Chain-link fence cost in Providence, RI
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,600 – $6,750
- Per linear ft
- $10.50 – $44
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- +9%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #55
- 1 = most expensive
Providence homeowners pay roughly $1,600 to $6,750 to install a chain-link fence at 150 linear ft, or $10.50 to $44 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Providence is 9% higher. Construction laborers earn a median of $28.50 an hour in the Providence area, 26% above 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 Providence, RI, standard level
$3,150 to $5,200
About $20.50 to $34 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 65% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $1,600 |
| Labor | $1,900 | $3,500 |
| Permits and fees | $75 | $120 |
| Total | $3,150 | $5,200 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Providence, RI
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,400 | $1,900 | 33% |
| Labor | $700 | $2,700 | $4,700 | 65% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 2% |
| Total | $1,600 | $4,200 | $6,750 | 100% |
What is behind the Providence number
Labor is 65% 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 Providence the blended ratio comes out at 1.16.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Providence metro is 97.1 (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 (101.8) 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 Providence is 1.16 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $28.50 an hour, 26% above the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $23.10 and $37.25 an hour. About 3,240 work in the metro. That is 45.4 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 $29.76 an hour, which is in line with the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $26.71 and $38.38 an hour. BLS counts 4,140 of them working in the area, 58.0 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 ($37.25 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $540. At the 25th percentile ($23.10) it shrinks by about $330. The total moves by 12.9% or 7.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 714,120 jobs in the Providence-Warwick area. That makes it the 42nd largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.46% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $23.10 | $28.50 | $37.25 | $22.66 | 1.26 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $26.71 | $29.76 | $38.38 | $29.12 | 1.02 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 1.16 | |||||
Extras that change the Providence total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Providence by the average of the local wage index (1.16) and goods index (0.97), a factor of 1.07. 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 |
When to schedule chain-link fence in Providence
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Providence T F Green Ap (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 Providence (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.
Providence gets about 48 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 37 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, April and December (4.9 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and July are the driest, at 3.4 and 2.9 inches. The station averages about 12 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 | 38 | 22 | 4.0 | Cold |
| Feb | 41 | 24 | 3.4 | Cold |
| Mar | 48 | 30 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 59 | 40 | 4.3 | Workable |
| May | 69 | 49 | 3.4 | Workable |
| Jun | 78 | 59 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Jul | 84 | 65 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Aug | 82 | 64 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 75 | 57 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 64 | 45 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Nov | 53 | 36 | 4.3 | Workable |
| Dec | 43 | 28 | 4.7 | Cold |
Providence against nearby metros and the rest of Rhode Island
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Boston is the priciest of the group at $4,550. Norwich is the cheapest at $4,000.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Providence, RIthis page | $1,600 – $6,750 | $4,200 | |
| Norwich, CT45 miles | $1,550 – $6,450 | $4,000 | −4% |
| Worcester, MA55 miles | $1,650 – $7,150 | $4,400 | +6% |
| Boston, MA60 miles | $1,700 – $7,400 | $4,550 | +9% |
| Barnstable, MA60 miles | $1,650 – $7,000 | $4,350 | +4% |
| Hartford, CT65 miles | $1,600 – $6,700 | $4,150 | −1% |
| Rhode Island (statewide) | $1,600 – $6,650 | $4,100 | −2% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | −8% |
Across 300 US metros, Providence comes in at #55 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Providence is 2% above the Rhode Island figure.
Providence is the only Rhode Island metro we cover, so the statewide page is the only in-state comparison. It uses statewide wages, which include rural areas.
Cities with a workforce like Providence's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Providence against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh, NC | 743,120 jobs | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | −14% |
| Louisville, KY | 685,190 jobs | $1,500 – $5,950 | $3,750 | −11% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | 763,060 jobs | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | −19% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 677,680 jobs | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | −20% |
Providence: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Providence 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 $3,650
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$3,150 to $5,200
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,700 to $6,750
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $1,100 – $2,500 | $2,150 – $3,500 | $3,150 – $4,550 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,600 – $3,650 | $3,150 – $5,200 | $4,700 – $6,750 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $2,150 – $4,850 | $4,200 – $6,900 | $6,250 – $8,950 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $3,200 – $7,250 | $6,250 – $10,300 | $9,300 – $13,400 |
Related projects, priced for Providence
Because every project leans on different trades, Providence's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs +9% and vinyl fence +1%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $3,150 – $7,850 | +3% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,550 – $9,250 | +1% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,900 – $11,600 | +2% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,750 – $11,100 | +9% |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Providence
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.
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 $3,150 to $5,200 for Providence, RI is attached.
Take this estimate with you: PDF report, $9
The report lays out the chain-link fence numbers for Providence, RI 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 Providence: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Providence?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,600 to $6,750 in the Providence area. A standard-spec job lands at $3,150 to $5,200. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Providence?
About $10.50 to $44 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 Providence or Norwich?
Norwich is 45 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $4,000, which is 4% less than Providence ($4,200). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Providence?
About 65% at the midpoint, or $2,700 out of $4,200. Materials are 33% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Providence?
$2,150 to $8,950. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Providence?
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 Providence area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Providence expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Rhode Island?
Providence is 2% above the Rhode Island statewide estimate ($4,100 at the midpoint).
+What do construction laborers earn in Providence?
The BLS median is $28.50 an hour in the Providence area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $23.10 to $37.25.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Providence?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,600 to $3,650 and premium work $4,700 to $6,750. 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 Providence?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. May and July 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 Providence?
$85 to $1,050, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Providence
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).