Aluminum fence cost in Bismarck, ND
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
- $24.50 – $72.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $7,600
- Rank of 300 metros
- #138
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install an aluminum fence in Bismarck, plan on $3,700 to $11,000 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $24.50 to $72.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 3% lower than the national one. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 95.7).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Bismarck, ND, standard level
$5,900 to $8,850
About $39 to $58 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 35% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,650 | $5,650 |
| Labor | $2,150 | $3,050 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $110 |
| Total | $5,900 | $8,850 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Bismarck, ND
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,150 | $4,650 | $7,200 | 63% |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,600 | $3,750 | 35% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $140 | 1% |
| Total | $3,700 | $7,350 | $11,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Bismarck 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, Bismarck wages are 0.99 times the national level. Labor makes up about 35% of the midpoint estimate (35% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Bismarck metro is 95.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $4,650, compared with $4,900 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.0) and land at $35 to $140.
Data note: 20% of the labor weighting for this project uses a statewide median because BLS has no published metro figure for that trade in Bismarck. The wage table below marks each row.
Extras that change the Bismarck total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Bismarck by the average of the local wage index (0.99) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.98. Tick any of them in the estimator above to add them to your total. Treat these as planning figures: an add-on touches different trades than the main job, so the scaling is an approximation.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $200 – $880 |
Pick a size, pick a tier: aluminum fence pricing in Bismarck
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Bismarck wages and prices. They overlap on purpose: a good standard job and a modest premium job can cost the same. The grid below prices the same bands at 3 common sizes.
Basic
$3,700 to $6,650
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 – $6,650 | $5,900 – $8,850 | $8,100 – $11,000 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $4,900 – $8,800 | $7,850 – $11,700 | $10,800 – $14,700 |
How Bismarck compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. St. Cloud is the priciest of the group at $7,700. Rapid City is the cheapest at $7,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck, NDthis page | $3,700 – $11,000 | $7,350 | |
| Fargo, ND190 miles | $3,800 – $11,300 | $7,550 | +3% |
| Rapid City, SD210 miles | $3,450 – $10,500 | $7,000 | −5% |
| Sioux Falls, SD305 miles | $3,500 – $10,600 | $7,050 | −4% |
| St. Cloud, MN325 miles | $3,850 – $11,500 | $7,700 | +5% |
| Sioux City, IA380 miles | $3,600 – $10,800 | $7,200 | −2% |
| North Dakota (statewide) | $3,700 – $11,100 | $7,400 | +1% |
| United States | $3,800 – $11,400 | $7,600 | +3% |
Across 300 US metros, Bismarck comes in at #138 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $9,700; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $6,500 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Bismarck is 1% below the North Dakota figure.
Other North Dakota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo, ND | 148,660 jobs | $3,800 – $11,300 | $7,550 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Bismarck's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bismarck against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $4,200 – $12,500 | $8,350 | +14% |
| Lexington Park, MD | 70,650 jobs | $3,800 – $11,400 | $7,600 | +3% |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $3,900 – $11,500 | $7,700 | +5% |
| Janesville, WI | 69,870 jobs | $3,950 – $11,700 | $7,800 | +6% |
Aluminum fence: what moves the price in Bismarck
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.
Style
Aluminum picket runs $25-$50 per linear foot installed, ornamental fence $40-$75, and privacy designs $75-$130 (HomeGuide).
Climate in Bismarck: timing your aluminum fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Bismarck (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Bismarck (7 of 12 months). January, February, March, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March, November and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Bismarck gets about 19 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 51 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and July (3.4 inches in June). Inside the workable window, April and October are the driest, at 1.3 and 1.4 inches. The station averages about 21 days a year at 90°F or above.
Does the season change the price? Probably, but we do not have a sourced seasonal price curve, so the estimator shows a year-round figure and does not adjust by month. When you collect quotes, ask whether scheduling in a slower month gets a better rate.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23 | 2 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 28 | 7 | 0.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 19 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Apr | 56 | 30 | 1.3 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 42 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 53 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 58 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 56 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 46 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 57 | 33 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 41 | 19 | 0.7 | Cold |
| Dec | 28 | 8 | 0.6 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Bismarck
Because every project leans on different trades, Bismarck's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, inground pool runs +3% and wood fence −4%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,800 | −4% |
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,900 – $7,350 | −4% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,500 – $6,050 | −2% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $37,300 – $116,500 | +3% |
Bismarck labor market for aluminum fence
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 3 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Bismarck is 0.99 times the national level.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $26.28 an hour, which is 10% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.75 and $30.71 an hour. BLS counts 510 of them working in the area, 71.6 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.93 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.87 and $29.41 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 87.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
Sheet metal workers (47-2211) carry 20% of the labor weighting. BLS does not publish this trade for the Bismarck metro, so we used the North Dakota statewide median: $31.34 an hour against $29.71 for the US. The middle half of them earn between $23.51 and $38.91 an hour.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the carpenters on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($30.71 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $160. At the 25th percentile ($22.75) it shrinks by about $130. The total moves by 2.2% or 1.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 71,270 jobs in the Bismarck area. That makes it the 258th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.05% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.75 | $26.28 | $30.71 | $29.12 | 0.90 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $21.87 | $23.93 | $29.41 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $23.51 | $31.34 | $38.91 | $29.71 | 1.05 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Aluminum fence in Bismarck: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an aluminum fence in Bismarck?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,700 to $11,000 in the Bismarck 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 Bismarck?
About $24.50 to $72.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $75.
+Is aluminum fence cheaper in Bismarck or Fargo?
Fargo is 190 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $7,550, which is 3% more than Bismarck ($7,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bismarck?
About 35% at the midpoint, or $2,600 out of $7,350. Materials are 63% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 35%.
+What would 150 ft (150 linear ft) cost in Bismarck?
$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 Bismarck?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $140 for fees in the Bismarck area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bismarck expensive for aluminum fence compared with the rest of North Dakota?
Bismarck is 1% below the North Dakota statewide estimate ($7,400 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in North Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Bismarck?
The BLS median is $26.28 an hour in the Bismarck area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.75 to $30.71.
+What do basic and premium aluminum fence work cost in Bismarck?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,700 to $6,650 and premium work $8,100 to $11,000. 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 Bismarck?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through October. April and October 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 Bismarck?
$200 to $880, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Aluminum fence near Bismarck
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.