Chain-link fence cost in Merced, CA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,700 – $7,000
- Per linear ft
- $11 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #34
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a chain-link fence in Merced, plan on $1,700 to $7,000 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $11 to $45.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 13% higher than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.17 an hour in the Merced area, 15% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Merced, CA, standard level
$3,300 to $5,400
About $21.50 to $35.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,700 |
| Labor | $1,950 | $3,600 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $3,300 | $5,400 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Merced, CA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $950 | $1,500 | $2,050 | 34% |
| Labor | $710 | $2,750 | $4,800 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $1,700 | $4,350 | $7,000 | 100% |
Why Merced prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $26.17 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Merced is 1.19 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 63% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Merced metro is 105.2 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $1,500, compared with $1,450 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (98.3) and land at $40 to $150.
Planning more than one job in Merced?
Because every project leans on different trades, Merced's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +13% and vinyl fence +8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,400 – $8,500 | +11% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,900 – $9,950 | +8% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,200 – $12,500 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,800 – $11,500 | +13% |
Merced against nearby metros and the rest of California
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. San Jose is the priciest of the group at $4,850. Fresno is the cheapest at $4,200.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CAthis page | $1,700 – $7,000 | $4,350 | |
| Modesto, CA30 miles | $1,750 – $7,300 | $4,500 | +4% |
| San Jose, CA40 miles | $1,850 – $7,900 | $4,850 | +12% |
| Stockton, CA60 miles | $1,700 – $7,000 | $4,350 | level |
| Fresno, CA60 miles | $1,650 – $6,750 | $4,200 | −3% |
| Santa Cruz, CA70 miles | $1,750 – $7,300 | $4,550 | +4% |
| California (statewide) | $1,750 – $7,350 | $4,550 | +5% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −12% |
Across 300 US metros, Merced comes in at #34 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Merced is 5% below the California figure.
Other California metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA | 6,271,560 jobs | $1,750 – $7,300 | $4,550 | +4% |
| San Francisco, CA | 2,373,920 jobs | $1,950 – $8,400 | $5,150 | +19% |
| Riverside, CA | 1,716,760 jobs | $1,700 – $7,100 | $4,400 | +1% |
| San Diego, CA | 1,538,060 jobs | $1,750 – $7,200 | $4,450 | +3% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $1,850 – $7,900 | $4,850 | +12% |
| Sacramento, CA | 1,080,590 jobs | $1,750 – $7,300 | $4,550 | +4% |
Cities with a workforce like Merced's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Merced against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −12% |
| Chico, CA | 78,220 jobs | $1,700 – $6,950 | $4,300 | −1% |
| Las Cruces, NM | 80,000 jobs | $1,450 – $5,550 | $3,500 | −20% |
| Napa, CA | 77,860 jobs | $1,750 – $7,450 | $4,600 | +6% |
Why two Merced quotes can differ
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.
Add-ons priced for Merced
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Merced by the average of the local wage index (1.19) and goods index (1.05), a factor of 1.12. 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) | $90 – $1,100 |
Climate in Merced: timing your chain-link fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Merced Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
October through May is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Merced (8 of 12 months). June, July, August and September have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Merced gets about 12 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are January, February and December (2.4 inches in January). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 0.6 and 0.6 inches. The station averages about 100 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 | 56 | 37 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Feb | 62 | 39 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Mar | 68 | 42 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 45 | 1.1 | Workable |
| May | 83 | 52 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 91 | 58 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Jul | 96 | 62 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Aug | 95 | 61 | 0.0 | Hot |
| Sep | 91 | 57 | 0.1 | Hot |
| Oct | 80 | 49 | 0.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 66 | 41 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Dec | 56 | 36 | 1.9 | Workable |
Merced labor market for chain-link fence
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 Merced is 1.19 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $26.17 an hour, 15% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.73 and $33.81 an hour. About 380 work in the metro. That is 47.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $35.94 an hour, which is 23% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.11 and $39.05 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the area, 44.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($33.81 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $470. At the 25th percentile ($21.73) it shrinks by about $270. The total moves by 10.8% or 6.3%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 79,510 jobs in the Merced area. That makes it the 240th 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $21.73 | $26.17 | $33.81 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $27.11 | $35.94 | $39.05 | $29.12 | 1.23 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.19 | |||||
Pick a size, pick a tier: chain-link fence pricing in Merced
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Merced 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
$1,700 to $3,800
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$3,300 to $5,400
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,900 to $7,000
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,550 | $2,200 – $3,650 | $3,300 – $4,700 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,700 – $3,800 | $3,300 – $5,400 | $4,900 – $7,000 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,250 – $5,050 | $4,350 – $7,200 | $6,450 – $9,300 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,350 – $7,550 | $6,500 – $10,700 | $9,650 – $13,900 |
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 $3,300 to $5,400 for Merced, CA is attached.
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Chain-link fence in Merced: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Merced?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,700 to $7,000 in the Merced area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,300 to $5,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Merced?
About $11 to $45.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Merced or Modesto?
Modesto is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,500, which is 4% more than Merced ($4,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Merced?
About 63% at the midpoint, or $2,750 out of $4,350. Materials are 34% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Merced?
$2,250 to $9,300. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Merced?
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 Merced area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Merced expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of California?
Merced is 5% below the California statewide estimate ($4,550 at the midpoint). We cover 23 metros in California; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Merced?
The BLS median is $26.17 an hour in the Merced area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.73 to $33.81.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Merced?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,700 to $3,800 and premium work $4,900 to $7,000. 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 Merced?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are October through May. May 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 Merced?
$90 to $1,100, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Merced
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).