Chain-link fence cost in Alabama
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,400 – $5,200
- Per linear ft
- $8.95 – $34
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −14%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 9
Alabama prices for chain-link fence: $1,400 to $5,200 for 150 linear ft, or $8.95 to $34 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 14% below the national one. Local wages for construction laborers are $17.74 an hour.
Inside Alabama, the metros we cover range from $3,050 (Dothan) to $3,350 (Birmingham) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Alabama (statewide), standard level
$2,500 to $4,050
About $16.50 to $26.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 56% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,600 |
| Labor | $1,300 | $2,400 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $2,500 | $4,050 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Alabama
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,350 | $1,900 | 42% |
| Labor | $470 | $1,850 | $3,200 | 56% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 3% |
| Total | $1,400 | $3,300 | $5,200 | 100% |
If you are planning more than one job in Alabama
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Alabama wages and prices. Against national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−8%) and gravel driveway lowest (−12%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,650 – $6,850 | −11% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,250 – $8,400 | −8% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,400 – $10,300 | −10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $8,950 | −12% |
Quality levels and sizes in Alabama
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Alabama wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,400 to $2,900
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,500 to $4,050
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$3,650 to $5,200
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $930 – $1,950 | $1,700 – $2,750 | $2,500 – $3,500 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,900 | $2,500 – $4,050 | $3,650 – $5,200 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,800 – $3,850 | $3,350 – $5,350 | $4,850 – $6,900 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,700 – $5,750 | $5,000 – $8,000 | $7,250 – $10,300 |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in Alabama
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.79 for Alabama.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $17.74 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $14.41 and $21.75 an hour. About 18,400 work in the state. That is 87.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $23.18 an hour, which is 20% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $19.43 and $27.11 an hour. BLS counts 5,560 of them working in the state, 26.3 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($21.75 an hour) would add about $250 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($14.41) would take off about $210. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,113,660 jobs across Alabama (May 2025), which is 1.4% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $14.41 | $17.74 | $21.75 | $22.66 | 0.78 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $19.43 | $23.18 | $27.11 | $29.12 | 0.80 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.79 | |||||
Optional extras in Alabama
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Alabama by the average of the local wage index (0.79) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.88. 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) | $70 – $880 |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Alabama
Height
A 4-ft fence runs $10-$20 per linear foot; 6- to 8-ft backyard fences run $15-$40+ (HomeGuide).
Coating
Black or green vinyl-coated mesh costs more than galvanized.
Gates
Gates are $80-$1,000+ before installation. Rolling or slide gates are the expensive end.
Survey
A land survey ($300-$900) is worth it before you put a fence near a boundary.
Weather windows across Alabama
Season matters for chain-link fence. For each Alabama metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Daphne has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Alabama at 12 months; Dothan has the shortest at 9 (September through May). Rainfall runs from 49 inches a year in Decatur to 66 inches in Daphne.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham | 35 | 91 | 57 | 10: September through June |
| Huntsville | 33 | 92 | 54 | 10: September through June |
| Mobile | 43 | 92 | 61 | 9: September through May |
| Montgomery | 37 | 94 | 51 | 9: September through May |
| Tuscaloosa | 35 | 92 | 57 | 9: September through May |
| Daphne | 39 | 89 | 66 | 12: all year |
| Auburn | 35 | 89 | 56 | 12: all year |
| Decatur | 32 | 90 | 49 | 10: September through June |
| Dothan | 40 | 93 | 54 | 9: September through May |
Chain-link fence cost by metro in Alabama
4 of the 9 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,300, and the top-to-bottom gap is 10%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (150 linear ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | $1,400 – $5,350 | $3,350 | +2% |
| Decatur, AL | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | +2% |
| Huntsville, AL | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | +1% |
| Daphne, AL | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | +1% |
| Mobile, AL | $1,400 – $5,200 | $3,300 | level |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $1,350 – $5,200 | $3,300 | level |
| Montgomery, AL | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | −1% |
| Auburn, AL | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | −1% |
| Dothan, AL | $1,300 – $4,800 | $3,050 | −7% |
How Alabama compares with nearby states
Alabama ranks 50 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for chain-link fence, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $5,300 and the cheapest Arkansas at $3,250, both for 150 linear ft at the midpoint. Alabama sits at $3,300. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 170 miles away | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | +4% |
| Mississippi | 180 miles away | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | +1% |
| Tennessee | 190 miles away | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | +9% |
| Louisiana | 310 miles away | $1,350 – $5,250 | $3,300 | +1% |
| South Carolina | 350 miles away | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +7% |
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Chain-link fence in Alabama: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Alabama?
$1,400 to $5,200 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Alabama can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Alabama is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Dothan at about $3,050 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Birmingham at $3,350.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Alabama than the US average?
It is 14% cheaper: $3,300 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Alabama?
About 56% ($1,850). Materials are 42%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.79x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Alabama?
The BLS statewide median is $17.74 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $14.41 to $21.75.
+Where does Alabama rank for chain-link fence costs?
50th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,300 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Alabama?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,900 and premium work $3,650 to $5,200. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in Alabama?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Alabama metros we cover, Daphne has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add one gate" add in Alabama?
$70 to $880, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in Alabama
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 a Chain-Link Fence Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Visual Fence Pro: Chain Link Fence Cost & Pricing Guide for Contractors (2026) (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 = Visual Fence Pro's $6-$13 per foot for residential galvanized 4-6 ft fence (taller or vinyl-coated fence costs more).