Chain-link fence cost in Knoxville, TN
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
- $9.45 – $37.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −6%
- US $3,850
- Rank of 300 metros
- #183
- 1 = most expensive
If you want to install a chain-link fence in Knoxville, plan on $1,450 to $5,750 for 150 linear ft, all in. Per linear ft, that is $9.45 to $37.50 for materials and labor, with the permit on top. The local midpoint runs 6% lower than the national one. Construction laborers earn a median of $22.18 an hour in the Knoxville area, 2% below the US median of $22.66.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Knoxville, TN, standard level
$2,750 to $4,450
About $18 to $29 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 59% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,150 | $1,550 |
| Labor | $1,500 | $2,750 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,750 | $4,450 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Knoxville, TN
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $870 | $1,350 | $1,900 | 38% |
| Labor | $550 | $2,150 | $3,750 | 59% |
| Permits and fees | $35 | $90 | $140 | 2% |
| Total | $1,450 | $3,600 | $5,750 | 100% |
Where the Knoxville price comes from
We price the labor side from BLS wage data for 2 trades: construction laborers at 60%, carpenters at 40%. Weighted together, Knoxville wages are 0.92 times the national level. Labor makes up about 59% of the midpoint estimate (60% at national prices).
On the materials line, the BEA goods price index for the Knoxville metro is 96.2 (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 (92.6) and land at $35 to $140.
Knoxville: what basic, standard and premium work costs
Three bands are cut from the same cited range and localized for Knoxville 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
$4,050 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 | $4,050 – $5,750 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,950 – $4,200 | $3,650 – $5,900 | $5,350 – $7,600 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,850 – $6,250 | $5,400 – $8,800 | $7,950 – $11,300 |
Is Knoxville cheap or dear? The local comparison
Same job, same size (150 linear ft), priced for the nearest metros. Asheville is the priciest of the group at $3,650. Dalton is the cheapest at $3,150.
| Area | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville, TNthis page | $1,450 – $5,750 | $3,600 | |
| Asheville, NC95 miles | $1,450 – $5,850 | $3,650 | +2% |
| Dalton, GA95 miles | $1,350 – $5,000 | $3,150 | −12% |
| Chattanooga, TN95 miles | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −2% |
| Johnson City, TN100 miles | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | −5% |
| Kingsport, TN100 miles | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −2% |
| Tennessee (statewide) | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | −1% |
| United States | $1,550 – $6,150 | $3,850 | +7% |
Across 300 US metros, Knoxville comes in at #183 from the top. The priciest is Honolulu, HI at $5,450; the cheapest is Brownsville, TX at $3,000 (midpoints, 150 linear ft). Statewide, Knoxville is 1% above the Tennessee figure.
Other Tennessee metros
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | 1,099,300 jobs | $1,500 – $5,900 | $3,700 | +2% |
| Memphis, TN | 611,670 jobs | $1,450 – $5,700 | $3,550 | −1% |
| Chattanooga, TN | 268,750 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −2% |
| Kingsport, TN | 119,560 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −2% |
| Clarksville, TN | 103,220 jobs | $1,400 – $5,500 | $3,450 | −4% |
| Jackson, TN | 84,530 jobs | $1,450 – $5,600 | $3,500 | −2% |
Cities with a workforce like Knoxville's
Big cities and small ones price differently, so here is Knoxville against the 4 metros with the closest total employment.
| Metro | Size | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville, SC | 434,900 jobs | $1,450 – $5,650 | $3,550 | −2% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | 409,690 jobs | $1,400 – $5,450 | $3,400 | −5% |
| New Orleans, LA | 445,550 jobs | $1,400 – $5,350 | $3,350 | −7% |
| Madison, WI | 408,070 jobs | $1,550 – $6,600 | $4,100 | +14% |
Knoxville labor market for chain-link fence
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 Knoxville is 0.92 times the national level.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $22.18 an hour, in line with the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $18.16 and $25.87 an hour. About 3,640 work in the metro. That is 85.7 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 $24.23 an hour, which is 17% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.11 and $28.56 an hour. BLS counts 1,280 of them working in the area, 30.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Quotes come from real crews, not medians. If the construction laborers on your job are paid at the 75th percentile ($25.87 an hour) instead of the median, the labor line grows by about $230. At the 25th percentile ($18.16) it shrinks by about $250. The total moves by 6.3% or 6.9%, so wages alone rarely explain a quote that is far outside our range.
