Chain-link fence cost in South Carolina
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,450 – $5,600
- Per linear ft
- $9.30 – $36.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 7
What does it cost to install a chain-link fence in South Carolina? Plan on $1,450 to $5,600 for 150 linear ft. Wages (0.88x the US blend), materials (price index 96.3) and permit costs (93.7) put the state below the national midpoint by 9%.
Inside South Carolina, the metros we cover range from $3,350 (Myrtle Beach) to $3,550 (Hilton Head) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in South Carolina (statewide), standard level
$2,700 to $4,350
About $17.50 to $28 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 58% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,600 |
| Labor | $1,450 | $2,650 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,700 | $4,350 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in South Carolina
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,350 | $1,900 | 39% |
| Labor | $530 | $2,050 | $3,550 | 58% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 3% |
| Total | $1,450 | $3,500 | $5,600 | 100% |
How South Carolina compares with nearby states
South Carolina ranks 42 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for chain-link fence, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $5,300 and the cheapest Arkansas at $3,250, both for 150 linear ft at the midpoint. South Carolina sits at $3,500. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 120 miles away | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +1% |
| Georgia | 180 miles away | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | −3% |
| Virginia | 300 miles away | $1,500 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +5% |
| West Virginia | 340 miles away | $1,400 – $5,500 | $3,450 | −1% |
| Tennessee | 350 miles away | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | +2% |
Weather windows across South Carolina
Season matters for chain-link fence. For each South Carolina metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Charleston has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in South Carolina at 12 months; Columbia has the shortest at 9 (September through May). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Columbia to 54 inches in Myrtle Beach.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville | 35 | 91 | 47 | 11: August through June |
| Columbia | 37 | 93 | 44 | 9: September through May |
| Charleston | 44 | 88 | 44 | 12: all year |
| Spartanburg | 32 | 90 | 50 | 11: August through June |
| Myrtle Beach | 34 | 87 | 54 | 12: all year |
| Florence | 36 | 92 | 45 | 10: September through June |
| Hilton Head | 40 | 92 | 45 | 10: September through June |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in South Carolina
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.
Survey
A land survey ($300-$900) is worth it before you put a fence near a boundary.
South Carolina metro-by-metro prices
4 of the 7 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,500, and the top-to-bottom gap is 7%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (150 linear ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head, SC | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | +2% |
| Florence, SC | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +1% |
| Greenville, SC | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +1% |
| Charleston, SC | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +1% |
| Spartanburg, SC | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | level |
| Columbia, SC | $1,400 – $5,500 | $3,450 | −1% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,350 | −5% |
Quality levels and sizes in South Carolina
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide South Carolina wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,450 to $3,100
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,700 to $4,350
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$3,950 to $5,600
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $970 – $2,100 | $1,800 – $2,950 | $2,650 – $3,750 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,450 – $3,100 | $2,700 – $4,350 | $3,950 – $5,600 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,900 – $4,100 | $3,550 – $5,750 | $5,200 – $7,400 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,850 – $6,100 | $5,300 – $8,550 | $7,750 – $11,000 |
Extras that change the South Carolina total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to South Carolina by the average of the local wage index (0.88) and goods index (0.96), a factor of 0.92. 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) | $75 – $920 |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in South Carolina
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.88 for South Carolina.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $20.65 an hour, 9% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.64 and $23.62 an hour. About 19,620 work in the state. That is 85.1 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 $24.36 an hour, which is 16% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.97 and $30.10 an hour. BLS counts 6,950 of them working in the state, 30.2 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($23.62 an hour) would add about $180 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($17.64) would take off about $190. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 2,305,080 jobs across South Carolina (May 2025), which is 1.5% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $17.64 | $20.65 | $23.62 | $22.66 | 0.91 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $20.97 | $24.36 | $30.10 | $29.12 | 0.84 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.88 | |||||
Other South Carolina jobs that often go with chain-link fence
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide South Carolina wages and prices. Against national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−6%) and gravel driveway lowest (−9%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,800 – $7,100 | −8% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,600 | −6% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,350 | −9% |
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Chain-link fence in South Carolina: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in South Carolina?
$1,450 to $5,600 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside South Carolina can sit above or below that.
+Which city in South Carolina is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Myrtle Beach at about $3,350 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Hilton Head at $3,550.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in South Carolina than the US average?
It is 9% cheaper: $3,500 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in South Carolina?
About 58% ($2,050). Materials are 39%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.88x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in South Carolina?
The BLS statewide median is $20.65 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.64 to $23.62.
+Where does South Carolina rank for chain-link fence costs?
42nd most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,500 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in South Carolina?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $3,100 and premium work $3,950 to $5,600. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in South Carolina?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the South Carolina metros we cover, Charleston has the most comfortable months (12 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
+What does "add one gate" add in South Carolina?
$75 to $920, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in South Carolina
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).