Chain-link fence cost in Montana
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,500 – $6,150
- Per linear ft
- $9.85 – $40
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- Level
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 3
Across Montana, a chain-link fence costs about $1,500 to $6,150 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 0% below the US figure of $3,850. Construction laborers earn a median $23.96 an hour in Montana (US: $22.66).
Inside Montana, the metros we cover range from $3,800 (Missoula) to $4,050 (Bozeman) 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 Montana (statewide), standard level
$2,900 to $4,750
About $19 to $31 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 62% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,650 | $3,100 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,900 | $4,750 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Montana
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $860 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 36% |
| Labor | $610 | $2,400 | $4,150 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $1,500 | $3,850 | $6,150 | 100% |
Montana labor market for chain-link fence
Montana'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 1.02 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $23.96 an hour, which is 6% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $20.80 and $28.24 an hour. BLS counts 4,590 of them working in the state, 89.7 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 $28.28 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.84 and $32.47 an hour. About 4,030 work in the state. That is 78.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($28.24 an hour) would add about $260 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($20.80) would take off about $190. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 511,580 jobs across Montana (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $20.80 | $23.96 | $28.24 | $22.66 | 1.06 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.84 | $28.28 | $32.47 | $29.12 | 0.97 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Montana metro-by-metro prices
1 of the 3 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,850, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | $1,600 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +6% |
| Billings, MT | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,800 | level |
| Missoula, MT | $1,500 – $6,100 | $3,800 | −1% |
Basic, standard or premium: Montana 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 $3,350
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,900 to $4,750
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,300 to $6,150
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,000 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,150 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,500 – $3,350 | $2,900 – $4,750 | $4,300 – $6,150 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,000 – $4,450 | $3,850 – $6,300 | $5,700 – $8,150 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,000 – $6,650 | $5,750 – $9,400 | $8,500 – $12,200 |
Optional extras in Montana
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.99 for Montana, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.02) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $80 – $990 |
Why two Montana 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.
If you are planning more than one job in Montana
Each project weights the trades differently, so Montana's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, gravel driveway is level and vinyl fence −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,000 – $7,500 | −2% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,400 – $8,900 | −3% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,100 | −2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,200 | level |
Weather windows across Montana
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Montana 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.
Billings has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Montana at 9 months (March through November); Missoula has the shortest at 8 (March through October). Rainfall runs from 14 inches a year in Missoula to 20 inches in Bozeman.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | 18 | 87 | 14 | 9: March through November |
| Bozeman | 15 | 82 | 20 | 8: March through October |
| Missoula | 18 | 85 | 14 | 8: March through October |
Montana versus the states around it
Montana ranks 25 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. Montana sits at $3,850. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 270 miles away | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | −5% |
| Utah | 400 miles away | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | −5% |
| Wyoming | 460 miles away | $1,450 – $5,900 | $3,700 | −4% |
| Washington | 500 miles away | $1,700 – $7,150 | $4,450 | +16% |
| Colorado | 550 miles away | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | +1% |
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Chain-link fence in Montana: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Montana?
$1,500 to $6,150 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Montana can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Montana is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Missoula at about $3,800 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Bozeman at $4,050.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Montana than the US average?
It is 0% cheaper: $3,850 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Montana?
About 62% ($2,400). Materials are 36%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.02x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Montana?
The BLS statewide median is $23.96 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $20.80 to $28.24.
+Where does Montana rank for chain-link fence costs?
25th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,850 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Montana?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $3,350 and premium work $4,300 to $6,150. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in Montana?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Montana metros we cover, Billings 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 Montana?
$80 to $990, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in Montana
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).