Chain-link fence cost in Illinois
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,750 – $7,400
- Per linear ft
- $11.50 – $48.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +19%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 6
Across Illinois, a chain-link fence costs about $1,750 to $7,400 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 19% above the US figure of $3,850. Construction laborers earn a median $29.18 an hour in Illinois (US: $22.66).
Inside Illinois, the metros we cover range from $4,200 (Champaign) to $4,650 (Chicago) 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 Illinois (statewide), standard level
$3,450 to $5,700
About $22.50 to $37.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 66% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,250 | $1,700 |
| Labor | $2,100 | $3,900 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $3,450 | $5,700 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Illinois
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $930 | $1,500 | $2,000 | 32% |
| Labor | $780 | $3,000 | $5,250 | 66% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $1,750 | $4,600 | $7,400 | 100% |
Illinois against its neighbors
Illinois ranks 2 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. Illinois sits at $4,600. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin | 120 miles away | $1,550 – $6,500 | $4,050 | −12% |
| Indiana | 140 miles away | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | −15% |
| Michigan | 220 miles away | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,850 | −15% |
| Iowa | 240 miles away | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | −18% |
| Kentucky | 280 miles away | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | −21% |
Illinois 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 1.29 for Illinois.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $29.18 an hour, 29% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.14 and $45.79 an hour. About 35,940 work in the state. That is 58.9 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 $37.98 an hour, which is 30% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $27.00 and $51.42 an hour. BLS counts 19,570 of them working in the state, 32.1 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 ($45.79 an hour) would add about $1,000 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.14) would take off about $430. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,098,130 jobs across Illinois (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $22.14 | $29.18 | $45.79 | $22.66 | 1.29 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $27.00 | $37.98 | $51.42 | $29.12 | 1.30 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.29 | |||||
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Illinois
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.
Which Illinois city is cheapest for chain-link fence?
1 of the 6 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $4,600, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $1,800 – $7,550 | $4,650 | +2% |
| Peoria, IL | $1,650 – $7,200 | $4,450 | −3% |
| Springfield, IL | $1,650 – $7,200 | $4,400 | −4% |
| Bloomington, IL | $1,650 – $7,100 | $4,400 | −5% |
| Rockford, IL | $1,600 – $6,900 | $4,250 | −7% |
| Champaign, IL | $1,600 – $6,800 | $4,200 | −8% |
Illinois seasons and chain-link fence
Season matters for chain-link fence. For each Illinois metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Every Illinois metro on the list has 9 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 34 inches a year in Chicago to 40 in Springfield.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 19 | 85 | 34 | 9: March through November |
| Peoria | 18 | 86 | 38 | 9: March through November |
| Rockford | 15 | 84 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Champaign | 18 | 85 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Springfield | 19 | 86 | 40 | 9: March through November |
| Bloomington | 16 | 86 | 39 | 9: March through November |
Extras that change the Illinois total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Illinois by the average of the local wage index (1.29) and goods index (1.04), a factor of 1.17. 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) | $95 – $1,150 |
If you are planning more than one job in Illinois
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Illinois wages and prices. Against national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+25%) and vinyl fence lowest (+9%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $8,700 | +15% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,900 – $10,100 | +9% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $12,900 | +13% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $3,150 – $12,700 | +25% |
Quality levels and sizes in Illinois
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Illinois wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,750 to $4,000
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$3,450 to $5,700
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$5,150 to $7,400
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,200 – $2,700 | $2,300 – $3,850 | $3,450 – $5,000 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,750 – $4,000 | $3,450 – $5,700 | $5,150 – $7,400 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,300 – $5,350 | $4,600 – $7,600 | $6,850 – $9,850 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,450 – $7,950 | $6,850 – $11,300 | $10,200 – $14,700 |
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Chain-link fence in Illinois: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Illinois?
$1,750 to $7,400 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Illinois can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Illinois is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Champaign at about $4,200 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Chicago at $4,650.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Illinois than the US average?
It is 19% more expensive: $4,600 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Illinois?
About 66% ($3,000). Materials are 32%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.29x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Illinois?
The BLS statewide median is $29.18 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.14 to $45.79.
+Where does Illinois rank for chain-link fence costs?
2nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $4,600 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Illinois?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,750 to $4,000 and premium work $5,150 to $7,400. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in Illinois?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Illinois metros we cover, Chicago has the most comfortable months (9 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 Illinois?
$95 to $1,150, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in Illinois
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).