Chain-link fence cost in Texas
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (150 linear ft)
- $1,450 – $5,450
- Per linear ft
- $9.25 – $35.50
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −10%
- US $3,850
- Metros covered
- 21
Across Texas, a chain-link fence costs about $1,450 to $5,450 for 150 linear ft. Statewide, that midpoint is 10% below the US figure of $3,850. Construction laborers earn a median $19.53 an hour in Texas (US: $22.66).
Inside Texas, the metros we cover range from $3,000 (Brownsville) to $3,650 (Beaumont) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 150 linear ft in Texas (statewide), standard level
$2,650 to $4,250
About $17 to $27.50 per linear ft before permits. Labor is about 57% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $1,200 | $1,600 |
| Labor | $1,350 | $2,550 |
| Permits and fees | $70 | $110 |
| Total | $2,650 | $4,250 |
Cost breakdown for 150 linear ft in Texas
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $880 | $1,400 | $1,900 | 41% |
| Labor | $500 | $1,950 | $3,400 | 57% |
| Permits and fees | $40 | $90 | $150 | 3% |
| Total | $1,450 | $3,450 | $5,450 | 100% |
What construction laborers and the other trades earn in Texas
Statewide wages come from BLS's state-level estimates, which blend big cities with small towns and rural areas. 2 trades drive the labor line for this job, and the weighted ratio against the national wage level is 0.84 for Texas.
Construction laborers (47-2061), 60% of the weighting: a median of $19.53 an hour, 14% below the US median of $22.66. The middle half of them earn between $17.66 and $22.57 an hour. About 123,250 work in the state. That is 87.6 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 $23.51 an hour, which is 19% below the national $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $21.48 and $27.78 an hour. BLS counts 33,540 of them working in the state, 23.8 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 43.1), so the local bench is thinner than average.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for construction laborers ($22.57 an hour) would add about $190 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($17.66) would take off about $120. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 14,071,160 jobs across Texas (May 2025), which is 9.0% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction laborers (47-2061) | 60% | $17.66 | $19.53 | $22.57 | $22.66 | 0.86 | state |
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 40% | $21.48 | $23.51 | $27.78 | $29.12 | 0.81 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.84 | |||||
Which Texas city is cheapest for chain-link fence?
5 of the 21 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $3,450, and the top-to-bottom gap is 21%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaumont, TX | $1,450 – $5,800 | $3,650 | +5% |
| Dallas, TX | $1,500 – $5,750 | $3,600 | +5% |
| Midland, TX | $1,400 – $5,650 | $3,550 | +3% |
| Houston, TX | $1,450 – $5,550 | $3,500 | +2% |
| Austin, TX | $1,400 – $5,600 | $3,500 | +2% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $1,400 – $5,400 | $3,400 | −1% |
| Odessa, TX | $1,400 – $5,350 | $3,350 | −2% |
| San Antonio, TX | $1,400 – $5,300 | $3,350 | −3% |
| Amarillo, TX | $1,350 – $5,200 | $3,300 | −5% |
| Killeen, TX | $1,350 – $5,200 | $3,250 | −5% |
| Waco, TX | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | −5% |
| Longview, TX | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | −6% |
| College Station, TX | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | −6% |
| Tyler, TX | $1,350 – $5,100 | $3,200 | −7% |
| Abilene, TX | $1,350 – $5,100 | $3,200 | −7% |
| Lubbock, TX | $1,350 – $5,050 | $3,200 | −7% |
| Texarkana, TX | $1,300 – $4,950 | $3,150 | −9% |
| El Paso, TX | $1,300 – $4,950 | $3,150 | −9% |
| McAllen, TX | $1,300 – $4,850 | $3,100 | −11% |
| Laredo, TX | $1,300 – $4,800 | $3,050 | −11% |
| Brownsville, TX | $1,300 – $4,700 | $3,000 | −13% |
When Texas weather lets you install
Season matters for chain-link fence. For each Texas metro below we took NOAA's 1991-2020 monthly normals from the nearest suitable station and counted comfortable months for exterior installation.
Texarkana has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Texas at 10 months (September through June); Laredo has the shortest at 7 (October through April). Rainfall runs from 9 inches a year in El Paso to 65 inches in Beaumont.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas | 38 | 97 | 38 | 8: October through May |
| Houston | 46 | 93 | 56 | 9: September through May |
| Austin | 42 | 97 | 36 | 8: October through May |
| San Antonio | 41 | 95 | 32 | 8: October through May |
| El Paso | 35 | 96 | 9 | 9: September through May |
| McAllen | 53 | 99 | 22 | 7: October through April |
| Corpus Christi | 52 | 92 | 35 | 8: October through May |
| Lubbock | 30 | 93 | 19 | 9: September through May |
| Beaumont | 43 | 92 | 65 | 9: September through May |
| Brownsville | 53 | 95 | 27 | 7: October through April |
| Killeen | 36 | 96 | 35 | 8: October through May |
| College Station | 41 | 95 | 42 | 8: October through May |
| Waco | 36 | 97 | 36 | 8: October through May |
| Amarillo | 25 | 93 | 20 | 9: September through May |
| Midland | 33 | 96 | 14 | 9: September through May |
| Longview | 36 | 95 | 51 | 8: October through May |
| Tyler | 39 | 93 | 48 | 9: September through May |
| Laredo | 47 | 100 | 20 | 7: October through April |
| Odessa | 32 | 94 | 12 | 9: September through May |
| Abilene | 34 | 96 | 25 | 9: September through May |
| Texarkana | 33 | 93 | 52 | 10: September through June |
Chain-link fence: what moves the price in Texas
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.
