Chain-link fence cost in Chattanooga, TN
Local estimate from BLS wage data and BEA price levels. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Typical range (150 linear ft)
- $1,450 – $5,600
- Per linear ft
- $9.30 – $36.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −9%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #215
- 1 = most expensive
Local price for a chain-link fence in the Chattanooga area: $1,450 to $5,600 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 9% lower than the US figure. Construction laborers earn a median of $20.80 an hour in the Chattanooga area, 8% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Chattanooga, TN, standard level
$2,700 to $4,350
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 | $2,650 |
| Permits and fees | $65 | $110 |
| Total | $2,700 | $4,350 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Chattanooga, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $860 | $1,350 | $1,850 | 39% |
| Labor | $530 | $2,050 | $3,600 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $85 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $1,450 | $3,500 | $5,600 | 100% |
Where the Chattanooga price comes from
The wage side of the estimate leans on construction laborers, who do 60% of the hours on a typical job. Their local median is $20.80 an hour. Add the other trades involved and the blended wage index for Chattanooga is 0.89 (US = 1.00), which puts labor at 59% of the total.
Materials are scaled with BEA's regional price parity for goods. Chattanooga is at 96.0 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 91.5: $35 to $140.
Related projects, priced for Chattanooga
Jobs that often go together with chain-link fence are priced below at their usual sizes, using the same Chattanooga wage and price inputs. Compared with national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−6%) and gravel driveway lowest (−8%); the gap comes from the trades each job uses.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,800 – $7,050 | −8% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,300 – $8,600 | −6% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,550 – $10,700 | −6% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,400 | −8% |
Who does the work: Chattanooga 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 Chattanooga the blend is 0.89.
For construction laborers (47-2061, weighted 60%) the local median is $20.80 an hour, which is 8% below the national $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.64 and $23.48 an hour. BLS counts 1,800 of them working in the area, 67.0 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 70.5), so the local bench is about average.
Carpenters (47-2031), 40% of the weighting: a median of $24.41 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.40 and $29.19 an hour. About 620 work in the metro. That is 23.1 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A quick sensitivity check: moving the lead trade (construction laborers) from the median to the 75th percentile wage adds about $160 to the midpoint estimate; the 25th percentile takes off about $190. That is a swing of roughly 5.5% to 4.7% of the total, which is useful for judging whether a bid reflects wages or something else, such as scope or margin.
Chattanooga has 268,750 jobs in total (BLS, May 2025), ranking 98th 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% | $17.64 | $20.80 | $23.48 | $22.66 | 0.92 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.40 | $24.41 | $29.19 | $29.12 | 0.84 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.89 | |||||
The best months for chain-link fence in Chattanooga
Climate numbers on this page come from NOAA's 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals at the nearest suitable station, Chattanooga Lovell Ap (5 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 Chattanooga are September through June: 10 of 12. Outside them, July and August have an average daytime high of 90°F or more.
Chattanooga gets about 55 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 4 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.3 inches in March). Inside the workable window, May and October are the driest, at 3.9 and 3.6 inches. The station averages about 58 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 | 51 | 32 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Feb | 56 | 36 | 5.0 | Workable |
| Mar | 64 | 42 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Apr | 74 | 50 | 4.9 | Workable |
| May | 81 | 59 | 3.9 | Workable |
| Jun | 88 | 67 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 91 | 71 | 5.1 | Hot |
| Aug | 90 | 70 | 3.7 | Hot |
| Sep | 84 | 64 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Oct | 74 | 51 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Nov | 62 | 40 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Dec | 53 | 35 | 5.3 | Workable |
Chattanooga: what basic, standard and premium work costs
The cited range is split into basic, standard and premium bands, then scaled to Chattanooga. 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 $3,100
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 – $3,800 |
| 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 – $8,600 | $7,750 – $11,100 |
Specs and site conditions that change a Chattanooga 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.
Optional extras in Chattanooga
Add-ons start from national price ranges and are scaled by 0.92 for Chattanooga, which is the average of the area's wage index (0.89) and goods price index (0.96). The estimator above can add them to your total.
| Add-on | Local range |
|---|---|
| Add one gate (flat) | $75 – $920 |
Chattanooga against nearby metros and the rest of Tennessee
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Nashville is the priciest of the group at $3,700. Dalton is the cheapest at $3,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga, TNthis page | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | |
| Dalton, GA35 miles | $1,350 – $5,000 | $3,150 | −10% |
| Huntsville, AL80 miles | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −5% |
| Knoxville, TN95 miles | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | +2% |
| Gainesville, GA100 miles | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −6% |
| Nashville, TN105 miles | $1,500 – $5,900 | $3,700 | +5% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | +2% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +9% |
Out of the 300 metros we cover, Chattanooga ranks #215 for the cost of this job (#1 is the most expensive). Statewide, Chattanooga is 2% below the Tennessee figure.
Elsewhere in Tennessee
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $1,500 – $5,900 | $3,700 | +5% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | +1% |
| Knoxville, TN | 424,600 jobs | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | +2% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +1% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $1,400 – $5,500 | $3,450 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | level |
Metros of a similar size
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Chattanooga against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poughkeepsie, NY | 268,970 jobs | $1,700 – $6,800 | $4,250 | +21% |
| Huntsville, AL | 266,650 jobs | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −5% |
| Jackson, MS | 270,730 jobs | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | −5% |
| Lakeland, FL | 265,280 jobs | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | −5% |
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Detailed chain-link fence report for Chattanooga, TN, $9
The report lays out the chain-link fence numbers for Chattanooga, TN 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 Chattanooga: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Chattanooga?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,450 to $5,600 in the Chattanooga area. A standard-spec job lands at $2,700 to $4,350. Small jobs usually cost more per linear ft and large ones less.
+What is the price per linear ft for chain-link fence in Chattanooga?
About $9.30 to $36.50 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 Chattanooga or Dalton?
Dalton is 35 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,150, which is 10% less than Chattanooga ($3,500). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Chattanooga?
About 59% at the midpoint, or $2,050 out of $3,500. Materials are 39% and permits 2%. Nationally, labor is 60%.
+What would 200 ft (200 linear ft) cost in Chattanooga?
$1,900 to $7,400. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Chattanooga?
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 Chattanooga area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Chattanooga expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Chattanooga is 2% below the Tennessee statewide estimate ($3,550 at the midpoint). We cover 8 metros in Tennessee; see the state page to compare them.
+What do construction laborers earn in Chattanooga?
The BLS median is $20.80 an hour in the Chattanooga area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.64 to $23.48.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Chattanooga?
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.
+When is the best time to install a chain-link fence in Chattanooga?
Based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals, the comfortable months for this kind of work are September through June. May and October 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 Chattanooga?
$75 to $920, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Chattanooga
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).