Chain-link fence cost in Boulder, CO
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,500 – $6,100
- Per linear ft
- $9.80 – $39.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #132
- 1 = most expensive
A chain-link fence in Boulder, CO usually costs $1,500 to $6,100 for 150 linear ft. That works out to about $9.80 to $39.50 per linear ft before permits. That is within a few percent of the national midpoint, so there is little local premium or discount. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.1).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Boulder, CO, standard level
$2,900 to $4,750
About $18.50 to $30.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,650 | $3,050 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $2,900 | $4,750 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Boulder, CO
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $860 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 36% |
| Labor | $600 | $2,350 | $4,050 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $100 | $160 | 3% |
| Total | $1,500 | $3,800 | $6,100 | 100% |
Where the Boulder price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: construction laborers at 60%, carpenters at 40%. Weighted together, Boulder wages are 1.01 times the national level. Labor makes up about 61% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Boulder is at 96.1 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 105.2: $40 to $160.
Boulder weather and the chain-link fence calendar
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Boulder (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Boulder: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Boulder gets about 21 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 93 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and September (3.2 inches in May). The station averages about 33 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 | 47 | 22 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 48 | 22 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 29 | 2.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 63 | 35 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 51 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 57 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 56 | 1.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 48 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 37 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 28 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 46 | 21 | 0.8 | Workable |
How Boulder compares
Of the five closest metros, 4 are cheaper than Boulder. Cheyenne is the lowest at about $3,700 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 90 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, COthis page | $1,500 – $6,100 | $3,800 | |
| Fort Collins, CO40 miles | $1,500 – $6,050 | $3,750 | −1% |
| Denver, CO55 miles | $1,600 – $6,400 | $4,000 | +5% |
| Greeley, CO60 miles | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,700 | −2% |
| Cheyenne, WY90 miles | $1,450 – $5,900 | $3,700 | −3% |
| Colorado Springs, CO95 miles | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,700 | −2% |
| Colorado (statewide) | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | +2% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +1% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Boulder ranks #132 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Boulder is 2% below the Colorado figure.
Elsewhere in Colorado
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver, CO | 1,609,350 jobs | $1,600 – $6,400 | $4,000 | +5% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 316,060 jobs | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,700 | −2% |
| Fort Collins, CO | 169,430 jobs | $1,500 – $6,050 | $3,750 | −1% |
| Greeley, CO | 119,540 jobs | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,700 | −2% |
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,700 | −3% |
| Pueblo, CO | 61,780 jobs | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | −4% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Boulder against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi, TX | 192,580 jobs | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | −11% |
| Wilmington, NC | 191,280 jobs | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | −5% |
| Modesto, CA | 195,230 jobs | $1,750 – $7,300 | $4,500 | +19% |
| Pensacola, FL | 190,480 jobs | $1,400 – $5,500 | $3,450 | −9% |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Boulder
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).
Coating
Black or green vinyl-coated mesh costs more than galvanized.
Boulder: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Boulder. 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
$1,500 to $3,350
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,900 to $4,750
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,250 to $6,100
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,000 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,100 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,900 – $4,750 | $4,250 – $6,100 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,000 – $4,450 | $3,800 – $6,250 | $5,650 – $8,100 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,000 – $6,600 | $5,700 – $9,350 | $8,400 – $12,000 |
What local crews earn in Boulder
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 Boulder the blend is 1.01.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $23.07 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.64 and $28.23 an hour. BLS counts 540 of them working in the area, 28.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $28.73 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.92 and $35.50 an hour. About 540 work in the metro. That is 28.1 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 $320 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $210. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 8.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Boulder has 192,390 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 119th 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% | $19.64 | $23.07 | $28.23 | $22.66 | 1.02 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.92 | $28.73 | $35.50 | $29.12 | 0.99 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Extras that change the Boulder total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.98 for Boulder, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.01) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $80 – $980 |
What nearby projects cost in Boulder
Jobs that often go together with chain-link fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Boulder wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+3%) and aluminum fence lowest (−3%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,000 – $7,500 | −2% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,400 – $8,900 | −3% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,000 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,600 – $10,500 | +3% |
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 $2,900 to $4,750 for Boulder, CO is attached.
Detailed chain-link fence report for Boulder, CO, $9
The report lays out the chain-link fence numbers for Boulder, CO line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Chain-link fence in Boulder: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Boulder?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,500 to $6,100 in the Boulder area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,900 to $4,750. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Boulder?
About $9.80 to $39.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Boulder or Fort Collins?
Fort Collins is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,750, which is 1% less than Boulder ($3,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Boulder?
About 61% at the midpoint, or $2,350 out of $3,800. Materials are 36% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Boulder?
$2,000 to $8,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Boulder?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $160 for fees in the Boulder area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Boulder expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Colorado?
Boulder is 2% below the Colorado statewide estimate ($3,900 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in Colorado; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Boulder?
The BLS median is $23.07 an hour in the Boulder area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.64 to $28.23.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Boulder?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $3,350 and premium work $4,250 to $6,100. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Is there a bad season to install a chain-link fence in Boulder?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add one gate" add in Boulder?
$80 to $980, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Boulder
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).