Chain-link fence cost in the District of Columbia
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,650 – $6,450
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $42
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +5%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 1
What does it cost to install a chain-link fence in the District of Columbia? Plan on $1,650 to $6,450 for 150 linear ft. Wages (1.04x the US blend), materials (price index 106.5) and permit costs (109.9) put the state above the national midpoint by 5%.
District of Columbia has one metro in our dataset, Washington, so the statewide and metro figures are close. The state figure uses BLS statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Estimate your chain-link fence cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in District of Columbia (statewide), standard level
$3,100 to $5,000
About $20 to $32.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,750 |
| Labor | $1,700 | $3,150 |
| Permits and fees | $80 | $130 |
| Total | $3,100 | $5,000 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in District of Columbia
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $960 | $1,500 | $2,100 | 37% |
| Labor | $630 | $2,450 | $4,250 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $45 | $100 | $160 | 3% |
| Total | $1,650 | $4,050 | $6,450 | 100% |
Extras that change the District of Columbia total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to District of Columbia by the average of the local wage index (1.04) and goods index (1.07), a factor of 1.05. 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) | $85 – $1,050 |
Weather windows across the District of Columbia
Season matters for chain-link fence. For each District of Columbia metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Washington has 11 comfortable months (August through June), with about 42 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 30 | 90 | 42 | 11: August through June |
Which District of Columbia city is cheapest for chain-link fence?
District of Columbia has one metro in our dataset, Washington, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $1,600 – $6,300 | $3,950 | −3% |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in the District of Columbia
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.
Quality levels and sizes in the District of Columbia
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide District of Columbia wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,650 to $3,550
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$3,100 to $5,000
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,550 to $6,450
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,400 | $2,100 – $3,400 | $3,050 – $4,350 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,650 – $3,550 | $3,100 – $5,000 | $4,550 – $6,450 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,150 – $4,700 | $4,100 – $6,650 | $6,000 – $8,550 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,200 – $7,050 | $6,100 – $9,900 | $8,950 – $12,800 |
District of Columbia against its neighbors
District of Columbia ranks 14 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. District of Columbia sits at $4,050. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 50 miles away | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | −3% |
| Virginia | 110 miles away | $1,500 – $5,850 | $3,650 | −9% |
| Pennsylvania | 110 miles away | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | −4% |
| Delaware | 110 miles away | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,700 | −8% |
| New Jersey | 160 miles away | $1,750 – $7,250 | $4,500 | +11% |
Related projects, priced for the District of Columbia
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide District of Columbia wages and prices. Against national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+11%) and wood fence lowest (+5%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,200 – $8,050 | +5% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,800 – $9,700 | +6% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,000 – $12,000 | +5% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,800 – $11,300 | +11% |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in the District of Columbia
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 1.04 for the District of Columbia.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $24.05 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $28.41 an hour. About 2,090 work in the state. That is 29.8 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 $29.67 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.48 and $36.18 an hour. BLS counts 1,540 of them working in the state, 21.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($28.41 an hour) would add about $270 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($20.80) would take off about $200. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 701,920 jobs across the District of Columbia (May 2025), which is 0.5% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $20.80 | $24.05 | $28.41 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $27.48 | $29.67 | $36.18 | $29.12 | 1.02 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.04 | |||||
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 $3,100 to $5,000 for District of Columbia is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
Multi-page report for District of Columbia: low, typical and high cost, a line-item breakdown of materials and labor by trade, permit notes, the best months to schedule, a quote comparison sheet, red flags, questions for contractors, checklists and every source. 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 the District of Columbia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in the District of Columbia?
$1,650 to $6,450 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside the District of Columbia can sit above or below that.
+Which city in the District of Columbia is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Washington at about $3,950 (midpoint, 150 linear ft).
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in the District of Columbia than the US average?
It is 5% more expensive: $4,050 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in the District of Columbia?
About 60% ($2,450). Materials are 37%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.04x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in the District of Columbia?
The BLS statewide median is $24.05 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.80 to $28.41.
+Where does District of Columbia rank for chain-link fence costs?
14th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $4,050 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in the District of Columbia?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,650 to $3,550 and premium work $4,550 to $6,450. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in the District of Columbia?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the District of Columbia metros we cover, Washington 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 the District of Columbia?
$85 to $1,050, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in the District of Columbia
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).