Chain-link fence cost in South Dakota
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,450 – $5,650
- Per linear ft
- $9.35 – $36.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −8%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 2
South Dakota prices for chain-link fence: $1,450 to $5,650 for 150 linear ft, or $9.35 to $36.50 per linear ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 8% below the national one. Local wages for construction laborers are $21.98 an hour.
Inside South Dakota, the metros we cover range from $3,550 (Rapid City) to $3,600 (Sioux Falls) at the midpoint.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in South Dakota (statewide), 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 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,450 | $2,700 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $100 |
| Total | $2,700 | $4,400 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in South Dakota
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $860 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 38% |
| Labor | $540 | $2,100 | $3,650 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $130 | 2% |
| Total | $1,450 | $3,550 | $5,650 | 100% |
Wages behind the South Dakota number
South Dakota's labor line is priced from 2 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.90 times the national level.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $21.98 an hour, which is 3% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.42 and $23.14 an hour. BLS counts 1,780 of them working in the state, 38.9 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $23.14 an hour, 21% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $20.29 and $28.87 an hour. About 4,560 work in the state. That is 99.7 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, which suggests plenty of local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($23.14 an hour) would add about $70 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($18.42) would take off about $220. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 457,380 jobs across South Dakota (May 2025), which is 0.3% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $18.42 | $21.98 | $23.14 | $22.66 | 0.97 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $20.29 | $23.14 | $28.87 | $29.12 | 0.79 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.90 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: South Dakota prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from backyard (100 linear ft) to full lot (300 linear ft).
Basic
$1,450 to $3,100
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,700 to $4,400
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$3,950 to $5,650
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $970 – $2,100 | $1,800 – $2,950 | $2,650 – $3,800 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,450 – $3,100 | $2,700 – $4,400 | $3,950 – $5,650 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,900 – $4,150 | $3,550 – $5,800 | $5,250 – $7,450 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,850 – $6,150 | $5,350 – $8,650 | $7,800 – $11,100 |
Related projects, priced for South Dakota
Each project weights the trades differently, so South Dakota's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, gravel driveway is −3% and wood fence −8%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,750 – $7,000 | −8% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,550 | −6% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,450 – $10,500 | −8% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,400 – $9,850 | −3% |
Extras that change the South Dakota total
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.93 for South Dakota, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.90) and goods price index (0.95). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $75 – $930 |
Which South Dakota city is cheapest for chain-link fence?
1 of the 2 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,550, and the top-to-bottom gap is 1%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SD | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | +2% |
| Rapid City, SD | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | level |
How South Dakota compares with nearby states
South Dakota ranks 41 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 Dakota sits at $3,550. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | 220 miles away | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | +2% |
| North Dakota | 220 miles away | $1,500 – $6,100 | $3,800 | +7% |
| Minnesota | 290 miles away | $1,650 – $6,950 | $4,300 | +22% |
| Iowa | 330 miles away | $1,500 – $6,000 | $3,750 | +6% |
| Wyoming | 350 miles away | $1,450 – $5,900 | $3,700 | +4% |
Why two South Dakota quotes can differ
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.
Weather windows across South Dakota
Weather decides when exterior installation can happen, and South Dakota is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Every South Dakota metro on the list has 9 comfortable months, though rainfall ranges from 20 inches a year in Rapid City to 28 in Sioux Falls.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | 9 | 85 | 28 | 9: March through November |
| Rapid City | 16 | 84 | 20 | 9: March through November |
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Detailed chain-link fence report for South Dakota, $9
The report lays out the chain-link fence numbers for South Dakota 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 South Dakota: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in South Dakota?
$1,450 to $5,650 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside South Dakota can sit above or below that.
+Which city in South Dakota is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Rapid City at about $3,550 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Sioux Falls at $3,600.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in South Dakota than the US average?
It is 8% cheaper: $3,550 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in South Dakota?
About 59% ($2,100). Materials are 38%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.90x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in South Dakota?
The BLS statewide median is $21.98 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.42 to $23.14.
+Where does South Dakota rank for chain-link fence costs?
41st most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,550 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in South Dakota?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $3,100 and premium work $3,950 to $5,650. 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 Dakota?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the South Dakota metros we cover, Sioux Falls has the most comfortable months (9 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 Dakota?
$75 to $930, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in South Dakota
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).