Chain-link fence cost in Lancaster, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,550 – $6,100
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $39.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −1%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #126
- 1 = most expensive
Lancaster homeowners pay roughly $1,550 to $6,100 to install a chain-link fence at 150 linear ft, or $10 to $39.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Lancaster is almost level. Construction laborers earn a median of $23.40 an hour in the Lancaster area, 3% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Lancaster, PA, standard level
$2,900 to $4,750
About $19 to $31 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $1,650 |
| Labor | $1,600 | $3,000 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,900 | $4,750 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Lancaster, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $910 | $1,450 | $1,950 | 38% |
| Labor | $590 | $2,300 | $4,000 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $1,550 | $3,800 | $6,100 | 100% |
What is behind the Lancaster number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $23.40 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Lancaster is 0.99 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Lancaster 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 (98.3) and land at $40 to $150.
Local wages behind the labor line
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 Lancaster is 0.99 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $23.40 an hour, 3% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $21.76 and $28.00 an hour. About 2,270 work in the metro. That is 90.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 70.5 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
For carpenters (47-2031, weighted 40%) the local median is $26.77 an hour, which is 8% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.56 and $29.68 an hour. BLS counts 2,750 of them working in the area, 109.0 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 ($28.00 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $280. At the 25th percentile ($21.76) it shrinks by about $100. The total moves by 7.4% or 2.6%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 252,230 jobs in the Lancaster area. That makes it the 103rd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.16% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $21.76 | $23.40 | $28.00 | $22.66 | 1.03 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.56 | $26.77 | $29.68 | $29.12 | 0.92 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.99 | |||||
Related projects, priced for Lancaster
Because every project leans on different trades, Lancaster's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +2% and wood fence −1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,000 – $7,550 | −1% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,150 | level |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,750 – $11,400 | level |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,550 – $10,400 | +2% |
When to schedule chain-link fence in Lancaster
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Lancaster 2Ne Fltr Plt (5 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
March through November is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Lancaster (9 of 12 months). 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.
Lancaster gets about 44 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 21 inches of snow. The wettest months are July, September and October (4.8 inches in September). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 3.5 and 3.3 inches. The station averages about 20 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 | 40 | 22 | 3.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 43 | 24 | 2.5 | Cold |
| Mar | 52 | 31 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Apr | 65 | 41 | 3.5 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 50 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 60 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jul | 87 | 65 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Aug | 85 | 63 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 78 | 56 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Oct | 66 | 44 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 55 | 34 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 44 | 27 | 3.5 | Cold |
Add-ons priced for Lancaster
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Lancaster by the average of the local wage index (0.99) and goods index (1.01), a factor of 1.00. 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 – $1,000 |
How Lancaster compares
Of the five closest metros, 1 is cheaper than Lancaster. Reading is the lowest at about $3,800 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 30 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster, PAthis page | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,800 | |
| York, PA25 miles | $1,550 – $6,300 | $3,950 | +3% |
| Reading, PA30 miles | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,800 | level |
| Harrisburg, PA45 miles | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +2% |
| Philadelphia, PA50 miles | $1,600 – $6,550 | $4,050 | +6% |
| Baltimore, MD55 miles | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +2% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +2% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +1% |
Across 300 US metros, Lancaster comes in at #126 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Lancaster is 2% 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 | +6% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | +4% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | +2% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +2% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +1% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $1,550 – $6,300 | $3,950 | +3% |
Cities with a workforce like Lancaster's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Lancaster against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | +1% |
| Palm Bay, FL | 245,170 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −8% |
| Spokane, WA | 255,820 jobs | $1,600 – $6,500 | $4,050 | +6% |
| Trenton, NJ | 240,190 jobs | $1,750 – $7,550 | $4,650 | +22% |
Why two Lancaster quotes can differ
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.
Cost by quality level and size in Lancaster
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Lancaster 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
$1,550 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) | $1,050 – $2,250 | $1,950 – $3,200 | $2,900 – $4,100 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,550 – $3,350 | $2,900 – $4,750 | $4,300 – $6,100 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,050 – $4,450 | $3,850 – $6,300 | $5,650 – $8,100 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,050 – $6,650 | $5,750 – $9,350 | $8,450 – $12,100 |
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Chain-link fence in Lancaster: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Lancaster?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,550 to $6,100 in the Lancaster 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 Lancaster?
About $10 to $39.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $40 to $150 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Lancaster or York?
York is 25 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,950, which is 3% more than Lancaster ($3,800). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Lancaster?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $2,300 out of $3,800. Materials are 38% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Lancaster?
$2,050 to $8,100. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Lancaster?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $40 to $150 for fees in the Lancaster area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Lancaster expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Lancaster is 2% 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 Lancaster?
The BLS median is $23.40 an hour in the Lancaster area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $21.76 to $28.00.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Lancaster?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,550 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 Lancaster?
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 Lancaster?
$80 to $1,000, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Lancaster
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).