Chain-link fence cost in Iowa
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,500 – $6,000
- Per linear ft
- $9.60 – $39
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −3%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 7
Iowa prices for chain-link fence: $1,500 to $6,000 for 150 linear ft, or $9.60 to $39 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 3% below the national one. Local wages for construction laborers are $23.31 an hour.
Inside Iowa, the metros we cover range from $3,600 (Iowa City) to $3,950 (Davenport) 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 Iowa (statewide), standard level
$2,850 to $4,650
About $18.50 to $30.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,650 | $3,000 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $2,850 | $4,650 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Iowa
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $840 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 36% |
| Labor | $600 | $2,300 | $4,050 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $1,500 | $3,750 | $6,000 | 100% |
How Iowa compares with nearby states
Iowa ranks 28 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. Iowa sits at $3,750. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 190 miles away | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | −4% |
| Missouri | 220 miles away | $1,600 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +9% |
| Wisconsin | 230 miles away | $1,550 – $6,500 | $4,050 | +8% |
| Minnesota | 240 miles away | $1,650 – $6,950 | $4,300 | +15% |
| Illinois | 240 miles away | $1,750 – $7,400 | $4,600 | +23% |
Chain-link fence cost by metro in Iowa
4 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,750, and the top-to-bottom gap is 10%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Davenport, IA | $1,550 – $6,400 | $3,950 | +6% |
| Des Moines, IA | $1,500 – $6,200 | $3,850 | +3% |
| Dubuque, IA | $1,500 – $6,100 | $3,800 | +1% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $1,500 – $6,050 | $3,750 | +1% |
| Waterloo, IA | $1,500 – $6,050 | $3,750 | level |
| Sioux City, IA | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | −3% |
| Iowa City, IA | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | −4% |
If you are planning more than one job in Iowa
Each project weights the trades differently, so Iowa's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, gravel driveway is −2% and vinyl fence −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,900 – $7,300 | −4% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,700 | −5% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,650 – $10,900 | −4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $9,950 | −2% |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in Iowa
Iowa's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 1.00 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $23.31 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.90 and $28.11 an hour. BLS counts 13,780 of them working in the state, 88.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $27.75 an hour, 5% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.91 and $31.69 an hour. About 5,770 work in the state. That is 37.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($28.11 an hour) would add about $300 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.90) would take off about $85. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 1,559,240 jobs across Iowa (May 2025), which is 1.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $21.90 | $23.31 | $28.11 | $22.66 | 1.03 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.91 | $27.75 | $31.69 | $29.12 | 0.95 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.00 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: Iowa prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from backyard (100 linear ft) to full lot (300 linear ft).
Basic
$1,500 to $3,300
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,850 to $4,650
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,200 to $6,000
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,000 – $2,200 | $1,900 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $4,050 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,850 – $4,650 | $4,200 – $6,000 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,950 – $4,350 | $3,750 – $6,150 | $5,550 – $7,950 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,900 – $6,500 | $5,600 – $9,200 | $8,300 – $11,900 |
Optional extras in Iowa
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.97 for Iowa, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.00) and goods price index (0.94). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $75 – $970 |
Weather windows across Iowa
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Iowa is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Des Moines has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Iowa at 9 months (March through November); Dubuque has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 29 inches a year in Sioux City to 38 inches in Dubuque.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | 14 | 86 | 37 | 9: March through November |
| Davenport | 14 | 84 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Cedar Rapids | 11 | 83 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Iowa City | 15 | 86 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Waterloo | 11 | 85 | 36 | 9: March through November |
| Sioux City | 10 | 85 | 29 | 9: March through November |
| Dubuque | 11 | 82 | 38 | 8: April through November |
Why two Iowa quotes can differ
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.
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Multi-page report for Iowa: 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 Iowa: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Iowa?
$1,500 to $6,000 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Iowa can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Iowa is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Iowa City at about $3,600 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Davenport at $3,950.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Iowa than the US average?
It is 3% cheaper: $3,750 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Iowa?
About 62% ($2,300). Materials are 36%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.00x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Iowa?
The BLS statewide median is $23.31 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.90 to $28.11.
+Where does Iowa rank for chain-link fence costs?
28th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,750 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Iowa?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $3,300 and premium work $4,200 to $6,000. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in Iowa?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Iowa metros we cover, Des Moines 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 Iowa?
$75 to $970, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in Iowa
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).