $6,300 | $5,800 – $7,900 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,900 – $7,050 | $6,250 – $9,400 | $8,650 – $11,800 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $5,200 – $9,400 | $8,350 – $12,500 | $11,500 – $15,700 |
What local crews earn in Washington
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 Washington the blend is 1.00.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $29.23 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.62 and $35.56 an hour. About 13,280 work in the metro. That is 42.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 40%) the local median is $22.80 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.07 and $27.05 an hour. BLS counts 17,710 of them working in the area, 56.5 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 $29.46 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $24.28 and $35.57 an hour. About 1,840 work in the metro. That is 5.9 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 $230 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $95. That is a swing of roughly 1.2% to 2.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has 3,136,190 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 6th 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% | $26.62 | $29.23 | $35.56 | $29.12 | 1.00 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $20.07 | $22.80 | $27.05 | $22.66 | 1.01 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $24.28 | $29.46 | $35.57 | $29.71 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
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Aluminum fence in Washington: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an aluminum fence in Washington?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,900 to $11,800 in the Washington area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,250 to $9,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for aluminum fence in Washington?
About $26 to $77.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $45 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $75.
+Is aluminum fence cheaper in Washington or Hagerstown?
Hagerstown is 55 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $7,250, which is 8% less than Washington ($7,850). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Washington?
About 34% at the midpoint, or $2,650 out of $7,850. Materials are 65% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 35%.
+What would 150 ft (150 linear ft) cost in Washington?
$3,900 to $11,800. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does aluminum fence need a permit in Washington?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $45 to $160 for fees in the Washington area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Washington expensive for aluminum fence compared with the rest of District of Columbia?
Washington is 2% below the District of Columbia statewide estimate ($8,000 at the midpoint).
+What do carpenters earn in Washington?
The BLS median is $29.23 an hour in the Washington area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $26.62 to $35.56.
+What do basic and premium aluminum fence work cost in Washington?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,900 to $7,050 and premium work $8,650 to $11,800. Basic means: standard picket or ornamental, 4 ft. Premium means: tall privacy slat or custom ornamental.
+When is the best time to install an aluminum fence in Washington?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are August through June. January and February are typically the driest of those months. Local contractors' schedules matter as much as the weather, so book early for the busy months.
+What does "add one gate" add in Washington?
$210 to $920, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Aluminum fence near Washington
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.