Chain-link fence cost in Bozeman, MT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,600 – $6,550
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $43
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #70
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a chain-link fence in the Bozeman area: $1,600 to $6,550 for 150 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 6% higher than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.77 an hour in the Bozeman area, 18% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Bozeman, MT, standard level
$3,050 to $5,050
About $20 to $33 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 64% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,850 | $3,400 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $3,050 | $5,050 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Bozeman, MT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $860 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 34% |
| Labor | $670 | $2,600 | $4,550 | 64% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $1,600 | $4,050 | $6,550 | 100% |
What is behind the Bozeman 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 $26.77 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Bozeman is 1.12 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 64% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Bozeman is at 96.0 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,450 nationally becomes $1,350 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 102.5: $40 to $150.
Add-ons priced for Bozeman
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.04 for Bozeman, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.12) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $85 – $1,050 |
The best months for chain-link fence in Bozeman
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Bozeman Montana State Univ (in the city). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Bozeman are March through October: 8 of 12. Outside them, January, February, November and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, November 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.
Bozeman gets about 20 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 91 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (3.3 inches in June). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 1.3 and 1.3 inches. The station averages about 12 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34 | 15 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 17 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 24 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Apr | 55 | 31 | 2.5 | Workable |
| May | 63 | 39 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 72 | 46 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 52 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 81 | 50 | 1.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 71 | 42 | 1.4 | Workable |
| Oct | 57 | 32 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 42 | 22 | 1.3 | Cold |
| Dec | 33 | 15 | 1.0 | Cold |
Bozeman: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Bozeman. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from backyard (100 linear ft) to full lot (300 linear ft).
Basic
$1,600 to $3,550
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$3,050 to $5,050
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,550 to $6,550
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,400 | $2,050 – $3,400 | $3,100 – $4,450 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,600 – $3,550 | $3,050 – $5,050 | $4,550 – $6,550 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,100 – $4,750 | $4,050 – $6,700 | $6,050 – $8,700 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,100 – $7,050 | $6,050 – $10,000 | $9,050 – $13,000 |
Bozeman against nearby metros and the rest of Montana
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Bozeman. Logan is the lowest at about $3,600 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 255 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MTthis page | $1,600 – $6,550 | $4,050 | |
| Billings, MT115 miles | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,800 | −6% |
| Idaho Falls, ID145 miles | $1,450 – $5,800 | $3,600 | −11% |
| Missoula, MT185 miles | $1,500 – $6,100 | $3,800 | −6% |
| Logan, UT255 miles | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | −12% |
| Boise, ID300 miles | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | −10% |
| Montana (statewide) | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −6% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −6% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Bozeman ranks #70 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Bozeman is 6% above the Montana figure.
Elsewhere in Montana
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,800 | −6% |
| Missoula, MT | 67,070 jobs | $1,500 – $6,100 | $3,800 | −6% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Bozeman against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangor, ME | 72,270 jobs | $1,500 – $5,850 | $3,650 | −10% |
| Redding, CA | 71,550 jobs | $1,700 – $7,000 | $4,350 | +7% |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 72,280 jobs | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −6% |
| Bismarck, ND | 71,270 jobs | $1,500 – $6,050 | $3,750 | −8% |
Why two Bozeman 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).
Related projects, priced for Bozeman
Jobs that often go together with chain-link fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Bozeman wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+6%) and vinyl fence lowest (−1%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,100 – $7,750 | +2% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,450 – $9,100 | −1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,900 – $11,500 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,800 | +6% |
Who does the work: Bozeman trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Bozeman the blend is 1.12.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $26.77 an hour, which is 18% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $24.06 and $29.16 an hour. BLS counts 790 of them working in the area, 109.4 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 $30.02 an hour, 3% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.28 and $36.07 an hour. About 900 work in the metro. That is 124.6 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $150 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $170. That is a swing of roughly 4.1% to 3.6% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Bozeman has 72,210 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 256th by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $24.06 | $26.77 | $29.16 | $22.66 | 1.18 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $28.28 | $30.02 | $36.07 | $29.12 | 1.03 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.12 | |||||
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Chain-link fence in Bozeman: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Bozeman?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,600 to $6,550 in the Bozeman area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,050 to $5,050. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Bozeman?
About $10 to $43 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 Bozeman or Billings?
Billings is 115 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,800, which is 6% less than Bozeman ($4,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Bozeman?
About 64% at the midpoint, or $2,600 out of $4,050. Materials are 34% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Bozeman?
$2,100 to $8,700. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Bozeman?
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 Bozeman area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Bozeman expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Montana?
Bozeman is 6% above the Montana statewide estimate ($3,850 at the midpoint). We cover 3 metros in Montana; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Bozeman?
The BLS median is $26.77 an hour in the Bozeman area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $24.06 to $29.16.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Bozeman?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,600 to $3,550 and premium work $4,550 to $6,550. 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 Bozeman?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through October. July and August 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 Bozeman?
$85 to $1,050, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Bozeman
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).