Chain-link fence cost in Missoula, MT
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,500 – $6,100
- Per linear ft
- $9.80 – $40
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #129
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a chain-link fence in Missoula, plan on $1,500 to $6,100 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.80 to $40 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Building materials run about 4% below the US average here (BEA goods price index 96.0).
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Missoula, MT, 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 | $3,050 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,900 | $4,750 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Missoula, MT
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $860 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 36% |
| Labor | $610 | $2,350 | $4,100 | 62% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $1,500 | $3,800 | $6,100 | 100% |
Why Missoula 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 Missoula the blended ratio comes out at 1.01.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Missoula metro is 96.0 (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 (96.4) and land at $40 to $140.
Specs and site conditions that change a Missoula bid
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.
Missoula against nearby metros and the rest of Montana
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Kennewick is the priciest of the group at $4,200. Idaho Falls is the cheapest at $3,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula, MTthis page | $1,500 – $6,100 | $3,800 | |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID120 miles | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,850 | level |
| Spokane, WA175 miles | $1,600 – $6,500 | $4,050 | +6% |
| Bozeman, MT185 miles | $1,600 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +7% |
| Kennewick, WA240 miles | $1,650 – $6,750 | $4,200 | +10% |
| Idaho Falls, ID255 miles | $1,450 – $5,800 | $3,600 | −5% |
| Montana (statewide) | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +1% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Missoula comes in at #129 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Missoula is 1% below the Montana figure.
Other Montana metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | 93,800 jobs | $1,500 – $6,150 | $3,800 | level |
| Bozeman, MT | 72,210 jobs | $1,600 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +7% |
Cities with a workforce like Missoula's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Missoula against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Junction, CO | 67,170 jobs | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,700 | −3% |
| Logan, UT | 66,800 jobs | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | −6% |
| Morgantown, WV | 67,370 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,550 | −8% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 66,610 jobs | $1,500 – $5,900 | $3,700 | −3% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: chain-link fence pricing in Missoula
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Missoula 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 $3,350
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,900 to $4,750
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,300 to $6,100
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 – $6,100 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,000 – $4,450 | $3,850 – $6,300 | $5,650 – $8,100 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,000 – $6,650 | $5,700 – $9,350 | $8,450 – $12,100 |
Climate in Missoula: timing your chain-link fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Missoula Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through October is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Missoula (8 of 12 months). 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.
Missoula gets about 14 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 43 inches of snow. The wettest months are April, May and June (2.1 inches in June). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 0.8 and 0.8 inches. The station averages about 27 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 | 18 | 1.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 21 | 0.9 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 27 | 0.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 56 | 32 | 1.4 | Workable |
| May | 66 | 40 | 1.8 | Workable |
| Jun | 73 | 46 | 2.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 52 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Aug | 84 | 50 | 0.8 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 42 | 1.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 56 | 32 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 40 | 25 | 1.2 | Cold |
| Dec | 31 | 18 | 1.1 | Cold |
Add-ons priced for Missoula
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Missoula by the average of the local wage index (1.01) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.99. 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 – $990 |
Planning more than one job in Missoula?
Because every project leans on different trades, Missoula's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +1% and vinyl fence −3%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,950 – $7,450 | −3% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,400 – $8,900 | −3% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,700 – $11,100 | −3% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,300 | +1% |
Missoula 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 Missoula is 1.01 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $24.00 an hour, 6% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.41 and $26.36 an hour. About 510 work in the metro. That is 76.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $27.48 an hour, which is 6% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.35 and $30.07 an hour. BLS counts 400 of them working in the area, 59.6 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 ($26.36 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $150. At the 25th percentile ($21.41) it shrinks by about $160. The total moves by 3.8% or 4.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 67,070 jobs in the Missoula area. That makes it the 270th 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% | $21.41 | $24.00 | $26.36 | $22.66 | 1.06 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.35 | $27.48 | $30.07 | $29.12 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.01 | |||||
Get 3 local quotes
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Chain-link fence in Missoula: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Missoula?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,500 to $6,100 in the Missoula area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,900 to $4,750. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Missoula?
About $9.80 to $40 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Missoula or Coeur d'Alene?
Coeur d'Alene is 120 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,850, which is 0% more than Missoula ($3,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Missoula?
About 62% at the midpoint, or $2,350 out of $3,800. Materials are 36% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Missoula?
$2,000 to $8,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Missoula?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $140 for fees in the Missoula area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Missoula expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Montana?
Missoula is 1% below 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 Missoula?
The BLS median is $24.00 an hour in the Missoula area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.41 to $26.36.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Missoula?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $3,350 and premium work $4,300 to $6,100. 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 Missoula?
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 Missoula?
$80 to $990, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Missoula
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).