Chain-link fence cost in Traverse City, MI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,500 – $6,050
- Per linear ft
- $9.65 – $39.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #138
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a chain-link fence in Traverse City, plan on $1,500 to $6,050 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.65 to $39.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 6% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 93.7).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Traverse City, MI, standard level
$2,850 to $4,700
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 | $3,050 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,850 | $4,700 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Traverse City, MI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $840 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 35% |
| Labor | $600 | $2,350 | $4,100 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $1,500 | $3,750 | $6,050 | 100% |
Why Traverse City prices look the way they do
Labor is 62% of the midpoint bill here, against 60% nationally. The mix of trades behind this job is construction laborers (60%), carpenters (40%). We weight each trade's local median wage by that share and compare it with the national median. In Traverse City the blended ratio comes out at 1.01.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Traverse City 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 (93.4) and land at $35 to $140.
Pick a size, pick a tier: chain-link fence pricing in Traverse City
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Traverse City 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
$1,500 to $3,300
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,850 to $4,700
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,200 to $6,050
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,000 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $4,100 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,850 – $4,700 | $4,200 – $6,050 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,950 – $4,400 | $3,800 – $6,200 | $5,600 – $8,000 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,950 – $6,550 | $5,650 – $9,250 | $8,350 – $12,000 |
Climate in Traverse City: timing your chain-link fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Traverse City Cherry Cptl Ap (in the city). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Traverse City (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March 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.
Traverse City gets about 29 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are August, September and October (3.6 inches in October). Inside the workable window, June and November are the driest, at 2.6 and 2.2 inches. The station averages about 9 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 | 29 | 17 | 1.7 | Cold |
| Feb | 31 | 16 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Mar | 41 | 23 | 1.6 | Cold |
| Apr | 54 | 33 | 2.8 | Workable |
| May | 67 | 43 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 54 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 59 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 59 | 3.0 | Workable |
| Sep | 72 | 52 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 59 | 41 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 46 | 32 | 2.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 35 | 24 | 1.8 | Cold |
Why two Traverse City quotes can differ
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).
Traverse City labor market for chain-link fence
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 Traverse City is 1.01 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $23.27 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.03 and $28.66 an hour. About 740 work in the metro. That is 108.1 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 $28.47 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.71 and $30.60 an hour. BLS counts 420 of them working in the area, 61.4 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($28.66 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $330. At the 25th percentile ($21.03) it shrinks by about $140. The total moves by 8.8% or 3.7%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 68,440 jobs in the Traverse City area. That makes it the 264th 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% | $21.03 | $23.27 | $28.66 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.71 | $28.47 | $30.60 | $29.12 | 0.98 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Optional extras in Traverse City
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Traverse City by the average of the local wage index (1.01) and goods index (0.94), a factor of 0.97. 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 – $970 |
What nearby projects cost in Traverse City
Because every project leans on different trades, Traverse City's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs −2% and vinyl fence −5%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,950 – $7,350 | −4% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,700 | −5% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,650 – $11,000 | −4% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,450 – $10,000 | −2% |
How Traverse City compares
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 150 linear ft range from $3,550 to $4,150 across Traverse City and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traverse City, MIthis page | $1,500 – $6,050 | $3,750 | |
| Green Bay, WI110 miles | $1,550 – $6,400 | $4,000 | +6% |
| Muskegon, MI110 miles | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | −5% |
| Sheboygan, WI125 miles | $1,550 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +8% |
| Appleton, WI130 miles | $1,600 – $6,700 | $4,150 | +10% |
| Grand Rapids, MI135 miles | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | −1% |
| Michigan (statewide) | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,850 | +3% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +2% |
Across 300 US metros, Traverse City comes in at #138 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Traverse City is 3% below the Michigan figure.
Other Michigan metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit, MI | 1,904,530 jobs | $1,650 – $6,800 | $4,200 | +12% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | 598,260 jobs | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | −1% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 219,730 jobs | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | +5% |
| Lansing, MI | 217,180 jobs | $1,600 – $6,650 | $4,100 | +9% |
| Flint, MI | 135,040 jobs | $1,550 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +8% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $1,500 – $6,250 | $3,900 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Traverse City's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Traverse City against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State College, PA | 68,840 jobs | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | +5% |
| Dover, DE | 68,080 jobs | $1,450 – $5,800 | $3,600 | −4% |
| Yuma, AZ | 68,880 jobs | $1,400 – $5,550 | $3,500 | −8% |
| Burlington, NC | 67,830 jobs | $1,450 – $5,500 | $3,450 | −8% |
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 $2,850 to $4,700 for Traverse City, MI is attached.
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Chain-link fence in Traverse City: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Traverse City?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,500 to $6,050 in the Traverse City area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,850 to $4,700. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Traverse City?
About $9.65 to $39.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Traverse City or Green Bay?
Green Bay is 110 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,000, which is 6% more than Traverse City ($3,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Traverse City?
About 62% at the midpoint, or $2,350 out of $3,750. Materials are 35% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Traverse City?
$1,950 to $8,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Traverse City?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $140 for fees in the Traverse City area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Traverse City expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Michigan?
Traverse City is 3% below 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 Traverse City?
The BLS median is $23.27 an hour in the Traverse City area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.03 to $28.66.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Traverse City?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $3,300 and premium work $4,200 to $6,050. 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 Traverse City?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. June 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 Traverse City?
$80 to $970, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Traverse City
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).