Chain-link fence cost in Delaware
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,500 – $5,950
- Per linear ft
- $9.65 – $38.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 1
Across Delaware, a chain-link fence costs about $1,500 to $5,950 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 3% below the US figure of $3,850. Construction laborers earn a median $21.90 an hour in Delaware (US: $22.66).
Delaware has one metro in our dataset, Dover, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Delaware (statewide), standard level
$2,850 to $4,600
About $18.50 to $30 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,600 | $2,950 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $2,850 | $4,600 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Delaware
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,350 | $1,900 | 37% |
| Labor | $580 | $2,250 | $3,950 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 3% |
| Total | $1,500 | $3,700 | $5,950 | 100% |
Delaware metro-by-metro prices
Delaware has one metro in our dataset, Dover, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dover, DE | $1,450 – $5,800 | $3,600 | −3% |
Related projects, priced for Delaware
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Delaware wages and prices. Against national midpoints, aluminum fence comes out highest (−3%) and vinyl fence lowest (−4%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,950 – $7,400 | −3% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,850 | −4% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,650 – $11,000 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,850 | −3% |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Delaware
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.
Extras that change the Delaware total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Delaware by the average of the local wage index (0.97) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.97. 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) | $75 – $970 |
Quality levels and sizes in Delaware
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Delaware wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,500 to $3,300
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,850 to $4,600
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,150 to $5,950
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,000 – $2,200 | $1,900 – $3,100 | $2,800 – $4,000 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,850 – $4,600 | $4,150 – $5,950 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,950 – $4,350 | $3,750 – $6,100 | $5,500 – $7,900 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,950 – $6,450 | $5,600 – $9,100 | $8,250 – $11,800 |
Delaware seasons and chain-link fence
Season matters for chain-link fence. For each Delaware metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Dover has 11 comfortable months (February through December), with about 48 inches of precipitation a year.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dover | 28 | 87 | 48 | 11: February through December |
Delaware labor market for chain-link fence
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 0.97 for Delaware.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $21.90 an hour, 3% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.93 and $27.07 an hour. About 3,240 work in the state. That is 66.8 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 $28.46 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.35 and $36.24 an hour. BLS counts 2,250 of them working in the state, 46.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($27.07 an hour) would add about $320 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($17.93) would take off about $240. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 484,790 jobs across Delaware (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $17.93 | $21.90 | $27.07 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.35 | $28.46 | $36.24 | $29.12 | 0.98 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Delaware versus the states around it
Delaware ranks 30 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. Delaware sits at $3,700. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | 60 miles away | $1,750 – $7,250 | $4,500 | +21% |
| Maryland | 60 miles away | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | +5% |
| Pennsylvania | 100 miles away | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +4% |
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $1,650 – $6,450 | $4,050 | +9% |
| New York | 150 miles away | $1,700 – $7,050 | $4,400 | +18% |
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Chain-link fence in Delaware: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Delaware?
$1,500 to $5,950 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Delaware can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Delaware is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Dover at about $3,600 (midpoint, 150 linear ft).
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Delaware than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $3,700 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Delaware?
About 61% ($2,250). Materials are 37%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.97x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Delaware?
The BLS statewide median is $21.90 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.93 to $27.07.
+Where does Delaware rank for chain-link fence costs?
30th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,700 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Delaware?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $3,300 and premium work $4,150 to $5,950. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in Delaware?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Delaware metros we cover, Dover has the most comfortable months (11 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 Delaware?
$75 to $970, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in Delaware
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).