Chain-link fence cost in Sioux Falls, SD
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,450 – $5,750
- Per linear ft
- $9.40 – $37.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −7%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #185
- 1 = most expensive
Sioux Falls homeowners pay roughly $1,450 to $5,750 to install a chain-link fence at 150 linear ft, or $9.40 to $37.50 per linear ft (permit not included). Against the US midpoint, Sioux Falls is 7% lower. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.53 an hour in the Sioux Falls area, 1% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Sioux Falls, SD, standard level
$2,750 to $4,450
About $18 to $29 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 60% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,800 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $110 |
| Total | $2,750 | $4,450 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Sioux Falls, SD
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $860 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 38% |
| Labor | $550 | $2,150 | $3,750 | 60% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $1,450 | $3,600 | $5,750 | 100% |
What is behind the Sioux Falls number
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $22.53 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Sioux Falls is 0.92 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 60% of the total.
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Sioux Falls metro is 95.5 (US = 100). The midpoint materials bill for 150 linear ft comes to $1,350, compared with $1,450 at national prices. Permit and inspection fees are scaled by the broader index (90.6) and land at $35 to $140.
When to schedule chain-link fence in Sioux Falls
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Sioux Falls (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 Sioux Falls (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.
Sioux Falls gets about 28 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 45 inches of snow. The wettest months are May, June and August (4.2 inches in June). Inside the workable window, March and November are the driest, at 1.6 and 1.2 inches. The station averages about 15 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 | 27 | 9 | 0.6 | Cold |
| Feb | 32 | 13 | 0.8 | Cold |
| Mar | 45 | 24 | 1.6 | Workable |
| Apr | 59 | 36 | 3.0 | Workable |
| May | 71 | 48 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 81 | 59 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 85 | 63 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 83 | 61 | 3.3 | Workable |
| Sep | 76 | 52 | 2.7 | Workable |
| Oct | 61 | 38 | 2.4 | Workable |
| Nov | 45 | 25 | 1.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 32 | 13 | 0.8 | Cold |
What nearby projects cost in Sioux Falls
Because every project leans on different trades, Sioux Falls's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, gravel driveway runs −2% and wood fence −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,800 – $7,100 | −7% |
| 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 | $2,450 – $10,000 | −2% |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Sioux Falls
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 Sioux Falls total
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Sioux Falls by the average of the local wage index (0.92) and goods index (0.95), a factor of 0.94. 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 – $940 |
Cost by quality level and size in Sioux Falls
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Sioux Falls 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
$1,450 to $3,150
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,750 to $4,450
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$4,000 to $5,750
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 | $2,750 – $4,450 | $4,000 – $5,750 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,900 – $4,200 | $3,600 – $5,900 | $5,350 – $7,600 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,850 – $6,250 | $5,400 – $8,800 | $7,950 – $11,300 |
How Sioux Falls compares
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. St. Cloud is the priciest of the group at $4,100. Lincoln is the cheapest at $3,600.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls, SDthis page | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | |
| Sioux City, IA75 miles | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +1% |
| Omaha, NE160 miles | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +2% |
| St. Cloud, MN185 miles | $1,600 – $6,600 | $4,100 | +14% |
| Lincoln, NE185 miles | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,600 | level |
| Des Moines, IA210 miles | $1,500 – $6,200 | $3,850 | +7% |
| South Dakota (statewide) | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −2% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Sioux Falls comes in at #185 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Sioux Falls is 2% above the South Dakota figure.
Other South Dakota metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City, SD | 73,820 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −1% |
Cities with a workforce like Sioux Falls's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Sioux Falls against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette, LA | 179,570 jobs | $1,350 – $5,200 | $3,300 | −8% |
| Anchorage, AK | 177,050 jobs | $1,750 – $7,100 | $4,400 | +23% |
| Davenport, IA | 180,450 jobs | $1,550 – $6,400 | $3,950 | +10% |
| Reading, PA | 174,670 jobs | $1,550 – $6,100 | $3,800 | +6% |
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 Sioux Falls is 0.92 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $22.53 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.79 and $23.83 an hour. About 700 work in the metro. That is 39.2 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 $23.75 an hour, which is 18% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.22 and $29.38 an hour. BLS counts 1,640 of them working in the area, 91.8 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 ($23.83 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $80. At the 25th percentile ($18.79) it shrinks by about $230. The total moves by 2.2% or 6.4%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 178,590 jobs in the Sioux Falls area. That makes it the 130th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.11% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $18.79 | $22.53 | $23.83 | $22.66 | 0.99 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.22 | $23.75 | $29.38 | $29.12 | 0.82 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
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Chain-link fence in Sioux Falls: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Sioux Falls?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,450 to $5,750 in the Sioux Falls area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,750 to $4,450. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Sioux Falls?
About $9.40 to $37.50 per linear ft for materials and labor, plus $35 to $140 for the permit if one is needed. The US range is $10 to $40.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Sioux Falls or Sioux City?
Sioux City is 75 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,650, which is 1% more than Sioux Falls ($3,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Sioux Falls?
About 60% at the midpoint, or $2,150 out of $3,600. Materials are 38% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Sioux Falls?
$1,900 to $7,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Sioux Falls?
Often, but rules are set by your city or county building office, so call before you hire. Budget $35 to $140 for fees in the Sioux Falls area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Sioux Falls expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of South Dakota?
Sioux Falls is 2% above the South Dakota statewide estimate ($3,550 at the midpoint). We cover 2 metros in South Dakota; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Sioux Falls?
The BLS median is $22.53 an hour in the Sioux Falls area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.79 to $23.83.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Sioux Falls?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $3,150 and premium work $4,000 to $5,750. 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 Sioux Falls?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are March through November. March 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 Sioux Falls?
$75 to $940, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Sioux Falls
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).