Chain-link fence cost in Erie, 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
- #135
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a chain-link fence in Erie, plan on $1,500 to $6,000 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.90 to $39 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint lands close to the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.35 an hour in the Erie area, 1% below the US median of $22.66.
Estimate your chain-link fence cost
Pick a size, a quality level and where you live. Prices update as you type.
Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Erie, 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 | $1,600 | $2,900 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $110 |
| Total | $2,850 | $4,650 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Erie, 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 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $1,500 | $3,750 | $6,000 | 100% |
Why Erie prices look the way they do
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.35 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Erie is 0.97 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Erie metro is 100.7 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $1,450, compared with $1,450 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (91.0) and land at $35 to $140.
Extras that change the Erie total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Erie by the average of the local wage index (0.97) and goods index (1.01), 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 |
Erie 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 Erie is 0.97 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $22.35 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.41 and $26.60 an hour. About 540 work in the metro. That is 44.8 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $27.33 an hour, which is 6% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.37 and $36.03 an hour. BLS counts 530 of them working in the area, 44.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is about average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($26.60 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $260. At the 25th percentile ($18.41) it shrinks by about $240. The total moves by 6.9% or 6.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 120,480 jobs in the Erie area. That makes it the 181st largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.08% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $18.41 | $22.35 | $26.60 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.37 | $27.33 | $36.03 | $29.12 | 0.94 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.97 | |||||
Is Erie cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Akron is the priciest of the group at $4,100. Youngstown is the cheapest at $3,750.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PAthis page | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | |
| Youngstown, OH75 miles | $1,450 – $6,000 | $3,750 | −1% |
| Cleveland, OH75 miles | $1,550 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +7% |
| Buffalo, NY95 miles | $1,550 – $6,400 | $4,000 | +6% |
| Akron, OH95 miles | $1,550 – $6,650 | $4,100 | +9% |
| Pittsburgh, PA115 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% |
Across 300 US metros, Erie comes in at #135 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Erie is 3% below the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| 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 | +3% |
| 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 | +1% |
Cities with a workforce like Erie's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Erie against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ocala, FL | 120,980 jobs | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −12% |
| Burlington, VT | 120,150 jobs | $1,550 – $6,300 | $3,900 | +4% |
| Kalamazoo, MI | 121,790 jobs | $1,500 – $6,250 | $3,900 | +3% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −6% |
Climate in Erie: timing your chain-link fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Erie Intl Ap (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
April through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Erie (8 of 12 months). January, February, March and December have an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January, February, March 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.
Erie gets about 43 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 104 inches of snow. The wettest months are September, October and December (4.4 inches in October). Inside the workable window, July and August are the driest, at 3.3 and 3.4 inches. The station averages about 5 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 | 35 | 21 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Feb | 37 | 21 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 44 | 28 | 3.1 | Cold |
| Apr | 57 | 38 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 68 | 49 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 77 | 59 | 3.7 | Workable |
| Jul | 81 | 64 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 80 | 63 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Sep | 74 | 57 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Oct | 62 | 46 | 4.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 51 | 37 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 40 | 28 | 4.2 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Erie
Because every project leans on different trades, Erie's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, aluminum fence runs level and wood fence −2%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,000 – $7,550 | −2% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,100 | level |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,800 – $11,400 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,500 – $10,100 | −1% |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Erie
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).
Coating
Black or green vinyl-coated mesh costs more than galvanized.
Pick a size, pick a tier: chain-link fence pricing in Erie
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Erie 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 $3,300
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) | $1,050 – $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 – $6,200 | $5,600 – $8,000 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,000 – $6,550 | $5,700 – $9,250 | $8,350 – $11,900 |
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 Erie, PA is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the chain-link fence numbers for Erie, PA line by line, with the local wage and price inputs, permit and timing notes, a quote comparison sheet and the full method. Save your estimate above, preview page 1 free, and unlock the full report for $9 one-time, or get every report with CostLocal Pro.
Chain-link fence in Erie: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Erie?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,500 to $6,000 in the Erie 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 Erie?
About $9.90 to $39 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Erie or Youngstown?
Youngstown is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,750, which is 1% less than Erie ($3,750). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Erie?
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 Erie?
$2,000 to $8,000. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Erie?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $140 for fees in the Erie area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Erie expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Erie 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 Erie?
The BLS median is $22.35 an hour in the Erie area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.41 to $26.60.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Erie?
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 Erie?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are April through November. 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 Erie?
$80 to $990, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Erie
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).