Chain-link fence cost in Idaho
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,450 – $5,850
- Per linear ft
- $9.55 – $38
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −5%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 3
Across Idaho, a chain-link fence costs about $1,450 to $5,850 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 5% below the US figure of $3,850. Construction laborers earn a median $22.57 an hour in Idaho (US: $22.66).
Inside Idaho, the metros we cover range from $3,600 (Idaho Falls) to $3,850 (Coeur d'Alene) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Idaho (statewide), standard level
$2,800 to $4,500
About $18 to $29.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,550 | $2,850 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,800 | $4,500 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Idaho
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,350 | $1,900 | 38% |
| Labor | $560 | $2,200 | $3,800 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $1,450 | $3,650 | $5,850 | 100% |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Idaho
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.
Chain-link fence cost by metro in Idaho
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,650, and the top-to-bottom gap is 6%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +5% |
| Boise, ID | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | level |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $1,450 – $5,800 | $3,600 | −1% |
Related projects, priced for Idaho
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Idaho wages and prices. Against national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (−1%) and aluminum fence lowest (−6%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,850 – $7,200 | −6% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,750 | −4% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $10,700 | −6% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,100 | −1% |
Idaho against its neighbors
Idaho ranks 33 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. Idaho sits at $3,650. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana | 270 miles away | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +5% |
| Utah | 280 miles away | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | level |
| Oregon | 350 miles away | $1,650 – $6,500 | $4,050 | +11% |
| Washington | 380 miles away | $1,700 – $7,150 | $4,450 | +22% |
| Nevada | 460 miles away | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,850 | +6% |
Quality levels and sizes in Idaho
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Idaho wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,450 to $3,200
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,800 to $4,500
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,100 to $5,850
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $990 – $2,150 | $1,900 – $3,050 | $2,750 – $3,950 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,450 – $3,200 | $2,800 – $4,500 | $4,100 – $5,850 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,950 – $4,250 | $3,700 – $6,000 | $5,400 – $7,750 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,900 – $6,350 | $5,500 – $8,950 | $8,050 – $11,500 |
Extras that change the Idaho total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Idaho by the average of the local wage index (0.94) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.95. 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 – $950 |
Idaho seasons and chain-link fence
Season matters for chain-link fence. For each Idaho metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Every Idaho metro on the list has 8 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 10 inches a year in Idaho Falls to 25 in Coeur d'Alene.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise | 26 | 93 | 12 | 8: February through June and September through November |
| Idaho Falls | 12 | 87 | 10 | 8: March through October |
| Coeur d'Alene | 26 | 83 | 25 | 8: March through October |
Wages behind the Idaho number
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 0.94 for Idaho.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $22.57 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $19.02 and $26.46 an hour. About 10,850 work in the state. That is 126.5 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $25.00 an hour, which is 14% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.76 and $30.25 an hour. BLS counts 8,380 of them working in the state, 97.7 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($26.46 an hour) would add about $240 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($19.02) would take off about $220. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 857,440 jobs across Idaho (May 2025), which is 0.6% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $19.02 | $22.57 | $26.46 | $22.66 | 1.00 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $21.76 | $25.00 | $30.25 | $29.12 | 0.86 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.94 | |||||
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Chain-link fence in Idaho: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Idaho?
$1,450 to $5,850 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Idaho can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Idaho is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Idaho Falls at about $3,600 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Coeur d'Alene at $3,850.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Idaho than the US average?
It is 5% cheaper: $3,650 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Idaho?
About 60% ($2,200). Materials are 38%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.94x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Idaho?
The BLS statewide median is $22.57 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $19.02 to $26.46.
+Where does Idaho rank for chain-link fence costs?
33rd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,650 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Idaho?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $3,200 and premium work $4,100 to $5,850. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in Idaho?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Idaho metros we cover, Boise has the most comfortable months (8 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 Idaho?
$75 to $950, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in Idaho
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).