For context on the local economy, BLS counts 424,600 jobs in the Knoxville area. That makes it the 59th largest of the 300 metros we cover, with 0.27% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $18.16 | $22.18 | $25.87 | $22.66 | 0.98 | metro |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $22.11 | $24.23 | $28.56 | $29.12 | 0.83 | metro |
| Blended | 100% | 0.92 | |||||
Specs and site conditions that change a Knoxville bid
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.
Height
A 4-ft fence runs $10-$20 per linear foot; 6- to 8-ft backyard fences run $15-$40+ (HomeGuide).
Add-ons priced for Knoxville
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Knoxville by the average of the local wage index (0.92) and goods index (0.96), 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 |
Climate in Knoxville: timing your chain-link fence job
We use NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for Knoxville Mcghee Tyson Ap (10 miles from the city center). These are 30-year monthly averages, not forecasts.
Weather is not a serious constraint for exterior installation in Knoxville: no month in the averages is cold enough (an average daytime high under 45°F) or hot enough (an average daytime high of 90°F or more) to rule it out, so the workable window is all year.
Knoxville gets about 52 inches of precipitation in a normal year, including roughly 5 inches of snow. The wettest months are March, July and December (5.3 inches in July). The station averages about 37 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 | 48 | 30 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Feb | 53 | 33 | 4.8 | Workable |
| Mar | 61 | 40 | 4.9 | Workable |
| Apr | 71 | 48 | 4.7 | Workable |
| May | 79 | 57 | 4.1 | Workable |
| Jun | 86 | 65 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Jul | 88 | 69 | 5.3 | Workable |
| Aug | 88 | 68 | 3.6 | Workable |
| Sep | 83 | 61 | 3.5 | Workable |
| Oct | 72 | 49 | 2.8 | Workable |
| Nov | 60 | 38 | 4.2 | Workable |
| Dec | 51 | 33 | 5.0 | Workable |
What nearby projects cost in Knoxville
Because every project leans on different trades, Knoxville's wage level does not move all prices equally. Against the US midpoint, vinyl fence runs −5% and gravel driveway −7%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,800 – $7,150 | −7% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,650 | −5% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,600 – $10,800 | −5% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,500 | −7% |
Get 3 local quotes
Tell us about the job and we will try to connect you with up to three local contractors for written quotes. It is free and you are under no obligation to hire. Your estimate of $2,750 to $4,450 for Knoxville, TN is attached.
A detailed PDF report of this estimate, $9
The report lays out the chain-link fence numbers for Knoxville, 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 Knoxville: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Knoxville?
For 150 linear ft, expect $1,450 to $5,750 in the Knoxville 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 Knoxville?
About $9.45 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 Knoxville or Asheville?
Asheville is 95 miles away. The midpoint for 150 linear ft there is $3,650, which is 2% more than Knoxville ($3,600). Wage and materials indexes both feed that gap.
+How much of the bill is labor in Knoxville?
About 59% 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 Knoxville?
$1,950 to $7,600. Pick a different size in the estimator above to get your own number.
+Does chain-link fence need a permit in Knoxville?
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 Knoxville area (our national range of $40 to $150 scaled by the local price level).
+Is Knoxville expensive for chain-link fence compared with the rest of Tennessee?
Knoxville is 1% above 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 Knoxville?
The BLS median is $22.18 an hour in the Knoxville area, compared with $22.66 nationally. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $18.16 to $25.87.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Knoxville?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $3,150 and premium work $4,050 to $5,750. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Is there a bad season to install a chain-link fence in Knoxville?
Not from a temperature point of view. NOAA's 1991-2020 normals show no month with a freezing-level overnight low or a 90°F-plus average high, so timing is mostly about contractor availability and rain.
+What does "add one gate" add in Knoxville?
$75 to $940, from a national range scaled by the local wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence near Knoxville
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).