Chain-link fence cost in Fort Smith, AR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,350 – $5,000
- Per linear ft
- $8.60 – $32.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −18%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #292
- 1 = most expensive
Fort Smith homeowners pay roughly $1,350 to $5,000 to install a chain-link fence at 150 linear ft, or $8.60 to $32.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Fort Smith is 18% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $17.77 an hour in the Fort Smith area, 22% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Fort Smith, AR, standard level
$2,450 to $3,900
About $16 to $25.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 55% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,250 | $2,250 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $2,450 | $3,900 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Fort Smith, AR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $840 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 42% |
| Labor | $450 | $1,750 | $3,050 | 55% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $80 | $130 | 3% |
| Total | $1,350 | $3,150 | $5,000 | 100% |
Where the Fort Smith price comes from
Labor is 55% of the midpoint bill here, against 60% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (60%), carpenters (40%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Fort Smith the blended ratio comes out at 0.75.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Fort Smith metro is 93.6 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $1,350, compared with $1,450 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (85.9) and land at $35 to $130.
Why two Fort Smith quotes can differ
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.
Related projects, priced for Fort Smith
Because every project leans on different trades, Fort Smith's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs −11% and gravel driveway −16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,550 – $6,550 | −15% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,100 – $8,100 | −11% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,250 – $9,950 | −13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,100 – $8,550 | −16% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: chain-link fence pricing in Fort Smith
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Fort Smith 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 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,350 to $2,800
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,450 to $3,900
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$3,550 to $5,000
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $900 – $1,900 | $1,650 – $2,650 | $2,400 – $3,350 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,800 | $2,450 – $3,900 | $3,550 – $5,000 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,750 – $3,700 | $3,200 – $5,150 | $4,650 – $6,600 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,600 – $5,500 | $4,800 – $7,700 | $6,950 – $9,850 |
Fort Smith against nearby metros and the rest of Arkansas
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Fort Smith. Texarkana is the lowest at about $3,150 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 135 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Smith, ARthis page | $1,350 – $5,000 | $3,150 | |
| Fayetteville, AR50 miles | $1,350 – $5,300 | $3,350 | +6% |
| Tulsa, OK110 miles | $1,400 – $5,450 | $3,400 | +8% |
| Joplin, MO115 miles | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +15% |
| Little Rock, AR125 miles | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | +3% |
| Texarkana, TX135 miles | $1,300 – $4,950 | $3,150 | level |
| Arkansas (statewide) | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | +3% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +22% |
Across 300 US metros, Fort Smith comes in at #292 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Fort Smith is 3% below the Arkansas figure.
Other Arkansas metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | 358,210 jobs | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | +3% |
| Fayetteville, AR | 275,180 jobs | $1,350 – $5,300 | $3,350 | +6% |
| Jonesboro, AR | 60,620 jobs | $1,350 – $5,100 | $3,200 | +2% |
Cities with a workforce like Fort Smith's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Fort Smith against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | +3% |
| Macon, GA | 95,030 jobs | $1,350 – $5,200 | $3,300 | +4% |
| Yakima, WA | 97,010 jobs | $1,600 – $6,400 | $4,000 | +27% |
| Barnstable, MA | 94,110 jobs | $1,650 – $7,000 | $4,350 | +37% |
Local wages behind the labor line
Wages are the part of this estimate that changes most from town to town. 2 trades carry the job here, and each is compared with its US median. The weighted result for Fort Smith is 0.75 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $17.77 an hour, 22% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $16.31 and $21.83 an hour. About 670 work in the metro. That is 70.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $20.39 an hour, which is 30% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $17.84 and $23.62 an hour. BLS counts 240 of them working in the area, 25.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($21.83 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $250. At the 25th percentile ($16.31) it shrinks by about $90. The total moves by 7.9% or 2.8%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 95,560 jobs in the Fort Smith area. That makes it the 210th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.06% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $16.31 | $17.77 | $21.83 | $22.66 | 0.78 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $17.84 | $20.39 | $23.62 | $29.12 | 0.70 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.75 | |||||
When to schedule chain-link fence in Fort Smith
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ft Smith Rgnl Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Fort Smith (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Fort Smith gets about 47 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 3 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (5.6 inches in May). Inside the workable window, January and February are the driest, at 2.9 and 2.7 inches. The station averages about 78 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 | 51 | 30 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 57 | 33 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 66 | 42 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 75 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 60 | 5.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 68 | 4.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 94 | 72 | 3.4 | Hot |
| Aug | 94 | 71 | 3.6 | Hot |
| Sep | 87 | 63 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 76 | 51 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 32 | 3.5 | Workable |
Optional extras in Fort Smith
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Fort Smith by the average of the local wage index (0.75) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.84. 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) | $65 – $840 |
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Chain-link fence in Fort Smith: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Fort Smith?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,350 to $5,000 in the Fort Smith area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,450 to $3,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Fort Smith?
About $8.60 to $32.50 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 Fort Smith or Fayetteville?
Fayetteville is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,350, which is 6% more than Fort Smith ($3,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Fort Smith?
About 55% at the midpoint, or $1,750 out of $3,150. Materials are 42% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Fort Smith?
$1,750 to $6,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Fort Smith?
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 Fort Smith area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Fort Smith expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Arkansas?
Fort Smith is 3% below the Arkansas statewide estimate ($3,250 at the midpoint). We cover 4 metros in Arkansas; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Fort Smith?
The BLS median is $17.77 an hour in the Fort Smith area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $16.31 to $21.83.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Fort Smith?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,350 to $2,800 and premium work $3,550 to $5,000. 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 Fort Smith?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September 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 Fort Smith?
$65 to $840, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Fort Smith
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).