Chain-link fence cost in Philadelphia, PA
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,600 – $6,550
- Per linear ft
- $10 – $42.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +6%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #73
- 1 = most expensive
Philadelphia homeowners pay roughly $1,600 to $6,550 to install a chain-link fence at 150 linear ft, or $10 to $42.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Philadelphia is 6% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $26.50 an hour in the Philadelphia area, 17% above the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Philadelphia, PA, standard level
$3,050 to $5,050
About $20 to $33 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 64% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $1,600 |
| Labor | $1,800 | $3,350 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $3,050 | $5,050 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Philadelphia, PA
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,400 | $1,900 | 34% |
| Labor | $670 | $2,600 | $4,500 | 64% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $1,600 | $4,050 | $6,550 | 100% |
Why Philadelphia prices look the way they do
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: construction laborers at 60%, carpenters at 40%. Weighted together, Philadelphia wages are 1.11 times the national level. Labor makes up about 64% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Philadelphia metro is 96.8 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $1,400, compared with $1,450 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (102.6) and land at $40 to $150.
Specs and site conditions that change a Philadelphia bid
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.
Extras that change the Philadelphia total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Philadelphia by the average of the local wage index (1.11) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 1.04. 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) | $85 – $1,050 |
Philadelphia against nearby metros and the rest of Pennsylvania
Of the five closest metros, 2 are cheaper than Philadelphia. Reading is the lowest at about $3,800 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 50 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia, PAthis page | $1,600 – $6,550 | $4,050 | |
| Vineland, NJ40 miles | $1,850 – $8,100 | $4,950 | +22% |
| Trenton, NJ40 miles | $1,750 – $7,550 | $4,650 | +15% |
| Reading, PA50 miles | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,800 | −6% |
| Lancaster, PA50 miles | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,800 | −6% |
| Atlantic City, NJ50 miles | $1,600 – $6,550 | $4,100 | +1% |
| Pennsylvania (statewide) | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | −4% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −5% |
Across 300 US metros, Philadelphia comes in at #73 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Philadelphia is 5% above the Pennsylvania figure.
Other Pennsylvania metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 1,114,490 jobs | $1,550 – $6,350 | $3,950 | −2% |
| Allentown, PA | 377,180 jobs | $1,550 – $6,250 | $3,900 | −4% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 335,010 jobs | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | −4% |
| Scranton, PA | 255,620 jobs | $1,550 – $6,200 | $3,900 | −4% |
| Lancaster, PA | 252,230 jobs | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,800 | −6% |
| York, PA | 183,590 jobs | $1,550 – $6,300 | $3,950 | −3% |
Cities with a workforce like Philadelphia's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Philadelphia against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 3,136,190 jobs | $1,600 – $6,300 | $3,950 | −3% |
| Atlanta, GA | 2,889,670 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −13% |
| Houston, TX | 3,289,720 jobs | $1,450 – $5,550 | $3,500 | −13% |
| Miami, FL | 2,819,940 jobs | $1,550 – $5,900 | $3,700 | −8% |
Related projects, priced for Philadelphia
Because every project leans on different trades, Philadelphia's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +6% and vinyl fence level.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,100 – $7,750 | +2% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,500 – $9,150 | level |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,900 – $11,600 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,650 – $10,800 | +6% |
Cost by quality level and size in Philadelphia
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Philadelphia 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
$1,600 to $3,550
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$3,050 to $5,050
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,550 to $6,550
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,050 – $2,400 | $2,050 – $3,400 | $3,050 – $4,400 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,600 – $3,550 | $3,050 – $5,050 | $4,550 – $6,550 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,100 – $4,700 | $4,050 – $6,700 | $6,050 – $8,650 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,100 – $7,050 | $6,050 – $10,000 | $9,000 – $12,900 |
When to schedule chain-link fence in Philadelphia
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Philadelphia Ne Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
February through December is the stretch where exterior installation runs into the fewest weather problems in Philadelphia (11 of 12 months). January has an average daytime high under 45°F.
In January 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.
Philadelphia gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are July, August and September (4.5 inches in September). Inside the workable window, February and November are the driest, at 2.6 and 3.2 inches. The station averages about 29 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 | 42 | 27 | 3.3 | Cold |
| Feb | 45 | 28 | 2.6 | Workable |
| Mar | 53 | 35 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Apr | 65 | 44 | 3.8 | Workable |
| May | 75 | 54 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Jun | 83 | 64 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 69 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 86 | 68 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Sep | 79 | 60 | 4.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 68 | 48 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 57 | 38 | 3.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 47 | 31 | 4.0 | Workable |
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 Philadelphia is 1.11 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $26.50 an hour, 17% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $22.43 and $34.37 an hour. About 14,580 work in the metro. That is 50.3 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 $29.70 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $23.17 and $36.83 an hour. BLS counts 14,260 of them working in the area, 49.2 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 ($34.37 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $480. At the 25th percentile ($22.43) it shrinks by about $250. The total moves by 11.9% or 6.2%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 2,897,830 jobs in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington area. That makes it the 7th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 1.86% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $22.43 | $26.50 | $34.37 | $22.66 | 1.17 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $23.17 | $29.70 | $36.83 | $29.12 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.11 | |||||
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Chain-link fence in Philadelphia: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Philadelphia?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,600 to $6,550 in the Philadelphia area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,050 to $5,050. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Philadelphia?
About $10 to $42.50 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 Philadelphia or Vineland?
Vineland is 40 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,950, which is 22% more than Philadelphia ($4,050). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Philadelphia?
About 64% at the midpoint, or $2,600 out of $4,050. Materials are 34% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Philadelphia?
$2,100 to $8,650. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Philadelphia?
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 Philadelphia area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Philadelphia expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Pennsylvania?
Philadelphia is 5% above 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 Philadelphia?
The BLS median is $26.50 an hour in the Philadelphia area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.43 to $34.37.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Philadelphia?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,600 to $3,550 and premium work $4,550 to $6,550. 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 Philadelphia?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are February through December. February 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 Philadelphia?
$85 to $1,050, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Philadelphia
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).