Aluminum fence cost in Madison, WI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $3,850 – $11,500
- Per linear ft
- $25.50 – $75.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $7,600
- Rank of 300 metros
- #91
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for an aluminum fence in the Madison area: $3,850 to $11,500 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 lands close to the US figure. Carpenters earn a median of $30.52 an hour in the Madison area, 5% above the US median of $29.12.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Madison, WI, standard level
$6,150 to $9,200
About $40.50 to $60.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 39% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $3,600 | $5,550 |
| Labor | $2,500 | $3,500 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $6,150 | $9,200 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Madison, WI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $2,100 | $4,550 | $7,050 | 60% |
| Labor | $1,700 | $3,000 | $4,300 | 39% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $150 | 1% |
| Total | $3,850 | $7,650 | $11,500 | 100% |
Where the Madison price comes from
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, Madison wages are 1.14 times the national level. Labor makes up about 39% of the midpoint estimate (35% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Madison is at 93.8 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $4,900 nationally becomes $4,550 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 97.3: $40 to $150.
Madison against nearby metros and the rest of Wisconsin
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Rockford is the priciest of the group at $7,900. Dubuque is the cheapest at $7,350.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison, WIthis page | $3,850 – $11,500 | $7,650 | |
| Janesville, WI40 miles | $3,950 – $11,700 | $7,800 | +2% |
| Rockford, IL60 miles | $4,000 – $11,800 | $7,900 | +3% |
| Dubuque, IA80 miles | $3,700 – $11,000 | $7,350 | −4% |
| Oshkosh, WI85 miles | $3,950 – $11,700 | $7,800 | +2% |
| La Crosse, WI85 miles | $3,850 – $11,400 | $7,650 | level |
| Wisconsin (statewide) | $3,850 – $11,500 | $7,650 | level |
| United States | $3,800 – $11,400 | $7,600 | −1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Madison ranks #91 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Madison is 0% above the Wisconsin figure.
Elsewhere in Wisconsin
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee, WI | 820,780 jobs | $3,900 – $11,500 | $7,700 | +1% |
| Green Bay, WI | 174,550 jobs | $3,800 – $11,300 | $7,600 | −1% |
| Appleton, WI | 124,230 jobs | $3,900 – $11,600 | $7,750 | +1% |
| Oshkosh, WI | 93,750 jobs | $3,950 – $11,700 | $7,800 | +2% |
| Eau Claire, WI | 86,060 jobs | $3,850 – $11,400 | $7,650 | −1% |
| La Crosse, WI | 84,380 jobs | $3,850 – $11,400 | $7,650 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Madison against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $3,450 – $10,400 | $6,950 | −10% |
| Albuquerque, NM | 404,700 jobs | $3,600 – $10,800 | $7,200 | −6% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $3,600 – $10,800 | $7,200 | −6% |
| Bridgeport, CT | 404,180 jobs | $4,000 – $11,900 | $7,950 | +4% |
Who does the work: Madison 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 Madison the blend is 1.14.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $30.52 an hour, 5% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $25.71 and $39.68 an hour. About 2,320 work in the metro. That is 56.9 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 $27.40 an hour, which is 21% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.70 and $31.94 an hour. BLS counts 2,370 of them working in the area, 58.1 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 $35.79 an hour, 20% above the US median of $29.71. The middle half of them earn between $24.55 and $50.20 an hour. About 340 work in the metro. That is 8.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 7.7 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (carpenters) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $330 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $170. That is a swing of roughly 2.3% to 4.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Madison has 408,070 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 61st 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% | $25.71 | $30.52 | $39.68 | $29.12 | 1.05 | metro |
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 40% | $22.70 | $27.40 | $31.94 | $22.66 | 1.21 | metro |
| Sheet metal workers (47-2211) | 20% | $24.55 | $35.79 | $50.20 | $29.71 | 1.20 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.14 | |||||
Why two Madison quotes can differ
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).
Soil and slope
Steep slopes and rocky clay can add $15-$20+ per linear foot in labor.
Cost by quality level and size in Madison
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Madison. 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
$3,850 to $6,900
Standard picket or ornamental, 4 ft
Standard
$6,150 to $9,200
Ornamental pool-code fence, 4-5 ft
Premium
$8,450 to $11,500
Tall privacy slat or custom ornamental
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| pool fence (100 linear ft) | $2,600 – $4,650 | $4,100 – $6,150 | $5,650 – $7,700 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $3,850 – $6,900 | $6,150 – $9,200 | $8,450 – $11,500 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $5,150 – $9,200 | $8,150 – $12,200 | $11,200 – $15,200 |
What nearby projects cost in Madison
Jobs that often go together with aluminum fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Madison wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, inground pool comes out highest (+13%) and vinyl fence lowest (−2%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,400 – $9,000 | −2% |
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,100 – $7,700 | +1% |
| Chain-link fence | 150 linear ft | $1,550 – $6,600 | +6% |
| Inground pool | 450 sq ft | $40,700 – $127,000 | +13% |
The best months for aluminum fence in Madison
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Madison Dane Rgnl 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 Madison are April through November: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March 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.
Madison gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 52 inches of snow. The wettest months are June, July and August (5.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, October and November are the driest, at 2.8 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 27 | 12 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 15 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 25 | 2.3 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 36 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 47 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 57 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 62 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 51 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 60 | 40 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 29 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 32 | 18 | 1.6 | Cold |
Optional extras in Madison
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.04 for Madison, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.14) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $210 – $940 |
Get 3 local quotes
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Aluminum fence in Madison: your questions
+How much does it cost to install an aluminum fence in Madison?
For 150 linear ft, expect $3,850 to $11,500 in the Madison area. A standard-spec job lands at $6,150 to $9,200. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for aluminum fence in Madison?
About $25.50 to $75.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $25 to $75.
+Is aluminum fence cheaper in Madison or Janesville?
Janesville is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $7,800, which is 2% more than Madison ($7,650). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Madison?
About 39% at the midpoint, or $3,000 out of $7,650. Materials are 60% and permits 1%. Nationally, labor is 35%.
+What would 150 ft (150 linear ft) cost in Madison?
$3,850 to $11,500. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does aluminum fence need a permit in Madison?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $150 for fees in the Madison area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Madison expensive for aluminum fence compared with the rest of Wisconsin?
Madison is 0% above the Wisconsin statewide estimate ($7,650 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Wisconsin; see the state page to compare them.
+What do carpenters earn in Madison?
The BLS median is $30.52 an hour in the Madison area, compared with $29.12 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $25.71 to $39.68.
+What do basic and premium aluminum fence work cost in Madison?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $3,850 to $6,900 and premium work $8,450 to $11,500. 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 Madison?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. October and November 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 Madison?
$210 to $940, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Aluminum fence near Madison
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.