Chain-link fence cost in Pennsylvania
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,550 – $6,200
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $40.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +1%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 12
Pennsylvania prices for chain-link fence: $1,550 to $6,200 for 150 linear ft, or $10 to $40.50 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 1% above the national one. Local wages for construction laborers are $23.75 an hour.
Inside Pennsylvania, the metros we cover range from $3,650 (Chambersburg) to $4,050 (Philadelphia) 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 Pennsylvania (statewide), standard level
$2,950 to $4,800
About $19 to $31.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 61% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $1,600 |
| Labor | $1,650 | $3,100 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,950 | $4,800 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Pennsylvania
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $890 | $1,400 | $1,950 | 36% |
| Labor | $610 | $2,350 | $4,150 | 61% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $1,550 | $3,900 | $6,200 | 100% |
How Pennsylvania compares with nearby states
Pennsylvania ranks 21 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. Pennsylvania sits at $3,900. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 70 miles away | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | +1% |
| Delaware | 100 miles away | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,700 | −4% |
| New Jersey | 100 miles away | $1,750 – $7,250 | $4,500 | +16% |
| District of Columbia | 110 miles away | $1,650 – $6,450 | $4,050 | +4% |
| New York | 140 miles away | $1,700 – $7,050 | $4,400 | +13% |
Wages behind the Pennsylvania number
Pennsylvania'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 $23.75 an hour, which is 5% above the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.69 and $29.72 an hour. BLS counts 35,920 of them working in the state, 59.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $28.54 an hour, in line with the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.01 and $35.92 an hour. About 30,630 work in the state. That is 50.5 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 ($29.72 an hour) would add about $370 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($21.69) would take off about $130. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 6,064,600 jobs across Pennsylvania (May 2025), which is 3.9% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $21.69 | $23.75 | $29.72 | $22.66 | 1.05 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.01 | $28.54 | $35.92 | $29.12 | 0.98 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 1.02 | |||||
Why two Pennsylvania 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.
Weather windows across Pennsylvania
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and Pennsylvania 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.
Philadelphia has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Pennsylvania at 11 months (February through December); Erie has the shortest at 8 (April through November). Rainfall runs from 39 inches a year in Scranton to 47 inches in Allentown.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | 27 | 88 | 45 | 11: February through December |
| Pittsburgh | 22 | 83 | 41 | 9: March through November |
| Allentown | 22 | 86 | 47 | 9: March through November |
| Harrisburg | 22 | 85 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Scranton | 20 | 85 | 39 | 9: March through November |
| Lancaster | 22 | 87 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| York | 21 | 88 | 46 | 11: February through December |
| Reading | 23 | 87 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Erie | 21 | 81 | 43 | 8: April through November |
| State College | 21 | 81 | 42 | 9: March through November |
| Chambersburg | 23 | 85 | 44 | 9: March through November |
| Altoona | 19 | 81 | 45 | 9: March through November |
Chain-link fence cost by metro in Pennsylvania
4 of the 12 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,900, and the top-to-bottom gap is 11%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,600 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +5% |
| State College, PA | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | +2% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | +2% |
| York, PA | $1,550 – $6,300 | $3,950 | +1% |
| Allentown, PA | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | level |
| Harrisburg, PA | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | level |
| Scranton, PA | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | level |
| Lancaster, PA | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,800 | −2% |
| Reading, PA | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,800 | −2% |
| Erie, PA | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | −3% |
| Altoona, PA | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | −3% |
| Chambersburg, PA | $1,500 – $5,800 | $3,650 | −6% |
Extras that change the Pennsylvania total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 1.01 for Pennsylvania, which is the average of the area's wage index (1.02) and goods price index (0.99). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $80 – $1,000 |
If you are planning more than one job in Pennsylvania
Each project weights the trades differently, so Pennsylvania's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, gravel driveway is +1% and vinyl fence level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,050 – $7,650 | level |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,150 | level |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,400 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,300 | +1% |
Basic, standard or premium: Pennsylvania 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
$1,550 to $3,400
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,950 to $4,800
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,350 to $6,200
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,300 | $2,000 – $3,250 | $2,950 – $4,200 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,550 – $3,400 | $2,950 – $4,800 | $4,350 – $6,200 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,050 – $4,550 | $3,900 – $6,400 | $5,750 – $8,250 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,050 – $6,750 | $5,800 – $9,500 | $8,600 – $12,300 |
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Chain-link fence in Pennsylvania: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Pennsylvania?
$1,550 to $6,200 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Pennsylvania can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Pennsylvania is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Chambersburg at about $3,650 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Philadelphia at $4,050.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Pennsylvania than the US average?
It is 1% more expensive: $3,900 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Pennsylvania?
About 61% ($2,350). Materials are 36%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 1.02x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Pennsylvania?
The BLS statewide median is $23.75 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.69 to $29.72.
+Where does Pennsylvania rank for chain-link fence costs?
21st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,900 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Pennsylvania?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,550 to $3,400 and premium work $4,350 to $6,200. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in Pennsylvania?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Pennsylvania metros we cover, Philadelphia has the most comfortable months (11 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 Pennsylvania?
$80 to $1,000, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in Pennsylvania
- Philadelphia, PA$4,050 midpoint
- State College, PA$3,950 midpoint
- Pittsburgh, PA$3,950 midpoint
- York, PA$3,950 midpoint
- Allentown, PA$3,900 midpoint
- Harrisburg, PA$3,900 midpoint
- Scranton, PA$3,900 midpoint
- Lancaster, PA$3,800 midpoint
- Reading, PA$3,800 midpoint
- Erie, PA$3,750 midpoint
- Altoona, PA$3,750 midpoint
- Chambersburg, PA$3,650 midpoint
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).