Chain-link fence cost in Decatur, AL
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,400 – $5,300
- Per linear ft
- $9.05 – $34.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −13%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #252
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a chain-link fence in the Decatur area: $1,400 to $5,300 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 13% lower than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $18.11 an hour in the Decatur area, 20% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Decatur, AL, standard level
$2,550 to $4,150
About $16.50 to $27 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,600 |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,450 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $2,550 | $4,150 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Decatur, AL
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,350 | $1,900 | 41% |
| Labor | $490 | $1,900 | $3,300 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $1,400 | $3,350 | $5,300 | 100% |
Where the Decatur price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: construction laborers at 60%, carpenters at 40%. Weighted together, Decatur wages are 0.82 times the national level. Labor makes up about 57% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Decatur is at 96.4 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,450 nationally becomes $1,350 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 87.2: $35 to $130.
Is Decatur cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Nashville is the priciest of the group at $3,700. Tuscaloosa is the cheapest at $3,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur, ALthis page | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | |
| Huntsville, AL30 miles | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −1% |
| Birmingham, AL75 miles | $1,400 – $5,350 | $3,350 | level |
| Tuscaloosa, AL105 miles | $1,350 – $5,200 | $3,300 | −2% |
| Chattanooga, TN105 miles | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +5% |
| Nashville, TN115 miles | $1,500 – $5,900 | $3,700 | +10% |
| Alabama (statewide) | $1,400 – $5,200 | $3,300 | −2% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +15% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Decatur ranks #252 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Decatur is 2% above the Alabama figure.
Elsewhere in Alabama
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham, AL | 520,290 jobs | $1,400 – $5,350 | $3,350 | level |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −1% |
| Mobile, AL | 172,550 jobs | $1,400 – $5,200 | $3,300 | −2% |
| Montgomery, AL | 165,550 jobs | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | −2% |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | 108,460 jobs | $1,350 – $5,200 | $3,300 | −2% |
| Daphne, AL | 87,120 jobs | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Decatur against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe, NM | 61,770 jobs | $1,450 – $5,800 | $3,600 | +8% |
| Dothan, AL | 60,720 jobs | $1,300 – $4,800 | $3,050 | −9% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +9% |
| Sheboygan, WI | 60,630 jobs | $1,550 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +21% |
Planning more than one job in Decatur?
Jobs that often go together with chain-link fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Decatur wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−7%) and gravel driveway lowest (−11%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,700 – $6,950 | −10% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,250 – $8,500 | −7% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,400 – $10,400 | −9% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,200 – $9,050 | −11% |
Extras that change the Decatur total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.89 for Decatur, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.82) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $70 – $890 |
Who does the work: Decatur trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 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 Decatur the blend is 0.82.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $18.11 an hour, which is 20% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $15.52 and $23.05 an hour. BLS counts 690 of them working in the area, 112.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $24.50 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.75 and $28.48 an hour. About 190 work in the metro. That is 31.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $300 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $160. That is a swing of roughly 4.8% to 9.1% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Decatur has 61,240 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 283rd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $15.52 | $18.11 | $23.05 | $22.66 | 0.80 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $21.75 | $24.50 | $28.48 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.82 | |||||
The best months for chain-link fence in Decatur
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Decatur Pryor Fld (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 Decatur are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Decatur gets about 49 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are February, March and December (5.2 inches in December). Inside the workable window, September and October are the driest, at 3.2 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 64 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 | 51 | 32 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Feb | 55 | 35 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 73 | 50 | 4.5 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 90 | 70 | 4.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 68 | 3.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 85 | 61 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 75 | 50 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 39 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 54 | 35 | 5.2 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Decatur bid
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.
Height
A 4-ft fence runs $10-$20 per linear foot; 6- to 8-ft backyard fences run $15-$40+ (HomeGuide).
Decatur: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Decatur. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from backyard (100 linear ft) to full lot (300 linear ft).
Basic
$1,400 to $2,950
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,550 to $4,150
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$3,750 to $5,300
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $940 – $2,000 | $1,750 – $2,800 | $2,550 – $3,600 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,400 – $2,950 | $2,550 – $4,150 | $3,750 – $5,300 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,850 – $3,900 | $3,400 – $5,500 | $4,950 – $7,050 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,750 – $5,850 | $5,050 – $8,200 | $7,400 – $10,500 |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $2,550 to $4,150 for Decatur, AL is attached.
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Chain-link fence in Decatur: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Decatur?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,400 to $5,300 in the Decatur area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,550 to $4,150. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Decatur?
About $9.05 to $34.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Decatur or Huntsville?
Huntsville is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,300, which is 1% less than Decatur ($3,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Decatur?
About 57% at the midpoint, or $1,900 out of $3,350. Materials are 41% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Decatur?
$1,850 to $7,050. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Decatur?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $130 for fees in the Decatur area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Decatur expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Alabama?
Decatur is 2% above the Alabama statewide estimate ($3,300 at the midpoint). We cover 9 metros in Alabama; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Decatur?
The BLS median is $18.11 an hour in the Decatur area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $15.52 to $23.05.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Decatur?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,400 to $2,950 and premium work $3,750 to $5,300. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+When is the best time to install a chain-link fence in Decatur?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. September 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 Decatur?
$70 to $890, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Decatur
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).