Chain-link fence cost in Hilton Head, SC
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,450 – $5,700
- Per linear ft
- $9.40 – $37
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #193
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a chain-link fence in the Hilton Head area: $1,450 to $5,700 for 150 linear ft. The low end is a basic job on easy ground; the high end is a premium spec with harder access. The midpoint runs 7% lower than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $21.99 an hour in the Hilton Head area, 3% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Hilton Head, SC, standard level
$2,700 to $4,400
About $17.50 to $28.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,600 |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,750 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,700 | $4,400 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Hilton Head, SC
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,350 | $1,900 | 38% |
| Labor | $540 | $2,100 | $3,650 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $95 | $150 | 3% |
| Total | $1,450 | $3,550 | $5,700 | 100% |
Why Hilton Head prices look the way they do
Labor is 59% 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 Hilton Head the blended ratio comes out at 0.91.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Hilton Head is at 96.3 against 100 for the US, so a materials line of $1,450 nationally becomes $1,350 here (midpoint, 150 linear ft). Permits follow the all-items index of 98.0: $40 to $150.
Specs and site conditions that change a Hilton Head 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.
Hilton Head against nearby metros and the rest of South Carolina
Of the five closest metros, all are cheaper than Hilton Head. Savannah is the lowest at about $3,250 (midpoint, 150 linear ft), 30 miles away.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head, SCthis page | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | |
| Savannah, GA30 miles | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | −9% |
| Charleston, SC65 miles | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −1% |
| Augusta, GA100 miles | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −2% |
| Columbia, SC115 miles | $1,400 – $5,500 | $3,450 | −3% |
| Florence, SC135 miles | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −1% |
| South Carolina (statewide) | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −2% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +8% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Hilton Head ranks #193 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Hilton Head is 2% above the South Carolina figure.
Elsewhere in South Carolina
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −1% |
| Columbia, SC | 394,200 jobs | $1,400 – $5,500 | $3,450 | −3% |
| Charleston, SC | 394,170 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −1% |
| Spartanburg, SC | 165,150 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −2% |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 146,260 jobs | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,350 | −7% |
| Florence, SC | 89,060 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −1% |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Hilton Head against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | 82,160 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −2% |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 81,840 jobs | $1,450 – $5,800 | $3,600 | +1% |
| Houma, LA | 83,440 jobs | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | −9% |
| Johnson City, TN | 81,690 jobs | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | −5% |
Related projects, priced for Hilton Head
Jobs that often go together with chain-link fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Hilton Head wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−5%) and wood fence lowest (−7%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,800 – $7,100 | −7% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,650 | −5% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,600 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,350 – $9,550 | −6% |
Optional extras in Hilton Head
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.93 for Hilton Head, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.91) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $75 – $930 |
The best months for chain-link fence in Hilton Head
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Beaufort Mcas (10 miles from the city center). They are 30-year averages, so any one year can run hotter, colder or wetter.
For exterior installation, the comfortable months in Hilton Head are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Hilton Head gets about 45 inches of precipitation in a normal year. The wettest months are June, July and August (6.5 inches in August). Inside the workable window, May and November are the driest, at 2.5 and 2.5 inches. The station averages about 73 days a year at 90°F or above.
We do not adjust the estimate by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. It is still worth asking contractors whether an off-peak start date changes their bid.
| Month | Avg high °F | Avg low °F | Precip (in) | For this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 40 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Feb | 64 | 43 | 2.9 | Workable |
| Mar | 70 | 49 | 3.1 | Workable |
| Apr | 77 | 56 | 3.1 | Workable |
| May | 84 | 64 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Jun | 89 | 71 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Jul | 92 | 75 | 5.6 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 74 | 6.5 | Hot |
| Sep | 86 | 70 | 4.0 | Workable |
| Oct | 78 | 59 | 3.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 69 | 48 | 2.5 | Workable |
| Dec | 63 | 43 | 3.2 | Workable |
Cost by quality level and size in Hilton Head
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Hilton Head. Bands overlap, because plenty of standard jobs cost as much as a light premium one. Sizes run from backyard (100 linear ft) to full lot (300 linear ft).
Basic
$1,450 to $3,150
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,700 to $4,400
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,000 to $5,700
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $980 – $2,150 | $1,850 – $3,000 | $2,700 – $3,850 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,450 – $3,150 | $2,700 – $4,400 | $4,000 – $5,700 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,900 – $4,150 | $3,600 – $5,850 | $5,300 – $7,550 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,850 – $6,200 | $5,400 – $8,750 | $7,900 – $11,200 |
Who does the work: Hilton Head trade wages
The labor line is built from BLS wage data, one trade at a time. This job draws on 2 trades. We compare each trade's local median with the US median, weight the ratios by how much of the job each trade does, and apply the blend to the national labor cost. For Hilton Head the blend is 0.91.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $21.99 an hour, which is in line with the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.13 and $25.12 an hour. BLS counts 910 of them working in the area, 111.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is deeper than average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.59 an hour, 19% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.25 and $29.40 an hour. About 440 work in the metro. That is 53.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $190 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $240. That is a swing of roughly 6.7% to 5.4% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal has 81,920 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 232nd by size among the 300 metros on this site.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $18.13 | $21.99 | $25.12 | $22.66 | 0.97 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $21.25 | $23.59 | $29.40 | $29.12 | 0.81 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.91 | |||||
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Chain-link fence in Hilton Head: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Hilton Head?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,450 to $5,700 in the Hilton Head area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,700 to $4,400. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Hilton Head?
About $9.40 to $37 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 Hilton Head or Savannah?
Savannah is 30 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,250, which is 9% less than Hilton Head ($3,550). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Hilton Head?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $2,100 out of $3,550. Materials are 38% and permits 3%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Hilton Head?
$1,900 to $7,550. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Hilton Head?
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 Hilton Head area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Hilton Head expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of South Carolina?
Hilton Head is 2% above the South Carolina statewide estimate ($3,500 at the midpoint). We cover 7 metros in South Carolina; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Hilton Head?
The BLS median is $21.99 an hour in the Hilton Head area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.13 to $25.12.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Hilton Head?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $3,150 and premium work $4,000 to $5,700. 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 Hilton Head?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. May 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 Hilton Head?
$75 to $930, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Hilton Head
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).