Chain-link fence cost in Altoona, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,500 – $6,000
- Per linear ft
- $9.90 – $39
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −2%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #142
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a chain-link fence in the Altoona area: $1,500 to $6,000 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 lands close to the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.03 an hour in the Altoona area, 3% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Altoona, PA, standard level
$2,850 to $4,650
About $18.50 to $30.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $1,650 |
| Labor | $1,550 | $2,900 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $2,850 | $4,650 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Altoona, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,450 | $1,950 | 38% |
| Labor | $580 | $2,250 | $3,900 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $1,500 | $3,750 | $6,000 | 100% |
Why Altoona prices look the way they do
Labor is 60% 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 Altoona the blended ratio comes out at 0.96.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Altoona is at 100.7 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,450 nationally becomes $1,450 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 89.5: $35 to $130.
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Altoona
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.
Altoona against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Contractors rarely work more than an hour or two from home, so the neighboring metros set a rough ceiling and floor for your quotes. Midpoints for 150 linear ft range from $3,600 to $3,950 across Altoona and its five closest metros.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona, PAthis page | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | |
| State College, PA35 miles | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | +5% |
| Chambersburg, PA50 miles | $1,500 – $5,800 | $3,650 | −3% |
| Harrisburg, PA65 miles | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +3% |
| Hagerstown, MD65 miles | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | −4% |
| Pittsburgh, PA80 miles | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | +5% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +3% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +2% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Altoona ranks #142 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Altoona is 3% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Elsewhere in Pennsylvania
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PA | 2,897,830 jobs | $1,600 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +8% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | +5% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | +4% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +3% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +3% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,800 | +2% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Altoona against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston, NY | 59,140 jobs | $1,550 – $6,300 | $3,900 | +4% |
| Dubuque, IA | 58,470 jobs | $1,500 – $6,100 | $3,800 | +1% |
| Niles, MI | 59,970 jobs | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | −3% |
| Albany, GA | 58,390 jobs | $1,350 – $4,900 | $3,100 | −17% |
Pick a size, pick a tier: chain-link fence pricing in Altoona
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Altoona. 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
$1,500 to $3,300
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,850 to $4,650
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,200 to $6,000
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,000 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,150 | $2,850 – $4,050 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,500 – $3,300 | $2,850 – $4,650 | $4,200 – $6,000 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,000 – $4,400 | $3,800 – $6,150 | $5,550 – $7,950 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,000 – $6,550 | $5,650 – $9,200 | $8,300 – $11,900 |
The best months for chain-link fence in Altoona
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Altoona 3 W (5 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Altoona are March through November: 9 of 12. Outside them, January, February and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February 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.
Altoona gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 38 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and September (4.4 inches in May). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 6 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 | 19 | 2.9 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 20 | 2.6 | Cold |
| Mar | 46 | 28 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 60 | 39 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 70 | 49 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 57 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 61 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 60 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Sep | 73 | 53 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 42 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 49 | 33 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Dec | 38 | 24 | 3.4 | Cold |
Who does the work: Altoona 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 Altoona the blend is 0.96.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $22.03 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.45 and $24.02 an hour. BLS counts 350 of them working in the area, 59.7 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 $27.58 an hour, 5% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.09 and $36.73 an hour. About 360 work in the metro. That is 61.4 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 $120 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $220. That is a swing of roughly 5.9% to 3.3% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Altoona has 58,650 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 291st 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% | $18.45 | $22.03 | $24.02 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.09 | $27.58 | $36.73 | $29.12 | 0.95 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.96 | |||||
Extras that change the Altoona total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.98 for Altoona, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.96) and goods price index (1.01). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $80 – $980 |
Planning more than one job in Altoona?
Jobs that often go together with chain-link fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Altoona wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−1%) and gravel driveway lowest (−4%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,000 – $7,550 | −2% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,100 | −1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,750 – $11,300 | −1% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,750 | −4% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $2,850 to $4,650 for Altoona, PA is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
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Chain-link fence in Altoona: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Altoona?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,500 to $6,000 in the Altoona area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,850 to $4,650. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Altoona?
About $9.90 to $39 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $130 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Altoona or State College?
State College is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,950, which is 5% more than Altoona ($3,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Altoona?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $2,250 out of $3,750. Materials are 38% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Altoona?
$2,000 to $7,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Altoona?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $130 for fees in the Altoona area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Altoona expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Altoona is 3% below the Pennsylvania statewide estimate ($3,900 at the midpoint). We cover 12 metros in Pennsylvania; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Altoona?
The BLS median is $22.03 an hour in the Altoona area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.45 to $24.02.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Altoona?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,500 to $3,300 and premium work $4,200 to $6,000. 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 Altoona?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March and November 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 Altoona?
$80 to $980, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Altoona
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).