Chain-link fence cost in Dalton, GA
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
- $8.70 – $32.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −18%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #293
- 1 = most expensive
Dalton homeowners pay roughly $1,350 to $5,000 to install a chain-link fence at 150 linear ft, or $8.70 to $32.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Dalton is 18% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $16.98 an hour in the Dalton area, 25% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Dalton, GA, standard level
$2,450 to $3,900
About $16 to $25 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 54% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,200 | $2,200 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $110 |
| Total | $2,450 | $3,900 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Dalton, GA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,350 | $1,900 | 43% |
| Labor | $440 | $1,700 | $2,950 | 54% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 3% |
| Total | $1,350 | $3,150 | $5,000 | 100% |
What is behind the Dalton number
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: construction laborers at 60%, carpenters at 40%. Weighted together, Dalton wages are 0.73 times the national level. Labor makes up about 54% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Dalton metro is 96.3 (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 (89.8) and land at $35 to $130.
Planning more than one job in Dalton?
Because every project leans on different trades, Dalton's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs −9% and gravel driveway −16%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,550 – $6,650 | −14% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,200 – $8,250 | −9% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,350 – $10,200 | −11% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,100 – $8,550 | −16% |
How Dalton compares
Of the five closest metros, none is cheaper than Dalton. Gainesville comes closest at about $3,300.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton, GAthis page | $1,350 – $5,000 | $3,150 | |
| Chattanooga, TN35 miles | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +11% |
| Gainesville, GA70 miles | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | +5% |
| Atlanta, GA80 miles | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +12% |
| Knoxville, TN95 miles | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | +14% |
| Huntsville, AL105 miles | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | +5% |
| Georgia (statewide) | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | +8% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +22% |
Across 300 US metros, Dalton comes in at #293 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Dalton is 7% below the Georgia figure.
Other Georgia metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +12% |
| Augusta, GA | 231,930 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +11% |
| Savannah, GA | 198,360 jobs | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | +3% |
| Columbus, GA | 116,380 jobs | $1,350 – $5,050 | $3,200 | +2% |
| Gainesville, GA | 103,870 jobs | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | +5% |
| Athens, GA | 95,800 jobs | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Dalton's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Dalton against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Centro, CA | 65,430 jobs | $1,700 – $6,950 | $4,300 | +37% |
| Terre Haute, IN | 65,120 jobs | $1,450 – $5,950 | $3,700 | +17% |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 65,460 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +11% |
| Muskegon, MI | 62,340 jobs | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | +13% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: chain-link fence pricing in Dalton
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Dalton 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
$3,500 to $5,000
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $910 – $1,900 | $1,650 – $2,650 | $2,400 – $3,350 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,350 – $2,800 | $2,450 – $3,900 | $3,500 – $5,000 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,800 – $3,700 | $3,200 – $5,150 | $4,650 – $6,600 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,650 – $5,500 | $4,800 – $7,650 | $6,950 – $9,800 |
When to schedule chain-link fence in Dalton
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Chattanooga Lovell Ap (20 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
September through June is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Dalton (10 of 12 months). July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Dalton gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.3 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 58 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 | 32 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 35 | 5.3 | Workable |
Specs and site conditions that change a Dalton bid
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.
Height
A 4-ft fence runs $10-$20 per linear foot; 6- to 8-ft backyard fences run $15-$40+ (HomeGuide).
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 Dalton is 0.73 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $16.98 an hour, 25% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $12.27 and $20.63 an hour. About 240 work in the metro. That is 36.8 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 $20.55 an hour, which is 29% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $15.16 and $22.17 an hour. BLS counts 40 of them working in the area, 6.1 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 ($20.63 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $220. At the 25th percentile ($12.27) it shrinks by about $290. The total moves by 7.1% or 9.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 65,300 jobs in the Dalton area. That makes it the 276th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.04% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $12.27 | $16.98 | $20.63 | $22.66 | 0.75 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $15.16 | $20.55 | $22.17 | $29.12 | 0.71 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.73 | |||||
Add-ons priced for Dalton
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Dalton by the average of the local wage index (0.73) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.85. 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) | $70 – $850 |
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 $2,450 to $3,900 for Dalton, GA is attached.
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Chain-link fence in Dalton: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Dalton?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,350 to $5,000 in the Dalton 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 Dalton?
About $8.70 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 Dalton or Chattanooga?
Chattanooga is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,500, which is 11% more than Dalton ($3,150). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Dalton?
About 54% at the midpoint, or $1,700 out of $3,150. Materials are 43% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Dalton?
$1,800 to $6,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Dalton?
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 Dalton area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Dalton expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Georgia?
Dalton is 7% below the Georgia statewide estimate ($3,400 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Georgia; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Dalton?
The BLS median is $16.98 an hour in the Dalton area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $12.27 to $20.63.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Dalton?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,350 to $2,800 and premium work $3,500 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 Dalton?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. 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 Dalton?
$70 to $850, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Dalton
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).