Chain-link fence cost in Portland, OR
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,700 – $7,000
- Per linear ft
- $11 – $45.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +13%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #36
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a chain-link fence in the Portland area: $1,700 to $7,000 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 13% higher than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.08 an hour in the Portland area, 15% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Portland, OR, standard level
$3,300 to $5,400
About $21.50 to $35 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 63% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,300 | $1,700 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $3,550 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $3,300 | $5,400 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Portland, OR
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $950 | $1,500 | $2,050 | 35% |
| Labor | $710 | $2,750 | $4,750 | 63% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $100 | $160 | 2% |
| Total | $1,700 | $4,350 | $7,000 | 100% |
Where the Portland price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $26.08 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Portland is 1.18 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 63% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Portland is at 105.2 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,450 nationally becomes $1,500 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 105.4: $40 to $160.
What nearby projects cost in Portland
Jobs that often go together with chain-link fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Portland wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, gravel driveway comes out highest (+14%) and vinyl fence lowest (+8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,400 – $8,450 | +11% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,900 – $9,900 | +8% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $4,200 – $12,600 | +10% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,850 – $11,700 | +14% |
Extras that change the Portland total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.11 for Portland, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.18) and goods price index (1.05). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $90 – $1,100 |
Is Portland cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Portland is the priciest of the group. Eugene is the cheapest at $3,950.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland, ORthis page | $1,700 – $7,000 | $4,350 | |
| Salem, OR50 miles | $1,650 – $6,600 | $4,150 | −5% |
| Olympia, WA95 miles | $1,650 – $6,650 | $4,150 | −5% |
| Yakima, WA100 miles | $1,600 – $6,400 | $4,000 | −8% |
| Eugene, OR115 miles | $1,600 – $6,350 | $3,950 | −9% |
| Bend, OR125 miles | $1,650 – $6,600 | $4,100 | −5% |
| Oregon (statewide) | $1,650 – $6,500 | $4,050 | −6% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −11% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Portland ranks #36 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Portland is 7% above the Oregon figure.
Elsewhere in Oregon
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salem, OR | 188,620 jobs | $1,650 – $6,600 | $4,150 | −5% |
| Eugene, OR | 157,710 jobs | $1,600 – $6,350 | $3,950 | −9% |
| Bend, OR | 108,240 jobs | $1,650 – $6,600 | $4,100 | −5% |
| Medford, OR | 89,060 jobs | $1,600 – $6,300 | $3,950 | −9% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Portland against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | 1,293,690 jobs | $1,400 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −19% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 1,136,960 jobs | $1,500 – $6,200 | $3,850 | −11% |
| St. Louis, MO | 1,341,320 jobs | $1,700 – $7,300 | $4,500 | +4% |
| San Jose, CA | 1,134,970 jobs | $1,850 – $7,900 | $4,850 | +12% |
Who does the work: Portland 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 Portland the blend is 1.18.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $26.08 an hour, which is 15% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.45 and $31.65 an hour. BLS counts 7,950 of them working in the area, 65.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $35.44 an hour, 22% above the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $28.53 and $49.78 an hour. About 9,210 work in the metro. That is 76.2 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 $340 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $290. That is a swing of roughly 6.6% to 7.9% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro has 1,208,410 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 25th 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% | $21.45 | $26.08 | $31.65 | $22.66 | 1.15 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $28.53 | $35.44 | $49.78 | $29.12 | 1.22 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.18 | |||||
The best months for chain-link fence in Portland
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Portland Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Portland: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Portland gets about 37 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are January, November and December (5.8 inches in December). The station averages about 15 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 | 48 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 52 | 37 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Mar | 57 | 40 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 62 | 44 | 2.9 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 74 | 54 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Jul | 82 | 59 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 59 | 0.5 | Workable |
| Sep | 77 | 54 | 1.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 47 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 54 | 41 | 5.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 36 | 5.8 | Workable |
Pick a size, pick a tier: chain-link fence pricing in Portland
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Portland. 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
$1,700 to $3,800
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$3,300 to $5,400
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,850 to $7,000
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,150 – $2,550 | $2,200 – $3,650 | $3,300 – $4,700 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,700 – $3,800 | $3,300 – $5,400 | $4,850 – $7,000 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,250 – $5,050 | $4,350 – $7,150 | $6,450 – $9,250 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,350 – $7,550 | $6,500 – $10,700 | $9,600 – $13,800 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Portland bid
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).
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Chain-link fence in Portland: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Portland?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,700 to $7,000 in the Portland area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,300 to $5,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Portland?
About $11 to $45.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $160 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Portland or Salem?
Salem is 50 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,150, which is 5% less than Portland ($4,350). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Portland?
About 63% at the midpoint, or $2,750 out of $4,350. Materials are 35% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Portland?
$2,250 to $9,250. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Portland?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $160 for fees in the Portland area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Portland expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Oregon?
Portland is 7% above the Oregon statewide estimate ($4,050 at the midpoint). We cover 5 metros in Oregon; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Portland?
The BLS median is $26.08 an hour in the Portland area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.45 to $31.65.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Portland?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,700 to $3,800 and premium work $4,850 to $7,000. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Is there a bad season to install a chain-link fence in Portland?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add one gate" add in Portland?
$90 to $1,100, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Portland
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).