Texas against its neighbors
Texas ranks 45 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. Texas sits at $3,450. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | 330 miles away | $1,350 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −4% |
| Louisiana | 360 miles away | $1,350 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −4% |
| Arkansas | 390 miles away | $1,350 – $5,150 | $3,250 | −5% |
| Mississippi | 450 miles away | $1,400 – $5,250 | $3,300 | −4% |
| Kansas | 490 miles away | $1,450 – $5,800 | $3,650 | +5% |
Add-ons priced for Texas
Extras are quoted nationally and then scaled to Texas by the average of the local wage index (0.84) and goods index (0.98), a factor of 0.91. 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 – $910 |
Related projects, priced for Texas
The table prices neighboring jobs at their usual sizes using statewide Texas wages and prices. Against national midpoints, vinyl fence comes out highest (−5%) and wood fence lowest (−8%), because each job leans on different trades.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wood fence | 150 linear ft | $2,750 – $7,050 | −8% |
| Vinyl fence | 150 linear ft | $4,350 – $8,650 | −5% |
| Aluminum fence | 150 linear ft | $3,500 – $10,700 | −7% |
| Gravel driveway | 1,000 sq ft | $2,300 – $9,350 | −8% |
Quality levels and sizes in Texas
The cited range is cut into three overlapping bands (basic, standard and premium) and scaled to statewide Texas wages and prices. The grid prices the same bands at 4 common sizes.
Basic
$1,450 to $3,050
4-ft galvanized, front yard
Standard
$2,650 to $4,250
6-ft galvanized backyard fence
Premium
$3,850 to $5,450
Vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| backyard (100 linear ft) | $960 – $2,050 | $1,800 – $2,850 | $2,600 – $3,700 |
| 150 ft (150 linear ft) | $1,450 – $3,050 | $2,650 – $4,250 | $3,850 – $5,450 |
| 200 ft (200 linear ft) | $1,900 – $4,050 | $3,500 – $5,650 | $5,100 – $7,250 |
| full lot (300 linear ft) | $2,800 – $6,000 | $5,200 – $8,400 | $7,600 – $10,800 |
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Chain-link fence in Texas: your questions
+How much does it cost to install a chain-link fence in Texas?
$1,450 to $5,450 for 150 linear ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Texas can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Texas is cheapest for chain-link fence?
Brownsville at about $3,000 (midpoint, 150 linear ft). The priciest is Beaumont at $3,650.
+Is chain-link fence cheaper in Texas than the US average?
It is 10% cheaper: $3,450 against $3,850 for 150 linear ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Texas?
About 57% ($1,950). Materials are 41%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.84x the national wage level.
+What do construction laborers earn in Texas?
The BLS statewide median is $19.53 an hour, against $22.66 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $17.66 to $22.57.
+Where does Texas rank for chain-link fence costs?
45th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $3,450 for 150 linear ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium chain-link fence work cost in Texas?
For 150 linear ft, basic work runs $1,450 to $3,050 and premium work $3,850 to $5,450. Basic means: 4-ft galvanized, front yard. Premium means: vinyl-coated, 8 ft, extra gates.
+Does the season matter for chain-link fence in Texas?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Texas metros we cover, Texarkana has the most comfortable months (10 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 Texas?
$75 to $910, from a national range scaled by the statewide wage and goods indexes.
Chain-link fence by city in Texas
- Beaumont, TX$3,650 midpoint
- Dallas, TX$3,600 midpoint
- Midland, TX$3,550 midpoint
- Houston, TX$3,500 midpoint
- Austin, TX$3,500 midpoint
- Corpus Christi, TX$3,400 midpoint
- Odessa, TX$3,350 midpoint
- San Antonio, TX$3,350 midpoint
- Amarillo, TX$3,300 midpoint
- Killeen, TX$3,250 midpoint
- Waco, TX$3,250 midpoint
- Longview, TX$3,250 midpoint
- College Station, TX$3,250 midpoint
- Tyler, TX$3,200 midpoint
- Abilene, TX$3,200 midpoint
- Lubbock, TX$3,200 midpoint
- Texarkana, TX$3,150 midpoint
- El Paso, TX$3,150 midpoint
- McAllen, TX$3,100 midpoint
- Laredo, TX$3,050 midpoint
- Brownsville, TX$3,000 midpoint
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).