Chain-link fence cost in Ann Arbor, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,550 – $6,350
- Per linear ft
- $9.95 – $41.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +2%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #99
- 1 = most expensive
Ann Arbor homeowners pay roughly $1,550 to $6,350 to install a chain-link fence at 150 linear ft, or $9.95 to $41.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Ann Arbor is almost level. Construction laborers earn a median of $24.48 an hour in the Ann Arbor area, 8% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Ann Arbor, MI, standard level
$3,000 to $4,900
About $19.50 to $32 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 64% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,750 | $3,250 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $3,000 | $4,900 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Ann Arbor, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $840 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 34% |
| Labor | $650 | $2,500 | $4,350 | 64% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $1,550 | $3,950 | $6,350 | 100% |
What is behind the Ann Arbor number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $24.48 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Ann Arbor is 1.08 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 64% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Ann Arbor metro is 93.7 (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 (100.9) and land at $40 to $150.
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Ann Arbor
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.
Pick a size, pick a tier: chain-link fence pricing in Ann Arbor
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Ann Arbor 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
$1,550 to $3,450
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$3,000 to $4,900
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,400 to $6,350
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,350 | $2,000 – $3,300 | $3,000 – $4,300 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,550 – $3,450 | $3,000 – $4,900 | $4,400 – $6,350 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,050 – $4,600 | $3,950 – $6,500 | $5,850 – $8,400 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,000 – $6,850 | $5,900 – $9,700 | $8,750 – $12,500 |
Optional extras in Ann Arbor
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Ann Arbor by the average of the local wage index (1.08) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 1.01. 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) | $80 – $1,000 |
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 Ann Arbor is 1.08 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $24.48 an hour, 8% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.01 and $29.43 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 23.2 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 $31.33 an hour, which is 8% above the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.61 and $36.52 an hour. BLS counts 640 of them working in the area, 29.1 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 ($29.43 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $300. At the 25th percentile ($22.01) it shrinks by about $150. The total moves by 7.7% or 3.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 219,730 jobs in the Ann Arbor area. That makes it the 110th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.14% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $22.01 | $24.48 | $29.43 | $22.66 | 1.08 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $26.61 | $31.33 | $36.52 | $29.12 | 1.08 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.08 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Ann Arbor
Because every project leans on different trades, Ann Arbor's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs level and vinyl fence −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,050 – $7,600 | level |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,900 | −3% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,300 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
How Ann Arbor compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Detroit is the priciest of the group at $4,200. Saginaw is the cheapest at $3,850.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor, MIthis page | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | |
| Detroit, MI45 miles | $1,650 – $6,800 | $4,200 | +7% |
| Toledo, OH50 miles | $1,500 – $6,200 | $3,850 | −2% |
| Lansing, MI50 miles | $1,600 – $6,650 | $4,100 | +5% |
| Flint, MI55 miles | $1,550 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +3% |
| Saginaw, MI75 miles | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −3% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,850 | −2% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −2% |
Across 300 US metros, Ann Arbor comes in at #99 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Ann Arbor is 2% above the Michigan figure.
Other Michigan metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $1,650 – $6,800 | $4,200 | +7% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | −5% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $1,600 – $6,650 | $4,100 | +5% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $1,550 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +3% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $1,500 – $6,250 | $3,900 | −1% |
| Saginaw, MI | 80,000 jobs | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Ann Arbor's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Ann Arbor against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deltona, FL | 219,740 jobs | $1,400 – $5,550 | $3,500 | −12% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $1,600 – $6,650 | $4,100 | +5% |
| Springfield, MO | 223,030 jobs | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | −8% |
| Santa Rosa, CA | 205,260 jobs | $1,750 – $7,450 | $4,600 | +17% |
When to schedule chain-link fence in Ann Arbor
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Ann Arbor Muni Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Ann Arbor (9 of 12 months). January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February and December the average high stays below 45°F. Sealants, adhesives and some materials, such as vinyl, are harder to install well in the cold, and short daylight cuts the working day.
Ann Arbor gets about 30 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are May, June and July (3.6 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 1.9 and 2.1 inches. The station averages about 11 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 | 32 | 15 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 35 | 16 | 1.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 45 | 25 | 1.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 59 | 35 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 46 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 79 | 54 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 57 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 57 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 48 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 38 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 48 | 30 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Dec | 36 | 22 | 1.7 | Cold |
Get 3 local quotes
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Chain-link fence in Ann Arbor: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Ann Arbor?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,550 to $6,350 in the Ann Arbor area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,000 to $4,900. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Ann Arbor?
About $9.95 to $41.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Ann Arbor or Detroit?
Detroit is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,200, which is 7% more than Ann Arbor ($3,950). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Ann Arbor?
About 64% at the midpoint, or $2,500 out of $3,950. Materials are 34% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Ann Arbor?
$2,050 to $8,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Ann Arbor?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $150 for fees in the Ann Arbor area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Ann Arbor expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Michigan?
Ann Arbor is 2% above the Michigan statewide estimate ($3,850 at the midpoint). We cover 10 metros in Michigan; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Ann Arbor?
The BLS median is $24.48 an hour in the Ann Arbor area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.01 to $29.43.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Ann Arbor?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,550 to $3,450 and premium work $4,400 to $6,350. 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 Ann Arbor?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and November 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 Ann Arbor?
$80 to $1,000, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Ann Arbor
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).